‘How much should my budget be for a safari in Africa’? Holidays in Africa take careful planning and this is one of the questions we get asked the most. Like most things, and particularly when it comes to an African safari, there is no simple answer as so many factors come into play; time of year, number of nights on safari, style of camp, special activities such as helicopter flights or conservation activities, and method of transport in country. We have looked at a few budgets and what you can expect to get for each option.
Please bear in mind that special offers and long stay rates have not been assumed here and we would always look to maximise all of these on any itinerary. We won’t always spend all of your budget if we don’t have to, but inevitably the more flexible the budget, the more options become available.
All of the budgets below exclude international flights and we would suggest allowing approx £1,200 per person for international flights in economy, £2,500 per person in premium economy and £4,000 per person plus for business class.
Budget – Up to £4,000 per person
A long weekend in the Masai Mara
With direct flights from the UK a long weekend in the Masai Mara in Kenya is ideal. The experience is so far removed from everyday life that just a few days makes it feel like you have been away for longer. With direct flights from the UK to Nairobi daily, you could leave work on a Thursday afternoon and be witnessing the wildlife of the Masai Mara 24 hours later.
Three nights at a camp such as Offbeat Mara, which is located on the wildlife rich Mara North Conservancy, and including all internal flights and transfers, should be under £3,000 per person in regular season. In high season, where you would have a chance of witnessing the wildebeest migration, your budget should be in the region of £3,600 per person.
South African Safari in the Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park in South Africa is famed for the quality of its wildlife viewing and a safari here offers the opportunity to witness black and white rhino, leopard, lion, elephant, wonderful birdlife and plenty of plains game including giraffe and zebra. Getting into the private reserves which border the main Kruger National Park offers a more peaceful wildlife viewing experience, with fewer vehicles, excellent wildlife viewing and all in the company of an expert guiding from the camp.
Combining three different camps and experiences offers the opportunity to visit different areas within this vast region, connected by road transfers rather than light aircraft flights, which always increases costs. Spending eight nights between Moditlo River Lodge, Africa on Foot and Kapama Southern Camp mixes some luxury with an authentic walking safari and will cost in the region of £4,000 per person.
Cape Town and the Garden Route
A classic combination for a reason; stunning landscapes, diverse activities, fabulous food and wine, and the sense of freedom that a self-drive holiday offers. From the cultural offerings of Cape Town such as Robben Island and various museums, to the endless opportunities to explore outside, including the penguins of Boulders Bay, Table Mountain, vineyard visits and spending time with meerkats, this is an ideal trip to take in the European winter. The Cape Region is at its best at this time of year and offers beautiful warm days; ideal for soaking up some winter sun.
A fourteen night holiday combining areas such as Cape Town, the Winelands, Hermanus, Oudtshoorn and Plettenberg Bay is likely to be in the region of £4,000 per person, including your hire car for the duration.
Budget – Up to £6,000 per person
Mobile Safari in Botswana
Famed for its exceptional wildlife viewing and wide open spaces, Botswana is often the top of people’s wish list when it comes to which country for a safari. However, safari in Botswana, particularly in high season, can be one of the most costly countries to visit due to the vast tracts of land and hugely limited numbers of vehicles. It is the luxury of space; for example just one concession in the Okavango Delta is larger than that of Greater London in area. With just two camps, each with nine rooms, this is the epitome of space.
Getting out of these private concession areas on a mobile safari not only offers the opportunity of visiting the prime wildlife viewing areas in the company of expert guides, but also dramatically reduces the cost of travel here. A nine-night mobile safari, with three nights in three different areas, with Letaka Safaris is approx £5,300 per person in high season.
