African Safari Cost – (How Much are African Safaris?)

An African safari costs anywhere between $200 and $3,500 per person per night. A budget African safari averages $150 per night, mid-range $450, and luxury $750. The extreme top safaris can easily go up to $2,500 per night or more! There is literally a safari to suit every budget.

African Safari Costs (Per person per day)

The costings table provides a fast summary of how much the average African safari in each country will likely cost, letting you easily choose a place that is within your budget.

Eight elements that influence the African Safari Cost

How many days do you wish to spend on safari?

It goes without saying that the length of time you spend on an African safari has a direct bearing on how much it will cost you. And the more days you go on safari (with the same operator), the less you’ll have to pay per day.

When do you want to go

Much of Africa is more expensive during school vacations than it is outside of the holidays, but other local factors might also influence the cost of your safari. The majority of African national parks have times of the year when wildlife viewing is better than others. If you want to save money, visit a park during its off-season. While this can mean less visible wildlife and occasionally washed-out roads during the Wet season, it also means substantially lower pricing, fewer tourists, and stunningly verdant countryside.

Where do you want to go

Many people are shocked to learn that most of southern Africa, where park infrastructure is frequently better and self-drive and camping safaris are more convenient, offers a more affordable safari experience than East Africa.

What level of accommodation you are comfortable with?

As with any vacation, lodging will consume the lion’s portion of your budget. The most luxurious tented campgrounds, sometimes found in private or community conservancies, are at the very top. They may be deliciously romantic, but there’s no getting around the fact that these places are expensive. In high season, many start at $2,000 per night for two people.

The location of the Accommodation

Staying outside of the parks is a wonderful way to save money. The trouble with this is that you usually miss the first light of dawn or the glow of night. Both of these are good periods for seeing animals.

How to get around

Most camps and hotels offer safari drives in the morning and evening. These will be conducted in custom-made luxury safari jeeps in the most exclusive locations. The pop-top minibusses utilized by many low-cost safari operators are on the other end of the range. Take caution with these. Some businesses ensure that every seat in the van is occupied, so if you obtain a middle seat, you won’t see anything.

How exclusive you would like your experience to be

If you go to well-known parks like Kruger in South Africa, you’ll discover lesser pricing, but also tarmac roads and crowds. In contrast, a visit to one of the private concessions in Botswana‘s Okavango Delta would ensure your privacy and tranquillity, but at a cost.

Specific requirements due to interests or hobbies

People are willing to pay more to view a cheetah than a hornbill, according to national park boards (a type of bird). Visiting a park with an abundance of large and visible creatures will always cost more than visiting a tiny, low-key park with more specialized wildlife attractions. If you want to save money, skip the big-name parks and instead become enthused about the birds and bees in the smaller, lesser-known protected areas.