For those who like to visit not the most popular places, but with a twist, consider a vacation in Kenya and find out how much the trip costs. What the experienced reviews say, we will find beaches for a great pastime and make a selection of the best hotels where you can stay with children or two.
Kenya is not the leader among the host countries for Russian tourists. Yet thousands of people go there every year - and for good reason. It is necessary to thoroughly know this country, the main subtleties of travel around it, in order to make the right choice and eliminate mistakes. We will consider some of the nuances of planning a vacation further.
Where is the best place to go to Kenya for a vacation?
The resorts of this state are clearly distributed according to the level of prestige, the most advanced travelers go to Mombasu... It has become the focus of luxury hotels, beaches and various establishments. If you wish, you can always find relatively cheap accommodation, and all hotels are located along the coast - do not be afraid that some room is located deep in the city.
A trip to Mombasa is independently justified for those who like to lie on the sand, and for connoisseurs of the heritage of old times, and for those who would like to get acquainted with the nature of these places alive. In addition, prices here are slightly higher than other cities for tourist life.
Holidays in Kenya with children will be useful if you visit the oceanarium and souvenir market, alcazar (a monument from the times of Portuguese colonization), national parks and reserves (there is a great choice of them). When visiting Malindi there is a highly developed tourist infrastructure and well-preserved cultural traditions.
Beach holidays in Malindi are quite affordable, there are a lot of proposals for going out to sea on boats and boats. Nearby are ancient ruins, tropical forests, a lot of interesting things can be seen during scuba diving. Reviews about the rest in Kenya and personal experience of visiting the state show that visiting Lamu and Watamu opens this country from another, unexpected angle. Fishermen and divers, lovers of leisurely walks through forest thickets and calm streets go there.
Important: local residents are Muslims, almost all, this should be taken into account when choosing clothes. We recommend wearing clothes that are simple in color and will not make you stand out from the crowd of the local population. Of course, you shouldn't take famous products with you either, at least demonstratively.
- You may be interested in sightseeing tours for several days β
Prices for holidays in Kenya
Let's move on to planning a vacation and find out how much money to take with you for a trip to Kenya, how much the flight will cost, which hotels on the first line are better to book, what will be required from the documents for applying for a visa.
Airfare to Nairobi and Mombasa
We recommend searching for cheap flights through Aviasales, he searches among all airlines for cheap flights in any direction.
A very significant point is the cost of air tickets to Kenya from Moscow. A flight to Nairobi on June 1 in economy class will cost one passenger a minimum of 16,000 rubles, and a maximum of 25,400 rubles. (but this is the fastest flight). The flight departs from Sheremetyevo, then a transfer to the Kenyan board is made in Dubai, you can buy a seat for 16,900.
A similar scheme with a flight from Vnukovo will cost about 20,000. A flight to Mombasa will cost at least 25,000, and you can accelerate the journey to the limit by paying 35,000. The reason is simple - a stopover in the capital of Kenya is inevitable, and this increases the cost and lengthens the trip ...
As in the previous case, the main routes are served by a combination of Qatari and African carriers. Having flown to Nairobi through Istanbul, you will need to pay about 25 thousand rubles, the planes of the Turkish carrier will take tourists to Mombasa for about 37,000.
- Airfare to Nairobi
- Mombasa ticket prices:
Hotels in Kenya on the coast
Now we will find places where it is better to stay in Kenya for recreation near the sea and visiting attractions, consider the most optimal options for the cost of living and conditions.
We recommend looking for the best deals on RoomGuru, the search engine searches among all hotel bases and shows where you can book a room at the lowest price.
- Jumuia Beach Resort Kanamai in Mombasa - although it is not included in the list of the best 5-star hotels in Kenya, it fulfills its three stars completely.
Transfer services are available at an additional cost, the hotel is located directly on the white sandy beach. In between swimming in the sea and in the pool, you can share your impressions on Wi-Fi. For a variety of breakfasts and infrastructure, a single traveler from Russia will pay from 23.2 thousand (if the trip lasts a week).
- No less attractive is the Sunrise Apartment Resort & Spa in Mombasa, in the Nyali area.
A modest hotel with very decent conditions for recreation. The rooms are well cleaned, the polite staff is always ready to help, even if you have a dirty towel, they can easily replace it with one call from the room. You can settle there for 7 days for 28,000 rubles.
- Guest house Bayern Holiday Home in the city of Kilifi is ready to open its doors for the same period of time for 16 thousand rubles, and 630 sq.m. are available to vacationers. living space.
The beach is located 4 minutes walk from the house, equipped with six bedrooms, well-thought-out infrastructure. In terms of tranquility and comfort, the garden alone deserves your attention for evening gatherings with the whole family.
- In Nairobi, the Wasini luxury hotel is well worth a visit.
You can get to or from the airport in 15 minutes. Superior single room with continental breakfast will cost 36,000 rubles for tourists.
