african safaris 2024

Africa Tours & Cruises 2024

• Start Date Select Month April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 October 2024 November 2024 December 2024 January 2025 February 2025 March 2025 April 2025 May 2025 June 2025 July 2025 August 2025 September 2025 October 2025 November 2025 December 2025 January 2026 February 2026 March 2026 April 2026 OR, More specific start
• Easy Active
• Food & Wine
• Most Popular
• Private Yacht Charter
• River Cruises
• Scheduled Group Tour
• Solo Travel
• Wildlife & Safari Exploration
• Adventure Options
• Archaeological Site Visits
• Cooking Classes
• Helicopter Tours
• Horseback Riding
• Land & Sea Exploration
• Local Market Visits
• Photography Seminars
• Rainforest Exploration
• Scuba Diving
• Small Ship Cruises
• Small Ship Sailing
• Spa Relaxation
• Stand Up Paddle Boarding
• Urban Exploration
• Village Visits
• Volunteering
• Whale Watching
• Wilderness Lodge Exploration
• Wildlife Viewing
• Wine Tasting
• African Dream
• Emerald Azzurra
• Le Dumont-d'Urville
• MS Amadahlia
• MS AmaLilia
• National Geographic Explorer
• Nile Adventurer
• Oberoi Philae
• Royal Clipper
• Sanctuary Sun Boat III
• Sanctuary Sun Boat IV
• Scenic Eclipse
• Sea Cloud II
• Sea Cloud Spirit
• Silver Whisper
• Silver Wind
• Star Clipper
• Viking Cruises
• World Navigator
• World Traveller
• Zambezi Queen
• Zimbabwean Dream

Tanzania Trails

• Explore the Serengeti
• Stay in safari camps
• Spot the Big 5
• Experience rural life

Classic Egypt Tour

• Discover pyramids and Sphinx
• Visit the Museum and Temples
• Walk around town of Esna
• Sail the Nile river
• South Africa Snapshot
• Tour Robben Island
• Explore the highlights of Cape Town
• View lions, zebra, & impala
• Explore Kruger by foot or vehicle

Hidden Zimbabwe

• Go on safari in Gonarezhou Park
• Tour the Great Zimbabwe Monument
• Track rhino and hike Matobo Hills
• Learn about Zimbabwe culture

Mt Kilimanjaro Lemosho Climb

• Hike Mt Kilimanjaro National Park
• Explore rugged terrain
• Sleep in camps
• Visit Moshi in Tanzania

Botswana Family Safari

• Discover Africa with your family
• Visit a local Botswana school
• Search for elephants on the Chobe
• Experience the Okavango Delta

Nile River Explorer

• Discover the pyramids and Sphinx
• Explore the temple of Dendera
• Walk around the town of Esna
• Aboard a luxurious riverboat

Namibia Adventure

• Hike to the Sossusvlei Trails Camp
• Sea kayak to view seals & dolphins
• Track the black rhino on foot
• Visit a remote Himba Village

Highlights of Malawi and Zambia

• Embark on safari
• Visit islands
• Hike to Zomba Plateau
• Explore African safaris

Highlights of Namibia

• Climb sand dunes
• Visit a UNESCO Heritage Site
• Track the rhino

Diverse Namibia

• Explore freestanding sand dunes
• Drive through Etosha National Park
• Cruise on Walvis Bay
• Visit Ugab Rhino Trust

East Africa Trails

• Visit elephant sanctuary
• Search for wildlife
• Learn about the region

North Zimbabwe Adventure

• Explore Matusadona National Park
• Go on safari in Mana Pools Park
• Tour Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
• Fish while you spot wildlife

Treasures of Egypt

• Tour the Valley of the Kings
• Soak in views of the Great Pyramids
• Cruise to Aswan home of the Nubians
• Visit the impressive Abu Simbel

Mt Kilimanjaro Rongai Climb

• Hike through rugged wilderness
• Watch spectacular sunrise
• Hike Mt Kili National Park
• Avoid the crowds

Treasures of Madagascar: Island Exploration from South to North

• Discover highlands landscape
• Explore Ranomafana rainforest
• Tour Diego Suarez bays
• Marvel at the Tsingy of Ankarana
• Experience turquoise lagoon, Ifaty

Namibia Under Canvas

• Sleep under canvas
• Track the black rhino
• Explore the Damaraland

Kenya Trails

• Safari in the Masai Mara
• Explore Karen Suburbs
• Stay in a tented camp
• Visit elephant orphanage

Africa Travel Guide

• All Africa Trips
• Luxury African Safari
• Africa River Cruises
• Okavango Delta
• All Africa Travel Stories
• What to Expect on a South Africa Safari: A How-To Guide to Help you Prepare for Your Trip
• Best Times to Visit Africa
• South Africa Safari: 10 Zany Creatures You Never Even Knew Existed
• Victoria Falls

Favorite Africa All Trips

• Best of Northern Tanzania
• Mt Kilimanjaro Machame Climb
• Golden Trails of Africa

Top Africa Travel Destinations

• Mediterranean
• Phinda Private Game Reserve
• Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
• South Africa
• Tswalu Game Reserve

Africa Trips by Departure Date

• 2024 Africa trips (145)
• 2025 Africa trips (93)
• 2026 Africa trips (54)
• April 2024 (100)
• May 2024 (97)
• June 2024 (100)
• July 2024 (98)
• August 2024 (101)
• September 2024 (105)
• October 2024 (113)
• November 2024 (102)
• December 2024 (87)

Top Experiences in Africa

• Africa Land Tours (87)
• Africa Wildlife & Safari Exploration (78)
• Africa Cruises (75)
• Africa Cultural (39)
• Africa Luxury (32)
• Africa River Cruises (21)
• Africa Active (16)
• Africa Beaches (15)
• Africa Trekking (15)
• Africa Solo Travel (14)
• Africa Scheduled Group Tour (11)
• Africa Most Popular (10)
• Africa Family (7)

Africa Trips by Duration

• 5 day trips (15)
• 6 day trips (6)
• 7 day trips (12)
• 8 day trips (20)
• 9 day trips (15)
• 10 day trips (19)
• 11 day trips (11)
• 12 day trips (13)
• 13 day trips (8)
• 14 day trips (5)
• 15 day trips (8)
• 16 day trips (6)
• 22 day trips (4)

Africa Trips by Activity

• Africa wildlife viewing (101)
• Africa small ship cruises (51)
• Africa village visits (45)
• Africa wilderness lodge exploration (34)
• Africa local market visits (31)
• Africa archaeological site visits (28)
• Africa hiking (22)
• Africa camping (19)
• Africa snorkeling (18)
• Africa small ship sailing (14)
• Africa adventure options (11)
• Africa fishing (11)
• Africa kayaking (11)
• Africa land & sea exploration (8)
• Africa whale watching (8)
• Africa urban exploration (7)
• Africa wine tasting (6)
• Africa spa relaxation (6)
• Africa scuba diving (5)
• Africa rainforest exploration (5)
• Africa helicopter tours (4)
• Africa biking (3)
• Africa cooking classes (3)

Why Travel With Adventure Life

Recognized by.

• 1 800 970 7299
• Live Chat (Online) Live Chat (Offline)
• My Wishlist
• Find a Trip

Your browser 'Internet Explorer' is out of date. Update your browser for more security, comfort and the best experience on this site.

Africa Safari Tours & Vacations

• Africa Safari Tours & Holidays

Take a walk on the wild side on an African safari.

The word “safari” means “journey” in Swahili. And a safari in Africa is all about the journey. While seeing a leopard munch on a freshly caught gazelle or spying a curious lion cub venture away from its mother’s protective embrace will be highlights of your trip, you’ll discover the journey is as much a part of your trip as the destination.

The road-trip games you play with your new travel mates, the feeling of the wind (and maybe a little dust) in your hair when you’re travelling down long, winding roads, and the young Maasai boy who waved at you as you passed him along the road will stay with you long after you return.

Our African safari tours

Okavango experience, 10 days from 1647.

Tour through Johannesburg, Maun, Chobe, the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls on a ten...

Explore Southern Africa

18 days from 3452.

Spend some time exploring Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe with included safari...

Gorillas & Game Parks

16 days from 4515.

Encounter the wildlife of Kenya and Uganda on this adventure including a gorilla trek...

Cape Town to Vic Falls

22 days from 3055.

Spend three weeks exploring South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, from Cape...

East Africa Highlights

10 days from 2952.

Travel through East Africa from Kenya to Tanzania, stopping at the Masai Mara, the...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

Kenya Wildlife Safari

8 days from 1437.

Experience Kenyan wildlife on an eight day trip travelling from Nairobi to Lake...

Botswana Highlights

9 days from 2635.

Discover the culture, wildlife and waterways of Botswana on this upgraded adventure...

Road to Zanzibar

12 days from 2593.

Experience the beauty of the Ngorongoro and Serengeti, Usambara Mountains and Zanzibar...

The Masai Heartlands

15 days from 3596.

Uncover Kenya and Tanzania on a 2 week trip with Serengeti safaris, Ngorongoro, Nakuru,...

Serengeti Trail

8 days from 1887.

Roam the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Amboseli National Park to spot Africa's Big...

Vic Falls to Kruger

9 days from 1516.

Take on a safari adventure through Hwange National Park, Matobo National Park, Kruger...

Gorillas, Game Parks & Beaches

27 days from 7240.

Go deep in East Africa on this epic trip, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Botswana Adventure

10 days from 4276.

Visit Africa and travel through Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe on a tour from Windhoek...

Namibia Discovery

13 days from 3623.

Travel from Cape Town in South Africa to Namibia’s Windhoek through coastlines, sand...

Amazing Southern Africa

22 days from 8556.

Jump onboard an exhilarating journey from Cape Town to Victoria Falls through the...

Vic Falls to Cape Town

22 days from 2595.

Discover the unique and contrasting lands of Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South...

Remarkable Rwanda & Gorillas of Uganda

9 days from 4429.

Travel through Rwanda and Uganda in search of natural beauty and the gentle mountain...

Garden Route Adventure

14 days from 1664.

See Africa from Durban to Cape Town on a 14-day adventure. Tour Tsitsikamma, Addo...

Best of East Africa

20 days from 3983.

Step out onto the Serengeti and keep your eyes out for rhinos, lions, leopards and a...

Cape Town to Zanzibar

41 days from 5785.

See Africa on this incredible overland adventure from South Africa to Tanzania. Soak up...

Serengeti & Kilimanjaro

15 days from 6084.

Explore the wonders of Tanzania and Kenya, including a trek to the summit of Mt...

Okavango & Beyond

9 days from 2545.

Travel from Zimbabwe to South Africa via Botswana. The Okavango and Beyond trip is the...

Vic Falls to Stone Town

17 days from 2295.

See East Africa in 17 days including Victoria Falls, Matobo, South Luwanga, Lake Malawi...

Southern Africa Adventure

30 days from 4800.

Take a month long southern African adventure from Cape Town into Namibia, Botswana and...

Essential East Africa

10 days from 2105.

Hit the (dirt) road through Kenya and Tanzania. Safari in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro...

Africa Encompassed Northbound

64 days from 12940.

This epic journey with explores Southern Africa in detail including Botswana, Kenya,...

Johannesburg to Kenya

37 days from 7045.

Travel the waterways of Botswana, the beaches of Zanzibar and the savannahs of the...

Cape Town to Kenya

49 days from 8230.

Experience the ultimate African adventure on this epic trip including Kenya, Botswana,...

Kruger & Coast

9 days from 1365.

Explore diverse southern Africa on this nine-day adventure, including Kruger National...

Gorillas to Vic Falls

42 days from 9730.

Explore Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe on this epic trip that included a...

Safari to Kilimanjaro - Machame Route

16 days from 7205.

Explore the wonders of Tanzania and Kenya including a trek to the summit of Mt...

Africa Encompassed Southbound

63 days from 12860.

Set out on a mighty African adventure through Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe...

Vic Falls to Kenya

28 days from 5027.

Discover East African wilderness and the animals that call it home on an adventure...

Zanzibar to Cape Town

40 days from 4860.

Explore Africa on an epic wildlife-rich adventure from Tanzania to South Africa while...

Kenya to Cape Town

48 days from 7187.

Tour Africa's best from Kenya to Cape Town through Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zimbabwe...

Stone Town to Nairobi

9 days from 2138.

Explore Tanzania on this trip travelling to Nairobi via the Serengeti and the Usambara...

Stone Town to Vic Falls

16 days from 2096.

Track rhinos on foot and embrace the sights and sounds of Eastern Africa on this unique...

Johannesburg to Gorillas

52 days from 11780.

Experience the waterways of Botswana, the beaches of Zanzibar, the savannahs of the...

Kenya to Vic Falls

27 days from 4722.

Explore the wilds of East Africa on a trip from Nairobi to the Serengeti, Usambara...

Kilimanjaro & Serengeti Adventure

15 days from 6494, beaches, game parks & gorillas, 27 days from 7325.

Spend 27 days exploring the wonders, wildlife and tribal cultures of East Africa to...

Zanzibar to Vic Falls

19 days from 2470.

Explore East Africa from Zanzibar's beaches to the roar of Victoria Falls, seeing...

Johannesburg to Zanzibar

29 days from 4785.

From Johannesburg to Botswana, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lake Malawi and...

Zanzibar to Nairobi

12 days from 2508.

Get a true taste of eastern Africa on a 12-day trip to Zanzibar, the Serengeti,...

Vic Falls to Zanzibar

20 days from 2696.

Travel from the thundering Victoria Falls to the spice plantations of Zanzibar via...

Vic Falls to Gorillas

43 days from 9655.

Take an epic trip through eastern Africa, via Victoria Falls, the Serengeti and...

Africa safari h ighlights

Spot the Big 5 in South Africa

Go on safari through Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa . This massive park is one of the premier safari spots in all of Africa and for good reason; it’s home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog.

Go gorilla trekking in Uganda

Venture deep into the steamy jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of the rare mountain gorilla. With a local guide to lead you, you’ll trek into the forest to spend one unforgettable hour watching and hanging out with a family of gorillas. A close encounter with these gentle giants is an extraordinary African experience that will always stay with you.

Float over the Serengeti

The only thing more magical than witnessing the great wildebeest migration across the Serengeti? Seeing it from the sky in a hot air balloon. As the herds of wildebeest and thousands of other animals travel from Serengeti National Park to the greener pastures of the Masai Mara National Reserve, you can watch their journey and enjoy incredible views from a unique perspective.

Canoe in the Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta has a unique system of waterways that are home to an immense array of wildlife. The best way to explore it is in a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe. Visit in May to September, when animals are confined to small islands created by the annual flood, making it easy to spot great herds of elephant and antelope, hippos, crocodiles, lions, cheetahs and more. 

Popular safari destinations

Kruger National Park

Serengeti National Park

The Okavango Delta

Region comparisons

Chobe or Okavango?

Serengeti or Masai Mara?

View our range of gorilla treks

Where we stay on safari.

On our safari trips you’ll stay in billion-star accommodation. That’s our way of saying you’re sleeping under the night sky, camping in the great outdoors. On our Basix and sections of Original trips, you’ll stay in two-person canvas tents that our crew will help you set up. And on our Comfort trips, you’ll be staying in permanent tented camps and lodges (think glamping instead of camping).

Campsite facilities can sometimes be basic, but wherever possible, we make sure there are Western-style toilets and warm water available. But you’ll find it’s worth sacrificing a warm shower or two when you’re waking up to sunrise over the Masai Mara.

How we get around

On our safari trips, your main mode of transport is an overland truck, a purpose-built vehicle made for driving through Africa’s winding, and sometimes bumpy, country roads. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The trucks are also equipped with power outlets to charge your camera, phone and other devices on the go.

For more info on our overland trucks, see our Africa overland page .

African Safari FAQs

When is the best time to go on safari.

Generally speaking, January, February and June to October are the best times to go on safari in Africa. This is the dry season, so animals tend to come out into more open spaces in search of water, making them easier to spot. However, you’ll be able to spot animals all year round and you’ll enjoy fewer crowds if you travel outside peak season.

Read more about the best time to go on safari .

Where is the best place to go on safari?

The best place to go on safari depends on what kind of animals you’d like to see and what other activities you’d like to do in destination. We offer safaris to some of the best safari destinations in eastern and southern Africa, like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and more.

Read more about how to choose your ideal African safari . 

Am I guaranteed to see animals on safari?

While we can’t guarantee you’ll spot the Big 5, you’d have to be profoundly unlucky to see no animals at all. On our trips, you’ll explore some of the best game parks and national reserves in the world. These protected areas are filled with a huge variety of different species and your expert driver and local leader will help you spot animals.

What are the “Big 5”?

The “Big 5” used to refer to the five big game animals that were the most difficult to hunt. Now that most shooting is done on a camera, the Big 5 are the most exciting animals to spot while on safari: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

What should I pack for safari?

Loose, light clothing in neutral colours is the best attire for a safari (dark colours will get hot in the sun and can attract the Tsetse fly). You’ll also want a sun hat, some good walking shoes, a camera, sunscreen and bug spray. For more details, check out our ultimate Africa packing guide . 

