Most Nepali travellers have seen Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore. Very few have watched a lion cross a road in front of their vehicle, or seen a herd of elephants walk under Mount Kilimanjaro. Kenya is the trip people talk about for years afterwards — and it is more achievable from Kathmandu than most people assume.
We run three Kenya holidays: a classic 8-day safari, and two 12-day combinations that add Egypt or Mauritius. This guide covers the itinerary, the visa, the best months and what to know before you book.
Kenya Safari Packages from Nepal
| Package | Duration | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic Kenya | 7N / 8D | Nairobi, Maasai Mara and Amboseli — the classic first safari |
| Kenya & Egypt | 11N / 12D | The safari, then flights to Cairo for the Pyramids, Luxor and a Nile cruise |
| Kenya & Mauritius | 11N / 12D | The safari, then a flight to Mauritius for beaches and the island’s southern sights |
Package prices depend on your dates — safari costs rise noticeably in peak migration months — so we quote each trip individually. Airfare, visa fees and travel insurance are quoted separately, so you see the whole cost before you commit.
The 8-Day Safari, Day by Day
- Day 1 — Arrive Nairobi. Transfer to your hotel and an evening briefing for the days ahead.
- Day 2 — Nairobi National Park. A morning game drive in a national park that sits beside a capital city, then the Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.
- Day 3 — Drive to the Maasai Mara. About five hours by road, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive.
- Day 4 — Maasai Mara, full day. Lions, elephants, hippos, cheetahs. An optional hot air balloon safari at dawn is available.
- Day 5 — Maasai Mara and a Maasai village. A morning drive, then a visit to a Maasai community, then a sunset drive.
- Day 6 — To Amboseli. Drive toward Amboseli National Park, arriving for an afternoon game drive.
- Day 7 — Amboseli, full day. Large elephant herds, lions and wildebeest with Mount Kilimanjaro as the backdrop.
- Day 8 — Return to Nairobi and your onward flight.
What Is Included
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| 7 nights in a mix of lodges and tented camps | International airfare |
| All meals during the safari | Visa fees |
| All game drives and park entry fees | Travel insurance |
| Airport transfers and an English-speaking safari guide | Optional hot air balloon safari |
| All taxes | Personal expenses |
Kenya Visa for Nepali Citizens
Kenya visa — what our visa desk needs
- Visa type: Tourist
- Cost with our processing: NPR 15,000 per person
- Processing time: about 15 days — apply early
- Passport — Upload clear scanned copies of the passport bio-data page and passport address page. Make sure all personal details, passport number, photograph and other information are clearly visible and readable.
- Passport-Size Photograph — Upload one recent, clear passport-size colour photograph measuring approximately 35 × 45 mm. The photo should have a plain background and be high resolution.
- Parent Details — Provide the applicant’s father’s full name and mother’s full name exactly as applicable to the applicant’s records.
- Spouse Details (Adults, if applicable) — If married, provide the spouse’s full name and contact number. If the applicant is unmarried, this is not required.
- Current Occupation — Provide the applicant’s current occupation or present status, such as employed, self-employed, student, retired or other applicable status.
This checklist comes straight from our visa desk and updates when requirements change. Ask us if your situation is different.
Kenya’s file is short compared with Europe or the UK, so it is a good first long-haul visa. Allow about two weeks, and start earlier if you are travelling in the July to October migration season.
⚠️ If You Choose the Egypt Combination, Read This
Egypt is the one part of these trips with a long lead time. In our visa desk’s current requirements it takes about 45 days, and the file is heavier than Kenya’s: a signed application form, six months of bank statements, proof of employment, proof of your accommodation, and cover letters from both our agency and the tour operator in Egypt that include the detailed tour programme.
