How Much Does an African Safari Cost?

An African safari is one of the most exciting and memorable holidays you’ll ever undertake. From exciting day and night game drives, to romantic hot air balloon safaris, guided walks in the wild, and off the beaten track horse riding safaris; Africa is the ultimate safari experience for families, couples, and solo adventurers alike.

Some of the most frequent asked questions are variations of the following:

•     What will a safari cost me?
•     How much does an African Safari cost?
•    Why does my safari cost so much?

There just isn’t a simple answer to how much an African safari costs, and that’s mostly because African safaris vary wildly – from country to country as well as the areas you visit.

The tables below offer an estimated guideline of the shoulder season rates for a safari to Southern and East African destinations. Costs include accommodation, park fees & transfers. Prices can be impacted by exchange rate.



SOUTHERN AFRICA SAFARI COSTS

EAST AFRICAN SAFARI COSTS

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WILL INFLUENCE THE COST OF YOUR SAFARI:

1.   Preferred safari destination and national parks

There are several African countries where you can do wildlife safaris. The first point will be to choose the right destination between visiting Southern or East Africa – with both subregions offering Big 5 safaris and uniquely rich cultural experiences.

Do you want to visit a famous location such as the Greater Kruger, the Okavango Delta, the Serengeti or the Masai Mara? Or you might prefer more remote areas such as Samburu, Mana Pools, Madikwe, Ruaha or the Lower Zambezi?

SOUTHERN AFRICA countries for safari includes BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA, and ZAMBIA

Southern Africa countries are diverse, with an incredible variety of experiences on offer, and it is easy to visit more than one country for the ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime, safari.

South Africa is an excellent safari destination being more developed and more tourist friendly. Botswana has exclusive safari options available with intimate lodges that are home to an array of birdlife and wildlife. Namibia is a great self-drive destination and the more off-the-beaten track safari destinations within Zimbabwe and Zambia.

EAST AFRICA safari countries include TANZANIA, KENYA, RWANDA & UGANDA

East Africa is home to thousands of hectares of national parks and protected land which offers wildlife experiences that cannot be found in Southern Africa.  From the annual wildebeest migration in Kenya & Tanzania with millions of animals, which can be easily combined with the chance to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.

Or embark on the ultimate primate safari with gorilla and chimpanzee treks in Rwanda and Uganda. East Africa offers primate locations for off-the-beaten-track-safaris in parks such as Ruaha, Selous, Katavi, Samburu, Nyungwe Forest, Simliki, and many more.

The more remote the African safari destination, the more expensive it is due to access, operational reasons, and exclusivity.

2.   Mode of transport during African safaris

Finding the right mode of transport that suits you and falls within your price range is, of course, important. If you have a luxurious safari in mind, then we recommend that you save on time by travelling between areas with intercamp flights. If your budget allows for even more, we recommend that you book a private camp safari vehicle for an exclusive experience.

For a more value-for-money safari, we recommend a driving safari. Safari packages to destinations such as Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda have packages available where a driver-guide accompanies you on safari with the exclusive use of a safari vehicle.

3.   Types of Vehicles & Transport

Open-Sided Safari Vehicles

Safari camps in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia & Southern Tanzania (Ruaha & Selous) use open safari vehicles to conduct game drives, specially designed to give you the best game viewing experience. Although these safari vehicles have open sides, many have permanent sunshades (canvas roofs) which protect you against the sun and will also help keep you dry during the odd shower. The standard packages offer you a seat in a vehicle (shared base). Open safari vehicles (on fly-in safaris to lodges or camps) are also available at more upmarket camps in Tanzania and Kenya.

Enclosed (with rooftop) Safari Vehicles 

The enclosed safari vehicles we use in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda & Rwanda have been customized to provide maximum comfort and game viewing opportunities. Each vehicle is equipped with a pop-up roof, which can be raised for wildlife viewing and sliding windows which is ideal for game viewing and taking photographs. Each vehicle features comforts such as a built-in fridge, 3 rows with high backed seats (guaranteed window seat for all), and wide range radio system.

Inter-Area Transfers

For long drives (between areas or for airport transfers), vehicles with air conditioning can make a big difference to your level of comfort.

Inter-camp Flights

As the fastest mode of transport, inter-camp flights is not only the best option, but it also offers you scenic and photographic opportunities that is not to be missed.

Doesn't matter which mode of transport you use on your safari; the most crucial aspect is to make sure you have a window seat to make sure you enjoy the best view of the landscapes and animals.