What type of food will be served on safari?

On our Basix trips you’ll have a cook travelling with you while you are on safari who will whip up a variety of local flavours and Western-style dishes. Along your route, your cook will stop to purchase fresh, locally sourced food for your meals. You can expect a variety of things for breakfast like fruit, eggs, toast and cereal; lunch is often sandwiches and salads; and dinner is usually a hearty meal like pasta, curry or a BBQ.

On our Original and Comfort trips there will be more meals at camps and lodges along the way. No matter what you’re craving, you definitely will not be going hungry on safari.

What are the toilets and showers like on safari?

Most of the permanent tented camps will have a private bathroom with flushing toilets and showers with warm water. 

Many of the campsites we stay at have communal facilities with flushing toilets and showers with warm water. However, in some of the more remote areas, there may only be basic facilities (toilets and cold running water). 

Can you accommodate accessibility requirements on your safari tours?

We are committed to making travel accessible to everyone, so we will work with you to assess whether you will be able to complete an existing itinerary, or whether we will be able to make reasonable adjustments to meet your needs before you book. Please see our accessible travel page for more information. 

What is internet and phone access like on safari?

Some of our hotels and campsites will have Wi-Fi, however Internet and phone access may be limited in more remote areas. But you won’t miss it when you’re watching a pride of lions prowl through long grass or enjoying a drink around the campfire with your group. 

Responsible travel

Our stance on Animal Welfare

This world and the animals that call it home are precious, and we believe it’s our responsibility to help preserve them. We do not include or condone any activities that exploit animals on our safari trips, including hunting, feeding or interacting with animals in any way. We believe that wild animals should be observed in the wild, from a respectful distance. 

Some tips for being a wildlife-friendly traveller include never buying animal products, not participating in activities that include contact with the animals, and not including location tags on social media posts (some poachers have gone high-tech and use social media to track rare animals’ locations).

Read more about our Animal Welfare Policy here . 

Read more about African safaris

Apr 18, 2023

Tanzania or south africa which....

So you've got your eye on the Big Five...

May 24, 2023

Chobe vs okavango: which one should....

We’ve put these Chobe and Okavango head to head in an epic ‘safari battle’. Who's...

May 03, 2022

When’s the best time to go on safari....

You’ll probably want to pack your bags as soon as you start imaging the African...

Protect Your Trip »

12 Top African Safari Tours

Cross this must-do activity off your bucket list.

Courtesy of Micato Safaris

Spot the big five on your safari adventure.

Safari tours in Africa are just as diverse as the continent itself, though these types of trips typically require a large sum of money. Whether you want to spend a few days gorilla trekking in Uganda or a couple weeks spotting the "big five" – lions, leopards, African elephants, rhinos and Cape buffalos – in South Africa, you'll find an array of tours to best suit your needs. To help you narrow down your options, U.S. News compiled a list of 12 can't-miss African safari tours. Read on to find your once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Note: Some of the African countries in this article may require travelers to get an entry visa and certain vaccinations in order to visit. Jump to the list of visa and vaccination requirements by country at the bottom of this page for more information.

&Beyond

Courtesy of &Beyond

Visitors who don't want to sacrifice creature comforts while on safari will appreciate &Beyond's offerings. During the tour operator's 10-day Kings of the Jungle safari – which starts at $11,340 per person – travelers will see breathtaking natural wonders like the Ngorongoro Crater and the Maasai Mara savanna. But the highlight of this journey is its four-night stay at Tanzania's Serengeti National Park . After watching animals like wildebeest and zebras partake in the great migration while also spotting lions, giraffes and more, vacationers retreat to high-end tents and lodges with private bathrooms.

[See more of Serengeti National Park: Things to Do | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos ]

Wilderness Safaris

Courtesy of Wilderness Safaris

For some of Africa's most jaw-dropping scenery, opt for the seven-night Namibian Adventure Safari tour offered by Wilderness Safaris. This weeklong trip features visits to the Namib Desert's dune-filled Sossusvlei region (which you may recognize from the film "Mad Max: Fury Road") and the mountainous Palmwag Concession – a protected area with springboks, giraffes, black rhinos and more. The package's per person fee starts at $6,725, which covers most meals, park entrance fees, and transfers from Namibia's capital Windhoek and between the safari destinations. It also covers your stay at properties like the fully solar-powered Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp and the five-star Little Kulala lodge amid the stunning desert.

Wild Rwanda Safaris

Courtesy of Wild Rwanda Safaris)

Adventurous travelers sticking to a more conservative budget should consider Wild Rwanda Safaris' Bwindi Gorilla Safari. The three-day package features a full day in southwestern Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (a haven for silverback gorillas) and an adjacent Batwa Pygmy community. Wild Rwanda Safaris allows guests to choose between midrange, luxury and super luxury accommodation, which can help keep costs down if necessary. The company's packages include the $700 permit required to visit the gorilla park. The round-trip journey by safari vehicle to and from Kigali, Rwanda, and English-speaking guide services are also covered in all rates. The tour can begin from Kampala, Uganda, as well, although you'll spend longer on the road to the park.

Nomad Tanzania

Courtesy of nomad-tanzania.com

Sign up for Nomad Tanzania's Southern Tanzania safari and you're bound to get an up-close look at Tanzania's diverse wildlife. Offering eight days of activities, including game drives and boat trips in Ruaha National Park and Nyerere National Park, this safari gives you prime opportunities to spot lions, cheetahs, leopards and elephants, among other species. What's more, lodging at the company's campsites, select meals, and flights to and from Dar es Salaam are factored into the package's prices. Expect to pay a minimum of $5,700 per person; prices vary depending on the time of year, and the tour isn't offered in April and May.

Micato Safaris

If you want to explore multiple destinations while on safari with plenty of comfort (but a price tag to match), book the 15-day Micato Grand Safari. This outing by Micato Safaris starts with a two-day visit to Nairobi, Kenya, before continuing to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Maasai Mara National Reserve, and the Amboseli and Serengeti national parks for wildlife-viewing excursions. During your trip, you'll see Mount Kilimanjaro as zebras, gazelles and more roam in the foreground. The package costs at least $22,450 per person (based on double occupancy rates) and includes a hot air balloon ride, a camel tour led by members of the Samburu tribe, and lodging at upscale properties like Serengeti's Four Seasons outpost. The company also offers various extensions allowing you to explore other parts of Africa, from the island paradise of Zanzibar to the deserts of Namibia.

Rothschild Safaris

Courtesy of Rothschild Safaris

If your ideal safari vacation consists of customizing your trip from start to finish, consider an outing with Rothschild Safaris. The company offers itineraries in locales like Zambia and Madagascar , but if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the big five animals, the Essence of Tanzania safari is a good bet. This nine-day experience, which embarks from Arusha and returns there by plane, includes game-viewing drives in Tarangire National Park and accommodations like canvas tents and farmhouse lodges. Elephants, zebras and lions are just some of the animals you may spot during your journey. You'll also have the opportunity to go on a nighttime safari to spot nocturnal wildlife.

Lion World Travel

Courtesy of Lion World Travel

As the trip name implies, Lion World Travel's 10-day Best of Cape Town & Botswana vacation package combines sightseeing in Cape Town, South Africa , with a classic safari in Botswana. During the latter half of the itinerary, visitors will explore Botswana's Okavango Delta (home to cheetahs, crocodiles, hippos and more) and Chobe National Park, which is believed to have Africa's largest elephant population. Prices start at $4,299 per person and cover game drives; many of your meals; and stays at luxury hotels, camps and lodges. You'll need to pay an extra charge for the flights within the tour (Cape Town to Botswana as well as Botswana to Johannesburg ).

[See more of Cape Town: Things to Do | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos ]

Bearded Heron Safaris

Neil Heron | Courtesy of Bearded Heron Safaris

Travelers keen on seeing South Africa's Kruger National Park through the eyes of a local naturalist will appreciate the 15-day safari with Bearded Heron Safaris. Led by Neil Heron, a nature guide and wildlife photographer and writer, Bearded Heron Safaris' longest option features small game drives that may include lion, rhino, zebra and leopard sightings throughout all corners of Kruger. Rates are inclusive of in-park cottage accommodations and all breakfasts, dinners, snacks and drinks. Flights and park fees are not included. For a 15-day safari, expect to pay 76,900 South African rand (about $4,500) per person.

[See more of Kruger National Park: Things to Do | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos ]

Discover Africa

Getty Images

For an inside-out trip through the natural wonders of Botswana, Discover Africa's nine-day Epic Botswana Adventure is a formidable option. You'll start out at a riverside lodge on the Chobe River – a great location for elephant spotting – before moving onto the marshy Okavango Delta, a wildlife-rich area where you can spot a huge range of animals from leopards to rhinos. The safari ends at the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, a good place to admire wildlife like zebras and buffalo on the savanna as well as salt pans from a former lake. You'll stay in upscale lodges and campsites within close reach of the wilderness. All meals and transport along the tour are included in the price tag (which starts at $4,800 per person), but international flights are excluded.

Wild Wings Safaris

If you're looking to have a broader experience that mixes in some history and beach time, consider Wild Wings Safaris' eight-day Battlefields, Bush and Beach Safari. You'll start off visiting some of South Africa's historic sites from the Boer wars, before moving on to the Phinda Private Game Reserve, which doesn't allow day visitors, so you should be able to look out for the big five without too many crowds. The tour wraps up at Thonga Beach Lodge, where you can snorkel or scuba dive near coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. As far as safaris go, this one is an affordable option, starting at about $2,795 per person with all meals included as well as a rental car; for the cheapest price, you will need to drive yourself between the destinations, but it's possible to pay an additional fee for a driver to guide you instead.

Cuckoo Safaris

This tour company kicks off its tours from the majestic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, with a host of safaris that range from two days to nine, across Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, including some family-friendly choices. For an affordable option, there's the four-day Discover Victoria Falls, Chobe and Hwange Park safari, which will take you on two full-day tours to Chobe National Park (across the border in Botswana) and to Hwange, Zimbabwe's largest national park, where you should keep your eyes peeled for lions, elephants and more. This safari also includes a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. The price starts at $900 per person, which includes the tours plus breakfast, lunch and lodging in Victoria Falls; travelers will need to pay for entrance fees to the parks and dinner.

Compass Odyssey

Courtesy of Compass Odyssey

Explore the savanna and deserts of southwest Africa with Compass Odyssey's eight-day Namibia Wildlife Safari. You'll visit a community-based conservation area in Damaraland – known for its desert-adapted elephants, oryx, giraffes and other wildlife – while staying in the rustic-chic Doro Nawas Camp. You'll also spend two days in Etosha National Park, seeking wildlife at the park's bustling waterholes by day and embarking on an evening game drive as well. Starting at $3,750 per person, the tour includes most meals and all park entry fees, but not flights; the company does allow the tour to be customized on request.

Vaccination and visa requirements for African countries

Some popular safari destinations may require you to have received certain vaccinations in order to enter the country as a tourist. Inoculation requirements can include vaccination against COVID-19 and yellow fever, and you'll need to get these vaccines before departing on your trip. Be sure to bring proof of vaccinations with you. If you are transiting through another country en route to your safari tour, you must check that you also meet immunization requirements for the stopover location.

Note that, outside of what's required, there are a number of other vaccinations that are recommended, so ensure you're up to date and fully protected before you travel. In addition, many safari locations are prone to malaria; you should consult with your doctor to see if you need to bring anti-malaria medication on your trip.

Safari countries have varying visa requirements for travelers from the U.S. – these are detailed below. Depending on your itinerary, you may need a single- or multiple-entry visa, and some visas require you to apply in advance of traveling and/or have a certain number of blank pages in your passport. Regardless of your destination, your passport should be valid for at least six months before you leave for your trip.

Here are the vaccine and visa requirements for major safari destinations as of November 2022:

Botswana: If you have recently visited a country where yellow fever is common, you will need to be vaccinated against this illness. This does not include the U.S. but does include a number of countries in Africa, Central and South America. Consult the World Health Organization's website for a list of countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, including Kenya and Uganda.

U.S. citizens and nationals can stay in Botswana for 90 days without a visa.

Kenya: Travelers to Kenya must have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with the last shot administered more than 14 days before arrival in the country. Unvaccinated visitors can enter with a negative PCR test, conducted no more than 72 hours before departure. Proof of COVID-19 tests or vaccines must be uploaded to an online system called Panabios. Kenya is a country where you'll be at risk of yellow fever transmission; it also requires those traveling from other places with yellow fever or cholera outbreaks to be vaccinated against these illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you protect yourself against yellow fever before your trip here.

Americans need an e-visa to enter Kenya. You should apply online at the eVisa government website no more than eight weeks before your trip, as visas are not available upon arrival in Kenya. See more on the U.S. Department of State's website .

Namibia: Those traveling from a country where yellow fever is common need to be vaccinated against it. No visa is required as long as you're staying for 90 days or less.

Rwanda: If you're coming from a country where yellow fever is endemic, a yellow fever vaccination is required before departure.

U.S. citizens and nationals can be issued a 30-day visitor visa on arrival in Rwanda or through the Rwandan Embassy in Washington, D.C. A single-entry visa costs $50, and it's recommended you bring sufficient cash in U.S. dollars to pay for this (although credit card payment may be accepted at Kigali International Airport). Consult the State Department website for more information.

South Africa: A yellow fever vaccination is required if you're traveling from a country with a risk of transmission. No visa is required for stays of 90 days or less.

Tanzania: Travelers must be able to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination with a QR code to enter Tanzania. Unvaccinated travelers must take a PCR test no more than 72 hours before departure, and the test results should be accessible by QR code. Yellow fever vaccines are mandatory if you're traveling from a location where yellow fever is present – including if you spend more than 12 hours in transit in such a country.

Visas are required for tourism in Tanzania. You can apply for a single-entry, 90-day visa online for $50 – and be sure to print a copy of the approval to bring with you. The processing period takes up to 10 days. You can also obtain a visa on arrival for a $100 fee; it's recommended you bring cash to cover this. Find more Tanzanian visa information on the State Department website .

Uganda: To enter Uganda, you must either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or present a negative test taken no more than 72 hours before departure. Like Kenya, Uganda is a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. All visitors must show proof of vaccination against yellow fever to enter Uganda, regardless of where you're traveling from.

American visitors to Uganda must apply online for an electronic visa before departure; arriving in Uganda without completing this process could result in your detainment. Visit the State Department website to learn more.

Zambia: Visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 must show proof of vaccination but do not need a test to enter Zambia; unvaccinated travelers must undergo a PCR test no more than 72 hours before departure. Yellow fever vaccines are only required if you're coming from an area considered at risk.

Visas are required to visit Zambia, but these can be obtained online before your departure or at a port of entry. Check the State Department website for more details.

Zimbabwe: To enter Zimbabwe, travelers must either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or must take a negative PCR test no more than 48 hours before your departure. As with other countries on this list, visitors from countries with yellow fever outbreaks also require a vaccine against this illness.

U.S. visitors can obtain a 30-day, single-entry visa upon arrival in Zimbabwe for $30. If you're taking a tour that requires you to leave and reenter Zimbabwe, be sure to get a double-entry visa for $45. You can learn more from the State Department website .

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Passport Wallets (That Also Hold Vaccine Cards)
• The Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance Options
• The Best International Travel Insurance Plans
• The Best Zoos in the U.S.
• The World's Best Places to Visit

Tags: Travel , Vacation Ideas

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The 17 best costa rica tours.

Lyn Mettler April 12, 2024

Hard vs. Soft Luggage

Rachael Hood April 12, 2024

The Best Kauai Boat Tours

Lyn Mettler April 11, 2024

The Top-Rated NYC Food Tours

Ann Henson April 11, 2024

The Best Things to Do in Maine

Mariya Greeley and Nicola Wood April 10, 2024

The Best Pearl Harbor Tours

John Rodwan and Amanda Norcross April 9, 2024

The Best Pigeon Forge Dinner Shows

Korrin Bishop April 9, 2024

Flight Canceled or Delayed? What to Do

Amanda Norcross April 8, 2024

Carry-on Luggage Sizes by Airline

The Best Charleston Tours

John Rodwan April 4, 2024

Travelling Without a Passport

Best Safari Destinations in Africa for 2024

The Big Five have never been more appealing. Here are our big five safari destinations Africa for 2024 and beyond

“There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne—bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive.” Karen Blixon, of Out of Africa fame, waxed rhapsodic about the wonders of the mighty continent and the appeal of a safari. Most of us have only seen wild elephants and lions in documentaries, but there’s nothing more thrilling than seeing these mighty beasts in their natural habitat. An elephant calf playfully following the herd, an ochre-hued lion gazing intently at wildebeests, a giraffe slowly chewing the branches from an acacia tree. Witnessing these animals on a safari in Africa truly transforms you and your views on conservation and sustainability.

