Planning a trip — whether it is Nairobi to Maasai Mara, Nairobi to Zanzibar, or an international visitor planning East Africa for the first time — involves more moving parts than most people expect. Accommodation, transport, visa requirements, budget, health and safety considerations, and local context all need to be sorted in the right order.
The sequence matters. Visa requirements come first — for visits to Kenya, citizens of most African countries do not need a visa (e-Visa processing changed this in 2023 and 2024; check the official eCitizen portal). For international visitors, the e-Visa is processed online and costs USD 50. Most applications require a compliant passport-size photo for your visa application — make sure yours meets the exact dimensions and background requirements before uploading. If you need to remove the background from a photo for visa use, you can do that online before submitting. You can also sign travel-related documents electronically without printing them. Always check the current requirement before booking anything.
Flights and accommodation are next — not itinerary. The cost of flights (especially into JKIA Nairobi or Julius Nyerere Dar es Salaam) varies dramatically by booking window and season. High season in Kenya is July–September (great migration) and December–January; low season (March–May, the long rains) is cheaper and less crowded. Book flights and accommodation before building a day-by-day itinerary.
The hardest part of East African travel planning is realistic budgeting. Safari costs in Kenya are genuinely high — budget for USD 200–600 per person per night at most Mara camps and lodges. Mid-range domestic travel (road and air between Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu) is affordable. Budget the park fees (Maasai Mara: KES 3,450–5,000/day for residents, USD 70–200/day for non-residents) before anything else.
AI trip planners are useful for generating itinerary structures and suggesting things to consider. They are not substitutes for current, ground-level information from operators, local sources, and official government portals. Always verify visa, health, and safety information from official sources.