The African Safari is a bucket list adventure everyone must make at least once in their lifetimes. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive trips you’ll ever make. But don’t despair. With the proper planning, you can easily enjoy an affordable African Safari, and still see everything you want.
Last October, we traveled to Zambia to check the African safari off our travel bucket list in South Luangwa National Park. And we did it for a fraction of the cost of most of the African safaris you see on YouTube and the rest of the web. Here’s how we did it, all without having to shorten the safari.
It’s not uncommon for a week-long safari in a popular destination such as the Masai Mara or the Serengeti to cost upwards of $10,000 to $12,000. Our week-long safari in Zambia cost just $4,400. We were staying in some pretty nice places, too. One of the chalets we stayed at opened right up on the river, so you could watch the wildlife in the river while you were taking a shower or lying in bed.
The $4,400 covered everything, including:
- Flights between Lusaka (Zambia’s capital) and Mfuwe, where the safari started and ended
- Food, Drinks (including alcohol), and Lodging
- Entrance fees to South Luangwa National Park
- Game Drives, Guides, and Scouts
- Ground Transfers within the National Park, as well as to and from Mfuwe Airport
1. Know What Wildlife You Want to See
Africa is a lot bigger than most people realize. You can fit the United States, Canada, and most of Europe into the surface area that Africa covers. Alternatively, you can fit Texas into Africa 45 times and still have plenty of room left over. It’s big.
Not surprisingly, looking for a specific type of wildlife will impact where you go on your safari. The wildlife in Kenya and Rwanda will be different from what you’ll find in Botswana or South Africa. For example, if you want to see the mountain gorillas, you’ll need to be in either Rwanda, Uganda, or the DRC. if you’re after the famous “Big 5”, it’s all about Southern Africa.
We highly recommend opening your mind to all types of wildlife. It will open up so many more opportunities in countries you may not have even considered. And it will likely make your African safari a lot more affordable. You can find 4 of the “Big 5” in most safari destinations in Southern Africa. Rhino poaching has unfortunately made getting all of the Big 5 extremely difficult because there are so few rhinos left. Exactly where those rhinos are remain closely guarded secrets.
On our safari in Zambia, we saw lions, bush elephants, and African buffalo on Day 1, checking off three of the Big 5. Our first leopard sighting was on Day 3. And we weren’t even there during the peak season. You will likely enjoy similar success if you safari in southern Africa.
2. An African Safari in a Less Popular Country is Much More Affordable
When you think of an African safari, what’s the first location that comes to mind? You’re probably thinking of Kenya’s Masai Mara or Tanzania’s Serengeti. Kruger National Park in South Africa is another popular one. So how did we settle on Zambia?
Zambia is certainly nowhere near as well-known for an African safari as Kenya or Tanzania, but it’s a hell of a lot more affordable. We were going to be in Zambia anyway to see the famous fruit bat migration, so it was a natural first choice. We also looked at Botswana and South Africa, but ultimately chose Zambia because it minimized both travel costs and logistics. After the long flight from the US, we just had to get off the plane in Lusaka, clear customs, and transfer to the domestic flight to Mfuwe. No extra border crossings, visas, or anything like that.
The Zambian safari did not disappoint, either. By the end of the third day we had seen 4 of the Big 5. We photographed every type of wildlife we hoped to see and then some. Outside of the Big 5, some of the highlights include honey badgers, wild dogs, and the carmine bee eaters. I could go on, but I’ll let the photos do the talking.
3. Stick to One National Park to Reduce Your African Safari Travel Costs
Travel through remote parts of Africa can be surprisingly expensive. While there are commercial flights to many African safari destinations, they usually only get you to the gates of the National Park. Beyond that, you’re on your own. Chartered planes cost a fortune. Even ground transfers can be really pricey, especially if you’re going long distances. Many roads in rural Africa are in awful shape.
To keep your African Safari more affordable, choose one National Park and do your entire safari there. You don’t want to waste valuable time that could be spent watching wildlife in transfers. Staying in one park will greatly reduce, and in some cases, even eliminate your travel or transfer costs.
