Elizabeth_Gordon: Finding An Affordable Safari

There are no two ways about it: A safari in Africa is going to cost you. At the same time there areways to get great value for your money. "Value for Money" doesn't mean budget or cheap, it meansgetting the most for your money (in terms of experiences, animal view and properties) and decidingwhen to splurge and when to save. Here are a few tips and secrets to help you along:

A Few General Tips

Some Countries are More Expensive: For a variety of reasons including size, tourist volumes,infrastructure and where the tourist highlights are located, some countries are comparatively moreexpensive (ex. Botswana) and some are comparatively cheaper (ex. Kenya).

Stay in One Country: You don't need to go to Kenya AND Tanzania to get the full East Africaexperience and going to both will increase your costs quite a bit.

Limit the Number of Internal Flights:

For example Botswana involves lots of internal flights because of the geography. For some clientstraveling to Botswana we recommend 6 nights at 3 camps for 2 nights each to see different parts ofthe Okavango Delta. BUT...you could also pick your properties wisely and spend 3 nights at 2 camps,cutting down on flights while getting the same quality of game viewing and activities.

Stay with One Group of Properties: You can save 20% when you stick with properties that are underthe same ownership or management because you will be eligible for combination specials, freenights and cheaper transfers between properties.

Travel During Shoulder or Low Seasons: Traveling during "shoulder," "secret" or low seasons whichare just before or just after high season can mean you get all the advantages of the high season with20%-30% less on the price. This can lower your overall costs or put that dream property within yourprice range. It also means you are sharing the property and the surrounding area with fewer people.Different countries have different high and low seasons so you can look around and find a low orshoulder season that fits your schedule.

For example: Many properties in Kenya have low season starting in October. Although October issupposed to be the start of a short rainy season and the end of the migration, neither of these ispredicable or a deal-breaker. Early October is often a great time to see the end of migration as thewildebeest cross the Mara River back into Tanzania and many properties drop as much as 20% perperson per night between September and October.

Even if you are traveling smack in the middle of the low season some camps are so good (likeproperties in the Moremi Reserve in the Okavango Delta) that they have great game viewing yearround and some camps are situated in areas where they actually get better in less popular seasons(Xigera, also in the Okavango, is a good example)

A prime example of this is the same 6 night itinerary in Botswana (3 nights at Little Vumbura and 3nights at Duma Tau: find it here) jumps from $3400 per person in low season (now to March 2013

excluding Christmas) to $8400 per person in high season (June-October). This is a huge differenceand as I have mentioned before low season in Botswana, especially in these areas, has a lot to offer.

During low seasons properties often wave the single supplement they charge for single travelers.

Using your Miles: If you want to use your miles book your flight first and then plan the safari withinthose dates. The other way around can get VERY complicated.

Book Ahead of Time: In general booking your flights way ahead of time (I'm talking 9 months to ayear ahead of time) can save you a lot of money and both airlines and properties often have "earlybird" specials. Read more here.

Find Places to Splurge and Places to Save: There are times when to get the experience you weredreaming of when you starting planning your safari, you need to spend the money. There are othertimes when a comfortable, no-frills room is absolutely fine. A knowledgeable safari expert or touroperator can offer great insight into where you need to splurge and where you can save but thereare a few guidelines.

When is it Worth it to Splurge?

To Get Remoteness and Exclusivity. In Africa you often have to pay to get into the middle ofnowhere. You can get the experience you have seen on National Geographic, but it will cost you.That said, being with just a handful of other people in the middle of the Okavango Delta or theMaasai Mara is a truly magical, once in a life-time experience, so if you are going to do it, do it right.

On One Special Property. In line with the thought above, many people opt to splurge on their safaricamp and then save money on their accommodation in somewhere like Cape Town or Nairobi wherethere are lots of lesser-known and less expensive properties that are in great areas and have greatcharacter.

On "Bucket List" Activities. Stay at a cheaper property and use the money to climb Kilimanjaro, gogorilla trekking, on an elephant-back safari, on a swim to the edge of Victoria Falls at Devil's Pool ora hot-air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara.

A Few Country Specific Tips

Here are a few great value for money tips that are specific to a few of the most popular destinationsin East and Southern Africa.

Botswana: For those who are adventurous and/or on a budget, a mobile safari in Botswana can be agreat option. For example you can get six nights safaris for $2000 per person lead by a top guide.You are paying for the guiding and less for the accommodation.

