Book your safari or hike with a deposit and pay the rest bit by bit via M-Pesa before you travel. No interest, no bank loan, no big lump sum.
For many Kenyans, the Maasai Mara, Samburu or a weekend at the coast feels like something to "one day" do. A safari is a big purchase, and paying for it in one go can be hard even when you're earning well.
That's why we created Lipa Mdogo Mdogo: a simple way to book your trip now and pay for it bit by bit before you travel. No bank loan, no credit check, and no big lump sum.
How Lipa Mdogo Mdogo works
1. Choose your trip
Browse our group hikes, safaris and weekend getaways and pick your trip and date. If you'd like something custom, ask us for a quote first.
2. Pay a deposit to secure your spot
When booking, choose Lipa Mdogo Mdogo as your payment option and pay the booking deposit via M-Pesa. The deposit depends on the trip and is shown on every trip page. For example, day hikes need a small fixed deposit (such as KES 1,500 per person), while multi-day safaris need 30% of the trip cost. Your deposit:
- locks in your seat on the trip, and
- lets us confirm your accommodation and transport.
3. Pay the balance in instalments
Pay the rest in amounts and at times that suit you: weekly, every payday, or whenever you can. We'll send you a clear payment plan showing what's been paid and what's left. There's no interest and there are no hidden charges: you pay the trip price, just spread out.
4. Clear the balance before you travel
The full balance needs to be paid by the balance due date shown on the trip page: a few days before a day hike, and 30 days before departure for multi-day safaris. That gives us time to finalise park fees, bookings and logistics. Then all that's left to do is pack.
Real examples
Here's how Lipa Mdogo Mdogo works on some of our current trips.
A weekend hike: Oldoinyo Lesatima Dragon's Teeth (KES 4,400)
| When | Payment |
|---|---|
| At booking | KES 1,500 deposit |
| Before the balance due date | KES 2,900 balance |
An overland safari: Twende Samburu (KES 10,500)
| When | Payment |
|---|---|
| At booking | KES 3,150 deposit (30%) |
| Two weeks later | KES 3,675 |
| Four weeks later, before the balance due date | KES 3,675 (fully paid) |
A dream safari: Mara Migration Special for two (KES 283,400)
Based on our couple rate of KES 141,700 per person.
Booked three months ahead, with the balance due 30 days before departure:
| When | Payment |
|---|---|
| At booking | KES 85,020 deposit (30%) |
| Then weekly for 8 weeks | About KES 24,800 per week |
The earlier you book, the more weeks you have to pay, and the smaller each payment becomes.
Why travellers love it
- You book early and get the best choice. Popular dates, especially the August migration and December holidays, fill fast.
- It's easy to budget. Small, regular payments fit around your salary or business income.
- It's flexible. Pay more when you can, less when things are tight, as long as it's cleared before departure.
- It's simple. Everything is paid by M-Pesa, and you get confirmation for every payment.
How to pay
All payments go to our M-Pesa Till Number 4986224 (Buy Goods and Services). After each payment:
- Keep your M-Pesa confirmation message.
- Send the transaction code to us on WhatsApp, or enter it on the booking page.
- We'll confirm receipt and update your balance.
What if my plans change?
Life happens. If you need to change your dates, talk to us early. We'll always try to move you to another departure. Cancellations follow our cancellation policy for safaris and tours, and our hikes cancellation policy for hikes and overnight trips, so please read the one for your trip before you book.
Start planning today
The hardest part of any trip is deciding to go. With Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, a deposit is all it takes to lock in your place.
Choose a trip on our trips page and select Lipa Mdogo Mdogo at checkout, or message us on WhatsApp and we'll set up a payment plan for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is there interest or a fee for paying in instalments?
No. You pay exactly the same price as someone who pays in full. It's simply spread out over time.
What's the minimum deposit?
It depends on the trip, and it's always shown on the trip page. Day hikes need a small fixed deposit (for example, KES 1,500 per person), multi-day safaris need 30%, and private or tailor-made tours need 50%. You're welcome to pay more upfront if you'd like smaller instalments later.
Can I use Lipa Mdogo Mdogo for group or family bookings?
Yes. One person can pay for the group, or each traveller can pay their own share towards the booking.
What happens if I don't finish paying before the trip?
Please get in touch as soon as possible. We'll try to work something out, such as moving you to a later date. If the balance isn't paid by the due date, your booking may be cancelled and the fees in our cancellation policy (or the hikes cancellation policy for hikes) will apply.
Ready to experience this yourself?
Browse our packages or get a custom quote.