How Much Does an African Safari Cost for a Family?
Safaris in Africa are not cheap, but they don’t have to be ‘break the bank’ expensive. Just like at any destination around the world, there are the five star luxury lodges, but there are also four star lodges that are amazing, as well as self-catering lodges that are clean, comfortable and provide what you need.
Also remember that if you are not at a self-catering lodge, then the lodge rate usually includes almost everything (but you must check this before you travel to avoid unwanted surprises).
This means your accommodation, all meals, snacks, high teas, your drinks, and all of your safari activities are included in the price. Usually. Just please check.
Disclaimer: All of the rates I have indicated below are correct at the time I am writing this, but they are for illustration only and are subject to change.
Approximate Daily Safari Costs (per person)
Safari pricing varies hugely, depending on a variety of factors, but the following price ranges will give you a realistic starting point:
Luxury Safari
- $1,500 + per person, per night (these can go right up to $5,000 per person per night for the high-end luxury lodges)
- Found in places like Serengeti National Park, the Okavango Delta, and Kruger National Park (private reserves)
- Includes: luxury accommodation, all meals, local drinks, game drives with qualified professional guides
👉 Think: high-end lodges, private plunge pools, elite guiding
Mid-Range Safari
- $450 – $1,500 per person, per night
- Mix of comfort and value
- Often includes: accommodation, meals, and shared game drives
👉 Think: boutique lodges, small-group safaris, excellent guiding without ultra-lux frills
Budget Safari
- $150 – $450 per person, per night
- Typically in areas like Kruger National Park (public camps) or group tours
👉 Think: self-drive, larger groups, simpler accommodation
The types of things you need to consider are the safari brand name (if there is one) for example Ulusaba, Singita, Mala Mala in South Africa.. Consider if you are going to travel in high season vs low season, the type of lodge or camp you’re wanting to stay at, and what is included such as all meals, beverages, game drives, laundry and other activities.
Your safari experience or your style of travel will also, of course, affect the pricing – think of renting a car and driving yourself versus booking bush planes and flying. One is cheaper than the other.
Remote areas such as the Okavango Delta in Botswana will cost more not just because they are on private concessions, but also because they aren’t that easily accessible.
Think about it, the less accessible it is, the more expensive it is to send in supplies such as furniture, food, drinks and so on.
In South Africa, a supplier of food for example, can pretty easily drive to a lodge. In Botswana in some cases, the food must be flown in. It’s a similar rule when travelling to The Seychelles: the smaller the island, the more expensive it is. In this case, a general rule of thumb is, the more remote a camp is, there’s a higher chance of it being more expensive. But that isn’t the only factor that makes some lodges more expensive than others.
READ: Why are some safaris so expensive?
What Might a Safari Cost for a Family of Four?
The following estimates are for two adults and two children staying for three nights. They cover the safari lodge portion of the holiday—not international flights or time spent elsewhere in Africa.
| Safari style | Approximate cost for 3 nights |
|---|---|
| Budget or self-drive safari | $1,500–$4,000 per family |
| Comfortable mid-range safari | $4,000–$10,000 per family |
| Luxury private-lodge safari | $10,000–$25,000+ per family |
These are only broad estimates. The final cost will depend on your children’s ages, whether they qualify for discounted rates, the room configuration, season, destination, transport and whether a private vehicle is required.
When Is a Child Charged as an Adult on Safari?
Child and game-drive policies vary considerably, with some properties imposing minimum ages or requiring special arrangements for younger children. These must always be checked with the individual lodge.
- Babies or very young children may stay free at some lodges.
- Children under 12 sometimes pay approximately 50% of the adult rate when sharing with adults.
- Teenagers are usually charged the full adult rate. Some lodges and camps only charge adult rates from 16 years – as each lodge is different, you will need to check this
- The child discount may only apply when sharing a family room.
- A second room for the children could dramatically change the price.
- Some family suites require a minimum number of paying guests.
- One adult travelling with children may be charged differently.
- A compulsory private vehicle can cancel out the saving offered by discounted child rates.
What Does “Per Person Sharing” Mean?
Most safari lodge rates are quoted per person sharing per night, which means two people sharing one room. If only one person occupies the room, the lodge may charge a single supplement. Family-room and child-sharing policies vary from one lodge to the next.
Costs That May Not Be Included in Your Safari Price
Up until now I have only been talking about the cost of the lodge stay.
However, there are of course, other costs involved and I want to share these with you so that you are well aware when you are planning.
