Africa has some of the best hospitality in the world, and I book a lot of luxury safari lodges. However, everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a great safari. There are true budget options out there, but these often mean staying in a lodge outside a national park and day tripping with a convoy of other vehicles. This misses out on the quality guiding and immersion in nature that make the safari experience so transformative.
For this reason, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite safaris that are both immersive, experientially luxurious, and affordable. At under $5,000 per person, these aren’t cheap for many travelers. However, safari camps are all-inclusive of food and activities, so the rate you see is close to what you’ll pay.
Rates and availability are not guaranteed. Estimates are based on published lodge prices and average flight/transfer prices, which can change. Prices are based on two people sharing; solo travelers usually pay a single supplement that can be 25-50% more.
Zambia is a fantastic deal in June, when the rains have ended. It’s not quite high season yet, so this Classic Zambia combo package is just under $5,000 per person. And staying at their two camps, Chula Island and Kutali, on the Lower Zambezi will give you serious cred among safari purists. They have a superb location deep within the national park, which is perfect for walking and canoe safaris. The rooms are super comfortable but minimalist, to maximize your exposure to nature, and the guides are some of the best in the country. You’ll see more elephants than you can count here, and boat cruising on the Zambezi is undoubtedly one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Malawi has extraordinary wildlife, but it is off most people’s radars. For that reason, you can still get an incredible deal on an extended safari. Combine it with crystal clear Lake Malawi, and you can put together a nice “bush to beach” itinerary. Start your trip split between two camps in Malawi’s best national parks, Kuthengo Camp in Liwonde and Mukulumadzi in Majete. You won’t see quite as many elephants or leopards here as in neighboring Zambia. Still, there are good populations of rhino and cheetah, and only a couple of camps in the entire park, ensuring quiet game drives. The trip ends at Pumalani Lodge on the shores of Lake Malawi, where you can simply relax at the pool or go hiking, snorkeling, and boating.
You can pair Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, with a short safari in nearby Hwange National Park, which is both budget-friendly and keeps domestic transfers to a minimum. I like the month of June for this one, because the falls are at their peak, but you can still get shoulder season pricing on safaris. Start your trip with a short flight from the falls in Hwange National Park, where you can see massive herds of elephants and enjoy some of the best walking safaris in Africa. Camp Hwange is a great deal in June, but you can also enjoy quality safaris like Bomani Tented Camp year-round. After your safari, transfer back to the Falls. At this point, you can either stay at a boutique hotel in town to save money and enjoy adventure activities, or have a taste of the town and more safari at Old Drift Lodge, which sits on the outskirts, adjacent to the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls National Park.
If you want a quality safari anywhere close to the Maasai Mara without breaking the bank, Poronoi Camps are the way to go. This portfolio of camps isn’t fancy, but they have all of the comforts you need. And while many of the guides are young, they are enthusiastic, as this camp is a springboard for many of them to secure jobs in the more well-known camps. Their 6-night Maasai Mara package is a deal in the shoulder season of June and October, and it includes all of your transfers along with two great camps, Poronoi Mara and Poronoi Lion. You have the option to visit the National Reserve, but both of these camps are in private conservancies to ensure you aren’t overwhelmed with crowds of Land Rovers.
Everyone knows about the Maasai Mara, but the really immersive safaris are happening away from the Great Migration, in the Laikipia and Samburu regions north of Mount Kenya. This trip takes advantage of June shoulder season pricing, but is still reasonable year-round. Start with a classic tented safari at Moon’s Camp at the Lolldaiga Hills, where you’ll have excellent sightings of the big 5 in a vintage Land Rover. After you get your standard safari fix, travel north to Kitich Forest Camp, where you will walk with Samburu guides to see elephants on foot and the diverse flora and fauna of the Mathews Mountains.
A variation of this Kenya itinerary is great for an affordable family safari. We suggest four nights at Olepangi farm for an immersion in African culture and light safari before two nights in the bush at Moon’s Camp. You can even add on a beach vacation to the end of your trip for not too much more. View the full itinerary…
If you can pull together a group of six people looking for an exclusive wilderness adventure, this package is one of the coolest options in all of Africa. Tanzania is generally not affordable, but the southern half of the country is more remote and offers better value camps. It’s also a fantastic environment more akin to Southern Africa, with diverse landscapes filled with baobab trees and lots of predators–especially wild dogs. This itinerary pairs Kokoko Camp in Ruaha National Park and Makubi Camp in Nyerere National Park. Both are intimate private camps with a focus on walking safaris and immersion in nature. They are perfect for slow travelers who are looking for a way to reconnect with the wild.
South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal region isn’t as well-known as the Kruger and Cape regions. However, it’s the only place for a water safari in South Africa, and this unique itinerary starts with a night at Oyster Box in Durban, one of the most charming beach hotels in Africa. Start your safari at a luxury lodge in Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park, South Africa’s oldest national park, in the heart of Zululand. It’s a wild place, with wildlife numbers that compare favorably to other parts of the country. Animals are more secretive here, but you’re sure to have some great sightings nonetheless. From there, drive to the coast and Makatakana Bay Lodge, located in the heart of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The vast wetland environment is home to elephants, giraffes, and plenty of hippos that you can see from your safari boat.
Cape Town is a dynamic city that has a lot to offer, and the diversity of quality, affordable hotels balances out the cost of a quality safari. South Africa also offers an excellent value for your money safari, featuring comfortable lodges and wildlife-rich private reserves surrounding Kruger National Park. One of my favorite safaris to combine with the Cape is a few nights in comfort at Simbavati River with a couple of nights at their more remote walking camp, Simbavati Trails. When the rains come in mid-November through March, it’s easy to shift the safari to the Cape with options like Lalibela Treetops or Samara Plains. This is one of my most popular honeymoon options for first-time safari goers, because it can also be extended to the Cape Winelands or the beach in Mauritius or Mozambique.
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