Small Group Departure in Namibia
The vast spaces of Namibia and extraordinary landscapes which are typified by seemingly endless sand dunes, are in stark contrast to its more lushly vegetated neighbours. Travelling through Namibia can easily be achieved by road and having a guide with you brings the country to life and with the distances necessitating long drives, having a knowledgeable guide is worth their weight in gold. A small group departure with Ultimate Safaris Namibia will take in the key areas of the country, including Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, Etosha and Okonjima, over the course of ten nights. Travelling with like-minded individuals this trip will be in the region of £6,000 per person.
High Season Safari in Kenya
The idea of being able to witness the incredible sight of the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River is often on people’s wish list. The herds tend to arrive in the Northern Serengeti and Masai Mara in mid to late July each year, weather dependant, and they will then undertake the daunting river crossings. They remain in this area until October usually, when they start heading south through the Serengeti to the Southern Plains. The movement is all dictated by the rainfall as the herds are constantly moving in search of fresh grass.
Three nights here and three nights in a different area of Kenya such as Laikipia would offer wonderful wildlife viewing in two very different landscapes and plenty of varied activities. Three nights at Speke’s Camp, Masai Mara and three nights at El Karama Lodge in Laikipia, would cost in the region of £5,500 per person in high season.
Budget – Up to £9,000 per person
Zambia and Malawi
A classic safari and beach combination, with exceptional wildlife viewing in Zambia and time to relax at the end of your safari on the shores of Lake Malawi. Zambia is renowned for the quality of the safaris offered here, with excellent sightings of species such as leopard, lion, elephant and much more besides. By combining time in two premier national parks, namely the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa, there are opportunities to explore by boat, vehicle, on foot and by canoe. In addition the night drives offered here, unusual in Africa, offer the chance to see nocturnal species such as porcupine, civet, mongoose, owls and much more besides and in addition to the predators being active.
A trip combining three nights at both Kutali Camp in the Lower Zambezi, and Tena Tena Camp in the South Luangwa and finishing with four nights at Pumulani Lodge on Lake Malawi, is likely to cost in the region of £8,700 per person during safari season.
Eight nights in Northern Tanzania
The endless plains of the Serengeti, the drama of the Ngorongoro Highlands and the world-class wildlife viewing all combine to make Tanzania an ideal safari destination. A private guide and vehicle on safari always elevates the experience; days are totally tailored to you and your wishes, and the length of time spent on a particular sighting is your decision. Northern Tanzania lends itself to a driven safari, with wildlife viewing areas merging into each other so you are constantly game viewing, even on the days you move camp.
A trip combining two nights at Entamanu to see the Ngorongoro Crater and three nights in both the Southern and Northern Serengeti, is likely to be in the region of £8,750 per person between January and March – the ideal time of year to witness the herds of the wildebeest migration on the southern plains of the Serengeti.
Skeleton Coast Flying Safari, Namibia
A Skeleton Coast Flying Safari may only be for three nights, but it is one of the most extraordinary experiences and you will feel like you have been away for a lot longer. Offering a completely different perspective to Namibia’s vast and dramatic landscapes, this immersive safari is unlike any other. Flying in small planes, with one of the Schoeman brothers as your guide, you will explore the Skeleton Coast over the course of three nights. Landing, seemingly in the middle of nowhere or on a beach, a land rover has conveniently been left for further ground exploration.
Starting in Windhoek and ending on the Kunene River, on the boarder with Angola, you will dine under the stars, fly over flamingo colonies and see some of the remaining shipwrecks along the coast. With one night in Windhoek at the start, this trip is likely to cost in the region of £8,100 per person.
Summary
The question of how much to spend on your safari is personal and not always dependant on the amount of luxury chosen either. These are just some ideas for three differing budgets and we will always advise where spending a little more will make a significant difference to the overall experience. Similarly, we won’t always spend all of your budget where it is not needed. The key is getting the right balance of experience, length of trip, wildlife likely to be seen and accommodation styles. We are always happy to discuss options, no matter how early on in the planning process.
Please do get in touch with Lucinda to discuss any of these ideas, for other suggestions for your holiday to Africa and the Indian Ocean.