Additional costs will include things like:
- International flights
- Regional or domestic flights, or charter flights/ bush plane flights
- Any luggage surcharges if you have too much luggage
- Road transfers
- Rental car, fuel and tolls
- Park, conservation and concession fees. And tourism levies (these are sometimes included in the lodge rate)
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Vaccinations and medication
- Tips for guides, trackers and lodge staff
- Premium wines, champagne and imported spirits
- Spa treatments
- Babysitting
- Private vehicles
- Optional activities such as a hot air balloon flight or a scenic helicopter flight
- Laundry at some lodges
- Telephone or Wi-Fi charges in some remote camps
- Meals and accommodation before or after the safari
- Credit-card fees and currency fluctuations
- Curio shopping
Cost Calculation Examples
Examples:
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge
Location: Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in South Africa
Accommodation: Accommodation in a luxury suite
Adult rate in 2027: ZAR 26,900 pp sharing per night
Child rate in 2027: ZAR 13,500 pp sharing per night
Madikwe Safari Lodge – Lelapa Camp
Location: Madikwe Private Game Reserve in South Africa
Accommodation: Accommodation in a family suite
Adult rate in 2027: ZAR 19,200 pp sharing per night
Child rate in 2027: ZAR 9,600 per child sharing per night
So let’s work out the cost at Madikwe Safari Lodge – Lelapa Camp.
Example: Three-Night Luxury Safari for a Family of Four
Two adults:
- R19,200 × 2 adults × 3 nights = R115,200
Two children:
- R9,600 × 2 children × 3 nights = R57,600
Total lodge cost: R172,800
What is included in this rate:
*Luxury accommodation
*All meals, teas, coffees, game drive refreshments and snacks
*Inclusive drinks and selected snacks (all soft drinks and a selection of beers, spirits, and house wines), and in-room mini bar
*Bush breakfasts, picnic lunches, and bush dinners (weather and occupancy dependent)
*Two game drives daily with a FGASA-accredited field guide, and guided bush walks
*Kids’ Adventure Safari Club experiences at the Eco House at Lelapa Camp
*Eastern Madikwe Airstrip transfers|
*Wi-Fi in public areas
What is not included in this rate:
*Madikwe Game Reserve entrance fee, guest conservation contribution, and landing fees (if arriving by air)
*Premium brand beers, spirits, cellar wines, and champagne
*Cigars and cigarettes
*Flights and transfers to and from Madikwe Game Reserve
*Spa treatments
*Safari Boutique purchases
*Private safari vehicle hire
*Exclusive bush breakfasts and dinners
*Babysitting services
*Laundry
*Telephone calls
*Gratuities
Now let’s look at a less expensive option for comparison.
Lalibela Wildlife Reserve – Mark’s Camp
Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa
Accommodation: Accommodation in a family suite
Adult rate in 2027: ZAR 11,500 pp sharing per night
Child rate in 2027: ZAR 5,750 per child sharing per night
So now let’s work out the cost at Lalibela Wildlife Reserve staying at Mark’s Camp.
Example: Three-Night Luxury Safari for a Family of Four
Two adults:
- R11,500 × 2 adults × 3 nights = R69,000
Two children:
R5,750 × 2 children × 3 nights = R34,500
Total lodge cost: R103,500
What is included in this rate:
*Luxury accommodation
*All meals
*2 game drives per night stayed
*All local drinks (excluding premium wines & spirits).
*Dedicated children’s programme
What is not included in this rate:
*Transport to and from the lodge
*Premium brand drinks
*Conservation levies
*Baby-sitting and child-minding outside of schedules times
And finally, let’s look at a SANPARKS (South African National Parks) self-catering safari option:
This is based on a cottage in Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park in South Africa where you are able to self-drive to and from the camp, and you can drive yourself around the park.
ZAR 3,973 per cottage per night
or
ZAR 1,867 per bungalow per night
What is included in this rate:
* Self-catering accommodation
What is not included in this rate:
* Park entrance fees and conservation levies
* Transport to and from the lodge, and around the park
* Food and drinks
* Game activities
SANPARKS camps usually do have guided bush walks and game drives available with qualified guides, and those do cost extra and what is available, might change from camp to camp. Have a look at the activities available at SANPARKS camps.
| Top Tip: Don’t compare lodges using only the per-person rate. First check how your family will be accommodated. Two rooms may cost considerably more than one family suite, while a private villa may include services—such as a private vehicle—that would otherwise cost extra. |
Where to Splurge on Costs on Safari with Kids
1. Your Safari Lodge
This is your entire experience — a lodge or camp isn’t just a place to sleep. While you don’t have to have a super high-end lodge to have an amazing safari, obviously it does come with its perks such as luxury, better locations, more exclusivity, better service and meals.