Africa boasts dozens of countries, each with their own cultures, languages and norms, but across this dynamic continent, from north to south, lie wilderness parks, savannahs and velds where the Big Five—lions, elephants, cape buffalos, rhinos and leopards—and other animals live peacefully under the watchful eye of park rangers and conservationists. Check out our top five best safari destinations in Africa for 2024. 

Botswana boasts so many natural wonders, it’s hard to pick a place to start when heading here for a safari adventure. The Okavango River Delta, the largest inland delta in the world, offers miles upon miles of myriad waterways, lagoons and grassy flood plains where one can admire mighty beasts from a safe vantage point in an overland truck. Get as close as you can get to African elephants as well as lions and leopards on a Botswana safari .

The Moremi Game Reserve, situated in the heart of the delta, is the perfect campsite for any driving safari as you’ll be rewarded with hippos, Cape buffalos, lions, leopards and the ever elusive Tawny Eagle. If you love elephants as much as we do, Chobe National Park on the border of Botswana and Zambia, boasts a herd population of around 50,000 elephants across the savannah. A Botswana safari is the perfect choice if you want to splurge on a private African safari tour as you get personal chefs and other amenities.

Kenya offers tantalizing glimpses of wildlife from any budget or luxury African safari tour. With more than 800 safari tours to choose from, travelers will find it hard to pick just one. Head to the Masai Mara for gaming drives that ensure you see at least one or two of the Big Five. Tsavo West National Park goes beyond the Big Five and offers rhinos, hippos, cheetahs and plant and bird species that you can’t find anywhere else. This rugged wilderness boasts verdant plains thanks to watering holes such as Mzima Springs. 

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the resident icon here and with its snow-capped peaks as a backdrop, you’ll find elephants migrating from one watering hole to another at Amboseli National Park. Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake, is a great vantage point to admire birds as well as hippos among papyrus reeds and flat-topped acacias. After six days of trekking and hiking, relax in your air-conditioned hotel in Nairobi when you’re done.

South Africa

When one thinks of the Big Five, South Africa immediately comes to mind as it’s considered the place to see all of these animals in their natural habitat. A safari in South Africa means you’ll be guaranteed lions, leopards, rhinos, and other wildlife across a five- to eight-day African safari. 

From the verdant banks of Lake Saint Lucia in iSimangaliso Wetland Park to the grassy plains of Kruger National Park, South Africa teems with wildlife that is indigenous to the continent. Blyde River Canyon, the third largest of its kind in the world, boasts gorges and greenery like you’ve never seen anywhere else on earth. Expect views of the rivers and valleys laid out like a banquet feast for the senses. Meandering ribbons of blue traverse the landscape and waterfalls are carved into cliff sides, offering a pleasing respite from long days in an overland truck tour. 

For African safari tours, Tanzania is always at the top when one thinks of best safari destinations in Africa. With sites such as Ngorongoro Crater, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tarangire National Park, and Serengeti National Park it isn’t not hard to see why. A Tanzania safari is a one-of-a-kind experience thanks to the Great Migration. This annual event sees more than 2 million animals, mainly wildebeests, zebras and giraffes, traverse the golden plains of Serengeti National Park, from Tanzania to nearby Kenya. A safari in Tanzania is always appealing thanks to conservation efforts that preserve the Big Five and other wildlife as well as fertile soil and abundant watering holes.  

On any given Tanzania safari, expect iconic wildlife while on a game drive and close-but-not-too close interactions with animals (perfect for anyone looking for an African safari photography tour); it’s one of our favorites because of this personal interaction. Descend into Ngorongoro crater where you might be lucky enough to spot an endangered black rhino or visit a Maasai village to learn about their way of life. 

While most people head on an African safari to see the Big Five, there are other animals just as majestic and endangered as the mighty lion. Uganda boasts gorilla safaris so you can do your best Jane Goddall impression watching primates in their native habitat.

Before you get to the primates, travel to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to admire rare white rhinos, which have been saved from the brink of extinction by park rangers here. Track chimpanzees, our closest animal relatives, in Kibale Forest National Park. Then it’s time to hike 4-6 hours to see mountain gorillas.

In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park you’ll get to spend one hour admiring these majestic beats in the dense foliage. Grab your camera and quietly take photos of these sociable creatures who are often in family groups of more than a dozen, led by an alpha male. These mighty animals can look placid but can be quite intimidating when viewed up close so don’t use your video camera or flash. You’ll leave your Uganda gorilla safari with a new appreciation for primates of all sizes. 

See Also: Best Safari Destinations In the World

Shandana A. Durrani

Shandana A. Durrani is the Head of Content & Brand at TourRadar. A former Senior Editor at Cigar Aficionado and a former Dining Editor at Google, Durrani has written about travel for Condé Nast Traveler, Afar, Silverkris and Metro London and is the author of “Day Trips from New York City.”

Related Articles

• Food & Drink

Your Guide to Amsterdam’s Secret Bars and Speakeasies

One of the most popular cities in Europe, Amsterdam has no...

• North America

Your Guide to Easter Around the World

Easter is a time to celebrate new beginnings. The symbols and...

• Central America

The Best Spring Break Destinations

As long as academics have been a part of our lives,...

Carnival Around the World

Get unlimited access to the world's best travel stories. subscribe now., privacy overview.

This website uses cookies. We use cookies to analyze our traffic, enhance our website’s functionality and performance and better experience for our users. If you require more information, please view our Cookie Policy .

Call Today!: 1-800-387-2706

2024 safaris.

Our collection of affordable luxury safaris for travel in 2024 is here. Browse our African safaris below, and get in touch . From South Africa and Botswana in the south, to Kenya and Tanzania in the east, and virtually everywhere in between, we have safari options to match your personal preferences. We would love to share our passion for Africa with you, and help you plan your dream vacation.

Note: Tours are grouped by destination - then in order lowest to highest price.  Itineraries without pricing are suggested itineraries and are on request.

Best of Cape Town and the Bush

Explore the "best" of beautiful Cape Town, the picturesque Winelands and a thrilling safari.

Family Fun in South Africa

A vacation package for the whole family, packed with fun and educational activities.

The Pearl of Africa

Beautiful Cape Town and a thrilling safari are combined with a luxurious Rovos Rail train journey for a superb South African vacation.

South Africa's History and Heritage

Follow historical and cultural attractions along Mandela's journey and discover Cape Town's beautiful scenery.

Classic South Africa - USD

Marvel at the beauty of South Africa on this exceptional safari.

South Africa in Absolute Style

Experience stunning South Africa in affordable luxury. Year after year, a top-selling safari.

Best of South Africa

A South African safari offering exciting game drives at Kapama and culture and scenic beauty in Cape Town.

Classic South Africa - CAD

Pride of South Africa

Explore Cape Town's beauty, embark on a thrilling wildlife adventure in KwaZulu-Natal's MfulaWozi Reserve.

Tented Safari in Style

A superb South African luxury tented safari that supports the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

South Africa in Absolute Style - CAD

Best of Cape Town and Botswana

Explore Cape Town, the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park on safari.

Platinum South Africa

A 5 star Luxury Safari. Enjoy the beauty of Cape Town and Franschhoek along with the exceptional wildlife at Sabi Sabi.

Luxury South Africa

Stay in the heart of Cape Town, then be mesmerized by the wildlife at the elegant Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge.

Discover Southern Africa

A Southern Africa safari offering scenic beauty in Cape Town, exciting game drives and the majesty of the Victoria Falls.

Ultimate Cape Town and Botswana

Explore the coastal scenery of Cape Town and immense wetlands of the Okavango Delta.

African Dream Honeymoon

A dream honeymoon safari! Dine in Cape Town, explore a private game reserve, then unwind with some romantic beach time.

Ultimate South Africa And Victoria Falls

Experience the ultimate in luxury accommodations in Cape Town, on safari and in Victoria Falls on this incredible itinerary.

The Royal Treatment

Pamper yourself with every indulgence on this luxurious South African vacation and safari.

Luxury Jordan

Discover Jordan's ancient civilizations and fascinating culture on this vacation add-on.

Egyptian Explorer

Discover the ancient, wondrous civilization of Egypt in luxurious style as we explore this incredible country.

Egypt - Exclusively Yours

Explore the best of Egypt in style. Visit ancient wonders and enjoy a luxurious 4 night river cruise on the Nile River.

Magical Mozambique

Mozambique is the perfect honeymoon beach holiday or complement to a Southern Africa safari.

Seductive Seychelles

The Seychelles is the ultimate honeymoon beach paradise or complement to a Southern African safari.

Best of Zimbabwe

Discover the beauty and wildlife of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and stunning Victoria Falls.

The Wonder of Victoria Falls

Experience the majesty of Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Victoria Falls in Style

Experience stunning Victoria Falls: river cruises, luxury accommodation and nature drives.

Zimbabwe Safari in Style

Discover Zimbabwe's natural beauty and awesome wildlife in remote and unspoiled wilderness areas.

Tanzania In Style - Upgraded Edition

Explore Tanzania's vast wilderness on this luxury safari that takes you through Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.

Tanzania in Style

Experience the Tanzania Trifecta of Parks - Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and the famous Serengeti.

Azure Zanzibar

Relax on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar and explore the ancient city of Stone Town.

Tanzanian Highlights

Discover the wild wonderlands of Tanzania on this affordable luxury safari vacation.

Classic Tanzania

Create magical memories on a safari adventure to the Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro.

Luxury Tanzania

Explore the wide-open spaces of Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with animals as far as the eye can see.

Tanzania - In the Footsteps of the Migration

Witness the amazing spectacle of the great migration and experience Tanzania's wildlife.

Best of Tanzania

Discover Africa's majestic wildlife up close on this affordable luxury Tanzania safari.

Platinum Tanzania

Indulge in ultimate luxury on this Tanzania safari and see Africa's majestic wildlife up close.

Gorillas of Rwanda

An up-close and moving experience with endangered Mountain Gorillas.

Classic Rwanda

Visit National Parks teeming with wildlife on this Classic Rwanda safari.

Platinum Rwanda

Go on safari in Rwanda looking for lions, rhinos, giraffes and more; then enjoy a trek in the forest in search of Gorillas.

Namibian Experience

Discover Namibia, home to spectacular deserts and awesome wildlife, on this 5 star safari vacation.

Namibian Adventure

Explore the mysteries of the Namibian desert and witness its awesome wildlife on an Etosha Game Reserve safari.

Alluring Mauritius

Mauritius is the perfect honeymoon beach paradise or complement to a Southern African safari. 

Botswana in Style

Discover Botswana’s beautiful landscapes and wildlife on a safari in the Okavango Delta and Chobe River.

Ultimate Botswana and Zambia

Experience unmatched luxury on this Botswana and Zambia safari vacation.

Discover Botswana

Explore diverse wildlife and enjoy exciting safari activities on a luxury safari.

Platinum Botswana

A luxury safari for those who want something different!

Zambia in Style

Home to the iconic Victoria Falls, and Livingstone, Zambia’s game reserves are relatively undiscovered treasures.

Kenya in Absolute Style

Discover Kenya's natural beauty on this 5 star luxury safari vacation to Nairobi, Samburu, and the Maasai Mara.

Enchanting Kenya

From Shaba to the Maasai Mara, this Kenya safari presents you the chance to see some Africa's greatest wildlife.

Luxury Kenya

Explore magical Kenya on an affordable luxury safari to the Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru.

Discover East Africa

Abundant wildlife and diverse landscapes await in Tanzania and Kenya on this epic safari.

Kenya Exclusive Tented Safari

A superb Kenyan wildlife safari staying in romantic intimate camps in Amboseli, Samburu and the Maasai Mara.

Experience Kenya

Visit the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy and Masai Mara, two prime wildlife areas, then participate in a Kenya conservation success story.

Ultimate Kenya and Tanzania Mahali Mzuri

A luxury safari offering the "Best of the Best" in Kenya and Tanzania. Prepare to have your expectations exceeded!

Ultimate Kenya and Tanzania Angama Mara

The ultimate Kenya and Tanzania safari offering elegant accommodations, breathtaking views, and excellent wildlife sightings.

East Africa SkySafari

Fly across Kenya and Tanzania on private planes, to luxurious and eco-friendly safari camps in East Africa's most famous parks.

• South Korea
• Indonesia (Bali)
• Central Asia
• African Safari
• South Africa
• Itinerary Ideas

African Safari 2024/2025 | Witness the Big Five Live

Whether you're yearning for family bonding, a romantic escape, or a milestone celebration, we'll craft an itinerary that surpasses your wildest dreams.

Venture beyond the iconic wildlife encounters to uncover hidden gems , like biking in Hell's Gate National Park and immersing yourself in the vibrant Maasai communities. Discover the unique Ngorongoro Crater and enjoy your leisure time on the beaches of Zanzibar.

From seasoned enthusiasts to first-time explorers , our expert guides, with their deep knowledge of Africa's landscapes and creatures, will ensure you create memories that echo long after your safari ends.

Tailor-made Family Safari Vacations

• Best-selling Private African Safri Tours

Tailor-made family vacations provide a diverse range of age-appropriate activities, educational experiences, and opportunities to strengthen family bonds, ensuring an unforgettable and enriching travel experience for everyone. We can customize all the itineraries to suit your timetable and match your particular preferences.

• 9-Day Kenya Active Family Private Safari Tour
• 9-Day Tanzania Family Safari with Serengeti

Best-selling Private African Tours

Best-selling tours offer a personalized and immersive travel experience, allowing you exclusive access to wildlife, hidden natural wonders, and unique Massai culture, all within the comfort and safety of this mesmerizing region All the itineraries can be tailored to accommodate your schedule and align with your specific interests.

• 10-Day Tanzania Highlights Tour with Zanzibar
• 12-Day Kenya Best Safari Tour with Amboseli

12-Day Kenya and Tanzania Best Safari Tour

15-day egypt and kenya highlights tour, why global highlights (10,000+ reviews & 98.8% 5-star rating).

• Save Your Time:
• Less research, more enjoyment!
• Real-time 1V1 expert planning
• Maximize Your Flexibility:
• Personal local guide and ride
• Explore at your own pace
• Celebrate Your Journeys:
• Specially-crafted family adventures
• Celebrate milestones with style!
• 1 Week in Kenya — 4 Time-efficient Itineraries
• 7 Days in South Africa: The 5 Best Itineraries for First Timers, Families, and Couples
• 7 Days in Tanzania: 5 Best Itinerary Ideas for First-Timers
• 10 Days in South Africa: 5 Incredible Itineraries for First-Timers, Couples, and Families
• Kenya Weather in January: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in February: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in March: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in April 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in May 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in June 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in July 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in August 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in September 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in October 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in November: Travel Tips for First-Timers
• Kenya Weather in December: Travel Tips for First-Timers

Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries

More travel ideas and inspiration, sign up to our newsletter.

Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our team of experts.

Why Global Highlights

Where can we take you today.

• Southeast Asia
• Japan, South Korea
• India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri lanka

• Travel Agents
• Privacy Policy

Address: Building 6, Chuangyi Business Park, 70 Qilidian Road, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China

Our Top 10 Trips of 2024

Every year our team gathers together to discuss what has been inspiring us lately. Which camps offer innovative menus and trendy, thoughtfully designed tents? Which destinations are beckoning us with epic wildlife reports from our local network? These thoughts guide us when crafting our featured trips so that we're always bringing your the most unexpected and exciting itineraries to fuel your wanderlust for the year ahead. 

As our team looks back at 2023 - our biggest year ever! - we are so grateful for all of the many adventures we've sent our extended Mango family on. We have all sorts of exciting things lined up for our 2024 that we can't wait to share with you, but in the meantime, enjoy indulging your wildest daydreams with our Top 10 Trips of 2024. From photographic hotspots and over-the-top trips to celebrate milestone moments, to multi-day walking safaris and budget friendly primate trekking, this year's line-up is better than ever. As you're gathering together with friends and family this holiday season and discussing what to do in the year ahead, let these trips be the kindling of your inspiration.

ULTIMATE FAMILY SAFARI South Africa, Zambia & Botswana

For the ultimate family getaway, it doesn't get better than this. Blending adventure galore, diverse activities and the finest luxury, this itinerary will please the whole family. From the leopards and rhinos of the Sabi Sands to the habituated meerkats of the Kalahari, your family will get to experience it all. Stay in gorgeous camps and lodges situated in the heart of some of Africa's most coveted wildlife areas. Family tents let you experience the magic of the bush together, while still giving parents some privacy. 

More details here

GRAND EAST AFRICA Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda

Safari is more than a comfortable bed and luxury linen, it is a sensory experience from the moment you arrive. This itinerary is filled with pampering, fine cuisine and unabashed luxury, but it is the wild moments that will touch your soul. From the mighty herds of The Great Migration to mountain gorillas in lush rainforests and endless predator action - this trip creates special moments immersed in the best that East Africa can offer.

BRIAN'S WALKING SAFARI FAVORITES Zambia

There is no purer a way to experience Africa's wilderness than on foot, as humans have done for generations. Let your senses come alive as you trek with your guide through ancient forests, open grasslands and along shady riverbanks. Watch as a hidden side of the bush reveals itself to you without the noise of a vehicle to interrupt you. Walk from camp to camp so that you get the best of both worlds - the luxury of permanant camps, the romance of a flycamp under the stars and the adventure of walking.  

