Other disadvantages of safari parks include habituation, which can cause wildlife to lose their natural instincts, and animals can even risk contracting human disease if people are able to pet, touch, and take selfies with them.

While safaris are "bucket list" experiences, they come with significant disadvantages, primarily high costs, health risks, and ethical concerns. An African safari is often one of the most expensive trips a person can take, with park fees alone reaching $200 per day in 2026. Logistically, they involve long, arduous drives over bumpy dirt roads, which can lead to extreme "travel fatigue." From a health perspective, visitors often require multiple vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis, and there is always a risk of close encounters with dangerous wildlife. Ethically, "low-quality" safaris can lead to the habituation of animals, causing them to lose their natural instincts and become dependent on humans. Furthermore, popular parks can become overcrowded with vehicles, leading to "traffic jams" around a single lion or leopard, which stresses the animals and ruins the "wilderness" feel for the tourist. For many, the lack of basic amenities in off-grid camps is also a major hurdle to comfort.