How Much Does an African Safari Cost? Your Best Budget Africa Safari Guide

To get started, basic African safari costs start at around US$ 150 per person per day for an all-inclusive budget safari package. That's the no-frills budget safari, that stays at basic campsites and takes advantage of off-season rates. On the other end of the African safari cost spectrum, the sky is the limit in terms of luxury safaris if you want to spend more.

The most important thing to remember is that safari costs sit on a sliding scale and seasonality, level of accommodation, and the destinations you want to visit will all affect your safari costs. The idea is that by tweaking these factors individually, it becomes possible to find the African safari cost option that is perfect for you and your budget.

Based on our experience supplying African safari tours, African Budget Safaris has a comprehensive list of popular African budget safari packages. These safari tours offer a no-fuss planning experience that provides excellent value for money. You don't have to compromise on quality, even at the cheaper end of the spectrum, where a budget safari costs from US$ 150 to US$ 300 per person per day.

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Please note: The safari prices in this post are correct as of August 2023. For the most current pricing, contact one of our Africa travel experts

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Rhino safari cost by Robert Nyman

Factors Affecting the Cost of African Safari Trips

Planning an African safari on a budget can be daunting, and the cost of an African safari will depend on various factors. The good news is that there is an African safari for every budget. Factors that will affect how much your African safari costs include accommodation or level of comfort, flexibility of dates and whether you can travel out of peak safari season, mode of transport for example driving or flying, the size of your group, your chosen destination or destinations, and finally the duration of your trip. These factors will all affect the cost of an African safari. There are a few safari budget misconceptions that we should look at before we get into the details.

South Africa safari cost, penguins by Christopher Griner

African Budget Safari Misconceptions

A DIY safari is not always cheaper. Planning and booking an African safari independently, without an agent, may not be cheaper or feasible. Agents have specialized knowledge that helps get them better deals. African safari costs may appear cheaper when buying them piece by piece, but check carefully to see what is and isn’t included. These 'hidden' safari costs add up quickly. When you book a package with a safari company like African Budget Safaris, you consolidate all of your expenses into a single 'all-inclusive' cost. While going DIY may appear to give you better rates, it is important to check what is, and what is not included, transfer costs from the airport, meals, or safari guides for example can all add significantly to your safari cost. When budgeting for African safari costs, it's important to recognize that package deals are not always the most cost-effective option. I am talking about a package deal versus a bespoke safari itinerary. Opting for a tailor-made safari provides the opportunity to customize your experience according to your specific budget, allowing you to allocate your funds wisely with guidance from your agent. For example, you might want to camp for your first week on safari so that you can spend a couple of nights at a luxury lodge, or, maybe you would rather spend more time doing game drives than heading for expensive safari hot spots like the Mara River crossing. Package deals limit your freedom. It is possible to take advantage of package deals that still leave room for exploring. The best way to save money on your safari cost is to use a safari agent at the planning stage. If you need to feel the freedom of some unexpected adventures, leave a few days before or after your planned holiday. Some itineraries have optional activities built in which means you can opt-in, or opt-out, or do something completely different! South Africa is an expensive safari destination. South Africa has a lot to offer, diverse landscapes including bush, beach, and desert, combined with good infrastructure and some world-class cities. Add to this an advantageous Rand-Dollar exchange rate, and a South African safari remains an ideal budget safari destination for first-timers and return visitors alike.

Cape Town safari cost by Darren Glanville

How Much are African Safaris? Figuring out your Safari Cost Per Day

The most important thing is to work out the cost of your African safari, is what your safari budget looks like. Generally speaking, safari costs fall into three categories, budget safaris, mid-range safaris, and luxury safaris. Below we have safari costs based on US dollars per person per day safari prices. These budget price ranges are designed to help you figure out how much you can expect to spend per day on your African safari cost. The African safari packages that these price brackets are based on, range from 1 day to 56 days in length, so once you know more or less the cost of an African safari per person per day, you can then figure out how long you can afford to go on safari.

1. US$ 150 - US$ 300 - Budget Safari Tours
2. US$ 360 - US$ 550 per person per day - Mid-Range Safaris
3. US$ 450 - US$ 1,000+ per person per day - Affordable Luxury Safaris
4. US$ 300 - US$ 1,000+ Per day - Tailor-made Custom Safaris & Private Tours

Botswana safari cost by Ross Huggett

US$ 150 - US$ 300 Per Day - Standard Budget African Safari Costs

How much does a budget African safari cost? Well, for the budget-savvy traveller, the budget safari range is perfect. Most importantly, you get to see and experience the magic of Africa. Budget safaris save money on accommodation, and are a mix of camping and the odd lodge or B&B, basic meals, and are a little bit more wild and have a little less pizazz. The other safari cost factor is group size and duration, as more people on your safari translates to better deals, and the cheaper the cost per day, the longer people tend to travel. The costs of the budget safari option can be broken down into the following categories:

Travel Style	Destinations you can visit for US$ 150 - US$ 300 per day
Budget Camping	Malawi	Mozambique	Namibia	South Africa	Zambia	Zimbabwe	Botswana	Kenya	Tanzania
Exclusive Budget	Malawi	Mozambique	Namibia		Zambia	Zimbabwe
Overland Camping	Malawi	Mozambique	Namibia	South Africa	Zambia	Zimbabwe	Botswana	Kenya	Tanzania
Overland Lodge	Malawi	Mozambique	Namibia	South Africa	Tanzania	Zambia	Zimbabwe
Lodge Safaris			Namibia	South Africa

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania safari cost by Roman Boed

US$ 360 - US$ 550 Per Day - Mid-Range Safari Costs

Mid-range safari packages will provide more care and comfort but still keep exotic destinations at the heart of things. Mid-range safari costs are a good compromise as often there are fewer people in groups, and the durations are less arduous.