If you can, book a safari that includes all transfer costs. We did our entire Zambian safari inside South Luangwa National Park, which minimized both the time we spent in transfers as well as the associated cost. The safari company we used did a fantastic job scheduling transfers within the national park so we did not miss a single game drive. Here is the full list of transfers we had to make on our safari.
| Transfer | Time in Transfer |
|---|---|
| Air transfers (flights) between Lusaka and Mfuwe | 1 hour each way |
| Ground transfers between Mfuwe Airport and South Luangwa National Park | 40 minutes each way |
| Ground transfers between Mfuwe Lodge and the Bushcamps | 3 hours each way |
| 1 Ground transfer between bushcamps | 15 minutes |
4. Go on Your African Safari in the Shoulder Season
You can find good deals on any type of travel during the shoulder season, but it’s especially true for African safaris. Better yet, you’ll also avoid a lot of the crowds in the shoulder season. Indeed, we got a 30% discount on our South Luangwa safari and never had more than 4 or 5 people in the jeeps. And we booked the safari only about 3 weeks before it happened.
For nearly every safari destination in Southern Africa, peak season runs for the cool and dry winter months of June to September, leaving the month of October as the best shoulder season. The company we booked through strongly recommended a mid-October safari over early November due to the start of the rainy season.
Depending on how wet the end of the wet season is, you may be able to find some good deals at the end of the wet season in May as well. However, be aware that your options may be limited as the end of the wet season tends to cut off access to some of the bushcamps.
One word of warning: October is the hottest month of the year in much of Southern Africa, including Zambia. Afternoon highs routinely hit 100° to 105°F (38-42°C) during our time at South Luangwa. If you’re sensitive to the heat, consider booking accommodations that have air conditioning or swamp coolers. Unfortunately, they can sometimes be hard to find (they’re non-existent in South Luangwa), so ask your safari company at the beginning if you need A/C.
5. You Don’t Need a Luxury Safari
Yes, a lot of the African safaris you see advertise luxury safaris. It is true that there are some very high end extravagant safaris out there, particularly in the more popular destinations, but that’s certainly not the norm.
The definition of luxury in many parts of Africa is vastly different than in places like the US and Canada. The camps we stayed at were certainly nice and comfortable, but were by no means extravagant. We did not have air conditioning. There were no power outlets in the rooms. What we did have were spectacular views, phenomenal food (don’t miss Mongolian Stir Fry night), and amazing company. You’re not on an African Safari to hang out in your room, so you don’t need to shell out big money on luxuries. The only time we were in our rooms on the safari was to sleep at night and for a mid-day siesta.
Don’t rule out the more primitive camps, either. They all have great food, comfy beds, flushing toilets, and hot showers. When done correctly, they can really make your African Safari much more affordable.
6. Make Your African Safari More Affordable with a Group Tour Instead of a Private Tour
Half the fun of these amazing safari trips is the incredible people you’ll meet along the way. While many of them come from all walks of life from all over the world, they all share some of the same passions and interests you do. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be on safari.
On a private safari, not only will you miss out on that great experience, but you’ll be shelling out more of your hard earned cash. With a group tour, you’ll have a more affordable African Safari, and you’ll meet a lot of amazing people, too.
7. If You Choose an Affordable Self-Driving African Safari, Do Your Homework First.
A self-driving African Safari is a great way to reduce costs and make your trip more affordable. But it does come with a few gotcha’s, so make sure you do your homework first. Otherwise, you may not be saving quite as much money as you think.
In Zambia, for example, you’re required by law to have a guide when you’re out in the bush on safari-type trips. If you’re self-driving, that means you’ll need to hire a guide. Depending on where you are, you may also need special permits, international driver’s licenses, and more. You’ll need to price everything for your specific trip to see whether a self-driving African Safari is more affordable or not.
Finally, don’t forget that when you book through a safari company, they take care of all the planning and logistics for you. That offers an incredible bang for the buck, and the peace of mind is well worth the extra cost.
Final Thoughts
Everyone needs to go on an African Safari at least once in their lifetimes. The scenery is unique, the wildlife is amazing, and you’ll meet plenty of incredible people along the way. But you don’t need to spend a fortune on it either. With the proper planning and a little flexibility, you can enjoy an affordable African Safari that will leave you with lifelong memories and once you get home, you’ll want nothing more than to go back for more.
