Safari in Africa Cost: Our Full Budget Breakdown (Kenya & Tanzania 2025)

What Factors Affect African Safari Cost?

The answer depends on several factors: destination, accommodation level, time of year, group size, duration of your safari, vehicle preference, and extra activities.

1. Choosing Your Destination

The cost of an African safari varies widely depending on where you go. Africa has many incredible national parks, each offering a unique wildlife safari experience.

Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia all have different price points for park entry fees, accommodations, guided tours, and transportation.

• Botswana is one of the most expensive safari destinations due to its government’s commitment to exclusive, low-impact tourism. Many wilderness areas like Chobe National Park are designated private concessions, where strict limits on tourist numbers help preserve the ecosystem.

• Kenya and Tanzania offer more mid-range safari costs, with the Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara being the most famous (and pricier) safari destinations in East Africa.

• South Africa and Namibia are generally more budget-friendly, with Kruger National Park and Etosha National Park offering excellent wildlife tours at lower prices.

2. Accommodation Options

Your choice of accommodation plays a significant role in the cost of your African safari. In fact, it’s one of the biggest factors that can drive your budget up or down.

Lodging options vary widely, ranging from budget-friendly tented camps to ultra-luxury safari lodges.

Accommodation Categories:

• Budget Stays: To start, basic tented camps and lodges offer essential amenities at a lower per-person cost. These are great for travelers looking for an affordable African safari trip without sacrificing the core experience.
• Mid-Range Lodges: Next up, these offer comfortable stays with private bathrooms, good food, and sometimes even pools—striking a nice balance between cost and comfort in many safari destinations.
• Luxury Lodges & Safari Camps: For those looking to splurge, high-end accommodations come with gourmet dining, top-tier service, and incredible wildlife safaris in private or community conservancies. These spots often sit inside or right near national parks, offering unbeatable game viewing.

• Peak season is the most expensive because of high demand, especially during events like the Great Migration and calving season. The weather is cooler with little rain, but expect more crowds and higher prices.

• Low season is much cheaper, sometimes half the price of peak season, and fewer tourists make for a more intimate experience. But the downside of the low season is that you should be prepared for hotter temperatures, more rain, and the possibility of some roads or camps being closed due to mudslides.

• Shoulder season offers the best balance—good weather, excellent wildlife viewing, and mid-range pricing. You will avoid heavy rains, closed camps, extreme heat, and big crowds, making it an ideal time to go.

4. Length of African Safari

The length of your safari generally impacts the overall cost. However, some tour guides offer discounted deals for longer bundled safari stays.

To give you some perspective, my first safari was only three days in Kruger National Park, South Africa. While it was a fantastic experience, I wish I had stayed longer—especially considering the cost of flights to Africa.

Since then, I’ve done longer safaris and found that the sweet spot is around six to ten days.

If you’re flying from the U.S., it’s also important to factor in a day to adjust to the time difference.

5. Safari Type

The type of safari you choose will impact the overall cost of your trip. You can choose between private tours, shared safaris, and self-drive safaris.

For custom tours, we highly recommend booking with Spirit of Kenya! Ask for Filipa when booking.

Check out G Adventures or Intrepid Travels for shared safari tours!

Some lodges include activities in their pricing, while others charge separately, so be sure to check with your tour company about adding additional activities in advance.

Arranging extra experiences before your trip may allow you to negotiate better add-on rates.

If you book with a tour company (like Spirit of Kenya), these park fees will be factored into your overall safari costs.

• Serengeti National Park (Tanzania): $60-70 per day

• Maasai Mara National Reserve (Kenya): $200 per day

• Kruger National Park (South Africa): $30 per day

8. Flights & Transportation

Your safari budget should consider both international and domestic flights.

• International flights will vary depending on the season and departure location.
• Domestic and charter flights between parks cost around $200 to $800+ per leg.

The type of vehicle you choose also affects safari costs.

Our tour offered three options: a minivan, a 4X4 Land Cruiser, and an open-sided Land Cruiser.

While minivans are a more budget-friendly option, Land Cruisers offer a smoother ride and better visibility, especially on rough terrain.

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During our trip, all 7 camps we stayed at in Kenya and Tanzania included all meals, but drinks—like bottled water, beer, and wine—were extra.

If you want unlimited beverages, check with your tour operator about camps that offer all-inclusive drink packages.

13. Personal Expenses

Factor in extra costs like souvenirs, SIM cards for data, and emergency spending. It’s always good to have some cash on hand for unexpected needs.

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning a mid-level luxury safari, I hope this breakdown gives you a clear understanding of African safari costs and makes planning a little less overwhelming. All in all, this was one of the most expensive trips we’ve taken—but our whole family agreed it was 100% worth the splurge.

Would I do it again? Absolutely—but with a few tweaks!

As for who we booked through, we went with Spirit of Kenya, and they were fantastic. Not only did they work within our budget, but they also helped us find great accommodations and experiences that checked every box. We worked with Filipa, and honestly, she made the entire process seamless from start to finish. So, if you’re looking for a custom safari, I can’t recommend them enough.

On the other hand, if you’ve read this and thought, “That’s more than I want to spend,” you still have great options. Consider checking out pre-arranged group safari companies like G Adventures. Sure, these tours come with a preset price and less flexibility when it comes to accommodations, but you’ll still explore the same national parks and see the same incredible wildlife as the luxury tours—just at a more manageable cost.

This post breaks down our safari in Africa cost and covers the key factors that influence the overall price of a safari.