Travel Style	Destinations you can visit for US$ 360 - US$ 550 per day
Senior Tours (40+)	Botswana	Namibia	South Africa
Exclusive Budget	Botswana	Kenya	Tanzania
Lodge Safaris	Botswana	Kenya	Malawi	Mozambique	Tanzania	Zimbabwe
Overland Lodge	Botswana	Kenya	Malawi	Mozambique	Tanzania	Zimbabwe
Expedition Tours	Botswana	Malawi	South Africa	Zambia	Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls safari costs by Mike

US$ 450 - US$ 1000 Per Day - Luxury Safaris for Less

How much does a luxury safari cost? In the luxury safari price range, you will not want for any sense of luxury, great food, great accommodation, and even the bee's knees:

Travel Style	Destinations you can visit for US$ 450 - US$ 1000 per day
Lodge Safaris	Botswana	Kenya	Tanzania	Zambia

Camping on Salt Pan, Botswana safari by abi.bhattachan

US$ 300 - US$ 1,000+ Per day - Custom & Private Safari Costs

With this option, not only is the world your oyster but you also get to decide when, where, and how it gets served. Oh, and did I mention you can have your cake AND eat it?

Private tours and custom safari costs are not automatically higher than packaged group tours. Tailor-made and private safaris can be a cost-effective safari option, especially when you are travelling in a big group. Our budget safari experts can also tailor your safari costs to suit your budget and help you save money without compromising on the quality of your safari experience.

The cost of a custom or private safari depends on a number of factors that include destination, mode of transport, duration, and seasonal availability. African Budget Safari prides itself on delivering high-quality African safari experiences that cater to the needs of the individual. We specialize in small-group, private, and tailor-made tours, and have an excellent selection of ready-to-go private safari tours.

Our experienced safari travel consultants are available to answer any and all of your safari questions, and you can drop us a message here and one of the team will get right back to you.

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Where You Go & How You Travel Affects Your Safari Costs

Your chosen destination will affect your African safari cost and budget. Generally, the more remote the location, the more expensive. South African safari, where visitors benefit from a favourable exchange rate and a competitive accommodation market, are typically cheaper than East African safari tours where park fees are significant, pricing is based in US dollars, and there are fewer options. To give you an easy-to-see safari guide, we have broken down each safari cost bracket in terms of the relevant destinations and the types of trips applicable. 

Lake Malawi, safari cost by khym54

How to Choose the Best Safari Company: Let African Budget Safaris Do It

African safaris are a competitive market served by a huge array of companies. It is important to find a safari company that is the right fit for you. And, that's where we come in.

African Budget Safaris has over 19 years of experience in the safari industry, working with about 90 reputable safari companies across Africa, all vying to bring your safari costs within your safari budget.

Together, our team of African travel consultants has over a century’s worth of experience in African safari travel. That is firsthand experience travelling in Africa on a budget and working in the African travel industry. This wealth of knowledge, experience, and connections enables us to match each traveller with the best safari company for their dream trip.

Based in Cape Town, African Budget Safaris has figured out how to cater to everyday people, so you won't need to remortgage your house, cancel college, or cash in your retirement annuity in order to see our amazing landscapes and wildlife. You don't have to waste time and energy on choosing the right safari company, you can simply contact African Budget Safaris and we'll find the best fit for you.

If you prefer to trawl the internet and do your own research to find a safari company (that may or may not be the best option for you), just do your homework. One of the best ways to vet your African safari company is to check out its customer reviews. You can read our customer reviews here and see what other travellers have to say about African Budget Safari services.

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Spending More Doesn't Always Amount to a Better Safari Experience

It comes down to personal preference, but your African safari cost is not necessarily a reflection of the quality of the experience. To give an example, some travel styles are cheaper than others. A camping overland trip costs less per day than a lodge-based safari, but if you like travelling in a group and camping out under the stars, you may well enjoy it more than a lodge-based experience.

To find out more about each travel style, follow the green links in the tables to go to the main listing page for that safari type. There you will find a detailed description of what to expect for the given style of safari trip - in the first column.

Kenya safari cost, Lake Naivasha image by Darko Vrcan

Why the Cost of an African Safari Can be Budget-Friendly

Over the years the African safari experience has been actively promoted as a luxury item, that is costly. Why is that? The main reason is that luxury travel is where the big bucks are to be made for luxury travel agents. These travel agents leverage the excess of past presidents, royals, and superstars to create an aura of elitism. Exclusive safari experiences, with private guides, chauffeur-driven airport transfers, five-star accommodations, haute cuisine, charter flights, and other needless expenses can run into hundreds and thousands of dollars. Nice for some, but not for everyone. 

How much DOES an African safari cost? The truth is that African safaris today offer affordability and outstanding value for money. That's right, affordable safaris exist! African Budget Safaris has a huge range of safari trips to suit every travel style and length of stay. This means that 

To start your journey, check out our budget safari search to get an idea of what's available. We cover 14 different African countries from South Africa to Kenya and beyond. 

Camping on Salt Pan, Botswana safari by abi.bhattachan

For more details about safari costs, see our African Safari Cost Guide or contact African Budget Safaris and talk to one of our African travel experts.

[Last Updated August 2023]