How much does an African safari cost?
Let's demystify safari pricing. In this article, we dive into the what, why and more of safari pricing and budgets.
Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
How much should I budget for a luxury safari? Why are safari trips so expensive?
When safari first-timers ask, "How much does a safari cost?", they're often surprised by the answer. But here's what many don't realise: you're not just paying for accommodation and game drives. Apart from the all-inclusive experience, you're investing in one of the world's most exclusive and meaningful travel experiences while directly contributing to wildlife conservation and local communities.
An evolved version of luxury goes to the core of the tailor-made experiential safaris we craft at Africa Geographic, alongside our conservation media and donations. Let’s unpack what that means.
What you're really paying for:
The true value behind safari pricing
It’s so much more than just visiting a lodge!
With us, the renaissance of ‘luxury with purpose’ transcends opulence and embraces meaning. Luxury safaris should no longer be defined by crystal glass chandeliers or rimflow pools but by soulful connection, exclusivity of experience, and purposeful impact.
Our safari guests crave stories, authenticity, and the reassurance that their journey is contributing to something greater. Holidays that transform. As the world reawakens to the value of wild spaces, choose responsible safaris that honour the land and its people. Help us redefine luxury – not as excess but as experience, intention, and legacy.
A luxury safari is priced this way because it is hand-crafted with:
Expertise to tailor your experience
Exclusive access to bucket-list adventures
Logistical excellence
Conservation impact
Uniquely private accommodation
Highest safety standards
By choosing safari experts like Africa Geographic to plan your safari, you gain expert insight, smooth logistics, and responsible travel experiences. Read more here about how we'll help you plan your safari.
Handcrafting your safari
A luxury safari experience is tailor-made by experts who are more than travel agents: they're passionate conservationists and storytellers who create magical moments you'll treasure forever.
When you choose to embark on an African safari, you’re investing in the trip of a lifetime. Let us make it flawless. Start by downloading our Safari Packing Guide, and get exclusive planning insights straight from the Africa Geographic team.
Exclusive access to experiences money can't buy
Premium safari pricing grants you access to:
Private conservancies with limited guest numbers, ensuring intimate wildlife encounters
Prime wildlife areas where the Big 5 roam freely in their natural habitat
Seasonal phenomena like the Great Wildebeest Migration river crossings, which can be witnessed only during specific windows
Remote wilderness locations far from crowds, where you might be the only humans for miles
This exclusivity means you'll witness Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles without the distractions of mass tourism.
Logistical excellence
Creating a flawless safari requires extraordinary behind-the-scenes coordination, including precise seasonal timing, the logistics of remote locations, specialised knowledge of the area, and, essentially, real-time adaptability to weather, wildlife movements, and seasonal changes.
This level of coordination ensures you won't miss "the greatest show on Earth" due to poor timing or planning.
Uniquely private accommodation
Safari lodges represent some of the world's most remarkable hospitality achievements:
Remote luxury properties built sustainably in pristine wilderness settings
World-class cuisine prepared by skilled chefs using fresh, local ingredients
Exceptional service standards that anticipate your every need
Unique architectural designs that blend seamlessly with the natural environment
These aren't just hotels – they're sanctuaries that provide comfort and luxury while respecting the wilderness around them. Read more about the different types of safari accommodation here.
Conservation impact
Every dollar you spend on safari directly funds critical conservation efforts across Africa. Your investment supports anti-poaching operations that protect endangered species around the clock, wildlife research programs that monitor animal populations and behaviour, community conservation initiatives that provide sustainable livelihoods for local people, and habitat restoration projects that maintain pristine wilderness areas for future generations. When you choose a quality safari planner, you're not just a tourist – you're a conservation partner ensuring Africa's wildlife thrives for decades to come.
Highest safety standards
Your investment guarantees the highest safety and service standards and ensures your transformative experience unfolds safely and smoothly.
Understanding safari pricing levels
(Peak season price estimates, without extras)
US$400–500 per night per person sharing*
This range of safari prices covers authentic tented accommodation, 3-star lodges, and mobile camping safaris. The focus is on adventure with no frills. You will have everything you need to be comfortable, well-fed, and entertained. Expect to pay more for items such as non-local alcohol. These safaris typically take place outside or within publicly accessible areas of protected parks, and game-drive vehicles accommodate up to 9 guests.
US$500–1,000 per night per person sharing*
This mid-range of safari prices covers 4-star lodges and tented camps where standards of guiding, food, and service are high. Extras, such as spa treatments, are charged separately. These safaris often take place in public areas of protected areas or in small concessions or game reserves, and game-drive vehicles can carry up to eight guests.
US$1,000–1,500 per night per person sharing*
This range of safari prices covers 5-star lodges and tented camps where standards of guiding, food, and service are very high. Extras like spa treatments, private guides, and game-drive vehicles cost more. These safaris are usually in private concessions within prime protected areas, and game-drive vehicles carry up to six guests.
Above US$1,500 per night per person sharing*
This luxury+ range of safari prices offers the touches that typify the ultra-luxury travel market worldwide. Expect exclusivity and extreme attention to detail in accommodations, food, and service – and sometimes private spa treatments, personal chefs with international training and very experienced guides. These safaris are typically located in private concessions within prime protected areas, and game drive vehicles often accommodate only four guests or provide a private guide and vehicle for you and your party.
* These example prices include accommodation, food, drinks, park fees and standard activities such as game drives and bush walks (unless otherwise stated) and Africa Geographic services.
Some of our top-rated African safaris
Our safari experts have chosen these as their favourites based on extensive travels all over Africa for many years. Many of our guests use these as inspiration when curating and tailor-making their holiday with one of our safari experts.
Factors influencing your safari investment
Most safaris are priced per person, assuming two people will share a room.
If you are travelling solo, you will usually pay a single-person supplement to compensate the lodge for having only one person in a two-person room.
Insider tip: The single supplement is often waived during the low season, so it can be beneficial for solo travellers to plan their travel times accordingly.
Peak safari season is the most expensive time to travel, followed by shoulder season and off-peak/low season.
The timing of peak season varies depending on the wildlife experience and weather patterns. It usually runs from July to September, and a portion of the festive season and local school holidays.
Travelling outside the peak season can result in 30-50% savings on accommodation costs and help avoid the crowds.
Insider tip: Having wildlife encounters to yourself is a perk of low-season travel.
Safari accommodation types & comfort levels range from reed huts and tented camps to ultra-luxury lodges and large resorts.
Some are permanent, others seasonal, and some are erected purely for your use and then dismantled again.
Your wishes and budget will influence your choice of African safari accommodation.
The more exclusivity you desire, the higher the cost will be.
Examples include personal chefs and butlers, exclusive use of a villa, and exclusive use of a game-drive vehicle and guide.
Insider tip: Exclusive use often costs less outside of the peak season, when demand is lower.
The country and national parks of your choice are important factors in determining the cost of a safari.
Examples:
Botswana is generally Africa's most expensive destination due to its low-volume, high-value tourism policy.
South Africa and Namibia are two of the best-value countries to visit, thanks to exchange rates that work in visitors’ favour.
Tanzania and Kenya charge very high daily park fees.
Some parks within countries are more expensive than others, usually because they offer better wildlife experiences.
Remote destinations cost more to reach than those near popular transport hubs, because you will require some form of aircraft and sometimes a chartered flight.
Private concessions are more expensive than public areas and offer a more personal experience without the crowds.
Some experiences are expensive because of the high cost of required permits (gorilla trekking, for example, can cost up to US$1,500 per trek). These items add to your safari cost and significantly to the conservation benefits associated with your safari.
Other experiences occur during a limited period or in a specific area, attracting premium rates.
Examples:
The popular Mara River crossings during the Great Wildebeest Migration occur only during the peak safari season on a small section of the river.
Only a handful of areas in Africa offer the rare opportunity to see the Big 5 in one area.
Your chosen mode of transport between lodges will impact the cost of your safari.
The most cost-effective options include scheduled flights and road transfers.
Examples of more expensive options include helicopters, small aircraft/jet charters, and private luxury vehicles with drivers.
Many lodges offer optional extras over and above the usual lodgings, meals, drinks and standard activities (game drives and bush walks).
Examples include hot-air balloon trips, spa treatments, helicopter flips and conservation activities (when available).
Special interests often involve additional costs, including hiring specialist guides and obtaining relevant permits.
Going on holiday always involves costs beyond the usual safari expenses. These include international and regional flights, visas, vaccinations, travel and medical insurance, curio purchases, gifts and tips.
Download our safari packing guide
Developed by safari experts with thousands of trips under our belts, from 1991 to now, our safari packing guide ensures a seamless and easy trip.
DIY safari vs. professional
safari planning
Travel in Africa is about knowing what, when and where to go and with whom – for the ultimate experience. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Task | DIY safari planning | Professional safari planning |
Wildlife timing | Risk missing seasonal migrations, breeding seasons, or optimal viewing periods due to a lack of real-time, on-the-ground intelligence | Access to current wildlife movement data and 34+ years of seasonal expertise, ensuring perfect timing |
Accommodation quality | Limited access to vetted properties; risk of overbooked facilities | Exclusive partnerships with premium lodges and tented camps, guaranteed quality standards |
Safety protocols | Unaware of current regional safety concerns, medical facilities, or emergency procedures | Comprehensive safety briefings, vetted partners, and 24/7 emergency support network |
Conservation impact | May unknowingly support partners with poor conservation practices | Guaranteed partnerships with verified conservation-focused operators and community projects |
Guide expertise | No quality control over guide qualifications or local knowledge | Access to professionally trained, certified guides with extensive wildlife and cultural expertise |
Logistical coordination | Risk of missed connections, scheduling conflicts, or transportation breakdowns | Seamless coordination of complex multi-destination itineraries with backup plans |
Pricing transparency | Hidden costs, unexpected fees, and potential scams from unvetted service providers | Transparent pricing with all costs detailed upfront, and protection against fraudulent operators |
Exclusive access | Limited to public areas and standard tourism routes | Access to private conservancies, exclusive experiences, and off-the-beaten-path locations |
Problem resolution | No support when issues arise; language barriers and unfamiliar legal systems | Immediate problem resolution with local representatives and established relationships |
Time investment | Hundreds of hours researching, booking, and coordinating multiple vendors | Professional planning saves 200+ hours while ensuring superior outcomes |
Value optimisation | Often pay more due to a lack of industry relationships and bulk purchasing power | Better value through established partnerships, group rates, and insider access |
The reality: Attempting to save money through DIY planning typically results in higher overall costs, significant risks, and missed opportunities. A few weeks of poor timing or choosing substandard service providers can turn a once-in-a-lifetime investment into a disappointing experience.
Our commitments to you
Tailormade experiential safaris: trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
The best safari experts: our travel designers come from a diverse background of private safari guides, lodge managers and conservationists. They either live in Africa or have lived there for many years. All have many years of travelling and hand-crafting safaris for discerning guests who want the best experiences
The best lodges: we carefully select lodges, guides and transport providers for your African holiday based on quality, service and ethics
24/7 concierge service: our team are on call at all times while you are travelling, to help iron out those little wrinkles that can occur
Your safari with us makes a difference: we donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level. Your safari also supports our conservation publishing division, which educates the world about African conservation realities.
Financial security: Your payments to us are safe because they remain in a trust account until you travel
Trusted by thousands of satisfied travellers
✔️ 4.9 Star Trustpilot Rating ✔️ 5,000+ Safari Trips Completed
✔️ 34+ Years of Experience ✔️ 2025 Conde Nast Travel Specialist Award Winner
“I have been travelling with Africa Geographic for more than a decade... Amateur photography is my hobby, and each trip has been unique, well-planned, and fulfilled my purposes whether it was a tent camp in Zambia to see the bat migration, to visit Ethiopia, or, as on this trip, with my family of 11 including five children (7-18 yrs) to introduce them to the gorillas and chimpanzees of Uganda, the golden monkeys in the Volcano NP in Rwanda, or the migration in the Serengeti, the details of the trip, met our needs and desires ... Trust and enjoy.”
“Our second trip using Africa Geographic. This was a 12-day itinerary including Windhoek, Sossusvlei, Walvis Bay, Brandberg, Etosha, and Okonjima. Excellent planning, communication, information package, and advice. Accommodation absolutely as we expected. The private guide was superb, and the vehicle was excellent. Fabulous experience. Highly recommended.”
“Benjamin knocked it out of the park! We are the DIY type and have never used a travel agent before, so we were kind of sceptical. Ben took the time to ask all the right questions and tweaked the plan based on our feedback until it was perfect (we didn't make it easy on him!). The trip was all we dreamed of and more! I can't recommend this company enough for a once-in-a-lifetime trip."
Start planning your dream safari
When will Africa infect you with her magic? Your transformation awaits – let our conservation experts craft a journey that matches your values with your dreams of Africa. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Guest payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability.
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!