Planning a safari in South Africa? Expect to spend anywhere from around $250 per person per night for a well-planned moderate self-drive & safari trip to over $1,000 per person per night for a fully private luxury safari.
The real question isn’t just how much a South Africa safari costs. It’s what actually drives the price. In South Africa, your mode of travel in country, the number of safari nights, and choice of lodges matter far more than seasonality. And this differs from most of our safari destinations.
Below we break down realistic South Africa safari prices by travel style, with practical examples from our 30 years designing trips across the region.
Safari costs in South Africa
South Africa Safari Prices Per night
Last Updated: May 2026
Below is our quick “crib sheet” of realistic per-person, per-night prices by trip style, so you can benchmark your budget before we start to tailor an itinerary.
We give a typical price per night for a holiday factoring in the cost of travel, park fees, game drives, and other game activities.
Prices shown in USD per person sharing (for comparing with other safari destinations)
International & domestic flights excluded
Around 20%–35% of nights are on safari
Safari lodges usually Fully Inclusive (FI)
Non-safari hotels mainly B&B, sometimes Dinner, B&B
As your time is valuable, I am giving our crib-sheet below. But read on for further explanation…
Ballpark Per Person Price Per Night
Value – simple hotels & lodges
Premier – 4* Hotels & Lodges
Luxury – 5* Hotels & Lodges
Self-drive trip plus a safari (3-4 nights)
$225-$275
$275-$400
$425-$700
Mix of scheduled tours, private transfers & safari
$300-$350
$350-$475
$500-$775
Privately guided tour plus 3-4 nights on safari
$425-$500
$525-$700
$725-$1 000*
Private tour & longer safari (4-6 nights)/or off-the-beaten track
n/a
$625-$800
$850-$1 150*
For Reference: Typical Kruger safari prices per person per day (Kruger private reserve cost)
$375-$700
$725-$1 200 – Premier $1 250-1 750 – Luxury
$1 800-$2 600 – Luxury+ $3 000-$3 500* – Top of Range
Caveat – these prices are more fluid than other safari destinations. We include them simply to give you a broad sense of what a value, premier and a generous budget may look like…
But our itinerary design skills also play a big part!
So if you want to come for 12 nights on a privately guided tour including 3-4 nights on safari and staying in Premier accommodation (4+ star), you are probably looking at $525 to $700 per person per day, so between $6,250 and $8,500 per person.
Notes
The prices are shown above are for itineraries that WE sell. So our affordable is a moderate 3+ to 4-star hotel or guesthouse. We don’t start with back-packers!
South Africa is priced in Rands. We have given current Dollar prices so that you can compare across other African destinations. But these fluctuate with exchange rates.
Typically these per night South Africa safari prices assume that 25-35% of your nights are on safari (on a Fully Inclusive basis). So the average nightly prices above are LOWER than our safari nightly prices – see final row. But higher than your non-safari days.
There is a vast range in the Kruger safari prices per night – see table amount. So the top figure is NOT with the most expensive game lodges in South Africa, but assuming one of more modest luxury ones.
See our final row to see how much safari nights can range in price. (It follows that the easiest way to change the price of the holiday is to change the choice of safari lodge.)
What’s usually included at safari lodges?
Most private safari lodges in South Africa include:
Twice-daily game drives
Accommodation
All meals
Tea, coffee, and local drinks
Conservation levies or park fees
Guided bush walks if offered
Typically excluded are premium wines, spa treatments, gratuities, and curios
Most city hotels in Cape Town and the Winelands are booked on a Bed & Breakfast basis instead. Giving you the flexibility to enjoy South Africa’s excellent restaurants independently.
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South Africa itineraries usually combine a safari with Cape Town, Winelands, beaches, and road trips. Safari nights are usually the most expensive part of the itinerary.
Much wider variation in price across destinations and hotel standards in South Africa.
Your mode of travel (self-drive vs private guiding) has a major impact on total cost.
However the good news is that South African safari costs are in Rands (and not US$), so South Africa remains one of the best-value safari destinations in Africa.
What factors affect the cost of a South Africa safari?
Important
Less Important
Mode of Travel
Time of Year
Level of Hotel & Lodge (eg Premier, Luxury, Uber-Deluxe)
Safari Circuits
Number of Nights on Safari
Magical African Moments
1) Not Just a Safari Destination & Number of Safari Nights impacts the price
South Africa is not just a safari destination. It also offers beaches, mountains, wine regions, cosmopolitan cities, and superb road-trip routes. So people usually spend only spend some of their time on a safari.
The safari nights are always the most expensive nights. So how much of your holiday is ”on safari” in a game reserve or two does significantly affect the overall safari price.
Insider Tip:
If travelling out of the safari season (e.g. November to March for most reserves) and May to July for the Eastern Cape, you may be able to take advantage of long stay offers typically four nights for the price of three. (You only pay the reserve’s conservation fee.)
