Why are safaris so expensive?

Why are safaris so expensive? “Why are African safaris so expensive?” is one of the most often inquiries we get. There is no secret. While a safari isn’t the most affordable trip you’ll ever take, it is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling and unforgettable. It’s a profoundly soul-stirring adventure that really does change your life. Africa is a magical continent that draws people who adore it back time and time again. You would be hard pressed to find an African traveler who didn’t think it was well worth the cost, despite the fact that it could be pricey in comparison to other travel locations.

So why, exactly, are safaris so costly? Africa is regarded as a costly travel safari destination due to three primary factors: inadequate infrastructure, intricate transportation arrangements, and elevated staff-to-guest ratios. You may get a good idea of what drives up the cost of a safari by adding to these variables a tourism strategy that encourages “high price-low density” in order to shield delicate ecosystems from heavy human traffic, similar to how Botswana preserves the Okavango Delta. But let’s take a closer look at this query to see if you still have questions about why African safaris are so pricey.

1. Distance & Infrastructure.

Because there is so much amazing infrastructure (airports, motorways, train lines, hotels), and so many businesses vying for your pounds, dollars, or euros, travelling throughout Europe, the US, and Asia is quite inexpensive. This aids in containing costs. Additionally, these locations are highly frequented by tourists, which means economies of scale apply.

Africa, nevertheless, is a totally different kettle of wildebeest. Many countries only have airstrips that are suitable for light aircraft; beyond their major cities, there are no airports. As a result, only a small number of visitors at a time may come and go. Every drop of jet fuel needs to be trucked in at great expense because the airstrips lack massive tankers for convenient refueling. Roads may be dirt and subject to being washed away in heavy, seasonal rains or floods. Getting a grader out to the Serengeti to remake the road takes serious logistical planning, not to mention a big chunk of change.

There aren’t many low-cost carriers, trains, or buses that travel between the various regions on a regular basis, unlike in Europe and the US. In the majority of African nations, private companies handle the transportation component for activities including day trips, charter flights, and road transfers. Parallel to this, there aren’t many airlines in Africa, making domestic travel expensive. African safaris are typically quite expensive since, in many cases, there is only one airline operating a route, and that airline only operates on certain days of the week.

2. Remote Locations.

After reaching your safari lodge or camp, you will find yourself distant from any cities, therefore the camps will have to fend for themselves. Every rice grain you consume, beer bottle you sip, soap drop you use, mattress you sleep on, and air conditioning fan you use was transported across thousands of kilometres of unpaved roads and transported across rivers on boats. In most cases, it takes two hours to fly to a camp; however, driving supplies there can take up to two days, and flying them in is even more costly.

There is really no way to quickly run to the store because the closest one could be more than 200 kilometres (124 miles) away on a seldom-traveled route. Because safari lodges are so remote, operating one requires meticulous logistical planning. The huge cost of their operations is the reason African safaris are so pricey.

3. Staff to Guest Ratios.

The personnel is the factor that has the power to make or ruin your vacation. In many safari camps, the staff-to-guest ratio might reach five to one or more. You might only come across a porter, concierge, maid, barman or waiter at high-end hotels in first-world nations; at the end of the day, they all head back home.

Since the majority of employees in Africa reside on the grounds of the safari lodge, all of their needs for food, clothing, accommodation, entertainment, toiletries, transportation, and medical care must be met. Furthermore, a lot of camps have extra employees since they provide amenities like private butlers, babysitters, private guides, birdwatching experts, and free laundry. Gardeners also need to be recruited, since more lodges are creating kitchen gardens to provide the chef with fresh ingredients. Additionally, this is before we take into account the “behind the scenes” workers like housekeeping, anti-poaching teams, and constructors and maintenance personnel who make sure the solar panels and generators continue to operate.

A large team of workers is required to maintain a safari lodge or camp, including managers who deal directly with guests, butlers or camp hosts, housekeeping, your highly qualified and experienced wildlife guides, a maintenance crew that keeps the camp maintained (boardwalks mended, bulbs changed, etc.), and mechanics who service the specialized 4×4 vehicles to make sure they all function properly for your game drive. In addition to the kitchen staff who prepare your meals!

4. National Park Fees & Conservation Levies.

Every day that a visitor spends within an African national park, wildlife reserve, or conservancy, they are required to pay a conservation charge. This is the method used to finance the extensive management of these protected areas.

The price of your safari includes conservation fees, which are then donated to national parks, private landowners, and indigenous people. By paying these tariffs, you encourage local communities to actively contribute to the preservation of Africa’s remarkable ecosystems and directly fund the conservation of wildlife. From the surface, these charges may be the reason why cost estimates for African safaris appear so high.

Primarily situated in private game reserves and conservancies, the majority of safari lodges and camps were established with the intention of conserving land and wildlife. It takes time, money, effort, and labour to preserve the land and wildlife for example, by creating anti-poaching units. Your stay makes a significant contribution to conservation programs and community upliftment projects, which help conserve the ecosystems and species. Staying at a lodge or camp during your safari vacation in most safari destinations gives locals much-needed work, which lessens the need for or motivation for poaching.

5. All-Inclusive Accommodation Rates.

“All-inclusive” refers to a package that costs a fixed amount per person each day and covers accommodation, food, snacks, standard beverages, and all of the activities related to watching games. This is typically the reason that, at first look, African safaris are so costly. In actuality, all-inclusive safaris provide great value for the money.

Since there are typically no restaurants nearby for you to order meals from, the safari camp will have to supply nearly everything as you will be in a rural area. Therefore, at first, the expense of lodging on a safari may appear high, particularly in comparison to a stay at a hotel that merely serves breakfast. However, it’s crucial to remember that this upfront fee includes more, meaning your overall spending at the safari lodge would be lower.

6. Level of Luxury.

It goes without saying that increased management and maintenance costs translate into higher accommodation charges for guests at a more opulent resort or camp. Some tented camps have entirely revitalized the safari lodge, bringing a fresh perspective on African aesthetics, authenticity, and luxury, while others replicate the grandeur and splendor of safari’s romantic heyday.

The best luxury safari lodges in Africa frequently have luxuries like air conditioning, wood-burning fireplaces, Victorian bathtubs, top-tier cars, and modern gourmet cuisine with views of some of the most breathtaking and untamed landscapes on earth. Naturally, all of it is more expensive than the less expensive African safari options.