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Safari costs and prices

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This is a simplistic view on how the costing system works

  • Camps, lodges and safari operators set their prices based on cost plus margin or in some cases on the price that the market will bear accounting for supply and demand. 

  • This is the rack rate (or "off the shelf" brochure price) and "usually" includes all land costs with accommodation, meals, guide fees and activities (often excludes parks fees).  Some safari operators sell directly to the consumer but they don't discount the rack rate - if they do they run the risk of alienating their trade support.

  • The rack rates are discounted to tour operators and travel wholesalers by around 20% who then package with flights, market and sell to consumers and travel agents.  In some cases the "net" rates are discounted even further based on volume or reciprocal deals.  They apply to the trade only.

  • Travel agents often purchase these packaged trips from wholesalers/tour and safari operators, and earn around 10% for distribution to consumers.

The price to consumers is usually based on the rack rate and sometimes gets discounted.  (In some cases tour operators run the risk of alienating safari operators if they discount rack rates without agreement.)  When applied, discounts are offered as follows:

  • Last-minute bookings: if a camp has unsold space or last minute cancellations then discounts of around 5% are sometimes available (see www.lastminutesafari.com for examples).  Some camps never discount on rack rates in which case the tour operators pass the discount to the consumer.

  • Seasonal discounts: low-season and "shoulder" periods on either side of the high season are good times to look out for seasonal discounts.

  • Group discounts: some camps offer discounts on volume of 6 or more guests and in the case of activities (eg river rafting) full discounts usually apply to the 10th person in the group

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)Float plane gathering Musango 1997 (courtesy Steve Edwards)
  • 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!

... take a look at some specific safari prices or take a look at special interest trips....

 

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Last updated 01 March, 2007

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