Namibia: Self-drive is an easy and popular option in Nambia and can be good for your budget.Guided trips (by car but with a professional guide) are another great way to be travel aroundNamibia. These trips are a simple, easy way to see the country and meet like-minded travelers in asmall-group setting. They are also great for solo travelers because they often not charge anadditional single supplement.

Kenya and Tanzania: Replacing some flying transfers with driving will lower your cost. This isespecially cost effective if you are traveling with three or more people. By driving I mean in avehicle, with a driver, self-drive in Kenya and Tanzania is not recommended! There are not going tobe significant cost savings, the roads are dangerous, parks charge more for self-drive vehicles toenter and without a guide you will miss many great animal sightings. Another cost saving option is tostay in big lodges instead of exclusive tented camps. The lodges are a third of the price. You don'tget the remoteness but you will get exactly the same game viewing and a knowledgeabledriver/guide will make up for the crowds.

South Africa: Self-drive is an option in South Africa and there are SO MANY little camps and

properties that there are deals to be found, it will just take a lot of research. During your researchmake sure you check the size of the concession where the property is located. Some are just gameranches and you will miss the wilderness feeling and likely see the same three elephants, the samefive lions, etc. every day. Knowledgeable tour operators will know the places that are morereasonably priced that still have great game viewing (Mkuze Game Lodge is a great example).

Victoria Falls: Go to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe instead of Livingstone, Zambia. They are very closetogether and Zimbabwe tends to be cheaper but pay attention to the season. The Zimbabwe side isbest between August and December when water levels in the Zambezi are lower because you arecloser to the Falls. Find out more here.

Kensington Place (South Africa)

Kensington Place is one of my favorites in Cape Town, South Africa and great value for money.

Kensington Place (South Africa)

Kensington Place is comfortable, in a great netflix ubuntu location and is very reasonably priced forwhat you get.

Water Berry (Zambia)

Water Berry in Livingstone, Zambia is a great value for money property. It is no fuss, does not claimto be more than it is but is comfortable and family friendly. I really enjoyed it on a recent inspection.

Water Berry (Zambia)

Another great thing about Water Berry is that is family owned and operated.

Simbambili Game Lodge (South Africa)

Simbambili is a great property in the less crowded Nothern end of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve,which borders Kruger National Park. Lara, one of EJAfrica's sales people just stayed there and reallyliked the spacious rooms and the amount of private outside space.

Simbambili Game Lodge (South Africa)

Simbambili is a great no frills property that is independently owned. On a recent inspection, Lara (anEJAfrica sales person) thought that the guiding and management were both great and really enjoyedthe mix of guests from honeymooners to retirees who travel the world.

Offbeat Mara (Kenya)

The Offbeat Safari properties in Kenya, in the Maasai netflix ubuntu Mara and Meru National Parkare both great value for money. They offer a wonderful tented camp experience and great gameviewing. This particular picture is a one of the tents at Offbeat Mara.

Offbeat Mara (Kenya)

Great game viewing at Offbeat Mara

Offbeat Meru (Kenya)

A double tent at Offbeat Meru

Offbeat Meru (Kenya)

Rhino viewing at Offbeat Meru

Kicheche Mara (Kenya)

Kicheche Mara in the Maasai Mara

Kicheche Mara (Kenya)

Giraffes near Kicheche Mara

Lewa Safari Camp (Kenya)

Great value because of its location in the Lewa Downs area of Kenya and good guiding.

Lewa Safari Camp (Kenya)

Room at Lewa Safari Camp

Elephant Bedroom Camp (Kenya)

Elephant Bedroom Camp has a great location on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in SamburuNational Reserve

Elephant Bedroom Camp (Kenya)

Tent at Elephant Bedroom Camp

Ubuntu (Tanzania)

The mess tent at Asilia's Ubuntu camp in Tanzania's Serengeti.

Ubuntu (Tanzania)

Guest tent at Asilia Ubuntu.

Linyanti Ebony (Botswana)

Good value for money in a good came viewing area.

Linyanti Ebony (Botswana)

Meno a Kwena (Botswana)

An independently owned property between the Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi Pans

Meno a Kwena (Botswana)

View of the Boteti River from Meno a Kwena. This river means better than average game-viewing forthis dry area.

Sango (Botswana)

A great independently owned property in the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. Thisarea has great game-viewing year round and as a result many of the properties are very expensivemaking this a great alternative.

Sango (Botswana)

Leopard near Sango

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