African Safari on A Budget

Posted by dominicbrian23 on November 21st, 2018

An African safari is usually on the bucket list of many people. However, many people tend to dismiss the activity once they realize the amount of money that they would have to spend on the safari. Unknown to many, a safari does not have to cost thousands of dollars since with good planning, it is possible to go for a safari for less than one thousand dollars.  Here is an advice on how you can plan an Africa safari on budget.

Make Use of African Based Safari Operators

Normally, in the western world, big multinational tour companies are the ones who are known to offer safari holidays to those wishing to go for an African safari. However, to the surprise of many tourists, these big tour companies are not the ones that actually take them on the safari since they pass the tourists to local safari operators. In short, they get a commission for selling to you the safari and the actual safari is delivered by their local safari partners.

Thus, by booking a safari directly with an African based safari operator, you get the chance to customize the safari as per your liking and also pay less safari price. You can even compare prices of different safari packages from different African safari operators and make an informed decision on the safari operator that you are going to end up using.

Go For A Group Safari Rather Than a Private Safari

A group safari ends up been cheaper than a private safari as the costs are shared among all the group members. Depending on the attractions you will be visiting and the size of the group, the group safaris can be on a pop-up safari minivan, a safari bus, or a safari truck. Moreover, apart from sharing the costs, you get to meet great people during the course of the group safari.

Opt for budget Accommodation

The type of accommodation that you choose for your African safari is among the three main factors that determine the price that you end up paying for the safari. Thus, if you are looking for a budget safari, you should opt for camping or economy level of accommodation. Prices per night for these types of accommodation can be as low as a night thus making it possible for you to save a lot of money by opting for this kind of accommodation.

“The costs of safari accommodation can be anything from few hundred dollars a night to more than a thousand dollars a night. If you are not bothered with the type of accommodation, and you are the type of person who would take the challenge of sleeping in a pitched tent where you gaze the African stars at night, then you will be able to cut your safari costs to over 40%”. Remarked Peris Kimani a Safari Consultant at Safari Fellows.

Ensure Your Safari Is Booked During The Low Season

The low season in Africa is mainly during the wet season. Prices for accommodation tend to be low as demand for the services is very low. The good thing is that apart from the season been rainy, the wildebeest that you will spot in the parks during the high and peak season will be the same wildlife that you are going to spot during the rainy season. Moreover, the parks and reserves tend to be less crowded during the low season thus giving you great animal viewing experience. In addition, it is during the rainy season that most animals give birth meaning that you have a good chance of watching animal giving birth as well as their babies getting used to life.

Choose Your Safari Destination Wisely

Almost every African county is a safari destination. However, the costs involved travelling to any of the country and the safari experience offered differs. Thus, you need to make sure that you choose your safari destination well. For example, if you opt a safari in Kenya, you will find that the flights are cheap while you can be able to cover some parks in a few days. For instance, in just 1 day, you can visit Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate National Park, Crescent Island, and Lake Nakuru National Park and enjoy game viewing drives, boat ride, bird viewing, and guided walking safari. On the other hand, you could opt for a two-day safari to Amboseli where you will transverse the park and watch different animal species in a span of two days.

 Book Your Safari In Advance

Even though many people tend to advice that it is always better to book your safari when you arrive in your chosen safari country, it is always advisable that you book your safari in advance. Imagine arriving in a country and you want to go for a safari tomorrow. The safari companies that you get in touch with will likely be fully booked or some who are not fully booked might quote you high prices as they know that you have no option. Thus, it is highly advisable that you ensure that you book your safari in advance. Some local tour operators now only require you to pay a deposit and clear your balance on arrival when the safari is about to commence.