How to Plan the Best African Safari on a Budget – Travel on a Budget
Are you wondering whether it is possible to do African safaris on a budget? The good news is that this is certainly possible and can actually be an amazing experience compare to luxury safaris.
It’s actually something of a myth that African safaris are always very expensive and one can not afford one, in actual sense, they range from different rates. To understand how much an African safari costs, we have done a detailed post to guide you through.
The fundamental point of a safari, after all, is to experience the incredible diversity of life, interact with people, discover new destinations and enjoy sightings of different wildlife species in their natural habitat.
However, finding an African safari on a budget will mean being flexible and willing to compromise – whether it’s on the country or national park you go to, who you book with, the time you go, and the standard and location of your accommodation.
How to plan a trip to Africa on a budget that suits you well
Enjoying a cool view while on the champagne and hot tub – or even cooling off in your room with the air conditioning; that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on hearing the sounds of the savannah as you sleep or spotting African animals up close in their natural environment.
The actual sense of an African Safari is to immerse yourself in the wild, feel and drown in nature itself. Feel the beauty and energy it brings, which we call a magical experience. All these can be either on a budget African Safari or a Luxury African Safari.
With this in mind, here are our top African Safari Budget tips to make your safari a memorable one:-
1. Book With a Local Tour Operator / Agency
Did you know booking your budget African Safari can be way cheaper compared to booking through an agent in your country or region? This is because local companies understand the route, and expenses and can offer you cheaper accommodation options as well.
A local Tour Operator understands well how your African Budget Safari can be, and their commission is very small as their operating costs as well are low.
They are also in a better position to help you understand what best works for you, and what suits your budget and destinations too. Their knowledge of safaris within their destinations is top-notch.
Cheetah Safaris is 100% locally owned and we are proud to confirm that we can help you plan a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience at a very affordable budget and during the best times of the year.
2. Set the number of Days of your African Safari
As you plan an African Safari on a Budget, the number of days affects the entire budget of your safari. Consider planning short stays in different destinations that you would want to visit, but don’t stay for long.
For example, a 3 days Masai Mara Safari is very affordable compared to a 6 days Masai Mara Safari. The fewer days the better if you are on a budget, and you want to maximize a lot of experiences and not relaxation.
3. Choose your African Safari Destinations Well
Planning for an African Budget Safari requires you to be keen on where you want to go and visit as well as create your memories. By planning an African Safari on a Budget, you might find yourself limited to certain destinations that are pocket-friendly in terms of entry fees and accommodations.
Some African Destinations and National Parks have expenses that make your safari expensive such as concession fees, high park fees, and many others making it hard to travel on a budget.
4. Compromise on Accommodation while on safari
While planning for an African Safari on a Budget, luxury accommodation shouldn’t even be part of the plan. Ground camping and budget-tented camps, hotels, and resorts should be the priority.
For example, Kenya has options for budget accommodation, which makes all our Kenya Safaris affordable and easy to enjoy experiences, especially if you are looking to spot many wildlife species.
5. Plan your Safari during the low season / rainy season
The best time to enjoy a relaxed African Safari, especially in East Africa, the best time is between April – June. Although this is a very tricky time, since East Africa receives long heavy rainfall, it’s the best time to have a comfortable safari experience.
The Best time to visit Kenya and Tanzania is between January and March or July to October when the weather is hot and dry, but with lush green ground since they happen after a season of rainfall.
During the April to June season, most safari accommodations and safari companies in East Africa have offers that run through that season, and it’s good to keep an eye on them. This will help to plan your African Safari on a budget but enjoy some luxuries and beautiful experiences.
Budget friendly places to visit while on Safari in Africa, We recommend you visit these budget friendly destinations
Since you are looking to experience destinations in East Africa while on a budget, below are the best destinations you can consider adding to your safari itinerary. Just remember a tight safari budget can restrict you into not doing so much, but also, there is a lot you can do if you are budget-conscious.
1. Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the best destinations in Kenya and East Africa As a whole. It offers both luxury safaris and budget options to guests looking not to break the bank to afford a safari.
It is best visited during the low season, that is between April and June, other seasons might be a bit expensive due to seasonal rates and charges. A Masai Mara Budget safari can cost between USD 700 to USD 900 per person sharing for a 3-day safari all-inclusive.
2. Samburu National Reserve
Samburu National Reserve is located a 7-hour drive from Nairobi, it is one of the best destinations in Kenya and East Africa. It offers exemplary game safari experiences on both luxury and budget too.
You can visit Samburu throughout the year. During the rainy seasons, it’s a bit tricky but generally, visit it any time of the year. A Samburu Budget safari can cost between USD 800 to USD 1200 per person sharing for a 3-day safari all-inclusive.
3. Serengeti National Park
A neighbor to Masai Mara, Serengeti National Park is a prime destination in East Africa. Experience the great wildebeest migration and wildebeest calving in Serengeti on a budget safari. Serengeti Budget Safari focuses mostly on basic camping and game drives.
You can visit Serengeti throughout the year. If on a budget it’s advisable to visit during the low season, that is between April and June. A Serengeti Budget safari can cost between USD 800 to USD 1200 per person sharing for a 3-day safari all-inclusive.
4. Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is one of the best places in Tanzania you can visit if you are on a budget. Planning for an African Budget Safari in Tanzania to Tarangire should not be a worry since you can visit on a budget. It’s a short distance from Arusha.
Plan a 2 day or overnight safari to Tarangire easily and enjoy exceptional game drives and wildlife sightings. It is recommended to visit during the low season between April and June. A Tarangire Budget safari can cost between USD 800 to USD 1200 per person sharing for a 3-day safari all-inclusive.
5. Lake Nakuru National Park
6. Lake Naivasha
7. Arusha National Park
8. Nairobi National Park
Start Planning Your African Safari on Budget. Get In Touch With Us Now To Start Planning.
Cheetah Safaris has fantastic, experienced safari experts available and prepared to assist you in creating a once-in-a-lifetime Africa budget safari experience. Fill in Our Contact Form with the details you want or send us a WhatsApp text to reach us at +254780337652.