4.  The number of nights you spend on African safaris

One of the most common questions we received when guiding our guests through the beginning stages of their safari is “How many nights should I spend on safari?”

Once again, it depends on the destination you choose, but we recommend 2 to 3 nights per area. Areas with specific highlights such as the wildebeest migration we recommend 3 nights, which allows you two full days to make the most of the experience. Many people want to see the big 5, in which case a minimum 3-night stay is recommended.

Always take into consideration how much time you are going to spend in transit between areas as this will also determent how many nights you want to spend on your next location.

For most people, Africa is a long-haul destination, and we recommended that you spend at least 10-13 nights in Africa to make your trip worthwhile.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO ON AN AFRICAN SAFARI?

Africa is known as a year-round safari destination. Still, as a continent, it has a variety of climates (with wet and dry seasons) which plays a huge role in the behaviour of the animals. This means that the cost of a safari trip varies throughout the year with the high season against higher prices, but with more favourable wildlife viewing opportunities as with the green season offering the most affordable rates.

GREEN SEASON for Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia & Northern parts of South Africa

MONTHS: December, January, February & March

Around December, life-giving summer rains begin to fall, marking the start of the Green Season. The bulk of the rain falls over January and February, and the landscape stays beautifully lush and green until about April. It's not only a case of fewer visitors: you will enjoy better rates, specials, and plenty of Green Season surprises too.

GREEN SEASON for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda & Rwanda

MONTHS: April, May & November

These countries are located close to the equator, and therefore they represent a very good year-round game viewing destination. The long rains occur during April and May (mostly afternoon rains with thunderstorms) and short rains in November. During this period, you can witness the wildebeest migration on the plains of the central Serengeti. We do not recommend gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda during this period as it may be too wet to enjoy the experience fully.

Another plus to travel during the green season is that fewer people are travelling – which means fewer crowds.

HIGH SEASON for Southern & Eastern Africa 

MONTHS: June, July, August, September & October

In the game gathering areas, vegetation is either grazed or dies back, offering great sightings of the animals including the main predators. The biggest driver of cost increases in Kenya and Tanzania during this period is the Great Migration, as this is the peak period to witness river crossings at the Mara River. These months are also the best to enjoy primate trekking in countries such as Rwanda & Uganda.

SHOULDER SEASON for Southern & Eastern Africa

MONTHS: In-between months not mentioned above

The shoulder months are a time of transition - temperatures start to tumble, and migratory birds move on. In certain places, the game starts to gather in areas where they know there will be water. The shoulder season months are offering a little of both the green and high seasons.

STANDARD OF ACCOMMODATION YOU PREFER (STYLE OF TRAVEL)

Did you know? The single biggest factor affecting your overall safari experience - and the price of your safari - is where you choose to stay! 

Delve into planning a safari, and you might find that you're faced with more than a few types of accommodation options. From permanent bush camps, lodges, and mobile tented camps. There are plenty to choose from and to suit every budget; each has its subtle differences, quirks, and distinctions.

Luxury and top-end safari camps are costly as most of the time they offer exclusivity, privacy, are located in a remote area, have the best locations, and come with impeccable service and flexibility.

Safari lodges are permanent structures and located central to the area where you can enjoy game drives and other activities. They offer amenities such as a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, entertainment facilities, room service, etc. These lodges offer a great experience against reasonable prices and are highly recommended to groups and people who are a bit nervous sleeping in the bush.

Mobile tented camps offer a great bush experience and are set up for a specific seasonal event, which remains up for a short period before moving to a new location. Perfect examples of these mobile camps are camps that move with the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti or are set up in Botswana to follow the zebra migration. These types of camps are also set up in remote areas such as Mana Pools to offer a great experience to the more adventurous traveller.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to safari accommodation options, but keep in mind, it doesn’t matter which destination you choose, you get what you pay for in Africa.

THE COST OF CONSERVATION FEES, PARK FEES, AND GOVERNMENT TAXES

Something you need to keep in mind is that all park fees, sanctuary fees, conservation fees, bed night levies, and government taxes are statutory charges. Just remember that these fees will be on top of your accommodation and transfer costs, and does add to your overall African safari cost. In most cases, these fees are based on a per person rate, in 24-hours access increments.

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming trying to plan your African dream experience. If you need help, our travel specialists are on hand to give you advice. Get in touch, and we will work with you to create an African safari holiday which will leave you with lasting memories.