EAST AFRICA FAMILY EXPLORER Kenya & Tanzania

East Africa offers so much for families seeking out adventure and quality time together. Let the wonders of this diverse region open your children's eyes to the wider world beyond them. From the classic big game safari with elephants and lions to walking safaris with flocks of flamingos and snorkeling on coral reefs, there is plenty to keep kids entertained and engaged. Jump into this adventure head first and let the magic of Africa create memories you'll be talking about over dinner for years to come.

MILESTONE MOMENTS South Africa & Mozambique

When it comes to celebrating the milestone moments in your life, there's no more special of a way than with a lavish, over the top trip with those that you love most. Whether you are celebrating a landmark anniversary with your kids and grandchildren, or honoring a big birthday with your closest friends, this is the ultimate trip for it. From a luxurious safari camp designed for exclusive-use groups to a dreamy beach resort with award-winning design, this itienrary has it all. Private staff cater to your every whim whether it's surprise bush breakfasts or sea-kayaking adventures through the crystal clear Indian Ocean. Go on safari in a premier game reserve, known for its tremendous abundance of wildlife and regular sightings of the elusive leopard, then head to the pristine Bazaruto Archipelago where dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles and more await. This trip is truly a dream come true!

KELSEA'S PHOTOGRAPHY FAVORITES Kenya & South Africa

For photographers both hobby and professional, this itinerary puts you right in the heart of Kelsea's favorite private conservancies for to capture epic snapshots. Private guides and vehicles are included at both stops - charging points, mounts, specialty seats elevate the photography experience to a whole new level. Work with guides that understand optimal vehicle positioning, lighting and can offer helpful tips on photographing these amazing animals. Both conservancies promise off the charts concentrations and diversity of wildlife to photograph whether you're looking for leopard action or a bucket list bird.

THE MIGRATION: MOVING WEST Tanzania

Immerse into the incredible diversity of Tanzania's landscapes, wildlife and cultures with The Great Wildebeest Migration as the crowning jewel of the itinerary. From the rivers and forests of Tarangire to the Ngorongoro Highlands and the sweeping Serengeti savannah, this itinerary hits all the highlights. After a week-long privately guided safari, indulge in a luxurious finish right in the heart of the prime Great Migration western corridor. With the mighty herds come the plethora of predators alongside the abundant year-round wildlife. 

SHOESTRING ICONIC WILDLIFE OF EAST AFRICA Uganda & Kenya

East Africa is home to some of the most iconic animals - chimpanzees, gorillas, big cats, elephants and the vast herds of the Great Migration. If you're looking for a grand slam trip to Africa where you can hit all the most famous wildlife experiences in one go - this is the perfect itinerary for you. All these epic adventures don't have to break the bank thanks to our favorite affordable camps that deliver big on quality without the price tag. From chimpanzee and gorilla trekking in the rainforests of Uganda to an action packed savannah safari, have your cameras and binoculars at the ready!  

ELEPHANTS TO MEERKATS South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe

A family safari is one of the most magical ways to create lifelong memories together. From the biggest elephants to the littlest meerkats, your family will experience it all on this adventure through many of Southern Africa's top destinations. From the cultural sites of Cape Town to the heart of the African bush, you'll get a taste of everything this region has to offer. Family-friendly accommodation lets you experience the magic of the bush together without sacrificing privacy. 

JOURNEY THROUGH MOROCCO Morocco

This itinerary blends the enchanting magic and history of Moroccan culture with a delightful twist of luxury and style. Discover the ancient city of Fez, a haven of traditional culture and artisan souks that continue to thrive to this day. Soak up the beauty of the Atlas Mountains with scenic hikes and sharing a meal with a traditional Berber family. Explore the lively city of Marrakech, where Morocco's diverse modern culture has given rise to a vibrant dining and fashion scene. Indulge your senses in the whimsical luxury of Dar Ahlam, a restored rammed-earth kasbah surrounded by an oasis of sprawling gardens.

Let's chat about your own epic 2024 adventure!

Tel: 503.282.9009 Email:  [email protected]

Find out more about

• You are here:

Top 10 Best African Safari Parks and Destinations of 2024

Anita is a data researcher and content manager at SafariBookings with a background in editing and translation.

Africa has some incredible places to go looking for animals, but which safari park do travelers rate the highest? After an exhaustive analysis of 2,494 reviews written by safari travelers and experts, we are pleased to announce that, for the fourth consecutive time, Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park has won top spot in our list of the Top 10 Best African Safari Parks and Destinations of 2024.

Its overall rating of 4.87 out of 5 put this world-renowned wildlife park out in front of 199 other parks and reserves across East and southern Africa, as well as Ethiopia and Madagascar. Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve in South Africa continued its rise through the rankings this year, reaching second place, with Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park coming in third.

Top 10 African Safari Parks and Destinations

Top 11 to 50 african safari parks and destinations, how we created this list, interesting insights, demographics of the reviewers (all parks).

4.52 /5 Classic safaris, giraffe, cheetah, antelope species, four of the Big Five (no rhino)

4.51 /5 Boat and classic safaris, four of the Big Five (no rhino), abundant elephant

4.50 /5 Classic dry-country safaris, four of the Big Five (no rhino), adjoins Buffalo Springs National Reserve

4.50 /5 Classic safaris, private reserve, Big Five present

4.49 /5 Classic safaris, private reserve, Big Five present, chimpanzee refuge, stunning scenery

4.48 /5 Canoe, boat, walking and classic safaris, four of the Big Five (no rhino)

4.47 /5 Classic safaris, great abundance of all major safari animals including the Big Five

4.45 /5 Walking and classic safaris, Victoria Falls and small wildlife park, white rhino, elephant and giraffe, no big cats

4.44 /5 Walking, boat and classic safaris, four of the Big Five (no rhino), healthy population of wild dog

4.43 /5 Boat safaris, sublime scenery, wonderful birding, rhino tracking

4.37 /5 Classic safaris, four of the Big Five (no buffalo), abundant wildlife during the Dry season

4.36 /5 Boat and classic safaris, waterfall, abundant wildlife, four of the Big Five (no rhino)

4.36 /5 Classic safaris, great elephant viewing, famous for its views of Mt Kilimanjaro

4.32 /5 Classic safaris, zebra migration in the Wet season, all big cats present

4.29 /5 Classic safaris, adjoins Tsavo West National Park, good for elephants and big cats

4.28 /5 Boat and classic safaris, abundant wildlife, four of the Big Five (no rhino)

4.27 /5 Walking, canoe and classic safaris, four of the Big Five (no rhino) and wild dog present

4.23 /5 Walking and classic safaris, four of the Big Five (no rhino), lots of elephants in the Dry season

4.22 /5 Classic safaris, adjoins Tsavo East National Park, Big Five present, low wildlife density, varied scenery

4.17 /5 Classic safaris, private reserve, Big Five present

4.15 /5 Exceptional granite landscapes, prehistoric rock art, limited wildlife includes rhino

4.12 /5 Classic safaris, private reserve, Big Five present

4.05 /5 Big Five, lovely scenery, top birding, night drives and boat trips

4.05 /5 Classic safaris, black and white rhino, lion and leopard, no elephant, family-friendly

3.98 /5 Classic safaris, zebra migration in the Wet season, all big cats present

3.96 /5 Hiking, small antelope species and primates, birding hot spot

3.96 /5 Classic safaris, Big Five present

3.88 /5 Walking safaris, forest elephants and tree hotels

3.88 /5 Classic safaris, private reserve, Big Five present

3.87 /5 Cycling, walking and climbing, with mainly buffalo and antelope species

3.81 /5 Boat, walking and classic safaris, mainly antelope species, lion present but rare

3.79 /5 Classic safaris, four of the Big Five (no elephant), city skyscrapers as backdrop

3.72 /5 Classic, walking and canoe safaris, treetop walkway, four of the Big Five (no rhino)

3.70 /5 Classic safaris, hiking, mainly antelope species, buffalo, giraffe and Kilimanjaro colobus

3.65 /5 Walking and classic safaris, four of the Big Five (no rhino)

3.56 /5 Classic safaris, Cape mountain zebra, cheetah, lion, black rhino and antelope

3.45 /5 Classic safaris, Big Five present, but only elephant are regularly seen

3.44 /5 Classic safaris, Big Five present, famous for its rhino population

2.84 /5 Scenery, hiking, animals scarce, mainly antelope species, none of the Big Five

1.95 /5 Classic safaris, wildlife scarce except after summer rains, all big cats present

• We analyzed 2,494 park reviews on the SafariBookings.com website, which included 1,380 contributions by safari tourists from 107 countries, as well as 1,114 reviews written by our international team of safari experts.
• In total 200 parks from 15 countries, consisting of Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, were included in the study.
• Only parks recognized for classic wildlife-viewing safaris were considered. Parks mostly known for scenery or gorilla/chimp tracking (and not other wildlife) were not included.
• Parks with less than 10 reviews were excluded from the Top 50.
• Serengeti National Park in Tanzania was the clear winner with a 4.87 overall rating. This was the fourth time running that the Serengeti has come out on top, after placing first in 2015, 2018 and 2019. Driving the Serengeti’s popularity is the park’s spectacular wildlife (including the abundance of predators and the wildebeest migration), for which it was ranked highly by travelers and experts alike.
• South Africa’s Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve came in second with an overall rating of 4.71 out of 5. Ranked ninth in 2019, it jumped all the way to second place this year, roaring into the top three. Confirmation that Sabi Sands belongs in such elite company comes from the fact that both travelers and experts gave it 5 out of 5 for wildlife, and a higher overall ranking than they did in the previous survey.
• Coming in third was South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, rising from a respectable seventh last time around. It may receive fewer visitors than other, better-known parks, but it gets top marks from both travelers and safari experts.
• Tanzania had the highest number of entries in the Top 10, with three parks: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Ruaha National Park. Botswana was close behind with two and a half parks: Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (which Botswana shares with South Africa).
• Kenya may have only one entry, Masai Mara National Reserve, in the Top 10, but it had more parks and reserves in the Top 50 (12) than any other country. South Africa had the second most entries with 11, down from 14 in the last survey. Tanzania (eight), Botswana (six) and Uganda (four) were next. For the first time in 2024, Malawi had an entry in the Top 50 with Liwonde National Park at number 20.
• Birders have clearly taken a liking to Kenya’s Kakamega Forest National Reserve: both safari travelers and experts ranked Kakamega in first place for bird watching.
• One of the biggest surprises was Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Ranked second in 2019, it fell dramatically to 27th. But safari travelers have remained loyal to the park, giving it the maximum score of 5 out of 5 in the categories of wildlife, bush vibe and birding.
• Travelers aged between 20 and 35 decided that their favorite park was Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, followed closely by Tanzania’s Serengeti. For more mature age groups, the top ranking went to Namibia’s Etosha National Park (ages 35 to 50) and South Africa’s Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve (ages 50 to 65).
• Botswana’s Chobe National Park and Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park ranked highly for safari travelers who have been on more than one safari. And when it comes to wilderness, Botswana’s Okavango Delta deservedly came out on top in the bush vibe category for those who have been on five or more safaris.

User reviews: 1,380 Expert reviews: 1,114 Nationalities: 107

Percentage of Reviews by Country All user reviews. Move your cursor over a country to get the number.

Age and Gender (Percentage) All people who wrote user reviews. Move your cursor over the chart for more details.

Safari Experience Level (Percentage) All people who wrote user reviews. Move your cursor over the chart for more details.

Want To Visit Serengeti?

• Serengeti Safari Tours
• Serengeti Tour Operators

Have a Question About This Article?

About SafariBookings

SafariBookings is the largest online marketplace for African safari tours. Easily compare offers from top-rated tour operators. Make decisions like a pro by using our 102,972 reviews and 223 destination guides. More About Us

Safaris by Type

• Luxury Safaris
• Budget Safaris
• Gorilla Trekking
• Chimp Trekking
• Family Safaris
• Private Safaris
• Group Safaris
• Photo Safaris
• Overland Tours
• Camping Safaris
• Fly-in Safaris
• Walking Safaris
• Birding Safaris
• Self-drive Safaris
• Canoe Safaris

Most Popular Blog Posts

• Best Time for African Safari
• Best Safari in South Africa
• Family Safari in South Africa
• African Safari Tips
• Game Reserves Near Cape Town
• What to Pack for a Safari
• Best African Safari Parks
• Top 5 Best African Honeymoon Safaris
• Top 5 Best Tanzania Family Safaris
• Best Places to See Cheetahs in Africa
• How Much Does an African Safari Cost?
• Best Places To Visit In Africa in 2024

Blog Categories

African safari tours.

5-Day Mara, Nakuru & Naivasha Midrange Private Safari

$1,375 to $1,925 pp (USD)

Kenya: Private tour Tented Camp & Hotel

You Visit: Nairobi (Start) , Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha) , Nairobi (End)

Hyrax Safaris

4.9 /5  –  250 Reviews

8-Day Custom Safari (Big 5) & Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

$2,706 pp (USD)

Rwanda & Uganda: Private tour Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Entebbe (Start) , Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps) , Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Kigali Airport (End)

Home To Africa Tours and Travel

4.9 /5  –  278 Reviews

7-Day Ultimate Kenyan Luxury Safari

$2,812 to $4,633 pp (USD)

Kenya: Private tour Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Nairobi (Start) , Amboseli NP, Hell’s Gate NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)

Crystal Voyage

4.9 /5  –  23 Reviews

Nairobi • Ngorongoro Conservation Area • Serengeti National Park • Maasai Mara

Few places on earth can lay claim to such superlative natural wonders as Africa. The timeless savannahs of the Serengeti. Ngorongoro Crater, the famed “Eighth Wonder of the Natural World.”

Our Olivia safari is superbly organized and crafted to perfection with the finest operators, guides, hotels, lodges, and tented camps. We have run tours to Kenya and Tanzania many times since 2007. Our safaris are a wonderful way to experience East Africa up close and personal with the animals and culture, truly making for a trip of a lifetime.

Explore Your Itinerary

Awards & Accolades

Voted World’s Best Tour Operator & Safari Outfitter —Travel & Leisure Magazine Voted Trip of a Lifetime —Travel & Leisure Magazine Voted Best Outfitters on Earth —National Geographic Adventure Magazine

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

• Accommodations for 10 days/9 nights in the finest hotels, lodges, and tent camps
• Airport group arrival transfer and departure transfers on days of program (November 14 and November 23) with personal VIP “Meet and Greet” upon arrival at your gate and assistance through immigrations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Baggage handling is included.
• Private day-use rooms at the Nairobi Norfolk Fairmont on the day of departure until 6 pm, November 23
• All meals from November 15-23
• Water, soft drinks, local wine and local beer, coffee, and tea are included at all meals. At Four Seasons, house wine, well spirits, and local beer is included in Kulu Restaurant, Maji Br, and Boma. Waitstaff gratuities are included.
• Meet a Maasai elder
• Visit to the Giraffe Center
• Visit to the Dame Daphne Sheldrick’s Wildlife Foundation in Nairobi (as seen on ”Oprah”)
• View elephant feeding
• Lunch and shopping after visit to Elephant Orphanage
• Bush luncheon in the Ngorongoro Crater (subject to approval by park authorities)
• Museum visit and lecture at Olduvai Gorge
• Maasai village visit
• Sundowners set-up on last evening (one complimentary, other drinks billed to room based on consumption)
• Option to visit and participate in an AmericaShare project, Mukuru slums
• Safari briefing conducted by your Micato Safari Director
• Private charter flight from Nairobi to Lake Manyara, via Arusha
• Private charter flight from the Serengeti to Maasai Mara via Musoma
• Scheduled flight from the Maasai Mara to Nairobi
• Laundry credit of $50 per room, per night at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge. Laundry included at other Safari lodges
• On safari, we will seat a maximum of 6 guests in our 9-passenger vehicles guaranteeing a window seat and access to pop-up roof hatch for each guest
• Each vehicle is equipped with ice chests with complementary beverages, binoculars, and safari library with wildlife books
• Services of the Flying Doctors’ Society, an emergency airborne medical unit.
• An authentic safari hat and wooden animal necklace as a welcome gift
• An Olivia safari vest (be sure and let us know your size)
• All entrance fees to parks (fees subject to increase)
• Government taxes, VAT, and service charges for accommodations and included meals
• All porterage throughout
• All gratuities, including the Driver Guides, Safari Director, and Micato Concierge staff
• Micato’s concierge service at all hotels.
• Hospitality Desk, fully staffed throughout the day in Nairobi and on safari
• Olivia representative to accompany the group

Explore Your Accommodations

Our Travel Consultants can be reached at USA or Canada: 800.631.6277 or International 415.962.5700 , option 1.

Payment Plans Available

Olivia is happy to offer a 6-month interest free payment plan (20% deposit and 5 installments) and accepts VISA, MasterCard and Discover.

