The greatest finances safaris: Seeing the Big Five animals is a as soon as in a lifetime expertise. Here’s how one can bag a dream vacation for a lot lower than you may suppose
Going on safari was once the reserve of the elite – way beyond the budget of everyday holidaymakers.
Not any more. As international air fares have fallen, breaks to see the Big Five of lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo and rhinos have opened up to all.
Trips to countries across Africa from Kenya and Tanzania to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa – as well as wildlife-rich nations in Asia including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Malaysia – have become possible for less than £2,000 with flights, hotels and game drives included.
Here we’ve chosen 18 of the best budget options…
SERENGETI BARGAIN
Explore Tanzania’s spectacular animal kingdom on a six-day trip from £1,205pp. Begin in Tarangire National Park, where elephant herds roam free, before heading to the Serengeti to catch a glimpse of lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos, plus cheetahs, hyenas and more than 500 bird species. A visit to Ngorongoro Crater, a huge volcanic caldera that’s home to rhinos and zebras, is included.
Book it: Five nights from £1,205pp in total, comprising three camping nights, two hotel nights, some meals, park fees, game drives and transfers (from £691pp, bookallsafaris.com), combined with Heathrow-Kilimanjaro flights (from £514pp return, ethiopianairlines.com); add-on days possible.
SOUTH AFRICAN SAVINGS
Jet to Johannesburg on a six-night safari staying at the Royal Kruger Lodge & Spa within South Africa’s Bushveld nature reserve. Expect to see lions, zebras and giraffes during three game drives at Kruger National Park, as well as elephants and – if you’re lucky – rare black rhinos. Unwind at sunset with a G&T or two at the charming thatched-roof resort.
Book it: Six nights from £1,328pp full-board including return flights, transfers, three game drives, a wildlife discovery walk, bottle of sparkling wine, sunset aperitif and one-hour massage (holidaypirates.com).
DIY IN NAMIBIA
Navigate the deserts of Namibia on a self-drive safari in a Toyota Hilux 4×4 equipped with a rooftop fold-out tent, cooking hob and refrigerator. Set off from Windhoek, the capital, and enjoy a scenic four-hour drive to Etosha National Park to spot zebras, giraffes, lions and flamingos, while staying overnight at campsites. At Okaukuejo Camp, a viewing platform offers fantastic night-time vistas of elephants and rhinos at a watering hole.
Book it: A week from £1,294pp in total, comprising Toyota Hilux rental (from £393, camperdays.co.uk), camping at Okaukuejo Camp (from £20 a night, etoshanationalpark.co.za), and Manchester-Windhoek flights (from £781pp, lufthansa.com).
TANZANIAN TREAT
Go on safari in Tanzania and enjoy a beach getaway in Zanzibar – all for under £2,000. Start with two nights by the white sand beaches at Reef & Beach Resort before venturing to the mainland for two days of game drives plus a boat safari in Nyerere National Park spotting elephants, hippos, lions, crocodiles, wild dogs and black rhinos. After three nights at Africa Safari Selous in the bush, you then return to Zanzibar for more beach relaxation.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,729pp including all flights, transfers, game drives, boat safari, a bush walk and most meals (secretescapes.com).
MAASAI MARA MARVEL
Uuncover the best of Kenya’s famous Maasai Mara and the lesser-known Lake Nakuru National Park on a quick turnaround – super cheap – safari. Enjoy four game drives spotting big cats in the bush, while at certain times of the year you can see the great migration of more than a million wildebeest, zebras and others.
Book it: Three nights from £637pp in total, comprising stays at Lenchada Tourist Camp in Maasai Mara and the Golden Palace Hotel in Nakuru, transfers, game drives and meals (from £231pp, bookallsafaris.com), plus Heathrow-Nairobi return flights via Jeddah (from £406pp, saudia.com); add-on days are possible.
TEMPTING THAILAND
Relax in the vibrant beachfront city of Phuket, Thailand, where the rainforest meets the sea, followed by a journey into Khao Sok National Park for a canoe safari and jungle trek. This culminates with one night in a ‘luxury tent’ at the Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp and a visit to an elephant park, with a chance to feed them.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,185pp including accommodation, return Heathrow flights, activities, meals and transfers (flightcentre.co.uk).
JUNGLE AND CITY
Safari and city come together on this 11-day adventure in the wilds of Malaysian Borneo and the bustling streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital. Encounter orangutans, monkeys, whale sharks and tropical birds in Borneo where you can snorkel among rich corals and unwind on white sand beaches.
Book it: Ten nights from £1,559pp including accommodation, flights, transfers, activities and some meals (travelbag.co.uk).
KENYA CALLS
Dive into Kenya’s Maasai Mara on a game drive in search of lions, then take a cruise on Lake Naivasha spotting hippos, giraffes and birds. There’s also an early game drive to see rhinos in Lake Nakuru National Park followed by an overnight stay in a Maasai village with a cooking class.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,414pp in total, comprising a tour including five nights camping, one bush camp and one hotel night, transfers, game drives and meals (from £1,008pp, intrepidtravel.com), combined with Heathrow-Nairobi return flights via Jeddah (from £406, saudia.com).
BUDGET TIGERS
Enjoy luxury for less on this tailor-made tiger safari in Tadoba National Park, India. The action-packed trip features eight safaris in eight days. Experts guide you through the dazzling biodiversity of Tadoba, one of India’s biggest and oldest national parks with a thriving tiger population. Stay in a first-class lodge hidden deep in the forest near watering holes.
