One of the more common methods to embark on safari is to sign up for a trip with a small group that specializes in African travel. Time and effort may be saved by delegating the planning of the specifics of your safari vacation to an experienced professional. This implies that all you have to do is brush up on your knowledge of African animals and then board a flight to the continent.
A trip to Africa in a small group may be an excellent way to experience the continent, and itineraries that focus on a particular interest, such as big cats, bird viewing, or conservation, come highly recommended. A vacation catered to a particular interest will surround you with individuals who share your passions, and you’ll be led by an experienced professional.
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The best Small group African safari tours
Price of small group African safari tours?
Expect a starting price of $1,200 per person to the thousands of dollars. Safari packages span a wide price range and are influenced by several variables. The biggest factor determining the price of a safari is the level of accommodation. This will ultimately categorize tours as being budget, mid-range or luxury and of course shared tours are usually cheaper than private tours.
This is especially the case for single travelers. On a 10 day trip or longer, you might want to consider a fly-in safari, but can be considerably more expensive than road safaris. Check out the seasons too; low-season prices can be favorable and while you’ll probably get some rain at this time, it’s when the scenery is at its best.
Breakdown of African safari group tours
Depending on the type and duration of your safari, visitors have the option to see not just the Big 5 in one park or country but embark on incredible activities including hot air balloon safaris, walking safaris and birding treks.
Small group african safari tour highlights
- See the Great Migration of 1 million wildebeest in Tanzania and Kenya
- Discover the Big Five in Namibia including the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo
- Track gorillas and chimps in the Uganda jungle
- See the unrivaled Kruger NP in South Africa where visitors can find over 12,000 elephants, 27,000 African Buffalo, 2,000 leopards and 2,800 lions
- Explore Africa’s best beaches with Camps Bay Beach in Cape Town or. Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar
- Private tour guide in English and other languages
- Game drives in comfortable, open top safari vehicles
- World class safari accommodation including lodges and tented camps
Tour inclusions
The following details typical tour inclusions and exclusions on the best small group African safari tours:
Tour inclusions | Tour exclusions |
---|---|
Game drives per the itinerary as well as pick-up and drop-off | Visa fees, laundry services, drinks including mineral water at the hotels |
Experienced english-speaking guide and driver | International/domestic flights |
Transport and park entrance fees | Cultural visits to local villages (15 USD p/p) |
Accommodation (full-board safaris) | Tips to the driver guides, waiters and porters |
Park fees | |
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and bottled water | |
Government taxes |
Safari essentials and information
Why go on a group safari?
Comparatively, the price of a group safari is always lower than that of a private safari that has the same caliber. Nevertheless, there are further explanations. An organized group safari is the best option if you’re the social sort that enjoys meeting new people while on vacation and safari tours may be taken alone, or they can be taken as part of a group led by an expert.
They provide access to activities that would be unavailable on a personalized safari. A safari conducted by a well-known rhino or big cat specialist, for instance, will provide more context and insight into the experience.
Group safaris may also be organized for more niche interests, such as birdwatching. If you’re a lone traveler who would prefer not to explore Africa on your own, a small-group safari vacation may be the perfect solution.
How many people are usually on a group safari?
The fact that up to 10 passengers in one vehicle is allowed on a budgeted safari may be a major detriment to the quality of the trip for those hoping to see wild animals up close. Overland tours that span many countries sometimes use specially outfitted buses, so before signing up, make sure to inquire about the maximum number of passengers allowed on the trip.
Nevertheless, be aware that many parks or reserves prohibit the use of these vehicles. The average number of persons on a moderately priced safari trip is between four and six. There is not much of a distinction between a private safari and a group safari on a luxury safari.
Accommodation offered on small group African safari tours
After a long day surveying the incredible Africa landscape and wildlife on offer, guests can look forward to the very best safari accommodation the Africa safari has to offer. The accommodation here is excellent with numerous options from tented camps, luxury lodges to camping grounds.
From camping in the bush with amenities to mid-range and luxury lodges located inside park reserves, there’s something for everyone. On a short safari, high-end lodgings are commonly used on fly-in safari packages and excellent wining and dining is very much the norm.
Many are small designer ecolodges, often made to blend into the environment whilst others near watering holes are superb for wildlife viewing and guests can enjoy a front-row seat to spot the wildebeest and zebras crossing the river.
Animals on an African safari tour?
You’ll find just about everything on an African group safari! The continent is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo) and visitors will also find spotted hyenas and hippos depending on the particular country and park you visit.
Tanzania contains the highest concentration of lions in the world with over 3,000 of them found in the Serengeti alone and about 1.5 million wildebeests, in addition to wildebeest, gazelle, giraffes, black rhinos. A view of these huge wildebeest crossing the crocodile infested river Mara has been included in the 7 wonders of natural Africa.
If you enjoy driving, it is possible to visit the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater on a 10 day road safari. This combination gives you a reasonable chance of seeing all the Big Five in a short time. Ngorongoro is the only reliable park in Africa to see black rhino in the wild.
Uganda is a safari destination with a reputation for low density tourism, eco-friendly lodges and political stability whilst South Africa is the continents most popular and best-developed travel destination, famed for its sun-soaked beaches and vast wildlife-filled game reserves. It also provides exceptional opportunities to combine safari trips with wineland tours.
What factors should I think about when picking a group safari?
Are all the reserves & parks you’re interested in seeing on this trip included? If you are thinking of going on a safari with a large group, this is the initial thing you need to consider. If you want to view the wildebeest migration between the Serengeti and Masai Mara, there is no use in signing up for a small group safari that doesn’t go to either of those places.
If you want to see the park’s best attractions, you should go at the proper time of year and in the right section of the park. Make sure the trip doesn’t hit too many nature preserves in one go. The more hurried it seems on paper, the more frenetic it will be in practice.
Too often, tour groups on safari attempt to jam in too much information in too little time meaning so much time is spent going to and from the parks that actual safari time is cut short. Also, think about whether or not your own interests might clash with those of the tour group. If you’re a passionate photographer or birdwatcher, for instance, you should seek out a specialized trip catered to your hobby.
What countries are a must-do on a small group African safari?
There are many small group African safaris on offer, so you do have choices on what you can fit into your safari. The most-popular option is a Big 5 wildlife tour where you’ll see the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo in stunning parks such as the Serengeti in Tanzania or Kruger National Park in South Africa.
The continent has so much to offer and choosing may come down to personal preferences and the length of time it takes to travel to your destination with Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia and Uganda all offering incredible wildlife tours.
Lucky visitors can also hop between countries such as the Ngorongoro Crater, also in Tanzania or combine your 10 day safari with a neighboring country such as Kenya with gems like Masai Mara, which consistently rank in the top destinations for safari-goers in Africa.
FAQs
How much does it cost to do a safari in Africa?
An affordable one week safari in Africa can cost up to $2,500 and as high as $7,500 USD or more, depending on the level of luxury that you choose for your vacation.
Which African country is best for safaris?
Botswana is widely regarded as one of the best African countries for a safari, with its superb animal protection of the Big 5, ecotourism efforts, wonderful national parks and reserves including Chobe National Park, home to a large population of elephants, the Okavango Delta, Moremi and the Makgadikgadi Pans.
What type of vehicles can I expect on safari?
Safari prices determine the type of vehicle you’ll travel in with inexpensive safaris using pop-top mini buses with open windows whilst luxury group safaris use long-wheel-base 4x4s. Here, the open-sided vehicle will carry few passengers and you’ll get a front-seat view of any animal.