How much does an African safari cost? | 2024 Best Affordable Prices

How much does an African safari cost? A night on an African trip everywhere can cost from $150 to $1,500 per person per day.  A budget African safari Tour can be valued at $150 per person while a midrange African safari can be valued at $400. Luxury/ upmarket safari lodges might cost $1,500- $5,500 or more per night.

The African trip guide below gives a highlighted outline of the average cost of an African safari in each country, it will also easily let you know how to select a destination that matches your budget.  Our website provides you with a diversity of trips ranging from 1 to 20 days therefore feel free to select the one that is suitable for your travel needs.

9 components impact the cost of an African safari.

Having assessed the additional charges, you can now start to investigate all the other factors that influence the total cost of African safaris.

1. Duration of the safari

It is unnecessary to let you know that the period you spend on an African trip influences the cost of the safari. The more days on the safari with the tour operator, the less money you will be charged per day. You should also keep in mind that the more days you spend on the safari, the more money you will spend. The length of the African safari is influenced by the factors below.

• Budget:  This is the most important element that will determine the length of your African safari. The more money you are willing to spend, the more days you can spend in each national park or destination.
• The number of destinations you intend to visit: Paying a visit to than one destination will signify that you will be spending at least one day on the road transferring to the other destination. (That’s unless you are flying). This will directly increase the total number of days you intend to spend on your Safari.
• Animals being sought after: If you are looking forward to having a glance on either the gorillas or chimpanzees, you may wind up spending more days on your safari than individuals traveling to Africa to see lions or elephants.
• Length of the International Flight: If you have a lot of connecting flights from your home country, you will end up having a llengthy trip duration on your safari than someone who had direct flights.
• Resting Time:  If you will have so many connecting flights, you may need to have one or two days at leisure to recover from the jetlag and during this time, you can do city tours or buy some souvenirs to take back home.
• How fast you get bored: If you are just interested in the basic feeling of being on an African safari but you easily get bored, you might want to spend a few days out in the bush and mix up your activities to keep things fascinating.

1. Traveling season

Travelers intending to visit the region during the peak season (June, July, August & September) or in the summer holiday period will often experience high prices in East Africa, including for safari packages and accommodation. High costs of safaris can extinguish many travelers, mainly those traveling on a fixed budget. They could also make safaris out of reach for many travelers.

Safaris are more affordable in the low season, making it effortless to cross off your bucket list. From packages to hotels, travelling during the low season could save you an outstanding amount of money. Rates could range from 20 to 40 per cent less during the low season months. Flights are also basically cheaper in the low season.

1. The destinations you intend to visit

Your destination highly influences the safari costs. Supposing that the places you intend to visit are very far from the city center, then the cost of your safari will escalade but if they are nearer, you will spend less. The activities you want to take part in through out your safari will also determine the safari costs. The Southern part of African safari, as compared to Eat African safari is believed to be less expensive but the good thing is that it has exceptional destinations to visit. Take time and go to Africa without getting concerned about the fascination of the world.

1. Level/ category of accommodation

Your preferred category of accommodation plays a major role in the cost of a safari. There are good budget lodges ranging between $100-200 us dollar per night on a full board basis. There are luxury options that range between $500-5000 per night. Depending on your budget you can go for budget, mid-range, or luxury-level accommodation. Other than the length of the safari, the level of accommodation can be a very way to adapt the safari to fit your budget. If the quotation you receive is lower than your anticipated price then you can upgrade to luxury some nights during the trip.

5. Number of people on the safari

For a safari, the number of people traveling together has a big impact on the total price of the safari since they can get to share operational expenses (Vehicle, guide, accommodation, and fuel). Safari companies have safari extended safari land cruisers can take a maximum of 7 people when each person has his/her window seat. If you are a solo traveler, the price will be high because the operational expenses are not shared with anyone and on the other hand if you traveling as a family or a group of friends the price per person will be low because you share the operational expenses.

1. Choice of activities

The choice of activities plays a vital role in influencing the cost of a safari. For example, a beach holiday safari has scheduled activities with most days that take entrance fees & sometimes other charges. Gorilla trekking is an activity that brings many tourists to Uganda and Rwanda. Gorilla trekking is the activity that stands out as the most expensive (a single gorilla trekking permit in Uganda goes for $700 and $1,500 in Rwanda). When planning a safari you for sure wish to get the most out of it and spend enough time in the national parks, but to keep the price down village walks, community tourism, and relaxation can be mixed in on some days.

1. Fly-in safari or Overland/drive-in

Transportation by road or air is a paramount factor to put into consideration in planning a safari. While flying in general is more expensive, it is the most efficient and well-organized means of transportation, transferring you between lodges easily and with enough time to enjoy activities at both lodges. Travel by road can be draining, covering considerable distances on dusty roads in safari vehicles and it consumes a lot of time. Nonetheless, overland travel accords you the opportunity to have a glimpse of the countryside and local villages between destinations, may give you a more realistic glimpse into a day in the life of the people whose country you are visiting. For some travelers, this is the best way to go.

1. Location of the accommodation

Rates of hotels within the national parks are always higher than the rates of those outside the national parks. Staying outside the parks is a wonderful way of saving money. The disadvantage is that you will usually miss the first rays of the brightness of the night if you do this. You are also likely to miss out on the fascinating and eye-catching views. During day and night time are ideal times for game viewing.

Booking your tour directly with a local tour operator.

Booking your tour directly with a local tour company means cutting the costs of middlemen travel agents overseas that tend to take huge commissions. The same applies to online travel agents like Trip Advisor and Safari Bookings. They tend to take huge commissions from listing tours from African tour and travel companies as a result, the price tends to be higher if you book through these agents. Most companies in Africa pay between $100-150 per inquiry from safari booking.

Paying a lot of money doesn’t mean that the experience is the best

It is unjust that African safaris for so long are packaged as exclusive activities for the rich. At Jim Jam Safaris, we take into account the middle-income earners and we trust that every client should have the ability to explore the continent regardless of their level of income.  We have tailored safaris that suit the needs of every client from self-drive safaris to luxury, budget, and midrange safaris.

At the end of your safari with us, you will have an unforgettable experience that we believe will last for a lifetime.

Several people have inquired about the difference between a budget and a luxury safari. The truth is that the price you pay doesn’t reflect on the quality of the experience.  Some clients prefer luxury travel while others prefer self-drive or even budget. Sleeping on your 4X4 rooftop tent costs less per day than sleeping in a hotel yet all experiences are amazing! If you are that kind of traveler who prefers exploring Africa on your own in a rented 4X4 car then you will have more fun than someone sleeping in a luxury lodge.

Explore How Much Does An African Safari Cost by Destination.