Higher-end lodges may offer advantages such as prime locations, smaller traversing areas, fewer vehicles at sightings, off-road access, highly experienced guides and more personalised service.
If you are looking for a lodge that has a dedicated kids club and children’s programme, you are most likely going to find those at the higher end lodges.
2. Private Game Drives
Some lodges have a rule that if your children are under a certain age (usually around 12 or 13 years), you HAVE to book (and pay for) a private vehicle for your entire stay.
In saying that, I personally love private vehicles! You have so much more flexibility, you can stay longer at sightings, you can leave sightings if you want to move on, and it’s pretty much tailored to your interests. You can also request a packed lunch and go out into the bush with your guide for the whole day. And this isn’t only for families, adults travelling can also book and pay for private vehicles.
Also check the rules around this; you usually can’t book a private vehicle for just one day – if you’ve booked your accommodation for three days, you will need to book and pay for the private vehicle for three days.
Safari lodges have enough seats on vehicles to accommodate everyone staying with them, and if you haven’t booked a private vehicle you are going to be sharing with other people. Each lodge only has a certain number of private vehicles (usually only one or two), so if this is what you want, book far in advance.
3. Prime Wildlife Locations
Lodges that are close to major highlights and wildlife locations, do have a higher price tag and you will spend more to be in the right place.
For example: Serengeti National Park during migration season. But look around. In the Serengeti for example, there are other options such as mobile camps which aren’t as luxurious as the high-end lodges, but they are comfortable and follow the migration. You still get to enjoy the same game experience, but at a lower price.
Where to Save on Costs on a Safari with Kids
1. Flights to Lodges Within Africa
Often, self-driving is the cheapest way to travel if you can and are willing and have the time. This is one way you can save.
For example, if you are in Johannesburg, South Africa, and want to go to a lodge in the Kruger National Park, there are a few ways you can get there:
- Self-drive with a rental car (cheapest and gives you the most freedom)
- Book a commercial flight to either Hoedspruit Airport (HDS airport code) or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP airport code) and then book a road transfer to your lodge. Or again, hire a car from that airport.
- Book a road transfer from Johannesburg (imagine hours on the road)
- Book charter flights with Federal Air from Johannesburg to the airstrip of the lodge.
So, can you fly to the lodge? Yes.
Will it save you time? Yes.
Will it save you money? No.
Just a quick tidbit for you. You can rent a car and drive to:
* Lodges in South Africa
* Lodges around Namibia
Self-drive safaris are especially straightforward in South Africa and Namibia. They are possible in parts of several other countries, but routes, road conditions, border requirements and rental-car restrictions must be researched carefully.
2. Safari Trip Length
You can have the most amazing safari experience on a 3-night stay in one lodge, in one good game reserve. This is so much better than 10 rushed nights in multiple camps trying to pack everything in. While you might tick off all the animals on your bucket list, you will be exhausted.
‘Lodge hopping’ is honestly very tiring. You are constantly moving, packing and unpacking and don’t really get a chance to relax.
For a family, a great itinerary especially if it’s your first time in Africa, is to road trip up the Garden Route and end at a game lodge.
3. Shoulder Season Travel
Shoulder season is a great time to travel on safari because the wildlife sightings are usually really good, the weather is comfortable, and you’re not hitting those peak season prices.
4. Combine Destinations Smartly
If you do want to spoil yourselves with a luxury safari, then you consider pairing a higher end safari with a more affordable location
- Example: Luxury safari + a few nights exploring Cape Town
Here are a few more ways you can save on your safari when travelling with your children:
- Choose one excellent reserve rather than several camps.
- Stay outside a national park and enter as a day visitor.
- Use public rest camps in parks such as Kruger.
- Self-cater for part of your trip.
- Look for “children stay free” or family specials.
- Stay three or four nights to qualify for long-stay offers.
- Travel with another family and share the cost of a villa or private vehicle.
- Sometimes booking a family suite instead of two rooms is cheaper
- Combine a short luxury safari with a longer, affordable Cape Town or Garden Route stay.
- Compare the total price, not merely the nightly rate.
Spending more can buy additional comfort, exclusivity and convenience, but you do not need to choose the most expensive lodge to have an unforgettable family safari.
