Kenya on a budget: Three friends—and a dream safari

Exploring wildlife, secret beaches from Masai Mara to Diani Coast without breaking the bank

- Shipra Singh

When college friends Khadija Attarwala, Muffaddal Kagalwala, and Sakina Gandhi finally reunited after years, they wanted a holiday that felt far from predictable. Kenya with its dramatic savannahs and coastal calm-perfectly fit the brief.

"Europe felt overdone, and a typical beach vacation didn't excite us anymore," said Attarwala, a Mumbai-based digital marketing consultant. "From the mesmerising grasslands of the Masai Mara to the white sands of Diani Beach, Kenya felt straight out of a National Geographic film."

The trio travelled in July 2025, during the peak Great Migration season, spending nine days across Nairobi, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Diani Coast. Their total spend came to around ₹2.23 lakh per person (₹6.7 lakh for all three), balanced between mid-range lodges and smart budgeting.

As part of Mint's travel series, Attarwala shares how the group planned a once-in-a-lifetime Kenyan adventure without letting it blow their budget.

Masai Mara: hits and misses

We landed in Nairobi during the early hours in the morning and drove to the Masai Mara directly from the airport in a Land Cruiser safari car. The other option is to fly in a propeller plane at about ₹35,000 for a round-trip per person versus ₹20,000-24,000 in the car for up to six people.

If someone has limited days and a higher budget, it's worth paying for the flight. The six-hour drive, though scenic, was long, bumpy and tiring, especially after the overnight flight. The road gives a good sense of rural Kenya and we reached our lodge around 3:30pm.