LEARN MORE ▸

Book Now. Pay over Time.

Olivia is also happy to offer low monthly payments when you finance through Uplift.

Tahiti Luxury Cruise

Sep 05 - Sep 12, 2024

Sep 05, 2024

Sep 12, 2024

Edinburgh to Dublin Luxury Cruise

Jun 27 - Jul 05, 2024

Jun 27, 2024

Jul 05, 2024

Turks & Caicos Resort

Nov 30 - Dec 07, 2024

Nov 30, 2024

Dec 07, 2024

Magical Morocco Adventure

Apr 25 - May 08, 2025

Apr 25, 2025

May 08, 2025

New Zealand Adventure Cruise

Jan 06 - Jan 16, 2025

Jan 06, 2025

Jan 16, 2025

Hawaii Adventure

Punta Cana Paradise Resort

Harmony of the Seas LGBT Group Cruise

Paris to Normandy Riverboat

Amazing Galapagos Adventure

Discover Olivia

• What sets us apart
• What Sets Us Apart
• Travel Deals
• Payment Plans
• Group Travel
• Loyalty Program

Help & Contact

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Travel Agents

Connect with us

Let's Get Connected

Get Olivia travel announcements and deals delivered right to your inbox weekly!

© Copyright 2024. The Olivia Companies, LLC, All Rights Reserved. CST#1009281-40

The Budget Savvy Travelers

BREAKING FREE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BUDGET

Home » 5 Best Affordable African Safari Options in 2024

5 Best Affordable African Safari Options in 2024

Just about everyone thinking about going on an affordable African safari is left in sticker shock—especially after getting quoted a ridiculous price from an online travel agency. For most of us, going on safari in Africa is not possible, and grossly exceeds the notion of a budget vacation.

No worries. Below are some tips and tricks to keep expenses down to make your dream a reality.

Generally, with just about every destination on the planet, there are always ways to do it cheaply. Unfortunately, going “cheap” in Southern and Eastern Africa may lead to your entire trip being left in ruin.

🚙 🦁 Use This Automated Quiz Tool To Get a Quick Quote on an African Safari

Beyond simply being disappointed and uncomfortable, being frugal can lead to becoming ill and exposing yourself to personal security risks. Simply put, in Africa, you get exactly what you pay for—no more and no less.

FIVE BEST AFFORDABLE AFRICAN SAFARIS IN 2024

Select a lodge or scroll down to view all.

1. Arathusa Safari Lodge – Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve 2. Ewanjan Tented Camp – Serengeti National Park 3. Mara Intrepids Tented Camp – Masai Mara National Reserve 4. Camp Moremi – Moremi Game Reserve 5. Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bucket list destination.

Going on an affordable African safari is on so many travelers’ bucket lists, and it’s easy to see why. There is no other experience like it on the planet. Moreover, while expensive, we’ve never heard of anyone regretting their trip.

Typically, travelers come back from Africa with a different perspective of the world and their place in it. Whether it’s witnessing extreme poverty, the kindness of the people, or a leopard killing the most darling steenbok, there is no way to avoid feeling more appreciative of everything you have in life—and that is what travel is all about, cultivating priceless experiences.

When you’re ready to book your flight, follow these three easy steps to get the best price.

Of course, this spiritual journey doesn’t come cheap—but dream destinations tend to be this way. When it comes to cost, going on an affordable African safari is up there with exploring the Poles or cruising the Galapagos Islands . For example, many are surprised to find out that the French-speaking country of the Republic of the Congo has recently been ranked as the most expensive travel destination on the planet.

Why is visiting the Republic of the Congo so expensive? It’s because it’s one of the few places in the world to go gorilla trekking .

We use this budget-savvy travel health insurance to protect our trips – get a quick quote .

For example, the daily permit to seek out the gorillas is about USD 500 per person. Of course, the Congo rainforest offers extremely limited accommodation options, along with costly transportation and food expenses. Taxes and fees paid to the government and regional entities also add significant overhead.

Reducing the Cost of a Safari in 2024

We’ve written extensively on the best safari we’ve ever taken in South Africa and how it’s not worth cutting corners financially when planning the expedition. Nevertheless, there are several ways to decrease the overall cost of the trip to make it a more affordable African safari.

Booking Yourself vs. Using Go2Africa

For our vacations to Africa, we’ve used Go2Africa to assist in the planning and arrangements. After tons of research, we concluded that even if we booked everything on our own it would cost more than having someone else do it. Also, beyond the cost, it was extremely beneficial to have someone on the ground to assist while visiting Africa.

Here are three good reasons why we book with outfitters like Go2Africa:

• Customization : Instead of getting stuck with a one-click fixed itinerary, Go2Africa can customize the trip to fit your budget and interests.
• Expertise : Go2Africa will make the vacation as private and exclusive as you desire.
• Affordability : Most of the time, it’s cheaper to go through outfitters like Go2Africa than to book everything individually yourself. For example, it’s pretty much impossible to book transfers, small aircraft, lodging, and game drives yourself without paying through the roof, let alone making a logistical error. For instance, if you make reservations yourself, and one aspect of the trip gets delayed it may put your entire vacation in jeopardy, whereas Go2Africa can make immediate corrections to keep your vacation on schedule.

Two Terrible Options for an Affordable African Safari

Not spending enough money on a proper safari lodge is the greatest mistake visitors to Africa will make. Previously, we’ve written about the obstacles other bloggers faced when trying to go cheap in Africa.

Don’t Do This ⇓

Typically, to save money, safari-goers will choose one of these two inexpensive options, none of which we would recommend:

• African overland tour : Travel through Africa on a modified truck/bus with a group over many weeks. Passengers assist with cooking, cleaning, and setting up tents each evening. Unfortunately, this is one of the cheapest and most uncomfortable ways to go on an affordable African safari.
• Self-driving game drive : Essentially, visitors rent a vehicle and drive through the national parks and do game drives themselves.

Why are these two options so bad?

While cheap, the African overland tour takes place on a big slow loud bumpy truck/bus. Its size, speed, and comfort level greatly limit the experience for the safari-goer. For example, many people complain that they’re motion sick for days or even weeks on end because of the bumpy roads.

The self-driving game drive option, on the other hand, has many more negatives than positives. While visitors may have more freedom to explore as they deem fit, there are also many considerable disadvantages, including:

• Missing out on an expert guide to spot animals
• Staying on the designated roads with no ability to explore the bush
• Keeping the vehicle and passengers safe (e.g., flat tire)
• Never experiencing the safari experience

Also, in certain situations, it may cost more to self-drive than to hire a guide or stay at a safari lodge. For instance, self-driving visitors will still have to pay transit fees, park fees, accommodation fees, car rental fees, and fuel fees.

Probably, the best way to envision a self-driving game drive in Africa is to compare it to driving through Yellowstone National Park . However, a significant difference is that in Africa, passengers are not allowed to exit their vehicles, except at specifically identified camps.

Don’t confuse terminology. The term safari is not synonymous with the notion of a game drive. A safari is considered one’s overall journey with the entire experience summed up in one word. On the other hand, a game drive describes the time one spends tracking, spotting, and viewing wildlife, typically in an open safari vehicle such as a modified Land Rover or Land Cruiser. – Harry

When you compare both an overland tour and a self-driving tour to the five affordable African safari options below, you’ll see how lame the more affordable options are.

National Park vs. Private Game Reserve vs. Conservancy

Generally, a safari in Africa will be held in one of three parks, each with its own set of safari rules. They include:

• National parks
• Private game reserves

Conservancies

It’s important to know the difference between the three types of parks because it determines how the best affordable African safari options are chosen. The most significant differences are described below.

National Parks

National parks and national game reserves like Serengeti, Kruger , and Masai Mara are famous for their abundant wildlife. They’re also renowned for their strict rules, generally forbidding:

• Guided walks
• Getting out of vehicles (except in designated areas)
• Night game drives
• Off-roading
• Limits on the number of vehicles at animal sightings

If any of the above restrictions impair your vision of a great safari then you’ll want to stay on a private game reserve or conservancy. For example, for us, off-roading and night game drives are the highlights of a great safari—nocturnal animals like lions and hyenas are most active at night.

Private Game Reserves

Unlike national parks, private game reserves have the fewest rules because the property is owned privately. In other words, it’s not open to the public including self-driving tourists or tour buses. Also, private game reserves are typically adjoined to a nearby national park and wildlife is free to roam between the two properties.

With landowners being the official adjudicators, guides are given more freedom to track wildlife. For example, most lodges will feature guided walks, night game drives, and off-roading.

Finally, private game reserves will have significantly less traffic than national parks. As a result, guests can enjoy animals in a less crowded and more natural environment.

Concessions

Similar to private game reserves, concessions are areas of land either in a national park or nearby that have been leased for private use. As a result, they benefit from operating under less strict rules than the national park.

Like private game reserves, conservancies are private. However, the main difference is that conservancies typically have local tribes that live on the property. Moreover, conservancy fees help to improve locals’ lives by reinvesting funds in the community.

Five Affordable African Safari Options

The five affordable African safari options below offer great value, and are by no means “cheap.” However, they offer everything one would want out of an African safari but at a much lower price (when compared to the typical luxurious African lodge).

The resorts listed below all provide guests with a five-star experience at a three-star rate. At first glance, prices may seem high but they include accommodation, full board with great food and drinks, up to three safaris per day, and excursions like guided walks with armed field guides.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that a vacation to Africa will usually include other sights and attractions such as Cape Town and Victoria Falls . Therefore, when considering the price of a safari lodge, many times two or three nights is sufficient.

In fact, many people we’ve met at various lodges quite frequently stayed only one night. However, we encourage travelers to stay at least two nights to increase the odds of catching a rare sighting. Below are five affordable African safaris in 2024:

1. Arathusa Safari Lodge – Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve

Properties of the same caliber as Arathusa Safari Lodge will typically cost two or even three times as much. Located in Sabi Sand , one of Africa’s premier private game reserves, Arathusa is one of the best affordable safari lodges for anyone looking for a Big 5 experience—90% of guests see all five animals in one day.

During our visit, we enjoyed afternoon tea from our suite overlooking the nearby watering hole, guided walks, and morning and afternoon game drives that led into the evening. In total, we spent about eight hours per day out on the massive reserve searching for wildlife.

We were 100% absolutely wowed by our experience here and wrote extensively about how it was the best safari in South Africa and the best value for the money.

Arathusa Safari Lodge – From $465 per person sharing

2. Ewanjan Tented Camp – Serengeti National Park

With views over an endless plain in Tanzania’s Seronera Valley, guests of the Ewanjan Tented Camp rave about the abundance of wildlife spotted right from camp. During our stay, a large herd of elephants walked down a path about 100 feet from our ensuite tent.

In Serengeti National Park, visitors are not allowed to leave their vehicles or the roads. Nevertheless, one way to get around this limitation is with a hot air balloon ride.

During our hot air balloon ride we spotted an epic sight, a lion eating a crocodile! There’s no feeling like watching the sunset come up over the Serengeti while silently gliding over the wildlife, trees, and rivers. If there’s any place in the world to go on a hot air balloon ride, it’s here. Make sure you book online early to secure your spot or with your agent at Go2Africa.

Additionally, between April and June and November and January, the area around Ewanjan is visited by the wildebeest migration. For this reason, if seeing the Great Migration is on your bucket list then Ewanjan is the ideal affordable African safari accommodation to book.

Ewanjan Tented Camp – From $330 per person sharing

3. Mara Intrepids Tented Camp – Masai Mara National Reserve

Kenya’s must-see Masai Mara National Reserve is home to the Mara Intrepids Tented Camp , one of the most affordable African safari options on our list. Whereas Ewanjan in the Serengeti has endless views of the plains, Mara Intrepids is set amidst a heavily wooded area along the Talek River, only minutes from the Ol Kiombo airstrip.

With an abundance of big cats in the area just about every game drive includes sightings of the King of the Jungle, the lion. Also, Mara Intrepids is in a prime location for the annual wildebeest migration, which takes place between August and October.

Finally, not only is the wildlife viewing amazing but families seek out this lodge for its kid’s clubs which focus on animal education and local Masai culture.

Mara Intrepids Tented Camp – From $175 per person sharing

4. Camp Moremi – Moremi Game Reserve

The Okavango Delta, located in Botswana, is one of the most biodiverse places in Africa and is the main source of water for about a million people. Furthermore, the delta supports the world’s largest surviving elephant population, numbering around 130,000. Of course, there are plenty of hippos, lions, wild dogs, leopards, crocodiles, cheetahs, and countless waterfowl too.

Situated on the stunning Xakanaxa lagoon, and offering water-based safaris, Camp Moremi is an unforgettable and affordable African safari. While it may be a bit expensive and luxurious to be considered low-cost, Camp Moremi does provide tons of value. In fact, what makes it unique is that it provides both 4×4 game drives and water safaris.

Botswana is the second most expensive destination on the planet, only behind the Republic of the Congo. Guests should find comfort in knowing that they’re paying the “going rate,” when just about every safari lodge in the area costs at least USD 1000 per night—and, similar lodges cost well over USD 2000 per night.

It’s worth noting that the Moremi Game Reserve does not allow night game drives or off-roading.

Camp Moremi – From $597 per person sharing

5. Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Situated in the southwest corner of Uganda on Lake Mutanda, bordering DR Congo and Rwanda, Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge is the mecca for gorilla lovers. Tourists come from all over the world to spend one hour in the company of wild gorillas.

Along with vibrant colors, guests of Chameleon Hill are treated to the most jaw-dropping view of the Virunga volcanoes. Nevertheless, the highlight here is, of course, the gorilla tracking.

Perfectly positioned between Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks, Chameleon Hill is the ideal base for tracking wild gorillas. Also, gorilla permits cost about half the cost in neighboring Rwanda. Furthermore, Chameleon Hill has the option of research-based treks which allocate four hours with the gorillas, instead of just one.

Gorilla permits are far and few. Therefore, if you’re serious about doing this then plan on booking at least three months in advance. Also, along with gorilla trekking, Chameleon Hill offers walking and canoe-based safaris for bird watching and spotting the golden monkey.

Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge – From $250 per person sharing

These Lodges Provide Great Value

Whether you’re looking to spot the Big Five in South Africa or go gorilla trekking in Uganda, the above lodges are the best affordable African safari options out there. While the nightly prices are by no means “cheap,” they do provide great value especially, when comparing similar lodges that cost two or three times as much.

Preparing an African itinerary is an overwhelming process, and it only gets more complicated each time you visit. The easiest way to start planning is to use Go2Africa’s inquiry tool which helps design the perfect safari that aligns with your budget.

We Need Your Help

Did you find this article helpful? If so, bookmark it and when you’re planning your next vacation click on any of the links below before finalizing reservations. You’ll get the best price, we’ll earn a small commission, and you’ll help support future articles.

BEST TRAVEL SEARCH ENGINES

🏘️ Book Your Accommodation

We use Tripadvisor and Priceline’s Express Deals to compare prices and reviews in advance and check availability

✈️ Book Your Flight in Advance

To find the cheapest flight options, you can use WayAway and Skyscanner to find the most suitable choice for you

🚗 Reserve Your Rental Car

Use DiscoverCars and Skyscanner to compare prices and view the largest selection of vehicles

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• ← Adjusting Your Life in Miami as a Digital Nomad
• How to Get the Best Price on Flights in 3 Easy Steps in 2024 ✈️ →

Similar Posts

Best 5 Viewpoints of the Sphere in Las Vegas 🔮

How to Plan a Winter Cross-Country Trip the Right Way

Best Group Activities for Las Vegas Convention Center Visitors

Leave a reply cancel reply.

• TRAVEL ARTICLES
• BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
• GREAT BRITAIN
• MASSACHUSETTS
• NORTH CAROLINA
• PENNSYLVANIA
• SOUTH CAROLINA
• PHILIPPINES
• SAUDI ARABIA
• UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
• REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• SOUTH AFRICA
• AMERICAN SAMOA
• COOK ISLANDS
• NEW ZEALAND
• DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
• PUERTO RICO
• TIPS, TRICKS, AND BUDGET-SAVVINESS
• FIRST 6 MONTHS
• MONTHS 7-10
• MONTHS 11-15
• MONTHS 16-18
• MONTHS 19-24
• PROJECTED ROUTE
• LATEST VLOGS
• EPISODE 1-5: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
• EPISODE 6: URUGUAY
• EPISODE 7: ANTARCTICA
• EPISODE 8: PATAGONIA
• EPISODE 9: SOUTH AMERICAN WINE COUNTRY
• EPISODE 10: THE COOK ISLANDS
• EPISODE 11: NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
• EPISODE 12: INDIA
• EPISODE 13: BORNEO
• EPISODE 14: THAILAND
• SPONSORED CONTENT
• WHY DID WE QUIT OUR JOBS TO TRAVEL?
• OUR PAST TRAVELS

Experience a world beyond your expectations. Choose from our award-winning vacations on virtually every continent with local favorites and off-the-beaten-path experiences only Globus can share.

