Dreaming of an epic African safari, but worried it’s out of your budget? Don’t give up on that bucket list adventure just yet! With a little smart planning, you can absolutely experience the thrill of seeing the Big Five in their natural habitat, even on a shoestring budget. In this guide, Mrpocu.com will walk you through 8 simple steps to planning an affordable African safari that won’t break the bank. From finding the best deals on flights and accommodations to budgeting for activities and meals, I’ll share my top tips and tricks to make your safari dreams a reality – without going into debt.
By the end, you’ll have a solid plan in place to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, all while keeping costs low. So get ready to spot lions, elephants, and more on an unforgettable African safari, no matter how tight your travel budget may be. Let’s dive in!
Before you plan your African safari
You’ve decided to take a fantasy safari in Africa for your next vacation. After entering a few keywords into Google to see what options there are for “African Safaris,” a tonne of material appears. When you’re feeling overburdened, procrastination mode takes control. How do you begin and cut down on the countless options?
Any type of travel planning is thrilling and undoubtedly enjoyable. Selecting just a few of Africa’s great sights and activities is difficult because there are so many to enjoy. It is normal to have some back and forth and to change your opinion a few times.
If you’ve previously taken an African safari, you most likely know the fundamentals. This makes it somewhat of a beginner’s handbook for people organizing their first safari in Africa. I’ll try to make it a little easier for you by giving you some advice on how to organize an affordable African safari.
Pick an African safari country or two
Selecting a safari destination, or at the very least knowing roughly where in Africa you want to travel, is a smart place to start.
You may see a lot of places and cover a lot of land if you are one of the fortunate ones who has two months to travel and a substantial money. Since most travelers only have a maximum of three weeks or fourteen days, more careful planning is needed.
While some people are already dead set on a specific region or nation in Africa, others find it difficult to take this crucial (first) step. It makes perfect sense given the false impression that Africa is a nation, given that it is actually a continent made up of 54 countries, nine of which are popular travel destinations for wildlife safaris.
Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, and Rwanda are the principal safari destinations in Africa. South Africa, Namibia, and Kenya are frequently cited as the most affordable African safari destinations, with Botswana, Uganda, and Tanzania following closely behind.
List your must-see places in Africa
Making a list of the things you really “must-see” in Africa is another technique to tackle the crucial question about your trip destination. This could be a particular region, national park, or natural wonder; it could also refer more widely to the animals you wish to observe. For instance, a lot of tourists like to view endangered mountain gorillas, intriguing wild dogs, and elephants and lions. The list is endless, but you can choose more focused destinations for your African safari by deciding what matters to you. For example, you have to travel to central East Africa to witness mountain gorillas; Rwanda and Uganda are your best bets.
Because of their varied topography and vegetation, parks and reserves are more suited for particular animal species. Elephant populations are more concentrated in some places than in others. Your chances of seeing the animals on your list will be significantly increased if you include the parks that are popular locations for African safaris. Because each wildlife area provides something different, visitors frequently visit two or three parks or areas in a single visit.
Decide on a budget for your African safari
While looking for African safari tours, it helps to have an approximate budget—it doesn’t have to be an exact amount.
Even while going on an African safari is a dream vacation, the budget must be reasonable, and regrettably, these two requirements must coincide. Wishing for an opulent vacation on a tight budget is simply unattainable. However, various people define luxury in different ways. For some, a luxurious hotel with pricey linens, room service, and porters qualifies as luxury. Some see luxury as a secluded cabin in the woods. It’s actually more important to set expectations.
What are you willing to give up, if necessary, in order to keep your travel expenses within your means? Staying in basic lodgings or even rough camping does not have to mean sacrificing the amazing African safari experience. Seeing wild creatures in their native habitat on an African safari is an equally exciting experience, no matter how or where you travel.
But it’s the details that count. In the end, you want to have the most amazing African safari experience possible, full with priceless memories. It all begins with careful planning.
Choose when to go on safari in Africa
The best time to go on an African safari depends on striking a balance between your budget, the time of year (travel season), and the seasonal variations at the safari destination of your choosing. Selecting the ideal season for your African safari is a difficult decision. While you may be able to choose when to schedule your leave, the holidays and school terms affect a lot of individuals. When you include in the requirements of a bucket list, the window of opportunity gets smaller. The migration of animals is one example. Traveling during a particular time of year is necessary to witness the Mara River crossing during the big migration, which is home to the largest animal migration in Africa—the bats in Kasanka. When planning a trip to witness these natural occurrences, you also need to think about your budget and the high and low visitor seasons.