The best hotels in Kenya for a holiday in the resort cities:
- Hotels in Nairobi
- Mombasa beach hotels
- Best hotels in Diani Beach
- Beach hotels in Malindi
- Beach hotels in Watamu
The cost of food in stores and food in a cafe
It is impossible to find out the cost of rest in Kenya if you do not pay attention to the cost of food in this country. You can have lunch or dinner at an inexpensive restaurant for about 230 rubles, and a visit to a middle-class establishment with an order of three dishes for three will cost 1300 rubles. Combo meals at places like McDonald's will cost about 400 rubles.
With individual purchases of groceries in supermarkets, the prices for holidays in Mombasa will be more sparing:
- 0.33 liters of water can be bought for 32 rubles,
- up to 100 rubles cost 400 g of bread, or 1 liter of milk, or 1 kg of rice, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce.
- Chicken eggs are sold in packs of 12, such a pack costs a little more than 100 rubles, and chicken breast is three times more expensive.
You can taste a cup of cappuccino coffee for 84 rubles, beer (0.5 l, local production) - 90 rubles. There are almost 500 restaurants in Nairobi, but only βCarnivor". It is there that you can taste the meat of specially grown African animals - ostriches, camels and even crocodiles. But those wishing to order the most ordinary food can also visit this institution.
Payments for groceries in supermarkets in the capital are naturally higher than in remote towns. However, still 95% of tourists do not leave the borders of Nairobi and the main resort areas of the country. You can buy cheese for $ 8.5 / kg, the payment for various fruits in the same volume is $ 1-1.5. Alcoholic drinks, especially strong ones, are very expensive and are not available to almost all local residents. Even for tourists with a good comparative income, buying them can be cumbersome.
Transport fares
When on vacation in Kenya in 2021, the prices for travel in public transport are 32 rubles, and a monthly pass is sold for 2600 rubles. Boarding a taxi itself costs 200 rubles, and 1 hour of travel costs 130 rubles. Taxi drivers charge 300 rubles / hour for waiting. A liter of gasoline costs around 75 rubles.
You can get to the hotel from Kenya airport by a free car near the exit or book a transfer in advance via Kiwitaxi, which is especially important after a long flight with tired children and large luggage. The cost of a trip from Mombasa airport to the center will be about 2,000 rubles for 4 adult tourists. We look at other directions on our own.
Renting a car in Kenya is affordable for every traveler, you can rent any car you like right at the airport. For example, Toyota Auris for a day in Mombasa will cost about 4.5 thousand rubles.
- Rent a car
Visa to Kenya for Russians
Visa to Kenya for citizens of Russia is always required, you can get it by paying $ 50, registration is carried out remotely or through official consular organizations.
An entry permit is valid for 90 days from the moment of agreement, the date of entry during this time does not affect anything.
It is imperative to fill out the questionnaire in English.
Among the documents required for obtaining a visa are a foreign passport and a personal photo.
Entry of minors under the age of 16 is allowed without transferring the visa fee. Diplomatic structures make a decision within 48 hours, when applying online, a response (positive or negative) will be sent to the e-mail indicated in the application.
They will be allowed to cross the border only upon presentation, together with a visa, of a passport valid for at least six months, confirmation of hotel booking and air tickets for return flights.
You can travel to Rwanda and Uganda with a Kenyan visa, but the tariff for obtaining a universal admission is about $ 100.
Best beaches in Kenya
At the resort Lamu there is no need to count on an advanced beach holiday, palm trees do not grow here, there is one large pier with boats. Where better to visit Shanzu - here, too, the ebb is very strong, but the bottom is covered with sand, not stones. The coastal strip looks good. Also worth a visit Manduespecially since first-class hotels and interesting ruins of old cities are located nearby.
Those wishing to relax away from the bulk of tourists should visit Kilifiwhere, in addition to secluded beach corners, boating attracts attention. It is also recommended to visit the beach Bofa.
Diani Beach popular among those who like to swim all day, the ebb and flow are not so typical for this place, but there is a problem: the gorgeous white sand is combined with the bottom covered with stones.
From Diani you can reach the beach Galu, in the area of ββthe Blue Marlin hotel, the place is very attractive for a heavenly enjoyment. And in the suburbs of Mombasa, Nayalithan the beach Bamburi.
- Photos of beaches in resorts:
When is the best time to go to rest?
Weather in Kenya by month must be taken into account. Even this country of year-round summer has its own subtleties and nuances. At night and during the day in the mainland of Kenya, the temperature ranges from 10 to 25 degrees, and on the coasts - from 15 to 30 degrees.
Important: The early morning and late evening hours can be quite chilly.
In the highlands, sometimes cold and damp nights are encountered. Rainfall is possible even at the peak of the dry season, and it shifts unpredictably every year. Most of the rain falls at lunchtime or closer to night.
Safari lovers should go here in the first quarter of the year, and for beach lovers it is recommended to visit in January, October and February. You can watch migratory birds from January to April, and the most affordable rates in travel agencies are issued in the last two months of spring.
- Climatic conditions in the resorts: