WHAT DOES A SAFARI COST? GUIDELINES FOR 2023 – 2024
WHAT DOES A SAFARI COST? GUIDELINES FOR 2023 – 2024
A safari is one of the most exciting and memorable holidays you’ll ever undertake. There are a lot of factors that go into the cost of an African safari – such as location, time of the year, and level of comfort – but there are also some good rules of thumb to follow for your safari budget…
African Safari Costs: What to Keep in Mind
- 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. A package deal or scheduled departure tour locks you in to a specific itinerary and non-flexible price.
- The more privacy and exclusivity you want, the more you will spend. But you can still have a great time in a less luxurious environment – this is where your agent’s knowledge and experience are so important.
- 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. But it also offers rich rewards for experienced safari goers.
- ‘Doing it yourself’ is not necessarily cheaper – or often even possible. In many places, you need your agent’s specialised knowledge of light aircraft schedules, transfer companies and ground handlers for your itinerary.
- Using an agent gives you a single ‘all-inclusive’ price. Your agent will have access to room availability, special deals and other factors that allow him or her to create an entire itinerary – including international flights – with one cost so there are no ‘surprises’.
East African Safari Costs
East African Safari Cost Guidelines
Kenya is home to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park and Samburu National Park, among many others like Mount Meru, Tsavo and the Aberdares. Tanzania counts the equally famous Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conversation Area, Nyerere National Park (previously Selous Game Reserve), and Ruaha among its national parks.
Together, Tanzania and Kenya make up East Africa and are considered to be the birthplace of safari. This is also where you will encounter the Great Wildebeest Migration.
Tanzania Safari Cost
| 4-star comfort | 4-star luxury | 5-star luxury | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High |
| $500 – $675 | $550 – $725 | $800 – $1,200 | $950 – $1,350 | $1,250 | $1,850 |
Kenya Safari Cost
| 4-star comfort | 4-star luxury | 5-star luxury | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High |
| $420–500 | $550–650 | $650–750 | $800–1050 | $1,100–1,250 | $1,300–1,750 |
Tanzania & Kenya Safari Cost Combined
| 4-star comfort | 4-star luxury | 5-star luxury | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High |
| $500 | $650 | $700–1,150 | $1,200–1,400 | $1,450 | $1,800–2,900 |
**All the costs in this blog 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. Peak or High Season generally runs over Christmas and New Year, and from about July to October.
Gorilla Trekking Cost Guidelines
Gorilla trekking takes you into the pristine and unbelievably beautiful heart of Africa, to the green hills and rainforests of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda that endangered gorilla call home. Tourism is a non-negotiable part of gorilla conservation and some porters and guides are even reformed poachers who now derive an income from protecting Africa’s great apes.
Congo Costs
| 4-star comfort | 4-star luxury | 5-star luxury | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High |
| $1,200 | $1,750 | $1,200 | $1,750 | N/A | N/A |
Rwanda Pricing
| 4-star comfort | 4-star luxury | 5-star luxury | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High |
| $1,150 | $2,800 | $1,150 | $2,800 | $2,650 | $3, 025 |
Uganda Costing
| 4-star comfort | 4-star luxury | 5-star luxury | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High |
| $600 | $1,200 | $600 | $1, 250 | N/A | N/A |
**All the costs in this blog 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. Peak or High