We know why you travel. You’d rather have an extra day exploring than a fancy chocolate on your pillow at night. Enjoy hand-selected inclusions and world-class experiences for value-minded travel lovers like you.

Raise your sights and set your sails for the rivers of Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa on an Avalon Waterways cruise. Elevate your cruise experience with fewer passengers, more choices, and endless possibilities.

Explore Africa Tours

Emergency Banner Component

Our Africa tours and safaris are compelling and unique – travel experiences unlike any other. View the amazing Big Five on safari drives led by expert trackers, drivers, rangers, and Tauck Directors... stay in Africa's national parks and private reserves in accommodations that reflect their cultural and natural landscapes... experience local traditions, gaining rich cultural insights... and return home forever changed.

• South Africa

• ITINERARIES
• FEATURED TOURS

Welcome to Africa

African landscapes parading with the circle of life promise magical moments unlike any you have imagined before. You'll find them...

Mountain gorillas in rwanda, a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with endangered mountain gorillas... on safari in rwanda with tauck.

On two safaris in wildlife-rich game reserves in Tanzania and Kenya, you'll spend the last three nights of your journey in Rwanda – home to the last remaining mountain gorillas on Earth. After gaining insights on gorilla behavior at private lectures and a visit to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Museum, you'll be ready to begin your gorilla trek. Imagine hiking into the wilderness with a private porter and an expert guide for a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with mountain gorillas in the wild… watching them interact with each other – and, if they so choose, perhaps with you!

Africa's "Big Five"

Meet the "big five".

Lions (Panthera leo) are often seen in Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya), Serengeti & Tarangire national parks, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania). Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) can weigh as much as 1,500 lbs. – big and dangerous enough to keep most predators at bay. Buffalo roam the Sabi Sands Game Reserve (South Africa) and Serengeti National Park (Tanzania). black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) may be spotted in Ngorongoro Crater and the Masai Mara. leopards (Panthera pardus) are prevalent in most parks and reserves in east and southern Africa; you'll often need to look up to spot one... since they spend much of their time in trees. African Elephant (Loxodonta africana), the world's largest land mammal, is a fixture throughout the Masai Mara, as well as Amboseli and Serengeti national parks. Although they are not among the "Big Five," a gorilla trek in Rwanda is one of life's memorable experiences.

Namibia: Epic Safari

Starlit skies, desert dunes, game reserves and wildlife safaris.

Embark on an epic 11-day journey to Namibia, home to desert landscapes alive with oryx, bat-eared foxes, zebras, lizards and more. Explore the red-tinted dunes of Sossusvlei. Star gaze in one of the naturally darkest places on earth. Enjoy a hands-on personal encounter with baby baboons. A truly unforgettable adventure in every way.

View this Safari

Safaris at a Glance

Which safari is right for you.

Each Tauck safari is unique, with its own spectacular destinations and experiences. Whether this is your first time or you're a seasoned pro, it can be difficult to pick the right one with so many to choose from. So, we created a helpful guide highlighting the important details and differences between our safari options to make your decision as easy as possible.

View Safari Guide

Dinner in the desert, Berber-style

Travel by 4x4 vehicle to a berber-style dinner in a desert camp.

In the desert outside Marrakech, ancient Berber villages preserve time-honored folkways and rituals – like the traditional Moroccan tea ceremony – that have survived for centuries. Ride aboard a 4x4 vehicle to one of these villages for tea with the village chief and a crash-course in Berber culture. Then it's on to our desert camp, where dinner is served Berber-style under a tent with musical entertainment. Experience local customs like riding a camel... smoking shisha (using a hubbly-bubbly pipe, or hookah, to smoke flavored tobacco)... or having your hands or feet decorated with traditional henna designs!

Historic Safari Lodges... Legendary Hotels...

Accommodations as important as the experience....

We've carefully selected your accommodations – Africa's finest safari lodges, private game reserves, tented safari camps, classic hotels and premier resorts... many are sought-after destinations in themselves, authentically capturing the essence of their surroundings. From classic safari lodges to luxury tented safari camps... "old world" grand hotels to premier resorts... you'll experience the best of Africa, sunrise to sunset.

Cultural connections

Get to know the maasai in tanzania and kenya.

Discovering cultural legacies leads to life-changing discoveries. Visit tribal villages on the slopes of mighty Kilimanjaro, in the African bush and on plains that move with an endless procession of migrating beasts and nomadic tribes. Meet Maasai warriors, artisans and school children eager to share their customs and homeland with you in moments so heartwarming you'll return home transformed. The pulse of South Africa is, of course, in its people... in the streets and squares of Jo'burg and Cape Town where a multitude of cultures (Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, European, Malaysian and Indian, to name a few) collide and mix in dazzling displays of art, music, dance and cuisine... and in the bushveld, where you'll encounter tribal traditions that sustain a proud and irrepressible people... always ready to share their customs, language, dances and songs with a warm welcome.

Journey Collection

Experience Africa

Search Again

{{ title }}

{{shortDescription}}

{{longDescription}}

{{priceFrom}}

From Price, Per Person

Price shown is the lowest price per person, double, on most journeys.

No Tours Match Your Room Configuration

Itinerary Related Content

Take a look below for other tours

Please enter a valid search term

No results found for “ ”.

Make sure your words are spelled correctly or use less or different words.

We can't find any itineraries that match your departure date. Try broadening your search by choosing a different year or month.

The keyword's results do not contain the selected date. Please reset the date filter or choose a different date.

Featured River, Small Ship and Land Journeys

Land Journeys

Explore the Possibilities

{{whitepanel.eyebrow}}

{{whitepanel.title}}

{{whitepanel.copy}}

{{whitepanel.subtitle}}

{{whitepanel.numberoftours.landjourneys}}

LAND JOURNEYS

{{whitepanel.numberoftours.rivercruises}}

RIVER CRUISES

{{whitepanel.numberoftours.familytours}}

FAMILY TOURS

{{whitepanel.numberoftours.smallshipcruises}}

SMALL SHIP CRUISES

{{whitepanel.numberoftours.taucksevents}}

TAUCKS EVENTS

Guest favorite classic safaris

The Big Five... if you want to experience a travel moment unlike any other, meet the Big Five in the land they call home – because nothing compares to your first sighting on safari... Discover the Big Five in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana... where lions, elephants, water buffalo, leopards and rhinos live large in lush, unspoiled private reserves and national parks...

Wildlife odyssey: south africa, botswana & zimbabwe, kenya & tanzania: a classic safari, tanzania: serengeti to zanzibar, south africa: an elegant adventure.

Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

• Destinations
• Antarctica & the Arctic
• Australia & New Zealand
• Israel & Jordan
• Latin America
• United States
• Tours & Cruises
• Exclusive Partnership
• Family Journeys
• Guest Favorites
• River Cruises
• Small Groups
• Small Ship Cruises
• Awards and Accolades
• Our History
• Tauck Impact
• The Tauck Difference
• The Taucker Blog
• About Tauck
• Media Center
• Tutorial Video
• Agent Connect
• Register Your Agency
• General Information
• Travel Protection
• Newsletter Sign Up
• Order an eGift Card
• Request a Brochure
• Tauck Forums
• Travel and Health
• Travel Updates

Sign Up to Subscribe to Our Emails

• +256 (0) 779 820 753
• +250 (0) 790 089 902
• [email protected] | [email protected]

The Official 2024 Africa Safaris Website: Best Africa Safaris

Africa Safaris 2024 Trips to Africa All-inclusive & Tailor-made: Best Africa Safaris. Start your unforgettable, customized Africa safari journey – Start planning now! We have been organizing Africa safaris for years. Let our African safari experts help.

Here is our selection of low-cost, small-group, luxury safaris available for Africa Safaris in 2024. Browse the safaris we offer in Africa below, then get in touch. We have safari alternatives to suit your individual preferences, from South Africa and Botswana in the south to Kenya , Uganda , Rwanda , and Tanzania in the east, and practically everywhere in between. We would be delighted to discuss our love of Africa with you and assist you in organizing your ideal vacation.

Top 2024 Africa Safaris

Gorilla Trekking Tours in Africa : The three greatest nations in the world for a gorilla safari are all located in Africa. In the Gorilla Trekking Tours in Africa sector, Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo have established themselves as the top locations for tourists looking to go Gorilla Trekking Tours in Africa

Best Combined African Safaris . Africa has a plethora of attractions spread across the continent. It’s easy to see why so many people consider Africa to be their dream destination, given the exceptional experience it provides to visitors.

African Christmas Safari Holiday s in December. Why not think outside the box this Christmas? Ditch the snowy streets and grey skies for a new adventure, and embark on a Christmas  safari in Africa ! Christmas at a safari park is an experience you’ll never forget.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. Enjoy a world-class and once-in-a-lifetime Uganda Gorilla safaris experience. Giving you a bespoke and personal Uganda Gorilla trekking experience.

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is a Lifetime Experience – Africa’s Most Accessible Gorilla Trekking. Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Best Gorilla Trekking Tours in Volcanoes National Park.

The Bespoke Safaris in Kenya will not disappoint, from seeing the wildebeest mega-herds in the Masai Mara and Amboseli’s legendary elephant herds against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro to cultural encounters in Samburu.

Bespoke Safaris in Tanzania . The 20 Best Tanzania Safari Tours You Can’t-Miss at an affordable Tanzania Safari Cost. The Ultimate Tanzania Safari Packages to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater

How to Plan and Book a 2023 Masai Mara safari with ease. Kenya’s  Masai Mara National Reserve  is without a doubt one of Africa’s most authentic safari destinations.

Bespoke Serengeti Safaris in Tanzania take to the Best Serengeti Safari Lodges inside and outside Serengeti National Park for the finest of Africa’s Wildlife Safaris .

We offer a variety of Bespoke Zanzibar safaris and vacations , including family-friendly getaways at larger beach resorts and opulent villa accommodations suitable for a Zanzibari sultan.

Wildebeest Migration Safari in Masai Mara and Serengeti. The wildebeest migration Safari in Kenya and Tanzania is one of the world’s natural wonders as the herds are the largest that can ever be spotted in the wilderness.

Best African Safaris For Couples . Here are my Top African Bucket List Experiences for Couples. There are few destinations as romantic as Africa. Africa is one of the most romantic places on earth.

• +1 800-442-4448
• My Account Hello Credits My Account Log out

Sail of the Year

For a limited time only, until February 29, Seabourn’s exclusive Sail of the Year is your best opportunity to sail away in ultra-luxury with savings up to 25% on our Ocean and Expedition voyages and a reduced 15% deposit . Book by January 31 and enrich your experience even more with up to $1,000USD per suite shipboard credit . Mark your calendar now for Seabourn’s Sail of the Year, and get ready for moments you’ll treasure for years to come.

Why Seabourn?

Intimate ships with a private yacht-like atmosphere.

All ocean-front suites luxuriously appointed

Intuitive, personalized service

Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines

Complimentary caviar, world-class dining and culinary experiences, all dining venues are complimentary, welcome champagne and complimentary in-suite bar, guest testimonials, seabourn guest testimonials, cast your vote for seabourn.

Seabourn is honored to see our fleet nominated in Condé Nast Traveler's 2024 Reader's Choice Awards. Share your unforgettable Seabourn experiences and vote for the ships that became your luxury home at sea this year.

Seabourn welcomes you to all-inclusive, luxury cruising refined to its purest form. Where hand-selected itineraries take you to places beyond the reach of larger ships.

The seabourn all-inclusive difference.

Intimate ships with a private yacht-like atmosphere masterfully designed by iconic hospitality atelier Tihany Design*

All ocean-front suites luxuriously appointed, most with a private veranda

Intuitive, personalized service provided by team passionate about exceeding guests expectations

Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times 

Complimentary caviar, an extra indulgence offered throughout your voyage

World-class dining and culinary experiences that rival the finest restaurants anywhere

All dining venues are complimentary, dine where, when and with whom you wish 

Welcome Champagne and complimentary in-suite bar stocked with your preferences  

Tipping is neither required, nor expected 

Seabourn Conversations, connecting with visionary experts 

Curated voyages to all seven continents delivering award-winning authentic experiences

Ventures by Seabourn®, optional shore excursions, enhance and extend your experience in select destinations**^ 

Complimentary entertainment experiences, offering a variety of shows and live music

Complimentary Wi-Fi packages with unlimited minutes powered by SpaceX's Starlink

Complimentary Signature Events: Marina Day, Caviar in the Surf®, Evening at Ephesus, Shopping with the Chef, Caviar on the Ice, Polar Plunge, and more

Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, featuring an exclusive mindful living program** 

Committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability

Welcome to your home away from home

From the moment you arrive, everything about your trip just flows. Your entire experience - beautifully choreographed and seamlessly carried out, so you can relax and truly be on vacation. 

Ultra-Luxury Ocean Cruises

Featured ocean destinations.

Canada & New England

Announcing The Collection, Seabourn’s New Invite-only Cruising Experience

We're excited to introduce  The Collection , a series of special, invitation-only sailings that complement the unparalleled experiences on our ultra-luxury ships with unique, one-of-a-kind shoreside experiences.

Expedition Cruises: Where Luxury Meets Adventure

What is a seabourn expedition.

Think of it as a Safari at Sea. Our ultra-luxury purpose-built ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are your richly-appointed base camps. Your guides are our elite Expedition Team. Your 4 x 4 is a Zodiac, kayak, or six-person submarine that allows you to experience cultural encounters as well as confront rare creatures in the wild.

About Seabourn Expeditions

Expedition Experience

Expedition Destinations

Expedition Cruise Ships

Your Adventure at Sea

The incredible Expedition experiences are all complemented by your “base camp” for each itinerary: an ultra-luxury, purpose-built expedition vessel in Seabourn Venture or her new sister, Seabourn Pursuit.

EXPLORE EXPEDIITION SHIPS

THE SEABOURN ALL-INCLUSIVE EXPEDITION DIFFERENCE

Ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships, PC6 ice-strengthened hull, with advanced maneuvering technology for superior stability, safety and comfort

World-class 24-person Expedition Team, delivering immersive experiences and guiding you throughout your entire journey 

Inclusive Experiences at every stop, such as curated shore excursions, cultural tours, guided Zodiac® cruises, hikes, nature walks, snorkeling, and scuba diving

Optional, guided Expedition Experiences include state-of-the-art custom-built 6-guest submarines, providing the option to extend your expedition further for greater ocean exploration, kayaks, and other destination experiences**

Nearly 30,000 square feet of spacious open deck space for optimal nature and wildlife viewing

4K GSS Cineflex camera capable of broadcasting imagery from up to 3 miles away on monitors located throughout the ship

Complimentary Signature Events: Caviar on Ice, Polar Plunge, and more 

Open bridge**, providing firsthand access to the ship’s command center and officers navigating your journey  

Handcrafted itineraries designed to take the luxury traveler further, deeper, and closer to the most coveted and remote destinations in the world

Daily enrichment throughout the ship with expert-led ‘Fireside chats’, daily recaps and briefings, lectures, and Seabourn Conversations®, plus a multifunctional interactive virtual bridge

*At the Captain’s discretion 

**Optional programs, for additional charge

The Expedition Team

Our Expeditions are centered around authentic, personalized experiences, all facilitated by a 24-person Expedition team. This select group of academics, scientists and general naturalists share your passion for exploring and learning about some of the world's remote regions.

Featured Expedition Destinations

South Pacific

Connect With Us

Have news, announcements and special offers delivered to your inbox..

This field is required.

All fields are required unless noted as optional.

Yes, I want Seabourn to contact me via email using the email address provided. I understand I can opt out at any time. For more details, see our  Privacy Notice and Website Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

Your Email Has Been Submitted. Thank You.

Thank you for signing up for our newsletter.

African Safari Tours

• Arusha, Tanzania
• [email protected]
• Call/ Whatsapp +255 745504340

Discover 10 Day Best African Photo Safari.

Adventures gives you the best possible chance to experience and capture the best wildlife and nature moments. 10 Best African Photographic Safaris 2024/2025 Tour Companies & Reviews, holidays by Top Rated Operators. Where to go for an African photo safari? Visit top Safari destination in Tanzania including Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi and Ngorongoro Crater.

10 Days Big Five Photographic Safari in Africa.

Explore the wonders of Africa through our curated list of the “10 Best African Photographic Safaris 2024/2025.” Embark on a journey that takes you to iconic destinations such as Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. The enchanting Ngorongoro Crater, and the remote wilderness of Katavi National Park. Capture the magic of Africa’s diverse wildlife.  From majestic elephants in Tarangire to the playful and attractive colored flamingo birds in lake Natron. 

Discover hidden gems like Lake Manyara for birding enthusiasts and explore Lake Eyasi gardens for a burst of culture and color. Each safari promises unique encounters and unforgettable photographic opportunities. Get ready to frame Africa’s natural beauty and wildlife in your lens as you embark on these extraordinary safaris in 2024/2025.

Our safari experience is all-inclusive: from the moment you set foot on African soil, all your needs will be met, including meals, lodging, local transportation.

