Mombasa at $1,000 RT

Flights to Kenya aren't too rare, but they almost invariably enter through Nairobi. That's great if you want to explore a big city, but Mombasa's got a biiiiit of a different vibe. Think less "businesspeople rushing around" and more "sipping palm wine with the locals on a tropical beach."

Because it's less of a metropolitan hub, you're likely to get a lot more authentically Kenyan experience over here. Culturally speaking, Mombasa is super Swahili. It's actually one of the last hotspots for real indigenous Swahili architecture, which you can spot as you meander through the colorful Old Town.

And don't worry — while Nairobi might be better known for wildlife, East Tsavo National Park (and it's charming residents) are just a day trip away :-)