Egypt visa — what our visa desk needs
- Visa type: Tourist
- Cost with our processing: NPR 8,000 per person
- Processing time: about 45 days — apply early
- Passport Scan — At least 6 months validity
- Visa Application Form — One completed form per applicant, signed, with exact date of submission
- Photograph — Colored passport-sized photo (45mm X 35mm), white background
- Employment Proof — Proof of current employment or business, Job letter or other documentation proving income
- Bank statement — for the last 6 months
- Cover Letters — Cover letters from the tour agency, cover letter from the tour operator in Egypt, Must include the detailed tour program
- Proof of Stay — Documentation proving accommodation arrangements in Egypt for the duration of the visit
This checklist comes straight from our visa desk and updates when requirements change. Ask us if your situation is different.
That means the Kenya and Egypt trip needs about two months of planning. If you want it for the Christmas holidays, start now. If your dates are close, take the plain Kenya safari or the Mauritius combination instead.
The Mauritius Combination
Mauritius is the easy half of the pair. There is no long visa process; you need a confirmed return ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of sufficient funds and the official digital travel form completed before you fly. The itinerary covers the Botanical Garden at Pamplemousses, Grand Baie, the seven-coloured earth at Chamarel, Le Morne and the Black River Gorges, with a free beach day at the end.
It suits couples and anyone who wants to finish a physically busy safari lying down.
When to Go
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| July – October | ★ Dry season and the Great Migration in the Mara. The most famous time, and the most expensive |
| January – February | ★ Dry, warm and excellent game viewing, with fewer crowds than the migration months |
| March – May | The long rains. Cheapest, greenest and wettest, with some roads and camps affected |
| November – December | The short rains — usually brief showers. Good value and a strong choice for the Christmas holidays |
Many Nepali families have leave in October and December, which are both workable. For wider planning see our month-by-month guide.
What a Safari Day Actually Feels Like
- Early starts. Animals are most active at dawn and in the late afternoon, so game drives begin early. Expect to be up before sunrise.
- Long drives between parks. The road from Nairobi to the Mara takes about five hours. Bring something to do in the vehicle.
- Dust and sun. Pack a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and a scarf you can pull over your face.
- Neutral colours. Khaki, green and brown. Avoid bright white and blue.
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens, if you have one. Your phone will not reach a distant leopard.
Health and Travel Insurance
Speak to a doctor well before you travel about malaria prevention and vaccinations for your route. Vaccination requirements can depend on the countries you pass through on the way, so ask us which airline routing we propose and check it with your doctor.
Take travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. Safari parks are remote, and getting a patient to a hospital is the expensive part. Read the exclusions carefully, because adventure activities such as balloon rides often need an explicit add-on.
Getting There
Expect one connection on the way to Nairobi, usually through a Gulf or East African hub. We price the routing for your dates when we quote. As with any trip this far from home, make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond your return date — see our first-time flyer checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Kenya safari suitable for children?
Many families go, and children often love it. The long drives and early starts are the hard part, so it suits school-age children better than toddlers. Tell us the ages and we will advise on the right itinerary. See also our family and group guide.
Is it safe?
Organised safaris with an experienced guide and an established operator are a well-trodden tourism product. The wild animals are not the risk people worry about when you stay in the vehicle and follow your guide. The sensible precautions are health ones: malaria prevention, insurance and the usual care with valuables in Nairobi.
How long does the Kenya visa take?
About 15 days in our current requirements. Egypt is about 45 days, so plan the combination trip around that.
Do I need to be fit?
No. Game drives are done from a vehicle. The tiring part is the early mornings and the road time, not physical effort.
Can I add the hot air balloon?
Yes, it is an optional dawn flight over the Mara in the 8-day itinerary, charged separately.
Plan Your Kenya Safari
Send us your dates, who is travelling and whether the Egypt or Mauritius extension appeals, and we will send an itemised quote within 24 hours — package, airfare and visa listed separately. You can also browse the full itineraries in our app, look at all destinations, or talk to our team.
White Tiger Holidays — IATA accredited, Government of Nepal authorized, arranging travel from Kathmandu since 2009.
