South Africa, Namibia, and Kenya are often considered the cheapest African safari countries to visit. Followed by Botswana, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
For a safari experience, we recommend a safari budget that typically falls between $1,000-$2,000+ per person sharing, per night. This safari budget would include accommodations, meals, internal air and most activities.
If you're a first-time safari-goer, we highly recommend planning a longer trip to make it well worth your while. As a general rule of thumb about two weeks (or 10 full days minimum) is a good amount of time to properly enjoy your first time in Africa.
Conventional wisdom suggests the best time to go on safari is during the dry season, which is June to October for the majority of sub-Saharan Africa. It's easier to spot animals at this time, because they gather at water sources due to the scarcity. However, Africa's seasonality is legendary.
A lot goes into the cost of running a remote safari lodge, Addison added, especially when taking into consideration high taxes, conservation fees and national park levies. Generally our experience is that it takes at least five years to pay off a lodge before it even starts to make money, he said.
There are highly exclusive safaris costing more than $1,000 per person per night, easily arranged mid-range safaris costing from $300 to $600 per person per day. and budget adventures from just $125 per day.
Shoulder season — the times between the high season and green season, March to May and October to December — usually offers moderate temperatures and just an occasional storm. This time can be a great option for travelers since this is when you can get better pricing while still enjoying prime wildlife viewing.
Since transportation is limited, travellers must often pay for specialised vehicles, such as 4x4s, to traverse the terrain. The cost of these vehicles, combined with the high cost of fuel and the extra time it takes to reach the wildlife reserves, leads to an increase in the overall cost of a safari.
Botswana: Consistently ranked as one of Africa's safest countries, Botswana's top safari destination is Chobe National Park, which is dense with a variety of wild game. The park has one of Africa's highest concentrations of elephants, with over 50,000 migrating through the park.
Namibia's big hitter is the astonishing Etosha National Park, while Zimbabwe and Zambia share the Victoria Falls. Namibia and South Africa are the most affordable of all the safari destinations we offer because you can rent a vehicle and drive yourself around, as well as stay in self-catering accommodation.
In a luxury safari, you will be guaranteed to have the best of the best, the cream of the crop guides/drivers. They will be the one to track animals and beautiful sights, and they may even take you to the “secret spots” of the place. The abler they are, the more you will be able to see and experience Africa.
Kenya is a safari destination that offers incredible natural beauty, soul-stirring cultural encounters, sensational game viewing and, of course, the thrills and spills of the Wildebeest Migration. No wonder it's the birthplace of safari travel!
If you're a first-time safari-goer, we highly recommend planning a longer trip to make it well worth your while. As a general rule of thumb about two weeks (or 10 full days minimum) is a good amount of time to properly enjoy your first time in Africa.