Costs of a Safari in Africa

For most, travelling to Africa would have been a lifelong dream, or the next best destination on your bucket list, however in a lot of cases, we as travellers naturally want to keep track of our pennies and below we will help you better understand what you need to know in order to make sure you are prepared and ready for an adventure that’s GOING TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!!

 

The table below gives you an idea on what to expect to pay for a Safari in Africa based on specific regions. Our tours ranges from 4 days to 64 days.

 

Countries	Camping	Accommodated	Lodges	Small Group	Top Pick
South Africa	R 10950	R 13 450	R 13 818	R 17 690	R 14 020
Namibia	R 13 945	R 17800	R 31 950	R 17 800	R 37 305
Botswana	R 16 950	R 21 450	R 31 950	R 16 400	R 24 750
Mozambique	R 14 870	R 30 450	–	R 14 870	R 24 650
Morocco	R 19 110	R 8 760	–	R 8 760	R 8 760
Kenya	R 16 950	R 16 950	R 40 940	R 40 940	R 25 380
Tanzania	R 16 400	R 24 710	R 24 710	R 24 710	R 25 110
Uganda	R 13400	R 20 450	R 36 910	R 36 910	R 25380
Zimbabwe	R 10 600	R 16 100	R 31950	R 14 910	R14 910

Other Factors Influencing the cost of a Safari in Africa

 

1. Number of days you want to travel?

The number of days you want to travel directly affects the cost of your African Safari and by booking a longer combination tour with the same company will allow for a much larger savings in the end, depending on the destinations at hand. Most operators have standard rates for tours ranging between 4 to 64 days in length and the camping tours usually fares much better in price than an accommodated tours. A private tour can certainly be arranged just for you, your partner / your family / friends or large work groups may fare slightly more than standard camping or accommodated tours you are interested in, depending on the amount of people you would like to travel with for this private tour.

 

2. When do you want to travel?

When travelling on a whim, or planning an African getaway for years, often the time of the year you want to travel is based on personal preference. Whether it be based on when you can get leave days or when you would like to see the best wildlife around comes down to how much research you have done and ofcourse, our consultants will prepare you on what to expect over the months / weeks you would like to travel.

The best time to travel through Africa depends on where you want to travel and why you want to travel there and to better understand season and pricing in Africa, we have 3 seasons / guidelines for you:

Peak Season

Generally speaking Mid-June through to August are great times to travel throughout Africa as this falls within our winter months, also known for being our dry months for most places throughout Africa, barring the Cape Town / Garden Route region. This means wildlife is more actively seen throughout the days as the bush would have thinned out due to lack of rain and animals will be seen more regularly hanging around more permanent water sources. Peak season is the most expensive time to travel, but you know what they say “You pay for what you get” and in this case, you pay for a wildlife extravaganza and for first time visitors, this will leave you wanting to see more and more of Africa.

Shoulder Season:

Generally speaking April to Early June and September to October are the shoulder months of Africa as April into early June are known as the autumn months and September to October are spring months. This means mixed weather conditions may occur and East Africa would have welcomed their much needed long rains over the period in April and May. However don’t be put off from this, as it’s a quiet time in the parks, which means more time with animals, when you do see them, if you are up for some mud and some rain. Personally speaking, September and October are amazing times to travel as one can expect shoulder season rates at private lodges and on smaller safaris, both in Southern and in East Africa, and the overall wildlife experience is just as good in September than it would be in June through to August.

Low season:

Generally speaking the months of December to March are known as the off months for most of Africa due to it falling within the peak of summer, which coincides with the raining season throughout Southern and East Africa. Summer in most areas of Africa can be hotter than most expect, with temperatures ranging from 29˚ C (84˚ F) – 40˚ C (104˚ F) and in some areas such as Namibia, you can expect temperatures up to 50 ˚ C (122˚ F), which means that you can work on your tan, but don’t come unprepared.

In areas such East Africa, low season starts when the long rains arrive (March – May), where a lot of the lodges close down. If you like travelling when its quiet and don’t want to be disturbed by too many other travellers, know that you will still see large groups of animals and with rains generally falling in the late afternoon. So if you are willing to dare some mud and a true adventure, this is a good time to have some reflection, animals and culture.

3. Where you want to travel in Africa?

As a traveler, where you want to travel to always depends on 3 factors:

• What you want to see and experience?
• Your travel budget
• Where you have travelled before and what you are accustomed to?

What you want to see and experience:

Is something that you can only determine for yourself and our consultants are always here to assist you in better guiding you the right way / on the right adventure to ensure that you are left with a smile on your face and an adventure that will allow memories and stories for the rest of your life.

Your travel budget:

Southern Africa is much better priced than East Africa, so if you a first time traveler, we generally suggest that you start off in Southern Africa and if you like it, save up and then visit East Africa.

Flights too are generally better priced when flying from anywhere around the world to either O.R.Tambo International Airport or Cape Town international Airport, depending on where you are coming from, so if you are travelling on a budget – this is a great place to start. We as consultants would love to help you quote on a flight, however it will be cheaper to book it directly online from your side due to exchange rates and service fees. That said, we always suggest getting an idea of prices from Expedia and booking it with them or booking it directly with the airline.

When talking about booking flights, please do be careful about who you book your flights with as we have had many a case of travellers booking their flights with a 3^rd party due to how cheap the flights were, only to find out that the company was a ghost company. We really would hate for this to happen to you!!!!

