If you’ve landed here, it’s because you googled “How much does an African safari cost?” and you’re probably still in shock from the answers you found.
Before booking your trip, it’s only right to get an overview of the possible expenses you’ll need to plan for.
That’s exactly why we decided to write an article about the cost of a safari in Africa—something every interested traveler should know.
Let’s get started!
African safari: tips to cut costs (what other tour operators will never tell you)
First of all, there’s no fixed price for an African safari, since several factors can affect the final cost. Let’s take a look at them.
#1 How many days you want your safari to last
It goes without saying that the length of your African safari has a direct impact on how much it will cost. The more days you spend on safari (with the same company), the lower your daily cost is likely to be.
#2 When you want to go
Most African national parks have times of year when wildlife viewing is better than at others.
If you want to keep costs down, try to visit the park during the low season. While this may mean slightly poorer wildlife visibility and, during the rainy season, roads that are occasionally washed out, you can also count on fewer tourists.
If, on the other hand, you want to enjoy the experience at the best time of year, we at Sto Gran Tour organize African safaris and offer limited-time deals: find out what they are by clicking here!
#3 Where you want to go
Many people are surprised to learn that much of Southern Africa offers a more affordable safari experience than East Africa.
In reality, it’s not that surprising. The cost of most safaris in East Africa is largely shaped by tourist demand, which plays a decisive role in the pricing set by guides and accommodation providers. In short, the more famous and in-demand the park is, the more expensive it will be!
At Sto Gran Tour, in order to keep costs down and make the safari experience accessible to everyone, we often choose to explore parks in Southern African countries in self-drive mode, which is far more affordable than other options with a driver (but for that very reason, no one will ever tell you about it). And to make the experience truly complete and incredible, our guides are FGASA-certified rangers. That’s right: you won’t need to rely on local guides to spot animals (and do all the other awesome things that make a safari so special).
#4 The type of accommodation that suits you best
As with any trip, accommodation (just like flights) will take up most of your budget.
The top tier is made up of highly exclusive tented camps, often located in private or community reserves. That said, there’s no denying that these places cost a fortune.
The solution?
We prefer to embrace what an African country has to offer at its very best: connection with nature. That’s why we choose to stay at campsites: the skeptics will say it’s too “roughing it,” but everyone else will understand that it’s a chance to truly connect with your surroundings and enjoy the experience to the fullest while keeping costs as low as possible.
Sure, a tent doesn’t offer the same comforts as an ultra-luxury room, but can you really compare that with waking up at sunrise, cooking outdoors together, and sharing moments that will stay with you forever?
If we had to choose, we’d take the stars in the sky over the stars of a hotel any day.
Read also: Night safari: an experience you should try to fully enjoy African wildlife
#5 How you get around
Most camps and lodges offer morning and evening game drives. At the high end, these are conducted in custom luxury jeeps. At the opposite end are the minibuses used by many companies, which are a more budget-friendly option.
But you need to be careful with these vehicles: some companies make sure every seat is filled, and if you end up in a middle seat, your visibility will be worse.
As we mentioned earlier, we offer self-drive safaris.
Why?
Simple: we believe that to have a truly authentic travel experience, you need to experience the road firsthand. Can you imagine a group of adventurers with backpacks traveling on a 70-seat coach with a private driver and air conditioning?
Nope, that’s just not it.
On our trips, the team leaders drive the vehicles—or the participants themselves do (though of course, it’s not mandatory!).
#6 How exclusive you want your experience to be
If you go to large parks, such as Kruger in South Africa, you’ll find lower prices—but also paved roads and lots of people.
If, instead, you head to one of the private concessions in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, you’re guaranteed peace and quiet (which, of course, comes at a price). But that’s not all.
National park authorities are fully aware that people are willing to pay more to see a cheetah than a hornbill (a type of bird). Visiting a park with an abundance of large, easily visible mammals will almost always cost more than visiting a small, quiet park with fewer wildlife highlights.
Read also: What to see in South Africa? Unique animals, incredible national parks, and much more!
Conclusions
In this article, we’ve looked at the factors that affect the price of a safari in Africa and how to reduce these costs while still enjoying a top-quality experience.
If you’d like a clearer idea, here’s the link to compare the prices of all our best safaris.
Ready to pack your bags?
