Question 1

How much does an African safari cost?

Accepted Answer

A bespoke luxury safari typically runs $750 to $1,800 per person per night, all-inclusive of lodging, meals, game drives, park fees and most drinks. Mid-range camps start around $450 per person per night. Flagship reserves like Singita, Mombo or Sabi Sand exclusive lodges reach $2,500 plus. A 10-night two-country itinerary for two usually lands between $25,000 and $60,000, excluding international flights.

Question 2

When is the best time of year to go on safari?

Accepted Answer

For most of Southern and East Africa, the dry season from June to October is best for game viewing: thin bush, animals concentrate at water, low rainfall. The Great Migration river crossings in the Masai Mara peak July to October, and calving in the southern Serengeti is January to March. Green season (November to April) is cheaper, lush, and excellent for birds and photography.

Question 3

How many days do I need for a safari?

Accepted Answer

Plan a minimum of 7 nights on the ground, ideally 10 to 14. A useful rule is 3 nights per camp so you get two full game-viewing days without packing and flying. A classic first trip is 4 nights in one reserve plus 3 nights in Cape Town or Victoria Falls. Add Rwanda gorillas or a beach extension for 14 to 18 nights total.

Question 4

Is going on safari safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, safari travel is statistically very safe when booked through a SATSA-bonded operator using established camps. Guides are trained and armed where required, vehicles are open by design and animals ignore them as long as guests stay seated and quiet. The bigger risks are road transfers and minor health issues, both of which are managed by using scheduled bush flights and reputable lodges.

Question 5

Do I need malaria tablets?

Accepted Answer

Most prime safari regions, including the Okavango, Kruger lowveld, Serengeti and Mana Pools, are malaria areas, so antimalarials are recommended. Common options are Malarone (atovaquone-proguanil) and doxycycline. Malaria-free alternatives exist in South Africa, including the Eastern Cape and Madikwe reserves, which are popular with families travelling with young children.

Question 6

What vaccinations do I need?

Accepted Answer

Yellow fever is required for entry into Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania if you arrive from a yellow-fever country (including a layover). Routine cover should be current: hepatitis A and B, tetanus, typhoid, MMR and COVID-19. Check rabies if you plan walking safaris or remote travel. Confirm requirements with a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure.

Question 7

Which African country is best for a first safari?

Accepted Answer

South Africa is the easiest first safari: malaria-free private reserves, strong infrastructure, English widely spoken, and an easy add-on to Cape Town. Botswana suits travellers who want exclusive water-based wilderness in the Okavango Delta. Kenya and Tanzania are best if seeing the Great Migration and big herds is the priority. We match the country to the trip, not the other way round.

Question 8

Is a safari suitable for children?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and family safaris are one of our most-booked trip types. Most lodges accept kids from 6 years; family-specialist camps take younger children with private vehicles. Choose malaria-free reserves (Madikwe, Welgevonden, Eastern Cape) for under-8s, and look for camps with dedicated kids programmes such as Singita Castleton, Tswalu and andBeyond Ngala. Older teens handle anywhere in Africa.

Question 9

What is the difference between a national park and a private reserve?

Accepted Answer

National parks (Kruger, Serengeti, Masai Mara) allow public vehicles, restrict off-road driving, and close gates at dusk. Private reserves are owned or leased by lodges, cap vehicle numbers per sighting, permit off-road tracking, and offer night drives and walking safaris. Private reserves cost more but deliver closer sightings and fewer vehicles, which is why most luxury itineraries favour them.

Question 10

Will I see the Big Five?

Accepted Answer

On a 3-night stay in a top private reserve such as Sabi Sand, MalaMala or Phinda, seeing the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino) is highly likely but never guaranteed. Leopard sightings are the easiest in Sabi Sand. Rhino sightings have tightened due to poaching, so we steer guests to reserves with healthy populations and discreet sighting protocols.

Question 11

How do I get between camps and parks?

