A safari is one of the most exciting and memorable holidays you'll ever undertake. However, understanding the costs involved is crucial for planning the perfect trip. The cost of a safari in South Africa varies widely depending on factors such as accommodation level, time of year, and whether you choose a private or group experience. South Africa remains one of the most affordable safari destinations thanks to a favourable rand-dollar exchange rate. South Africa is a fantastic option for first-timers to Africa and an excellent ‘introduction' to safari.
Let's break down the various components that contribute to the overall cost of a South African safari.
Factors Influencing Safari Costs
Safari costs can vary significantly depending on the region you choose, influenced by factors like seasonality, popularity, and accessibility.
1. Seasonality and Timing
Peak season safari travel, like during the Great Migration for example, is more expensive than off-peak times. Travelling during the low-season, however, can see rates being half the cost of high-season prices. Shoulder seasons offer mid-range pricing. The best time to visit South Africa for a safari depends on what you want to experience. The dry season (May to October) is considered the best time for game viewing, as animals gather around water sources and the vegetation is sparse, making them easier to spot. The wet season (November to April) brings lush landscapes, excellent birdwatching, fewer crowds, and subsequently, lower prices. While rain showers occur, this is also a great time to see plenty of newborn animals and dramatic thunderstorms over the savannah. South Africa offers the best year-round game viewing.
2. Duration of Your Safari
The length of your safari will directly influence the total cost of a trip to Africa. For any one safari location, we would almost always recommend three or four nights as the optimum time to spend there, before it’s time to explore a new area. Generally speaking, your nights in the bush will always be the most expensive while in Africa. So adding beach time is the perfect way to counterbalance this cost.
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3. Type of Safari
Guided tours, self-drive safaris, and private safaris all have different price points. Unlike many other safari destinations in Africa, South Africa's excellent infrastructure allows for a range of safari styles, including self-drive safaris in Kruger National Park and guided experiences in exclusive private reserves. The type of safari you choose has a significant impact on cost.
- Self-Drive Safari: A more affordable safari option, self-drive safari in South Africa offers you the freedom to explore diverse landscapes and wildlife-rich areas at your own pace.
- Classic Safari: Game drives are the most popular way to experience South Africa's incredible wildlife, available in both national parks and private reserves. Private reserves such as Sabi Sands, Madikwe, and Phinda offer exclusive, guided game drives with expert rangers, often allowing off-road access for close-up wildlife encounters.
- Fly-In Safari: Ideal for those looking to maximize their safari time, this option includes internal flights between destinations, avoiding long road transfers.
Game packages, where you fly from camp to camp and share lodge vehicles for game drives, may appear affordable due to shared vehicle costs. Depending on your group size, choosing to drive between camps with a driver and a guide offers a more personal, quality safari experience.
4. Accommodation and Inclusions
South Africa offers a wide variety of accommodation options, from budget-friendly camps to ultra-luxury lodges. We recommend accommodations that offer exceptional value, considering all inclusions and exclusions. Since we’re primarily a luxury travel company, all of our itineraries are high end. However, accommodation options within this high-end region can range from authentic, to extremely comfortable, to uber-glamorous!
Understanding the different board options is also essential:
- Full Board: This typically includes three meals a day-breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Half Board: Usually includes breakfast and either lunch or dinner.
- All-Inclusive: Covers all meals, local or selected alcoholic drinks, and often includes snacks, activities, and sometimes even park fees.
It's important to note that ‘all-inclusive' may not be as comprehensive as you first expect. In Africa, and on safaris, that can mean a range of things and it's always worth clarifying what is not included.
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5. Park Fees
African safari tours prices are impacted by park fees. Entry fees for national parks and reserves vary and should be included in your budget. Park entry fees can range from $80 per day in Tanzania’s Serengeti to $30 per day in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
6. Flights and Transfers
When budgeting for your safari, consider the cost of both international and domestic flights, as well as transfers between lodges and parks. Domestic flights within Africa, such as those between all major safari destinations, can cost between $200 and $400 pp per leg. Transfers between lodges and parks, whether by road or air, also impact your budget. The internal flight networks in Africa are well established and light aircraft is the usual mode, especially to remote camps. Usually, the more remote the destination, the more expensive it is to get to because of longer internal flights.
We’re happy to book your international flights for you. However, we find that many clients book these flights themselves, so we don’t include international flights in our quotes unless this is requested. If you book them yourself, then we simply dovetail your flights to fit your itinerary. It is worth noting that you should almost always arrange the itinerary first before booking international flights!
7. Tipping
Tipping is customary in many safari destinations and should be factored into your budget.
Here are some general guidelines:
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- Guides and Trackers: $10 to $20 per day, per service.
- Drivers: $5 to $15 per day, per driver.
- Lodge Staff: $5 to $10 per guest, per day.
It's best to tip in cash (ZAR) and hand gratuities over discreetly with a thank-you.
8. Additional Activities and Excursions
Top 10 South Africa Safari Tours
9. Miscellaneous Costs
What possible additional costs could you come across? Domestic transport - While some safari lodges include road transfer others may require separate arrangements. Vaccinations - South Africa does not require yellow fever vaccination unless you are arriving from a high-risk country. Tipping - While not mandatory, tipping is customary for safari guides, trackers, and lodge staff. Refer to our safari tipping guide for detailed recommendations.
