Travelling to Africa and experiencing a safari might be on your bucketlist, but sometimes the prices can be high, and you can’t help thinking to yourself, “Why is a safari so expensive?“

But don’t let that stop you.

If you are looking to save a bit, there are a few things that you can do to reduce the cost of your safari.

1. Travel During Low or Shoulder Season

Pro: Safari lodges do have low season (aka green season) and shoulder season rates.

Con: This is usually during the rainy season and it can be more difficult to spot game.

2. Join a Group Safari Tour

Pro: You can travel during high shoulder and season at a lower rate. Your accommodation won’t be ultra-luxurious, but it will still be an amazing experience. It depends on what type of traveller you are.

Con: You are confined to the group’s schedule, you might be in an overland truck (depending what you book), and what if you don’t get along with Billy Bob in the tent next door?

3. Choose a Safari Lodge You Can Drive To

Pro: Sometimes, renting a car and driving yourself can save you a lot of money as you will avoid the cost of the small bush planes.

Con: You are limited which lodges and even countries you can go to. You will need to drive yourself to and from the lodge (you cannot drive yourself around private reserves), and driving times can take many hours.

4. Look for Specials

Pro: Most safari lodges and safari companies offer specials. Like a honeymoon discount, perhaps a package deal like, Stay 7 Nights at a Combination of Camps and Get Free Flying between the Lodges.

Con: This special might not be available at the lodges you want to stay at but there are still other great lodges out there. These specials are usually only available in low or shoulder season.

5. Stay at Lodges Within the Same Safari Group

Pro: Quite often there are specials if you book your safari circuit to stay at lodges all within the same safari/ hospitality group. These groups sometimes offer multi-night or multi-property discounts when you stay at two or more of their camps.

Examples: Wilderness Destinations, &Beyond, African Bush Camps, The Safari Collection, Great Plains, Singita, Footsteps in Africa and so on.

Con: While staying within the same group can unlock discounts (again, usually in low or shoulder season) and certainly can streamline logistics, you may miss out on the unique charm and variety of independent lodges or smaller, locally owned camps which offers a different atmosphere

6. Book a Walking Safari

Pro: Walking safaris (ie. your entire safari is a walking safari) are often more affordable than traditional vehicle-based safaris, especially in private conservancies. They offer a completely different perspective—allowing you to slow down, learn about tracks, plants, and smaller creatures, and feel fully immersed in the bush.

Top Tip: Zambia is one of the best countries in Africa for walking safaris.

Con: Because you cover less ground, big game sightings may be less frequent. Walking safaris also aren’t suitable for everyone—they require a moderate level of fitness and come with age restrictions for safety reasons.

7. Choose National Parks Close to Major Cities

Pro: Parks like Nairobi National Park (Kenya) or Pilanesberg (South Africa) are easily accessible by road, reducing flight and transfer costs.

Con: These parks can be busier as day visitors are usually also allowed here, and they’re less remote, offering a less exclusive or “wild” safari feel compared to remote locations like the Okavango Delta or the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve.

To Sum it All Up…

An African safari doesn’t have to break the bank to be unforgettable.

With a bit of planning, flexibility, and a willingness to try something a little different—like traveling in the off-season, joining a group tour, or enjoying walking safaris—you can experience the magic of the wild without the hefty price tag.

Whatever you choose to do, travel with excitement and the most meaningful moments often come not from luxury, but from connection—with nature, with people, and with the adventure itself.

If you have any questions that you need help answering, please reach out through the contact form below.