Book it: From £1,721pp for seven nights in total, comprising hotel and lodge accommodation, transfers, meals and game drives (from £1,300pp, responsibletravel.com), plus Heathrow-Delhi flights (from £421 return, airindia.com).
LOW-COST ADVENTURE
Get up close to Victoria Falls, raft the Zambezi’s whitewater or try bungee jumping on this eight-day journey through Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. In Kasane, unwind with an optional safari or a sunset cruise along the Chobe River. Continue to the Okavango Delta for a wildlife walk and go on a mokoro (dugout canoe) ride to a bush camp, with an evening by the campfire.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,959pp including camping accommodation, flights, transfers, activities and most meals (theadventurepeople.com).
PICTURE PERFECT PRICES
Unleash your inner photographer on this ten-day safari in India, designed for wildlife picture taking. Travel around Kanha National Park, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, home to tigers, leopards, monkeys and rare swamp deer. The action-packed itinerary includes 11 game drives, staying in lodges along the way.
Book it: Nine nights from £1,571pp in total, comprising accommodation, transfers, activities and meals (from £1,150pp, responsibletravel.com), plus Heathrow-Delhi flights (from £421 return, airindia.com).
ENTICING KILIMANJARO
Hop on a five-night safari in Kenya featuring six game drives. This extensive time in the bush doesn’t mean a hefty price as the trip is from £1,599 per person including flights which must be booked separately. Witness the otherworldliness of Lake Nakuru National Park, known as the pink lake for its rose-coloured water – home to white and black rhino. Also spot elephants and marvel at the view of Mount Kilimanjaro, across the border in Tanzania, from Amboseli National Park.
Book it: Five nights from £1,847 in total, comprising accommodation, transfers, meals, game drives and park fees (from £1,193pp, bookallsafaris.coms), plus Heathrow-Nairobi flights (from £654 return, kenya-airways.com); add-on days are possible.
LEOPARDS FOR LESS
Combine leopard spotting in Yala National Park with a relaxing stay at an eco lodge surrounded by 25 acres of rewilded elephant habitat. This trip goes beyond the typical four-wheel-drive safari, though it includes three of those as well. You are taken on daily guided walks through the beautifully untamed bush.
Book it: Four nights from £1,580pp in total, comprising accommodation, transfers, activities and meals (from £935pp, responsibletravel.com), plus Heathrow-Colombo flights (from £645 return, srilankan.com); add-on days possible.
CLASSIC KENYA
This eight-day Kenyan safari encompasses a full-day game drive searching for iconic wildlife in the Maasai Mara. Cruise along Lake Naivasha with a local guide spotting hippos, zebras and giraffes. Then embark on an early morning game drive at Lake Nakuru National Park for a chance to see black and white rhinos.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,968pp including one hotel night, six nights camping, flights, transfers, activities and meals (theadventurepeople.com).
SRI LANKA SPECTACULAR
Explore the best of Sri Lanka on this eight-day trip featuring sacred sites, historic cities and a train ride through tea plantations – bookended by safari excursions. Your first game drive launches in Minneriya National Park, famous for the world’s largest elephant gathering, while the second unfolds in Yala National Park with its leopards and sloth bears. There’s also a visit to a baby elephant rescue centre in Udawalawe.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,659pp including accommodation, flights, transfers, activities and some meals (travelbag.co.uk).
LOTS IN BOTS
Spot elephants, crocodiles, hippos, buffalo, wild dogs and lions during game drives on a super-speedy, three-day safari in Chobe National Park, Botswana. There’s also an abundance of birds, such as herons and kingfishers, which can be spotted during a three-hour river cruise. The final day includes another game drive or boat cruise before visiting Victoria Falls.
Book it: Three nights from £1,077pp in total, comprising a tour including tented accommodation, transfers, meals, game drives, boat cruises and park fees (from £442pp, bookallsafaris.com), combined with Heathrow-Victoria Falls flights via Addis Ababa (from £635p return, ethiopianairlines.com); add-on days possible.
SAVE ON NEPAL
Immerse yourself in the Nepalese wilderness during a nine-day escape from £1,586pp including four nights in Kathmandu, the capital, two nights in the wildlife-rich Chitwan, and two nights in Pokhara. Begin with a guided tour of Kathmandu’s sacred temples, then head to Chitwan for a safari (possibly spotting Bengal tigers), canoeing and visits to elephant/crocodile breeding centres. End with two nights in Pokhara in the beautiful Himalayan foothills.
Book it: Eight nights from £1,586pp in total, comprising hotels and tours (from £810pp, bookallsafaris.com) and Heathrow-Kathmandu flights via Istanbul (from £776 return, qatarairways.com).
TOP FAMILY SAFARIS
Join a 12-day overland tour through South Africa and Eswatini, with game drives in four national parks. Go in search of the Big Five in Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park and kayak in Kosi Bay, a grazing area for hippos.
The wildlife watch continues in Kruger National Park, followed by a village homestay.
Book it: Eleven nights from £1,952pp in total, comprising one hotel night, six nights camping and four nights at a chalet lodge, transfers, game drives and most meals (from £1,505, intrepidtravel.com), plus Heathrow-Johannesburg flights via Addis Ababa (from £447 return, ethiopianairlines.com).
