So what are the average costs of a safari?
- Low-budget
trips in Namibia can cost around $100 per person per night - set
departures, fairly large groups, basic campsites.
- Overland
trips in East Africa, or Victoria Falls/Botswana or South
Africa/Zimbabwe/Botswana can work out at less than $100 per night.
-
We've had good value camping safaris in Tanzania's Serengeti run
over 6 days cost $1300 including parks fees (December 2006).
- In all
cases above these are well organised trips run by reputable
companies in a very competitive sector of the market.
- They
generally appeal to the younger set, are packaged and priced
accordingly.
All-inclusive
trips to small and remote bush camps with Professional Guides cost a
fair bit more. To illustrate,
- Medium
budget trips in Zimbabwe's lower Zambezi valley might cost around $250
per night, a comparable trip in Botswana will cost around $350 per
night.
- Some
of our best and most successful safaris which cover additional
ground with a bit more exclusivity work out at $360 in Zimbabwe,
$430 in Zambia, $585 in Botswana, Southern Tanzania and Kenya (2006
rates)
- Consider
one or two of these trips with a specific Pro Guide and you may need
to add 30% to the rates - and there's no question that these safaris
are fair value for money.
- Compare
apples with apples as well - these "daily" rates could include
- local charter rates getting you in and out of remote areas.....one
of our best trips in Zambia's Luangwa valley over 7 nights costs
exactly the same as an equivalent standard trip in Zambia's Kafue
over 4 nights - the difference being the helicopter used to get you
into camp from Lusaka....
-
Parks Fees - in the Serengeti rates generally exclude National Parks
Fees, in Kenya's Laikipia, Conservancy Fees are included in the
"rack rates".
Why the big regional differences?
- In
Botswana, we have a well established policy of "low volumes,
high returns". From a conservation point of view there's
very little doubt that it's a good policy - especially since a large
portion of the safari earnings go back into actual
conservation. So prices are generally higher, supply and
demand is a big factor.
- In the
remoter parts of Zambia, southern Tanzania and Zimbabwe (the
Luangwa, Kafue, lower Zambezi, Ruaha, Selous and Mana Pools) the
camps are often very small (some with only 6 guests) and our safari
season is relatively short (May to October at best). Most of
these safaris are a very fair deal when you start adding in
logistical costs.
- In
Kenya we've seen groups of operators across the Mara, Laikipia,
Amboseli and the coast standardise their charges at around $425
(excluding parks fees) - this hasn't happened to the same extent in
Tanzania.
- In
South Africa you could have access to regional rates without having
to prove that you're not an "international" guest...in Zimbabwe's
"old days" you could get local, regional or international rates for
the same product depending on who you spoke to...not fair at all.
What variables will keep the cost of a safari down?
- Bear
in mind that all of our safaris are based on land costs and exclude
international airfares. A review of the "Airfares
for Africa" site is strongly recommended for some ideas on
this. We're ATOL licensed for international flights out of the
UK and are well connected to consolidators in the US (just let us
know if you'd like us to take care of the international airfares
with your safari)
- One of
the biggest cost drivers on a trip is in fact the logistical costs
of getting in and out of remoter spots. Typically a 7 day trip
covering the South and North Luangwa is going to be far more cost
effective than trying to cover the Luangwa, Kafue, lower Zambezi and
Victoria Falls in the same period. Aside from costs, you'll
probably be too exhausted by the series of light aircraft charters to appreciate
the latter trip.
- Be
careful when planning a multi-country trip in the region.
Typically, East Africa and Southern Africa don't combine all that
well because of the lost time in transit and additional costs if you
can't get code-sharing connections between the destinations.
- Think
about combining a bit of luxury with "participative
trips".
- For example a lower Zambezi canoe trail works
well with a "luxury" lodge in Matusadona. The canoe trail is a load of
fun and relatively inexpensive, the lodge gives you a good walking
safari and some creature comforts.
- A
simple camping trip in the Serengeti combines with a bit of lodge
luxury on the coast.
- Take a
close look at our modules. They've been packaged based on
options that are well proven - the logistics work, the activities
and destinations are well matched and we've discounted prices.
As
a rule you get what you pay for....but at the same time you need to
watch that you're getting real value for money...
Some words of caution?
-
We've seen "packaged holidays" out of the UK for 2 weeks including
international airfares on a full board basis in Kenya for "from
£579" (around $1150 - January 2007)...you get what you pay for...big
resorts, minibuses, extras...."caveat emptor"
-
There's
one spot in the Serengeti’s Western Corridor that’s on the migration
path for about one week each year, usually around June, has
poor resident game, has a lousy road network, is a 2 hour
bone-jarring drive from the Seronera circuits but enjoys a 10 month
“high season” and is practically full for 11 months of the year. The
only explanation for this is that the market has been duped -
there's very little chance that these visitors will ever admit to
friends at home that they were disappointed especially since they
would have spent $1375 per room per night!
-
The Mara
is an amazing place and there's capacity for several thousand people
at any time - but there're only 6 camps and 2 lodges that are real
value for money. The Amboseli has capacity for just under 500
people at peak but in all honesty there's only 1 tented camp for 12
guests that's an absolute "must" and 1 other small lodge that's
worth considering at all.
Don't get
caught!
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Safari costs
