The biggest costs on a safari are the vehicle, the fuel and the guide. On a private trip you pay for all of it. On a joining safari those costs are split between everyone in the vehicle.
Groups are small, usually four to seven people. You share the vehicle and the game drives, and you have your own tent or room.
It suits solo travellers best, because paying for a whole vehicle alone is expensive. It also works well for couples and friends on a budget, and for anyone who enjoys company on the road.
What you give up is control. The route and the timings are fixed, and the group decides together how long to stay at a sighting. If you want to wait two hours for a leopard to come down from a tree, a private safari is the better choice.
Joining safaris leave Nairobi on set days, most often for the Maasai Mara. Tell us your dates and we will tell you which departures have space.