All-Inclusive Africa Photo Safari Full Tour Itinerary

10 Days  African Photo Safari : Lake Manyara, Lake Natron, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro crater and Lake Eyasi.

Embark on a photographic journey like no other with our exclusive “10 Best African Photographic Safaris 2024/2025,” featuring the breathtaking Lake Manyara, the otherworldly Lake Natron, the iconic Serengeti, the captivating Ngorongoro Crater, and the enchanting Lake Eyasi.

Begin your adventure at Lake Manyara, a birder’s paradise where flamingos and pelicans thrive amidst stunning scenery. Then, venture to the surreal Lake Natron, known for its crimson waters and vibrant birdlife, offering a unique photographic experience.

The legendary Serengeti awaits, where the Great Migration unfolds before your lens, capturing millions of wildebeests and zebras in motion. Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides dramatic backdrops for your wildlife photography.

Finally, explore the cultural wonders of Lake Eyasi, home to the indigenous Hadzabe tribe, offering a glimpse into their traditional way of life.

Join us in 2023/2024 for an unparalleled opportunity to document Africa’s natural wonders and vibrant cultures, creating photographic memories that will last a lifetime.

Details  African Photographic Safari Itinerary Day by Day.

When it comes to embarking on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Africa, Tanzania stands out as a top destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers alike. The diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, and rich cultural heritage make it a haven for those seeking to capture breathtaking moments on camera. In this article, we, as experts in the field of travel and photography, present to you the “10 Best Tanzania Photographic Safaris for 2023/2024.” Prepare to be inspired by the wonders that await you in this remarkable East African nation.

Day 1: Transport from Kilimanjaro airport to the hotel in Arusha

Upon arrive in Tanzania you will meet with our company represent transfer you with private car to hotel in Arusha. You will meet with our safari manager to give you the safari brief, after then you will continuous with your rest at the hotel waiting for your safari adventure in next day Venice Hotel , Mount Meru Hote l or Arusha Melia.  

Day 2: Arusha lake Manyara

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up and depart to the Lake Manyara national park for your Northern Tanzania Safari game drive. This national park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park), located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The park’s varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara unique tree-climbing lions, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake. Late afternoon transfer to dinner and overnight at at Lodge or Campsite depending on the tour accommodation request. 

Day 3: Lake Manyara – Lake Natron

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up at your accommodation and depart to the Lake Natron. Visit Waterfall & Swimming. View Mount Oldonyolengai. Dinner and overnight at campsite or lodge

Day 4: Natron – Serengeti National Park

Early in the morning exploring the Lake Natron. After explore the Lake you will depart to Serengeti National Park descend into the heart of wild Africa – the Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see.

Head to the Central Park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the Park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. Arrive in time for lunch and enjoy a 2hrs late evening game drive in the Serengeti National Park. dinner and overnight at campsite or lodge.

Day 5 – 6 : National Park Serengeti game drive

After breakfast, you will have a Tanzania Medium Safari Lodge game viewing at Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti, Tanzania’s largest National Park, covers nearly 6,000 square miles of grassland plains, Savannah, kopjes, hills, woodlands, and River line forest systems serve as critical water sources and are often excellent sites for wildlife viewing. Beyond the heralded migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti is best known for its big predators, including cheetah and Leopard, as well as large pride of Lions and clans of Hyenas and many animals, dinner and overnight at campsite or lodge.

Day 7: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater

After a relaxing morning and an early lunch, you will have early in the morning game drive in Serengeti later back to the campsite for branch and hot lunch, Our driver and cook will load everything on the top of our safari jeep after then continuous with game drive while looking to be our of Serengeti to proceed to Ngorongoro. Today, you will be doing a game viewing en-route during your way from Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater. You will be in Ngorongoro Crater late in the evening where the night will be spent on the crater rim. dinner and overnight at campsite or lodge.

Day 8: Ngorongoro to Lake Hadzabe – Eyasi

After breakfast, we depart for the descend down the crater for a 5-6hrs game drive. In the crater, you can able to view the BIG 5. After 5-6hrs game drive in the crater See buffalo, giraffe, zebra and many more species, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Great Rift Wall. Dinner and overnight at / lodge or Campsite

Day 9. Lake Eyasi Hadzabe to Arusha

The tour will start around 5 am and head to Lake Eyasi to go hunting with the Hadzabe Bushmen, one of the last hunter-gatherer societies in the world. After your morning hunt, you will visit the Datoga tribe, skilled craftsmen, and blacksmiths.

After your amazing cultural experience, you will be transferred back Arusha overnight at Venice Hotel.

Mount Meru hotel or Arusha Melia hotel

Day 10: Day  Transport in Arusha – Kilimanjaro airport  departure

We will provides you with early packaged breakfast before departing from Venice Hotel.– Our pick up drop will be at Venice Hotel on time at 4:50am picking up you drive you direct to Kilimanjaro airport. This will be the end of tour and safari with us.

Inclusive & Exclusive

Included for 10 Day Best African Photo Safari

• Private Jeep 4×4 equipped with refrigerator, portable charging stations and pop-up roof
• Overnight stays in hotel/lodge Areas
• All park entrances fees
• Professional English speaking safari guide
• Meals according to the itinerary
• Mineral water on all days
• All mentioned activities
• All government taxes Price.
• Government increase entry fees
• Ngorongoro crater services
• Unlimited game drive
• Airport pick up and drop off

Excluded for 10 Day Best African Photo Safari

• International flights (from / to home)
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Tips (tipping guideline 20 USD per person per day).
• Internal flights

What to bring 10 Day Best African Photo Safari

• A warm sweater as the nights can be chilly at high altitudes.
• Comfortable shoes

Request Safari Quote

Photographic safari in tanzania.

8-Day Tanzania Wilderness Safari

Spectacular Guided 8 Day Tanzania Wilderness Safari Discover wildlife and nature on a once in a …

African Safari Experience

AndBeyond 9-Day African Safari Experience Spectacular Guided 9-Day Tanzania African Safari Experience Discover wildlife and nature …

Soul of Tanzania Safari

12-Day Soul of Tanzania Safari Immerse yourself in the heart of Tanzania’s soul on a 12-Day …

8-Day Authentic Tanzania Safari Tours

Expedition 8 Day Authentic Tanzania Safari Tours Experience the essence of East African wilderness on our …

Where are you flying from?

• London Heathrow
• London Gatwick
• Manchester International
• Cardiff Airport
• London Stansted Apt

Our new direct Virgin Atlantic service commences 22nd October 2023.

Please remember when searching for your holiday to add an additional night, as we operate an overnight service on our outbound flight.

i.e. For a 7 night holiday please search for 8 nights.

Our new direct Virgin Atlantic service commences 30th October 2023.

We will operate from London Heathrow four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Our seasonal Virgin Atlantic service with up to 4 direct flights, will operate until the 19th May 2024.

Our seasonal direct service will recommence on the 28th October 2024.

Our Virgin Atlantic service operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays.

Flights include a short touchdown in Barbados.

Our Virgin Atlantic service operates on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 29th March 2024. From the 2nd April, this service will reduce to Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Our seasonal service will recommence on the 29th October 2024, with flights operating on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Our seasonal Virgin Atlantic service with up to 3 direct flights, will operate until the 11th May 2024. Flights will commence from 23 May 2024 - 24th October 2024 on Thursdays and include a short touchdown.

Our seasonal direct service will recommence on the 29th October 2024.

Daily direct flights from London Gatwick to New York with our partner airline, Delta, operates between 10th April and 26th October 2024.

Our Virgin Atlantic service with direct flights, will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays until the 30th March 2024.

Our direct service will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the 2nd April 2024.

1 room / 2 adults

Please enter all child ages

There must be 1 adult per child under two years of age travelling, please adjust your passenger number

To book online please select a maximum of 9 passengers, to book 10 adults or more please call 0344 557 3978

Please note: Drivers must be over the age of 21 to hire a car unless otherwise specified. Drivers between 21 and 24 years of age may be subject to additional costs.

A thrill-seeker's paradise and an amazing place of contrasts

Prices from  £923pp.

From road and flying safaris across East Africa's national parks or luxurious private game reserve stays in South Africa, to stylish city stays in Cape town or scenic flydrives along the famous Garden Route.

Latest Africa travel advice »

We fly to johannesburg daily and cape town 3x a week seasonal.

You can also fly from regional UK airports on one of our partner airlines.

Where to stay in Africa

Holidays in South Africa

Hotels in africa, highlights of africa.

A land of dramatic scenery, unique ecosystems and a diverse population, a life-changing journey awaits in Africa. Here are its best attractions.

• Stay at the luxurious  Royal Livingstone Hotel  in  Zambia , right on the banks of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls, the world’s largest waterfall. 
• Experience luxury tented accommodation at Governor’s Camp on the Mara River or Richard Branson’s  Mahali Mzuri . During your stay, enjoy champagne picnics and private dining.
• Discover Arab architecture in the exotic Old Town of Mombasa.
• Take a guided tour of a Kenyan village and learn about Maasai tribe traditions.
• See the Dhow building industry, street bazaars and spice farms of  Zanzibar .
• Take the family to  Kenya , a major safari destination for seeing the Big Five and spot pink flamingoes on Lake Nakaru. 
• Go on spectacular game drives in  Tanzania  across the Serengeti plains.
• See hyena, wild dogs, lions and herds of buffalo in  Botswana .
• Sail in a mokoro along Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a river that never reaches the sea, and see 400+ species of bird and the endangered rhino in the Moremi Game Reserve.

Seeing as Africa is the world's second largest and second most-populous continent, I am sure you can imagine just how many beautiful places there are to see within it. Take a look at some of our most treasured locations that will be sure to offer you the holidays of a lifetime in Africa .

Customers who like Africa also like...

Your Affordable Luxury African Safaris

Live the adventure, affordable luxury african safaris and tours.

JimJam Safaris Leaders in Affordable Luxury African Safaris. Africa Vacations to Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Rwanda, Uganda.

In search of a memorable Affordable Luxury African Safari? So you’re in the proper spot. Your custom safari itinerary will be created with assistance from our team of destination experts .

Since 2017, we have been creating unique Affordable Luxury African Safari itineraries based on our extensive travels in Southern and Eastern Africa.

We have locations in East Africa and the South African. For your piece of mind, we provide complete financial protection, open pricing, and a flexible cancellation policy.

Whatever African safari you’ve always wanted, we can make it happen!

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy” – Ernest Hemingway

Book your Affordable Luxury African Safari with confidence

Discover why JimJam Safaris Africa is one of the top-rated safari operators on TripAdvisor, with numerous Traveller’s Choice and Hall of Fame Awards, by booking a safari with us.

To the most popular safari destinations in Africa , we design extraordinary custom itineraries. Visit the Kruger National Park in South Africa to see the Big Five. Leopards can be seen in the renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Observe the great migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park or Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Enjoy Victoria Falls’ stunning splendor. In the Okavango Delta of Botswana, discover paradise. Take in Namibia’s breathtaking scenery and wildlife and A Gorilla Trek to Rwanda, Uganda & Congo.

Let’s plan your trip

We cater to all ages, budgets, interests, and fitness levels. Our team can assist with queries about Tours, Accommodation, Bookings, and Destinations through multiple channels. We will respond to your Inquiry as soon as possible.

Our Top Affordable Luxury African Safari Destinations

Who hasn’t dreamed of going on a safari in Africa? This massive continent has inspired so many to want to see exotic animals in their natural habitat and to experience the cultural diversity Africa has to offer. However, did you know that Kenya , Zambia, and South Africa alone already have over 60 national parks, all with different terrain and wildlife species? With such a vast number of national parks, it can be quite difficult to decide where to go. But don’t worry, to help you plan your adventure, we have handpicked the most beautiful national parks and best safari destinations in Africa for you below.

Why Book with JimJam Safaris Africa?

The best affordable luxury african safari company.

At JimJam Safaris Africa, we are committed to planning Affordable Luxury African Safaris to ensure that every traveler has life-changing experiences on their trip to Africa. Our travel consultants are well-traveled, experienced experts, who have combined their love for the African continent with their passion for people.

We have helped travelers discover Africa for 5 years, with more than 10 years of collective experience in the African travel industry. We have the expertise to make sure every trip to Africa is an unforgettable experience. We are committed to ensuring that each traveler has the opportunity to make well-informed decisions regarding their trip. We aim to offer the most authentic experiences throughout Southern and Eastern Africa, through our network of relationships with luxury lodges and camps.

View our most well-liked tours or the latest promotions. To choose the ideal time to visit, consult our destination guides, trip inspiration sections, or travel calendars. To locate something that fits your budget, you can search for specific safari lodges or trips by region or price.

Affordable Luxury African Safaris Experiences

What would you like to see.

Embark on an affordable luxury African safari vacation filled with unique African wildlife experiences.

Our team of safari specialists has a genuine fondness for the continent of Africa, all of its national parks, reserves, camps, and inhabitants. The animals are the focus of our business and the foundation of every safari we create. We love talking to people about everything from rhino beetles to the great horned giants themselves.

What our travelers say

• Traveler: Nicole Motteux
• From: Vientiane, Laos
• Date Written: March 6, 2024

Jim Jam Safaris & Tours Limited – The Backbone of My Successful Ugandan Coffee SME Photoshoot

Jim Jam Safaris & Tours Limited played a vital role in my successful Ugandan coffee SME photoshoot across East, Central, and Western Uganda, including Mt Elgon, the Nile, and game parks. Their support went beyond logistics, ensuring the smooth operation of the shoot.

The professional and customer-focused team tailored their assistance perfectly, organizing multiple shoots all over the country and in different locations. From meticulously planning the itinerary to arranging accommodations and coordinating with various companies, they left no stone unturned. Meeting me at the airport with the biggest smile, we immediately connected as if we’d known each other for ………

Safari Travel Trends 2024: Sustainability and Increased Travel Budgets

G lobal interest in safaris more than doubled over the course of 2023 with the bulk of travelers especially interested in exploring South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania.

At the same time, the average amount of money consumers are willing to spend for safari travel has increased by a significant 25 percent.

Those are just a few of the top takeaways from Go2Africa’s annual State of Safaris report. Developed based on Go2Africa’s own proprietary search and booking data, as well as global Google search volumes, the report identifies a number of pivotal trends that are poised to shape the safari industry across Africa.

In addition to the growth in safari travel in general, the report reveals:

• Interest in sustainable safari travel continues to grow, experiencing a more than 1,000 percent increase over the last four years.
• Travelers are increasingly interested in beach/safari combos and intergenerational travel
• The average safari budget now ranges between $5,500 to $6,500
• About 12 percent of solo travelers would consider going on a safari, with couples being the biggest demographic at 47 percent.

Here’s a closer look at some of the most significant developments.

Interest in African Safaris Has More Than Doubled

As the world emerged from the pandemic and travel restrictions eased, interest in safari travel grew exponentially.

With 2023 being the first year that there were very few travel restrictions remaining at all, Google searches for African safaris more than doubled during Q1 increasing by 111 percent over the same time period one year earlier.

The Average Safari Budget Increased by 25%

About 70 percent of visitors from Australia, the US, and Canada now have what Go2Africa calls “medium to high budgets” for safaris. That’s a significant rise from 43 percent of travelers who had such substantial sums of money set aside for a safari vacation the previous year.

About 25 percent of travelers from South Africa, Europe, and the UK meanwhile, set aside a medium to high budget for a safari vacation, compared to just 18 percent in 2022.

Ranked by spending on safaris, travelers from Italy are at the top of the heap, splashing the most cash on such vacations. Rounding out the top five in order of spending is Belgium, Mexico, the United States, and Philippines.

12 percent of Solo Travelers Would Consider Going on a Safari

The demographics of safari travelers apparently don’t change much from one year to the next, according to Go2Africa. In 2023, the vast majority of people taking safaris were individuals traveling with their partner, a group that made up 47 percent of arrivals to the continent. That figure is notable however, because it’s a decline from 2022, when couples made up 60 percent of all travelers to Africa. 

Families, meanwhile, account for the second largest group of safari travelers at 32.3 percent of arrivals in Africa, followed by solo travelers at 12 percent and groups of friends at 11 percent. (Side note: groups of friends visiting Africa tend to choose Congo for their adventure, says Go2Africa).

The central African nation also attracts the highest percentage of solo travelers among African countries, making it an enticing destination for those looking for solo travel-friendly explorations.

Sustainability Continues to Be a Customer Priority

The Go2Africa also reveals that travelers want a “more authentic and sustainable experiences on their trip.”

“Sustainability is the word on everyone’s lips, but research suggests that it’s more than just a fad,” says the report.

Interest in sustainable safaris has been steadily growing over the years increasing by 6.4 percent from 2022 to 2023.

However, when looking at the wider picture, sustainable safaris have seen more than a 1,000% increase in interest over the last four years.

“Right now, we have a few travelers who have specifically asked if they can volunteer for a day on their safari, so we’re definitely seeing an increase in our guests’ interest in sustainability and connection with the local communities,” Liesel Van Zyl, head of positive impact at Go2Africa, said in a statement. “Our clients look for experiences that foster authentic community engagement during their trip to Africa.”