At Yellow Zebra, we have a dedicated team who can help with visa applications, for which we charge a small service fee. Visa costs vary depending on the destination. Some require upfront visa applications, whilst others can be obtained on arrival in cash. Normally, a visa costs between US$30 and US$100 per person. It’s vital to ensure you have the right vaccinations for travel to Africa before you set off on your trip. A number of the destinations we sell are classed as malaria areas and we recommend that our clients speak to their doctors for the most up-to-date information regarding anti-malaria medications. Many vaccinations are recommended, but not all vaccinations are a requirement to enter certain countries. Whenever traveling to Africa, it’s important to seek medical advice from a doctor or specialist travel clinic. Please be aware that as part of Yellow Zebra’s Terms & Conditions, we require all clients to purchase adequate travel insurance prior to travel, making it an incredibly important extra cost to note.
The exchange rate- The official currency of South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR), though US dollars are sometimes accepted in tourist areas and safari lodges.
Safari Cost Examples
For a 6-night/7-day safari, prices vary.
- Value safaris start from $5,000 pp in low season (up to $8,000 in Botswana). In high season, up to $9,000.
- Classic safaris range from $6,000 - 14,000 pp.
Safaris in South Africa offer exceptional value and cater to a wide range of budgets. On a self-drive or guided group basis, expect to pay around US $450-600 per person per night in mid-range lodges, rising to roughly US $800-1 200 for luxury properties and US $1 200-2 300+ for ultra‑luxury camps in peak season.
*Please note: All the costs are guidelines only and an average for per person, per night, sharing a room in High and Low Season. They exclude international flights, visas and optional activities. Note that conservation fees, levies and permits are all subject to change.
Choosing the Right Safari
The first decision to make is choosing which country (or countries) you’d like to visit for your safari! Then, to start the process, it’s good to have a chat with one of our safari specialists, as this is the quickest way to narrow things down. Feeling inspired? We will design your trip to suit your individual needs and interests.
Package deals are not necessarily cheaper. A tailor-made safari will be crafted to your specific budget, allowing you to save and splurge where you and your agent feel it's necessary. The more privacy and exclusivity you want, the more you will spend. ‘Doing it yourself' is not necessarily cheaper - or often even possible. Using an agent gives you a single ‘all-inclusive' price.
We categorise safaris into three types: value, classic, and luxury. The starting point would be a best-value-for-money safari. Our classic safaris are our most popular standard luxury trips. Value safaris are some of the most interesting adventures we design. Classic safaris are the most popular trips we design. These trips include luxurious camps and lodges with high levels of comfort and hospitality. The most exquisite safaris that we offer. These trips take place within exclusive private concessions in premier safari regions.
Typically, African safari prices are given as ‘cost per person’, but this can be misleading as these figures are based on two people sharing a room. So if you’re a solo traveler or you want your own room as part of your family or group trip, it’s likely you’ll pay a single supplement cost.
Tips for Maximizing Your Budget
Your agent at Go2Africa is an expert at maximizing your budget so you get the most bang for your safari buck. Cost and quality are closely connected when it comes to safaris. The price reflects much more than just where you stay - it’s about access, guiding, comfort and unforgettable experiences. Hard-to-find online prices and a huge range of approaches from different companies can make it difficult to understand exactly what you get for your money on safari, but essentially, your trip will be a combination of accommodations, activities, transfers, and tourism and concession fees.
Some people believe that booking a safari through a tour operator always costs more. In reality, a trusted tour operator can actually save you money. We’re the first to know about last-minute offers, off-peak deals, and early-booking specials that aren’t always visible online, thanks to our established network of safari partners and suppliers.
Our brand represents good safaris - these are trips that we know can deliver that wow-factor of an experience! We don’t offer the cheapest safaris on the market, and not for a moment would we wish to do this. You will find safaris online at lower prices. All we can say is that we are very good value for the trips we offer - we even give a price guarantee on any trip we sell!
Africa’s cheap lodges and bargain-basement safari offers are low for a reason - you get what you pay for here! We don’t use mass-market safari hotels or design basic camping trips. Our specialists are genuine experts, people who have guided these safaris and worked in the camps. As a general rule, South Africa is the most affordable destination, offering great value for luxury. Botswana is the most expensive country, due to its sensational properties, set amidst pristine wilderness in exclusive private reserves. You can browse our trips to find out more about the African safaris that we offer in Tanzania, Kenya, and more.
It is worth noting that you should almost always arrange the itinerary first before booking international flights! It is a very important question because if you decide to travel in the ‘low’ or ‘shoulder’ season rather than peak season, you could cut costs by up to 50 per cent! Time your safari perfectly, and the luxury options in places like Botswana and Tanzania suddenly become much more affordable.
With safari property prices ranging from £500 to £2,700+ per person per night, the answer to this question really depends on what type of safari you’re after. Is this a safari of a lifetime? Or perhaps you are a regular visitor to Africa? We recommend talking through the various options with your safari specialist, especially if you have a particular budget in mind, and they can adapt your itinerary accordingly.
Conclusion
South Africa is one of Africa's top safari destinations, offering diverse experiences and year-round adventures. With so many options, choosing where to go and when can be overwhelming.
