Planning guides and straight answers

The questions everyone asks

How much does a safari cost?

Per person per night, excluding international flights: from about US$100 self-driving with rest camps in South Africa or Namibia; US$300 to 500 for a mid-range guided lodge; US$600 to 1,000 for a good private-reserve or conservancy camp; US$1,200 and up for the top camps in Botswana and the Serengeti. Our first safari guide and budget guide go into detail.

How many days do I need?

Four nights on safari is a sensible minimum; six to eight nights across two areas is better. Add a few nights somewhere restful at the end.

What is the Big Five?

Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino: the five animals hunters once considered most dangerous on foot. It is a marketing shorthand, not a measure of a good safari. Wild dog, cheetah and a hundred other things are as worth seeing.

When is the best time to go?

In most of southern Africa, the dry winter from June to October. In East Africa, July to October for the migration in the Mara, or January to February for the Serengeti calving. The green seasons are cheaper and beautiful, with harder viewing. See when to go.

Will I definitely see lions?

Nothing is guaranteed, which is the point. On a stay of three or more nights in Kruger, the Mara, the Serengeti or the Okavango, lion are very likely. Leopard and wild dog take luck or a guide.

Is safari safe?

Yes, with normal care. Animals are not a danger to people who follow the guides' rules, stay in the vehicle outside camps and keep their distance. The real risks are the same as anywhere: road accidents, sun, and, in malaria areas, mosquitoes. Comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation is essential.

Do I need malaria tablets?

In most safari areas, a travel clinic will advise prophylaxis. South Africa has several malaria-free Big Five reserves if you would rather avoid it. See our malaria-free guide, and take medical advice from a clinic, not a website.

Do I need a visa?

It depends on the country and your passport. South Africa, Botswana and Zambia are visa-free for most Western visitors; Namibia now requires a visa on arrival for many; Kenya uses an online eTA; Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda issue visas on arrival or online. Each of our country guides has the current rule.

Can I take children?

Yes, with the right choices. Many private lodges have minimum ages; national parks do not. Malaria-free South Africa suits young children best. See safari with children.

What should I wear?

Neutral colours, layers for cold mornings and hot afternoons, long sleeves at night, comfortable closed shoes. Avoid camouflage (illegal in some countries) and dark blue or black in tsetse areas. See what to pack.

Should I self-drive or go guided?

Guided for the full experience and for first-timers short on time; self-drive in Kruger or Etosha for independence and value. Many people do both on one trip. See private reserve or national park.

How much should I tip?

At guided lodges, a common guide is around US$10 to 20 per guest per day for the guide, a similar amount shared for the tracker and camp staff, usually handed over at the end of the stay. Lodges will tell you their norms if you ask; nobody will be offended by the question.

Is it ethical?

Well-run safari tourism is one of the main reasons the wild areas still exist: park fees, conservancy leases and lodge jobs are what keep land under wildlife rather than cattle or crops. Choose operators that employ local people, pay conservancy fees and follow the rules at sightings, and avoid anything involving captive-bred predators or walking with lion cubs.

What about the photos on this site?

Most are by photographers on Unsplash, used under its licence, with credit in the footer. Where we use AI-generated images on social media, we label them.

How does Ontrack to Explore make money?

Through affiliate and referral commissions when you book through links on this site or an introduction we make. It never changes your price and never changes what we recommend. Full details in our disclosure.