Travel season vs. safari budget
When planning an African safari, the timing of your trip is closely tied to your budget. The dry season in East Africa, typically from July to October, is considered the peak tourist season. This period offers ideal weather and game viewing conditions, with the great wildebeest migration in full swing. As a result, safari prices tend to be higher due to the high demand from enthusiasts flocking to the region during this time.
However, the shoulder seasons, which occur just before and after the peak season, can provide better value for travelers looking for a more affordable safari experience. While the latter part of the dry season, September and October, is particularly popular as the wildebeest migration reaches the Mara River, it’s also the most expensive time to travel for a safari in Kenya or Tanzania. For those interested in witnessing this iconic wildlife phenomenon, our guide to The Great Migration in Africa offers valuable insights on planning a budget-friendly safari.
Ultimately, striking a balance between the time of year, tourist seasons, and your budget is crucial for a successful and cost-effective African safari adventure.
Pick the duration of your African safari trip
Though it is still something to consider, it will likely depend on how much vacation time you have left. Nowadays, a lot of people who are traveling for the first time want to experience as much as possible and cross as many items off their bucket lists as they can. Less is more in Africa, though. You’ll reap far greater rewards from taking your time and not rushing from place to place.
It will also be worthwhile for you to look into travel times between locations. Large distances are traveled, frequently on unpaved, uneven, and dusty roads. It could take five to six hours to travel there, longer during the rainy season, even though Google Maps indicates it is only 300 kilometers away. It’s not about the destination, as the adage goes, but the journey there. The unexpected is what creates magic; meeting new people, discovering different cultures, and soaking in the breathtaking surroundings are all part of the journey.
When to book your African safari
While there isn’t really a right or wrong time to schedule your safari, it is still advisable to confirm availability. Prior to reserving a flight, ask your employer for a leave of absence. This is especially crucial if there is a certain day, place, resort, or group tour that you have your eye on and are unwilling to compromise on.
If your intended safari trip falls during the peak/busy season, it’s a good idea to make reservations well in advance. This is especially true during busy seasons in the most famous safari destinations, like the height of the great migration in Tanzania and Kenya. Because gorilla permits are scarce, reservations for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda should be made around a year in advance.
However, if your schedule is flexible, it’s generally recommended to arrange an African safari four to six months in advance. Within a month or less of your travel dates, last-minute safari arrangements are possible if challenging. The difference between low and high season, as well as your flexibility in choosing your travel dates, lodging, and safari destinations, all have a major role.
Checklists for planning an African Safari on a budget
Below, I’ve categorised my essential checklist based on the safari planning phases. This gives you a timeline to work with when you are planning your budget African safari.
During the early-to-mid safari planning stages (before you book) check:
- Flights to Africa – this can be one of the most confusing parts of planning an African safari. Funny place names and not knowing what airport is close to the place where your safari starts and ends – which in most cases is not the same city. It can be intimidating, so ask the questions and double-check if you have to.
- Take out Comprehensive Travel Insurance
- Make sure your travel documents are in order: apply for a passport or renew yours if it is set to expire within 6 months of your travel dates. Also, check that your passport has enough blank pages. We recommend 1 page per country, except for South Africa which requires 2 blank pages facing each other.
- Check the visa requirements for each African country you plan to visit.
Reach out for planning help and travel advice
Speaking with a knowledgeable African safari specialist can be quite helpful and will help to make the process seem less intimidating overall. Conducting independent research is undoubtedly a wise place to start. However, having someone answer inquiries along the route is helpful when selecting and scheduling a safari. even if you’ve only skimmed this cheap safari planning advice. An specialist on African safaris has a thorough understanding of their inventory and may suggest affordable safari options based on your requirements. This can save you a great deal of money, time, and research.
Paying extra attention to the details is necessary if you are travelling with children, a large group of relatives and friends, or if you have special dietary requirements. If you are traveling with older guests, you should consider whether the safari camp or lodge has a minimum age requirement, whether they have family rooms, how far it is to walk from the reception to the room, whether they accommodate vegan or gluten-free cuisine, etc.
It is quite helpful to have someone with experience point you in the proper way, regardless of your needs. Seeking professional guidance will eventually result in the least stressful planning and vacation experience for your safari.