If you're looking for a relatively cheap and good stay, try some Trekking travel agencies. I went to Kenya and Tanzania for about $2K (From Europe, Though)...
Depends on how do you want to travel, the "trekking" option sucks if you want good hotels, most of the time you sleep in cheapo hotels and under a tent, there are no big buses with AC to take you to the diferent places, but on the other side you get to see the country better, with a good guide who knows the place well, speaks the local language and takes you to places where the average tourist doesn't. Like the top of mt. Kenya.
Don't know any adresses in the US, though...