Where you have travelled before and what you are accustomed to:

If you are used to something more comfortable when it comes to camping or accommodation, South Africa is suitable for you and should you have never travelled to Africa before, as mentioned, this is a good place to start.

If you are happy to forgo some comfort for an incredible safari / wildlife adventure, Botswana and East Africa are your places to be. Keep in mind that Botswana offers an incredible safari and is often better priced than East Africa, so if you are on a budget but still want to see the best of African wildlife, Botswana is a good middle ground.

4. What type of accommodation would you like to experience on your Safari in Africa?

The style you would like to experience while on your safari tour usually makes up most of your cost and will naturally be subject to your budget vs the amount of days you would like to travel for as there are various styles of accommodation available for you to choose from.

• Private tented camps and upmarket all-inclusive lodges
• Private mobile camping
• Private budget accommodation
• Overland accommodation
• Overland Camping

Private tented camps and upmarket all-inclusive lodges:

When on a private safari, permanent tented camps and upmarket all-inclusive lodges are often found to be at the top of the ladder, which naturally will be the most costly style of safari, however for honeymooners or for couples / small groups of friends wanting a more exclusive and personal experience, the cost is absolutely worth it all.

Private mobile camping:

Mobile safaris are specifically enjoyed as a 4×4 camping mobile experience that runs in small groups for you and your travel party. Often a mobile camping safari is equipped with a backup team that will set up and set down your camp for you, while you enjoy the best that the national parks has to offer you. You can expect to stay in dome canvas tent in wild areas left entirely untouched, with no infrastructures or facilities.

Private budget accommodation:

A private budget accommodated tour is totally dependent on your travel budget as this will be customized to your needs, while still ensuring that you have a tour to suite all your expectations. This can range from backpackers all the way through to 5 star accommodations all facilities will be relevant to the style you prefer and will be shared with you prior to you booking a tour of this nature.

Overland Camping:

This is the most budget friendly way of travelling while in Africa, with the best thing being that your tent, camping mat and all camping equipment is provided for you when on tour and all you need to bring is your own pillow, towel and sleeping bag. In Southern Africa, you can expect flushing toilets, warm water and hot showers in most community camps that you will travel to. In East Africa, about 70% of your campsites, you can expect flushing squat toilets or the comfort of a European toilet, however hot water is a commodity in areas where there is no electricity, such as in the Serengeti, or in the heart of the Masai Mara if you are not staying at a lodge.

Overland Accommodation:

When staying at most lodges on an overland trip, you can expect anything between a 2 to 4 star like lodge depending on what tour you have booked (ask your consultant what you can expect on your tour if you are not sure of the accommodation style). However please do understand that when you are on a safari or an overland tour, we are in Africa and insects and smaller reptiles can be seen in your rooms and this should be seen as part of the adventure.

5. The location of the camp or accommodation on your Safari in Africa?

Once you come to a decision of what country or destination/s you are eager to explore, will once again come down to your budget as Africa sadly is not as cheap as we remember it.

This said, if you are trying to save a buck or two, you can consider staying just outside a national park such as within the Kruger National region, the Masai Mara region, Etosha National Park and South Luangwa just to name a few.

This not only will help your budget, but will truly not hinder or spoil your overall experience while reentering into the parks early morning for a full day safari, best thing is that you can save to splurge elsewhere.

However, if you are looking for a pictures experience, such as the ones seen on social media, know that these are in most cases, off the grid type locations, that will be more expensive to visit and will be done as a private experience that we can gladly cost up for you.

6. How would you like to travel in Africa?

Additionally, most Safaris in Africa take place in the custom made vehicles. The size of the group can also play a role in determining the type of travel. If you are a smaller group, smaller vehicles are used. These vehicles are usually used when the operator accommodates a small amount of travellers per tour. As for the other operator, a standard overland vehicle usually carries about 12 – 15 travellers maximum. Most operators make sure every seat in the overland vehicle is filled.

Travelling can be enjoyed in so many different modes of transport and on the tours that we offer, you have the choice of the following:

• Overland Trucks
• 4×4 open safari vehicles
• 4×4 closed safari vehicles
• Bus
• Mini Bus

7. What would you like to experience on your Safari in Africa?

There is so much on offer in Africa, filled with once in a life time experiences. There are a variety of things one can experience when on a Safari in Africa, the list is endless! Make your way to the National Game Parks and enjoy game viewing. This can be done in your overland vehicle or in an open safari vehicle. For the more adventurous traveller, you can enjoy trekking in the rain forest where you may encounter gorillas. Hop onto a hot air balloon crossing over the herds of the great migration. Or you can embark on a guided walk on the wild side and experience Africa in all its glory. For the more relaxed traveller you can unwind at the pool and soak up some sun. Enjoy sipping on a drink and enjoying a good read.

Here are a few FAQs about travel in Africa:

• What is an African Safari
• How to budget for an overland trip to Africa
• What to pack for a safari
• How to plan an Overland tour through Africa guide
• Top 8 African Adventures for your Bucket List

Travelling to Africa is for some and not for others, but the bottom line is that if you are open to a few bugs, long open roads, wildlife seen in their natural environment, diverse culture and scenic roads that are forever changing – its for you!!!!

So ask us the questions you want to know as we are always here to make your dreams come true!

Evidently, you are guaranteed an epic Safari in Africa no matter your budget. Different strokes for different folks! Either way, your tour will be an unforgettable experience.