The last thing you’d want to come in the way of your thrill of hanging out with the world’s scariest predators on a safari is a wrongly estimated budget.
Peering directly into a lion’s formidable eyes, hungrily searching about for his next hunt, is nothing short of incredible. You would want to make the most of this moment, without worrying about how expensive it’s turning out to be.
However, if you are doing it for the first time, budget planning can be a bit daunting. From choosing the best national parks to choosing your perfect accommodation to deciding what activities to do once you are in the heart of the wild, there’s so much to consider.
But worry not, in this blog post, we tell you everything you need to know to plan your budget for your African safari adventure. From cost breakdowns to budgeting hacks, we’ve covered it all. But before we start talking numbers, let’s see what factors you need to consider while planning a safari.
Factors Influencing Safari Costs:
- Accommodation:
Your choice of accommodation, no doubt, will play an essential part in deciding your overall budget for the trip. Based on your luxury and comfort preferences, you can go for budget, midrange, or luxury accommodation options, all of which you can easily find in Africa. If you are willing to take an abode near the wilderness and spare some extra bucks, there is also an option to stay within the national parks and reserves.
- Park fees:
The national parks that you are planning to visit will also affect your budget. Some national parks or reserves like Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya are more popular and sought after by adventure travelers, and so are on the pricier end than others like Meru National Park which is not as popular.
- Activities:
There is a long list of thrilling activities you can do in Africa to make your trip more adventurous. However, different activities can influence your budget differently. Game drives in the national parks and reserves are quite customary and you will often find them included in package deals. Other activities like boat safaris, night drives, gorilla trekking, and hot air balloon rides can come with an extra fee but the experience they offer you is otherworldly and worth every penny.
- Seasonality
The time of the year during which you are planning to go for your African safari also determines your budget. There are two seasons you can choose from depending on your budget- high season and low season. During the high season, the wildlife is easier to spot in Africa. The demand is higher, and so is the fee. If you are strained on budget, the low season would be a preferable time to visit. However, it is more difficult to spot wildlife during this season.
June to October is the high season when you can spot a great deal of wildlife in East and South Africa. But if you want to cut down the costs, visiting Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda from March to May (low season) can be great. Along with the wildlife viewing, you can also enjoy the rains and lush vegetation during this time.
- Transportation
The type and mode of transportation you choose to travel internationally and in the region is another important factor that will affect your budget. Here is a list of the types of transportation that you might want to factor in:
- International Flights to Africa: Costs will vary based on your country, airline choice, and class of travel.
- Internal Flights: Smaller aircraft flights between parks/reserves in Africa can add up to the cost.
- Ground Transportation: Includes vehicle hire, fuel, and driver/guide costs.
- Self-drive vs. Guided Tours: Self-drive can be cheaper but may require additional expenses like renting a 4×4 vehicle and purchasing maps or GPS systems.
- Group size:
The number of people you are planning to go with on the safari trip also impacts your budget a great deal. Traveling in groups, with friends and family, is generally a cheaper option because the costs of your accommodation and transportation are shared. Having said that, the perks of a private safari outweigh those of group safaris by miles!
- Duration:
You also need to consider the number of days you are going to dedicate to your safari trip. A typical African safari lasts between 5 to 10 days. The longer the safari, the higher the overall cost.
How Much Does a Safari Cost?
Now that you are aware of all the factors you need to consider for your budget planning, let’s look at the potential cost breakdown of your safari trip which will give you a much better idea of the costs.
Average Cost Breakdown Based On Accommodation
The cost of accommodation is paramount while planning your safari budget. Here is an average breakup of the different types of accommodation options available in Africa based on the level of comfort:
- Budget Lodges/Camps: The budget lodges or camps come with basic but essential amenities and can cost from $150 – $300 per person per night.
- Mid-range Lodges/Camps: Mid-range options are more spacious and offer more comfort and amenities. They can cost you from $300 – $600 per person per night.
- Luxury Lodges/Camps: Luxury options can offer you the best quality and comfort, with exclusive personalized services and can cost you from $600 – $1,200+ per person per night.
Now, let’s move to another important component of your budget planning, which is transportation.
Average Cost Breakdown Based On Transportation
The cost of a flight to Africa will depend upon a lot of factors like the season, the airline choice, the departure city, etc. But here’s a breakdown that will give you a good idea of what kind of in-region transportation to go for based on your budget:
- Internal Flights: It will cost you around $100 – $300 per flight.
- Ground Transport: It costs about $50 – $150 per day for a shared vehicle and $200 – $350 per day for a private vehicle.
- Self-drive: If you are planning to self-drive, it will cost you about $50 – $100 per day for vehicle rental, plus fuel costs.
Once you have sorted out accommodation and transportation, it’s time to decide how much to spend on park fees.
Average cost based on Park Fees
Park fees can vary based on their popularity. National park fees can range from $30 to $100+ per person per day, depending on the park, region, and season.
Additional costs:
Now, that we have important factors out of the way, don’t forget to take into consideration these miscellaneous costs that you might encounter on your safari trip:
- Meals and Drinks: Often included in lodge costs but can range from $10 – $50 per meal if not.
- Travel Insurance: $50 – $200 per person.
- Vaccinations and Medications: $50 – $200 per person.
By now, we hope that you have a decent idea of what your budget might look like. And just in case you are fishing for some ways to further optimize your budget, we might have a few tips for you.
Tips for budgeting and cost-saving measures
A safari trip to Africa can be more expensive than your regular trips because of the unparalleled thrill they offer. But the trip shouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket. With these tips, you’ll be able to save a significant portion of your budget without compromising the quality of the experiences. Let’s see how:
- Book in advance– Booking flights, accommodation, etc. in advance can help you save drastically on your booking costs. You can avail the early bird discounts that are offered by many airline companies and tour operators in Africa.
- Travel in low season: Fewer people plan to visit Africa during low season and this could be a blessing in disguise as the entry fees to the national parks are cheaper. You can benefit massively from the discounts that accommodations and tour operators offer during this season.
- Go for less popular parks: Less popular destinations can be oddly rewarding. Choosing off-beat parks can lead you to have more raw and unique wildlife sightings on a much cheaper budget.
- Bring your own gear: Renting gear in Africa can be costly. So, bring your own binoculars, cameras, and clothing. This way you can save a good deal.
With these tricks up your sleeve, you can stay within your budget and can still have a variety of unforgettable quality experiences on your African safari trip.
Summary:
A safari trip to Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After all, it’s not often that you get to be among the absolute wonders of wildlife, hanging out shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s scariest wild predators. So, let your budget not get in the way of cherishing each moment spent on the trip.
Here’s a quick refresher of everything we have talked about so far:
- Start your budget planning by considering factors like accommodation, transportation, travel season, activities, group size, and trip duration.
- The cost of each of the above will vary according to your level of comfort and preferences, so make sure to plan accordingly. Based on your taste, you can either make your safari trip as offbeat as possible or you can opt for high-end, luxurious experiences.
- A budget safari does not mean you must compromise on the quality. There are a lot of smart ways you can save without minimizing the thrill of your trip like early bird discounts, group travel discounts, bringing your own gear, etc.
By keeping this in mind, you will be able to prepare a perfect budget plan for your safari adventure and make your trip unforgettable.
If you have any more questions or need help with budget planning, get in touch with us and we’ll guide you.