Accepted Answer

Most luxury itineraries use light aircraft transfers on scheduled bush flights operated by Airlink, Federal Air, Wilderness Air and Safarilink. A typical hop is 45 to 90 minutes. Baggage is restricted to 20kg in soft duffel bags. Road transfers suit short distances such as Kruger or the Eastern Cape. International arrivals are usually Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi or Kilimanjaro.

Question 12

What is the luggage limit on safari flights?

Accepted Answer

Bush flights cap checked-plus-carry-on luggage at 20kg per person (around 44lb), packed in soft-sided duffel bags. Hard cases are refused. Extra seats can be bought for surplus baggage. Most camps offer free same-day laundry, so packing light is genuinely workable. Bring a small daypack for cameras, sun cream and water on game drives.

Question 13

What should I pack for safari?

Accepted Answer

Neutral, layered clothing in beige, olive or stone: avoid bright white, dark blue and black (tsetse flies). Pack a fleece for cold morning drives, sun hat, polarised sunglasses, closed walking shoes, swimwear, and a good camera with a zoom of 200mm or longer. Add binoculars (8x42), high-SPF sun cream, insect repellent with DEET, and any prescription medication.

Question 14

Do I need a visa?

Accepted Answer

Requirements depend on passport and destination. UK, EU, US, Australian and Canadian passport holders enter South Africa, Botswana and Namibia visa-free for tourism. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia issue e-visas online before travel. Victoria Falls visitors can use the KAZA univisa covering Zimbabwe and Zambia. Passports need 6 months of validity and 2 blank pages per country.

Question 15

What currency should I bring?

Accepted Answer

US dollars are widely accepted across safari Africa for tipping and curio purchases; bring small bills printed after 2013. South Africa uses the rand and is card-friendly. Botswana uses the pula but lodges quote in $. Kenya and Tanzania accept $ at camps and shilling locally. Plan roughly $20 to $30 per guest per day for tips, paid in cash at checkout.

Question 16

Will I have wifi and phone signal on safari?

Accepted Answer

Most luxury camps now offer wifi in main areas and often in tents, though speeds vary from email-only to streaming-capable. Mobile signal is patchy in remote reserves like the Okavango or Selous, and reliable in or near towns. We recommend treating safari as a partial digital detox and downloading anything urgent beforehand. Satellite services keep camps in constant emergency contact.

Question 17

How much should I tip on safari?

Accepted Answer

Guideline tips per guest per day: $15 to $25 for your guide, $10 to $15 for your tracker (where applicable), and $10 to $20 shared among camp staff via a communal box. Transfer drivers receive $5 to $10. Tips are paid in cash at checkout, ideally in $ or local currency. Service charges are rarely included at safari camps.

Question 18

Can I combine a safari with a beach holiday?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is one of the most popular ways to end a trip. Top safari-and-beach pairings are Kenya plus Zanzibar or Lamu, Tanzania plus Zanzibar or Mafia Island, South Africa plus Mozambique (Benguerra, Bazaruto) or the Seychelles, and Rwanda gorillas plus Mahé. Allow 4 to 6 beach nights after safari for proper decompression and shorter internal flights.

Question 19

What is included in the price of a luxury safari?

Accepted Answer

Top-tier all-inclusive rates cover lodging, all meals, house drinks (often premium brands), twice-daily game drives, shared transfers between airstrip and camp, park and conservation fees, and laundry. Excluded items are international flights, visa fees, travel insurance, premium spirits and fine wines, spa treatments, private vehicle upgrades, and tips. Some camps charge extra for hot air balloon rides and helicopter flips.

Question 20

Do I need travel insurance for a safari?

Accepted Answer

Yes, comprehensive travel insurance is essential and most camps require proof on arrival. Cover should include medical evacuation (look for $500,000 plus), trip cancellation, baggage loss, and emergency repatriation. Members of Flying Doctors (AMREF) or Medical Air Rescue (MARS) get additional aero-medical cover in East Africa. We can recommend specialist providers who understand remote-area safari travel.

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