Budgeting for an African safari seems to be one of the hardest tasks in case one lacks some of the information about the continent. Africa is remarkably known as the world’s second largest continent after Asia protecting about 54 countries in different regions like south, east, west, north and central regions. While budgeting for a safari in Africa, there are many different cost components involved which are tricky to navigate on your own. As Safari experts, we aim to make the budgeting process easier by giving you a rough idea of what kind of safari experience you can expect for your money. We’ll look at the various factors that contribute to the overall cost of the safari and offer you suggestions that greatly fit your budget. During the budgeting of an African safari, people always have different questions within and among these include;
Is an African safari worth the money?
Going on an African safari is not the most low-budget vacation your family can take, but it is one they will certainly always remember. While not inexpensive, most returning families won’t hesitate to say their safari in Africa was a completely life-changing experience worth every penny spent. Africa is the only destination where one can go for rare and unique experiences like mountain gorilla trekking that only happens in 3 countries in the world – Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. This experience makes the African safari expensive since one has to own a gorilla trekking permit so as he or she can go for the encounter. This trekking permit goes at different rates depending on the destination/country you opt for. In Uganda, gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park at USD 800 per permit per person. In Rwanda, the experience is done in Volcanoes national park at USD 1500 per permit per permit and then in Congo, the encounter is done in Virunga national park at USD 400.
Still on the African safari, expect to spend most of your nights in the amazing and comfortable hotels with friendly staff members that will contribute on the unforgettable experience that is worth your money. Other activities to go for in the safari include; chimpanzee trekking, game drives, bird watching, mountaineering, and many others. All the mentioned and unmentioned activities and attractions make the African safari worth every penny spent.
How to budget for an African safari
The cost of an African safari depends on your destination, when you visit, what you do, and the level of service and privacy you desire. You will have a much clearer idea of what to expect after speaking with one of our safari planners about your specific needs and preferences. They will help you with the logistics involved around visiting various safari regions and help you compare mid-range luxury and high-end luxury safari camps and hotels.
In this article, let’s look at 7 ways you can spend a little less yet still ensure a dream African safari experience for you and your beloved one;
Choose Your Destination
Different African countries offer different safari experiences, and costs can vary widely. Popular safari destinations include; Kenya, a home to Masai Mara national park which is known for the great wildebeest migration where millions of animals flock and cross to Serengeti national park of Tanzania in search of greener pastures and water. Other destinations include South Africa with Kruger national park which is famous offering a variety of safari experiences like game drives, nature walks and others. Also, Botswana is among the best African destinations known for the Okavango Delta and then Uganda, Rwanda and DRC with the rare endangered mountain gorillas and the world’s most powerful Murchison falls in Uganda only. From all the mentioned countries, you can choose the one with the attractions of your desires
Time your visit just right
From May to October, in the high season for African safaris, rates are more expensive. This is because game viewing is easier when the dry bush is sparse and animals concentrate around permanent water sources. In the months of November to April which is known as the wet season, few visitors are expected to visit Africa though in some countries like Zambia and Botswana, game viewing is more rewarding in the wet season.
As you are planning your visit, please note that Africa can be visited all year round but in the off-peak season, there are possibilities of not having excellent views but some features can be got on discounts.
Type of Safari
The type of safari you choose during your African safari will greatly influence your budget. There are three safari types that is luxury, mid-range and budget safaris. Luxury safaris include high-end lodges, private tours and exclusive experiences and their accommodation prices range from $500 to 2,000 per person per night. For the mid-range safaris, it involves use of comfortable lodges or tented camps and the prices range from $200 to 500 per night per person/room. And for the budget safaris, they involve the use of basic accommodations, traveling in larger groups and self-drive options. Prices range from USD 100 to 200 per person per night.
Travel less and see more
As we mentioned, the best way to utilise your safari budget is to visit destinations that are fairly close together and easily accessible. We always advise guests to dedicate ample time to each location instead of visiting as many game parks and lodges as their schedule allows. Spending at least 2-3 nights at each camp or lodge will help you fully appreciate the uniqueness of each location and take advantage of all the game-viewing opportunities on offer.
The high costs that can be associated with travelling between camps and lodges make short stays even less desirable. Hopping between camps a lot also cuts into your valuable game-viewing time and can also cause fatigue. Through many years of first-hand experience and speaking to thousands of guests, we can all but guarantee, you will enjoy a more immersive and rewarding safari experience if you visit a maximum of 2-3 destinations per week of travel.
Know which lodges to go to
The biggest portion of your safari budget will likely go to lodging expenses, which usually includes all game drives, meals and non-premium drinks unless you are self-driving in South Africa or Namibia. Generally speaking, if you plan to visit Africa, the type of accommodation chose affects your budget either positively or negatively. African accommodations vary that is luxury, mid-range and budget lodges/campsites. For the luxury ones, everything is inclusive and also gourmet meals. For the midrange facilities, you get comfortable with good amenities lodges pus guided tours and then with budget lodges/campsites, you are offered with basic facilities basic meals or self-catering.
Explore outside the parks
For the logistical reasons mentioned, limiting your experience to game parks while in Africa can be costlier than diversifying your family vacation. Safaris are generally more expensive per night than stayovers in hotels, lodges and even family-size villas. Combining your safari with a few days in a city or on the beach can be a wonderful addition to any itinerary and lower the cost of your trip quite significantly. Some of Africa’s most celebrated cities, islands, white-sand beaches and cultural sites like Victoria Falls, Zanzibar and Cape Town are within easy reach of the best safari regions.
Once you have the experience inside the parks, you will incur other expenses like the park fees and permits that include entrance fees for example in Kenya, national park charges USD 60 to 80 per day, Tanzania charges US$60 to 70 per day, South Africa charges US$20 to 30 per day for Kruger national park. For the gorilla trekking safaris, permits range from USD 400 to 1,500 depending on the country and time of the year.
In conclusion, by carefully planning and considering these factors, you can create a budget that allows you to experience an unforgettable African safari without overspending.
