The cost of safari in Botswana
Botswana
is the most expensive safari
location in Africa
a very deliberate policy of high price and high quality
Since the 1990s Botswana has been a leading pioneer of high-value, low-volume low-impact tourism.
The government subdivided the key safari locations into vast private concessions, which were tendered out to operators for their exclusive use.
This approach has enabled safari companies to invest heavily in their operations, creating wonderful lodges in genuinely remote locations.
The situation is in stark contrast with the ugly crowding and overdevelopment that is found in many less-considered safari locations.
An unavoidable consequence of this approach is that safari in Botswana is unavoidably expensive, with high season prices in the range USD 1000-5000 per person per night (but starting from USD 500 in green season).
By comparison, safari here costs around 30% more than in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, around 50% more than South Africa.
price is not necessarily a good
indicator of the quality
Frequently asked questions
The safari lodges in Botswana vary in price from USD 500-5000 per person per night.
At the upper end of the price spectrum (USD 2000-5000 per person per night), the lodges are extremely polished. All the little details that guests at this level would expect are here, not just in the design of the place, but in the elegance and intimacy of the service.
For the right kind of guest, these places can be heavenly. We are always happy to build trips at this level, not least because the properties tend to be extremely reliable.
At the lower end of the price spectrum (USD 1000-2000 per person per night), the lodge build and service levels are simpler, but are easily sufficient to more than satisfy the vast majority of guests.
One particularly interesting feature is that price is not necessarily a reliable indicator of the quality of the core safari experience. In fact, the opposite is often the case.
At many of the more expensive properties, the safari experience tends to be more gentle and can, in some cases, become rather flaccid.
Simpler camps tend to be more focused on the safari experience, offering activities which are more hard-edged and involving.
a tenfold range of prices between lodges
In an environment as pricey as this, it’s really important to keep a lid on the costs.
The most common method is to keep your core safari in Botswana relatively short and then combine it with nights in much less expensive locations. The most popular combinations are with Victoria Falls and the Cape (Cape Town, Whale Coast, Cape Winelands), all of which contain great lodges which are famously good value for money.
The second option is to seek out the lodges and camps in Botswana which are at the lower end of the price spectrum. This is a particularly good option if you are more outdoorsy and wildlife-focused. It’s still going to be expensive, but at the lower end of the range.
The very best way to save money is to visit Botswana during the Jan-Mar green season. Towards the end of that period, the safari conditions are improving fast, yet the prices can be less than half of the May-Oct dry season. But you do need to plan a long way ahead for March, this trick is well-known amongst more experienced safari travellers.
The most dramatic way to save money is to book last minute. Within 30 days of travel, we are often able to offer discounts in excess of 50%. The problem is that you may have trouble finding flights and all the best lodges may be fully booked. But if you have the flexibility and can travel outside the most popular periods, this could be worth a try.
how to keep a lid on the costs
Almost all of the good safari in Botswana is in the wonderful private concessions, which cover over 95% of the quality areas.
The remaining 5% of the safari areas are open to overland operators and self-drivers. They can become horribly busy, with ugly vehicle clustering and animal abuse.
We strongly urge most people to avoid areas such as Chobe and the Okavango Mopane Tongue at all costs.
If you are unable to take advantage of the cost saving techniques described above, or if the cost of a Botswana trip remains too expensive, then we recommend that you take a look at safari options in other countries, most of which contain significantly lower cost options which we are more than happy to recommend.
For most people, it is far better to do a good quality safari in a fundamentally lower cost country, than do a second rate safari here in Botswana.
beware of second rate areas
Further reading
- Botswana overview
- When to go on safari in Botswana
- The best locations for safari in Botswana
- The best lodges for safari in Botswana
- The best luxury safari in Botswana
- The best family safari in Botswana
- The best walking safari in Botswana
- The best honeymoon safari in Botswana
- The best photographic safari in Botswana
let us know your thoughts about Botswana
and we will make sure to deliver the perfect trip
Extraordinary tailor-made adventures,
from earthy and edgy to easy and extravagant
From around USD 2500 per person, you set the ceiling
Sample Trips
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