Beach Safaris

And one last notable trend: safaris combined with beach getaways are now a popular request. This typically includes travelers spending half of the week taking in the animals throughout Africa and half the week relaxing and swimming at a coastal destination.

This emerging demand has resulted in some new countries becoming hotspots that were not always popular including Malawi and Seychelles, says the report.

Interest in travel to Zambia and Malawi increased by 78 percent and 41 percent respectively between 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, Seychelles experienced a notable increase in visitors, credited to a 20 percent rise in bush and beach combinations compared to the previous year.

“Zambia and Malawi combination safaris are very popular at the moment,” Van Zyl said in a statement. “Zambia offers some great value with more untouched, uncrowded parks to explore compared to some of the more hectic areas in Southern Africa. It’s also a quick one-hour hop and a skip to Malawi for incredible beach and freshwater snorkeling, kayaking and African sundowners.”

Africa Chevron

Zimbabwe Chevron

How African Bush Camps is Taking Safari Guiding to a Whole New Level

By Jesse Ashlock

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

On a wet January morning at Somalisa Camp , in Zimbabwe 's Hwange National Park, a tall, rangy paramedic named Elvis Tavengwa is instructing about three dozen bush guides on the finer points of first aid. “Come on,” he shouts at them, so animated he's almost hovering above the floor. “Your guest is in cardiac arrest. What are you going to do?” The guides, dressed in every imaginable shade of khaki and olive, look at one another, uncertain. “He's dying!” Elvis screams. “Chest compressions! I need chest compressions!” Several guides lurch forward to demonstrate on a dummy.

African Bush Camps founder Beks Ndlovu

Each January during the rainy season, African Bush Camps (ABC) , perhaps the continent's premier Black-owned safari company, closes all of its lodges in Zimbabwe, Zambia , and Botswana , and convenes its guides for a two-week retraining program, the most rigorous in the business. In addition to first aid, this gathering of the Zimbabwe guides will include refresher courses in shooting, tracking, stargazing, photography, and more. During my visit, in addition to Elvis's frantic pedagogy, I witness a workshop on the ABC values (authenticity, empowerment, conservation, collaboration, and care), a candid discussion among leadership about how to encourage more junior “learner” guides to take the steps to earn pro certification, and a team-building exercise during which the guides are given 20 pieces of spaghetti, 10 Band-Aids, a piece of string, and a marshmallow and charged with building a free-standing structure in under 20 minutes.

It's really not so different from a Western corporate retreat. Only instead of taking place in a suburban convention center, it's held in a delightfully classic, very remote tented camp in an acacia grove overlooking a water hole with a resident hippo. And as Elvis demonstrates the proper application of a tourniquet, things are happening out there. A waterbuck bounds by, the white circle on its rump bouncing up and down like a toilet seat that got stuck. Beks Ndlovu, the 47-year-old entrepreneur and former guide who founded ABC 18 years ago, summons me over to point out two lionesses prowling the ridgeline above an ancient dry riverbank.

Lazy lionesses block the vehicle of guide Mariet Mashonganyika

Suddenly, a pack of wild dogs flashes by in hot pursuit of an impala. “You never know what's going to happen,” Beks says as we run off to commandeer a Land Cruiser. We can't find the dogs, only kudu and yellow-billed hornbills. But we do bump into Calvet Nkomo, a veteran guide who has worked at Somalisa since 2013 and is said to know more than anyone about the life histories of the lions in the area. He informs us that the lionesses have made their way into the neighboring Acacia Camp . We exit the Land Cruiser and approach them by foot, watching from behind a fallen log as they loll about, take a few steps, then collapse to the ground again, too stuffed from a recent meal to move. It sure beats a morning coffee break in a drab lobby amid acres of wall-to-wall carpeting.

Beks, a native Zimbabwean, has known this swath of Hwange National Park for more than two decades, since he was guiding for the nearby Makolo Camp and used to sneak guests into the area. After two years of lobbying the Zimbabwean government, he secured the tender and opened Somalisa in 2006 with an emphasis on premium guiding. A few nights earlier, I'd heard Beks tell its origin story to a group of guests at Khwai Lediba, one of ABC's newest camps, on the edge of the Okavango Delta . “You know that thing they say?” he asked. “‘If you build it, they will come’? It isn't true.” But the success of his second camp, Linyanti , in Botswana, helped subsidize Somalisa, and today it is the flagship property of a company that employs around 650 people, including the 60 guides Beks refers to as the company's “superpower.” “We can have the best hideaway, the best design, the shiniest copper bars,” he tells them one morning. “But without you guys and your storytelling, we have nothing.”

CNT Editors

Blane Bachelor

Kyler Alvord

Watchful leopards at Somalisa

Many of the guides tell me that these training programs, along with the ability to rotate among the ABC properties and learn new skills, are what brought them to ABC. “You work at various camps and you always hear about a certain company,” says Michael Tsoka, who came to Somalisa two years ago. “This was always where I wanted to work.” Paul Hobbs, an archaeologist who'd come to give a talk on the colorful history of Hwange National Park, says that ABC increasingly serves as an incubator for guides who go on to work for other outfitters. “Very few companies in this country understand how important retraining is,” he says, “and ABC has set the bar very high.”

In 2021, the company adopted a new mandate to cultivate women guides, in an industry that has long been resistant to them, through its foundation's new ABCF Female Guides program. Its goal is for a minimum of 25 percent of its guides to be women by 2030. During a subsequent stop on my trip at Thorntree River Lodge , near Victoria Falls in Zambia, I would meet one of ABCF's first students, Zita Hwambe. Many African men “believe that a woman's role is in the kitchen,” she says. “But they're warming up to us, because they know we're here to stay.”

A guide consults a birding handbook

Before I head to Thorntree, however, I go on a last sundowner with the Zimbabwe guides at Somalisa. From a hide, I watch, G&T in hand, as a pair of hyenas scamper past a water hole. It's probably the best happy hour I've ever been to. On our way back to camp, I tell Calvet about seeing the lionesses. He says that they were born to one of the daughters of Cecil, the famous lion who was shot by a trophy hunter just outside of Hwange in 2015, prompting an international outcry. After I process that, I remark on how lucky I felt to be there, with people who know so much about this beautiful land and its difficult history.

“Yes, you are,” he says, with the most serious expression he can muster. Then his face lights up in an enormous smile. “Yes, you are.”

African Bush Camps

Established: 2003

Areas of operation: Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Goals: No plastics on site by 2025; no plastics in the supply chain by 2030; 25% women guides by 2030

Next opening: Atzaró Okavango, Botswana

This article appeared in the April 2024 issue of  Condé Nast Traveler.  Subscribe to the magazine   here .

Recommended

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

to submit an obituary

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to [email protected] . There is no option to place them through our website. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions.

General Information:

• Your full name,
• Address (City, State, Zip Code),
• Phone number,
• And an alternate phone number (if any)

Obituary Specification:

• Name of Deceased,
• Obituary Text,
• A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo.
• Ad Run dates
• There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply.
• If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information.

Verification of Death:

In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification.

Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours.

A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary.

Guestbook and Outside Websites:

We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter.

Obituary Process:

Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear.

Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines.

After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing.

Payment Procedure:

Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents.

Credit Card: Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI (Payment Card Industry) regulations

EFT: Check by phone. Please provide your routing number and account number.

• The minimum charge is $162 for the first 10 lines.
• Every line after the first 10 is $12.20.
• If the ad is under 10 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162.
• On a second run date, the lines are $8.20 per line, starting w/ the first line.
• For example: if first run date was 20 lines the cost would be $164.
• Each photo published is $125 per day.
• For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500.

Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested.

MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST

Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries.

HOURS: Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS)

Please submit your memoriam ad to [email protected] or call 651-228-5280.

News | Twin Cities woman, 79, killed in Africa when…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window)

Today's Paper

• Government & Politics
• Environment

News | Twin Cities woman, 79, killed in Africa when elephant charges safari vehicle

A bull elephant charged a truck that a 79-year-old Twin Cities woman was riding in with other tourists on a game drive in a Zambian national park, flipping over the vehicle and killing her, a safari company said.

Family and friends identified the victim to Twin Cities media as Minnetonka resident Gail Mattson, who also had a home in Arizona.

The attack injured five others on March 30 in the vast Kafue National Park, which covers 8,600 square miles and is one of Africa’s largest animal reserves.

According to the safari company Wilderness, the “aggressive” bull elephant unexpectedly charged at the truck, which was carrying six guests and a guide on a morning excursion through wild areas.

It wasn’t clear what upset the bull. But in a video widely circulated online, the pachyderm is seen menacingly charging through the bushy terrain toward the tourists’ vehicle. A man is heard shouting “hey hey hey,” in apparent but futile efforts to scare it away. It reaches the truck and flips it over using its trunk.

Another female tourist was seriously injured and flown by helicopter to South Africa for treatment while the rest were treated for minor injuries, the company said.

“This is a devastating incident for everyone involved and we are doing our best to support the family and all affected,” Tarryn Gibson, the safari company’s head of communications told the Associated Press on Thursday. Gibson did not identify the tourist who was killed, citing privacy concerns. The company also asked people to not share the video of the attack online.

While many wildlife parks in southern Africa teem with dangerous animals like elephants and lions, such incidents are rare, although they sometimes do occur with fatal consequences due to the unpredictability of wild animals.

Keith Vincent, chief executive officer of the safari company, said rough terrain minimized chances of an escape.

“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough” he said.

More in News

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Business | st. paul city council green-lights hotel at allianz field.

World News | Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seizes a container ship near Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Israel

Local News | Volunteer at the 38th annual Citywide Spring Cleanup in St. Paul on Earth Day, April 20

Environment | More than 145,000 in east metro have unsafe levels of PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals,’ in water

Business | Ramsey County judge keeps lawsuit alive over potential Bremer Bank sale

News | Minneapolis City Council delays wage hike for rideshare drivers to July 1

Watch CBS News

Elephant attack leaves American woman dead in Zambia's Kafue National Park

By Sarah Carter , Adam Duxter

Updated on: April 4, 2024 / 6:13 PM EDT / CBS News

Johannesburg — An elephant attack that left an American woman dead in Zambia was captured in harrowing cellphone video over the weekend. The clip, shot by tourists in Zambia's Kafue National Park, begins inside an open safari vehicle during a game drive.

In the distance, a large bull elephant can be seen coming toward the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle cannot be seen in the video clip, but someone is heard, saying: "Oh my goodness," before a man says, "it's coming fast."

The vehicle stops and then another voice, presumably the game ranger, tries to ward off the elephant verbally as the large pachyderm hooks its tusks onto the vehicle and rolls it several times.

Family members  confirmed that Gail Mattson, a 79-year-old Minnesotan, was killed in the attack. In the post on Facebook, Rona Wells said her mother had died in "a tragic accident while on her dream adventure."

Mattson, a retired loan officer, was 11 days into a month-long vacation overseas, her family told WCCO, describing her as "adventurous" and "loved by everybody."

Wilderness Safaris, which operates the tour in the Zambian park, said in a statement that it was cooperating with national authorities to investigate the incident and it offered condolences to Mattson's family.

Wilderness said the other tourists traveling with Mattson were also Americans, four of whom sustained minor injuries in the attack.

"Our guides are extremely well trained, but sadly the terrain and vegetation was such that the route became blocked," the company said, explaining that the ranger "could not move the vehicle out of harm's way quickly enough."

Mattson was evacuated to a hospital in South Africa after the incident but succumbed to her injuries.

Kafue National Park is Zambia's largest national park at 8,650 square miles. It's a popular tourist destination as it's home to five of sub-Saharan Africa's iconic big animal species, lions, elephants, leopards, rhinoceros and buffalo.

More from CBS News

6 dead after stabbing attack in Australia; suspect killed

Colombia police arrest 73-year-old American for giving "cannabis tours"

Body found of missing teen whose disappearance sparked deadly settler attack

Hamas says 3 of leader Ismail Haniyeh's sons killed in Israeli strike

World's Oldest Conjoined Twins Lori and George Schappell Dead at 62

Famous Besties At Coachella ... Desert Vibes Only!!!

Bill Maher Drills Down on 'Star Trek's Controversial Interracial Kiss

What's The Big Frigin' Difference?!

Shakira Announces World Tour During Surprise Coachella Performance

African elephant attack leaves 80-year-old woman dead, safari truck flipped, african safari woman killed in elephant attack ... flips truck on video.

An elderly woman was killed in Africa during a safari trip -- this after an elephant charged her party's vehicle ... and flipped it over, which left her fatally wounded.

The unidentified woman 80-year-old was on a safari Saturday in Zambia at the Kafue National Park -- and at one point in the excursion, a bull elephant charges their truck ... and rams into it head-on, all of which was captured in a dramatic video.

The elephant tips over the vehicle, and you can hear panicked screams from the tour guide as well as the patrons -- including what sounds like the woman who actually died.

A chief executive of a conservation and hospitality company called Wilderness Safaris -- which was heading up this trip -- later confirmed that an American tourist had been killed in the attack ... and that another female guest had been seriously injured, and was flown to a hospital.

Four other guests who were part of this safari were treated on-site for minor injuries, and were provided trauma counseling as well.

In terms of how this happened, Wildness says the guide's route became blocked by the terrain and vegetation as they were driving along -- and that they didn't have enough time to move the vehicle out of the way before the elephant could hit them.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

They called the incident "extremely tragic" and sent their condolences to the victim's family.

For more shocking viral stories check out TMZ Verified , available on all podcast platforms.

• Share on Facebook

related articles

PETA Wants Doc Antle Investigated Over Chris Brown's Daughter's Elephant Ride

Stanley The Giraffe Seized As Evidence at Malibu Wine Safaris

Old news is old news be first.

Charging elephant kills an American woman on 'bucket list trip' in Zambia

An American woman who was on what she had called her "last big trip" was killed when a charging elephant flipped over the car she was traveling in at a national park in Zambia .

The “aggressive” creature buffeted the vehicle carrying six tourists and a guide, tour operator Wilderness said in a statement Tuesday. It said the 79-year-old victim died after Saturday's incident on a game drive at the Kafue National Park in western Zambia.

The company did not name the victim but Rona Wells, her daughter, identified her as Gail Mattson in a post on Facebook. She said her mother died in a “tragic accident while on her dream adventure.”

A video circulating on social media apparently showing the incident shows a large elephant running toward a car, which slows down as the animal approaches its left side. The elephant then flips the vehicle over and the passengers can be heard gasping as the car rolls over.

NBC News does not know the condition or identity of the person who filmed the video.

Photos shared online of the car, which is emblazoned with the logo of the tour operator, show it tipped onto its side after the incident, with a deep dent in two of its side doors.

Wilderness, which describes itself as a “leading conservation and hospitality company” operating in eight African countries, including Zambia, did not respond to NBC News when asked to confirm the authenticity of the video and the photos.

But the tour operator’s CEO, Keith Vincent, said in the statement that the company’s “guides are all extremely well trained and experienced.”

"Sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” he added.

Another woman was also injured in the incident and taken to a medical facility in South Africa, the Wilderness statement said, adding that four others were treated for minor injuries.

“It’s extremely rare to see an elephant that irate,” Marlon du Toit, a wildlife photographer and safari guide, told the “TODAY” show Thursday. “Across Africa, there are thousands and thousands of guests on safari on a daily basis with no negative consequences.”

The exact cause of Mattson’s death was unclear, but the company said her body would be repatriated to her family in the United States with the support of local Zambian authorities and the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Lusaka.

“This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died,” the statement added.

NBC News has reached out to Mattson's family for further comment.

Kafue National Park is Zambia’s largest and oldest national park, according to its website, and spans an area of more than 8,000 square miles. Vast regions of the park remain unexplored and the website says it is home to a variety of untamed wildlife.

A 'bucket list trip'

Mattson spent her winters in Sun City West, Arizona, playing bridge and cards, but during the rest of the year, she "travels all over the world," her friend Brenda Biggs told NBC News. Biggs and her husband, John Longabauth, became friends with Mattson when they moved to the area 6 ½ years ago.

Longabauth said Mattson spoke to the couple about her upcoming safari trip about two weeks ago, and called it "one of her bucket list trips." He said she was very excited for the adventure.

Before she left, she gave the couple concert tickets for a show that would happen while she was traveling, telling them to enjoy the concert and "I'll see you when I get back," Longabauth recalled of the conversation.

Biggs said Mattson, who was almost 80 years old, told her that the African safari was her "my last big trip." She said Mattson was "super excited because it was like the culmination of all the trips that she had gone on."

An avid traveler, Mattson took to trips to Europe and Asia, Longabauth recalled, noting that she might have been to South America, too.

Biggs called her friend "flamboyant," "friendly" and "fabulous" and said she loved bright colors. Mattson had taken over Biggs’ job as the event planner for their 200-member bridge club, she said.

"Gail was one of the more up people you'd ever want to meet," Longabauth said. "She was always up. She was always optimistic. She was always seeing the good side of everybody."

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.