2) Accommodation Level
Overall – with the current relative strength of the Rand, our accommodation prices are not that much cheaper – if at all – than European prices.
And as in Europe, there is a vast range from modest but well-appointed guesthouses to super-deluxe 5-star hotels.
3) Mode of Travel is more important than Seasonality
Finally there are plenty of ways to travel around the country, (your mode of travel), and this has a big impact.
The South African safari price chart is different from other destinations. Here seasonality is MUCH less of an issue than mode of travel. In fact you see that we don’t even show how the price varies across the seasons.
Info Box
Does Seasonality Affect Safari Prices in South Africa?
Less than you might expect.
The strange anomaly in South Africa is that the best time for a safari is actually in the traditional low season for the non-safari areas, especially in the Cape, So safari lodge prices remain relatively steady year round as the best game-viewing months (May to Sept) overlaps with the Cape’s cooler season.
Overall prices are a little lower then. Expect to pay roughly 10-20% less between May and July and 5-10% less in August and September.
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Which travel mode offers the best value?
HOW you choose to get around the country – when you are NOT on safari – is one of the biggest drivers of your holiday cost.
Travel to Safari Regions – Generally speaking, most of our clients fly – usually by scheduled airline – to the closest airport to the game lodges and then they have a private road transfer into camp. (There are two specific regions where you may self-drive: the Eastern Cape (if travelling from the Garden Route) and Kwa Zulu Natal.)
1) Privately Guided Touring
Best for:
Guests wanting the added value of a knowledgeable expert with them
High-end travellers
Parties of 4-6 people including families
Multi-generational trips
This is the most expensive mode of travel, especially if there are only 2 of you. Our vehicles and guiding standards are highly regulated. Plus the driving distances are long. So your guide will need to stay overnight (at a decent guesthouse) which is also an extra cost.
Generally a Privately Guided Tour is more than people imagine. It is certainly much more expensive than in many other developing countries you may have visited.
The good news is that it comes down considerably if you are 4 or 5 people as the same vehicle and guide costs are now shared between more people.
A typical Cape Town and Kruger safari usually combines city hotels, Winelands or Whale Coast stays, and 3–4 nights on safari.
2 nights Whale Coast (or substitute the Winelands)
4 nights Kruger private reserve
Estimated cost:
Approx. $6,000–$6,500 per person (Premier level) sharing excluding international flights
Option to change accommodation to suit you
2) Self drive (mainly in the Cape)
Best for:
Couples
Experienced self-drive travellers in Europe, North America, or Australia (as similar experience)
Country areas of the Cape
Strong value-for-money
This is very common for our European & often Canadian clients. (Actually the majority of our European clients travel around in this way).
Note this is often NOT a money decision. It is more about having independence and flexibility. Though it is certainly less expensive and allows you to spend your money to upgrade accommodation if you prefer.
If you have self-driven in Europe, then you would definitely feel comfortable doing self-drive in the Cape province (Cape Town, Winelands, Whale Coast, Garden Route, and the Cederberg/West Coast). And also driving to an Eastern Cape game lodge
Self-driving in KwaZulu Natal and other provinces is also on the cards but may be for the slightly more adventurous.
And it can have a significant impact on your South Africa safari holiday cost.
Approx. $3 750–$5 000 per person sharing (Premier level) excluding international flights
Option to change accommodation & number of nights to suit you
“Putting together the right mix is where a safari designer – such as us – can help massively.“
Mix of Privately Guided/Private transfers & Shared Day Tours
Best for:
Solo travellers or couples keen or happy to meet others
Active travellers keen to join hiking or biking trips (without the private price tag)
More cost-effective than private touring
If you want to have some guided experiences, this is an effective way of saving costs. Do some scheduled day tours (with a max of 8 to 10 people) whilst you are staying in Cape Town when many people want to enjoy the same tours. Typically the tour company will collect you from your hotel as long as you are staying centrally.
This option also works well if you want to be active as many activity-based touring companies offer a group activity price, with a set meeting point.
Note: You will need to walk or take a taxi to the meeting point, but this is much less than taking the same activity on a private basis.
Then you can take private touring when that’s the only option. Usually in the country areas.
CEDARBERG TIP
Use some country lodges which include activities in their area. Then all you have to do is take a private transfer to get to them. This saves you money as there’s no need for multiple days of private touring (and no need to pay for your guide’s overnight accommodation as well).
Here are some Fully Inclusive Cape Lodges which include activities. So all you need to do is to transfer to the lodge and they’ll take care of you.
Or mix it up: start with a day or two of guided tours in Cape Town, then opt for a few days of self-drive once you leave the city. Or throw in some private transfers to replace some longer drives.
Interested in booking a Safari or Holiday?
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We use our expertise to narrow down the choices and present feasible ideas, so you can relax and ENJOY the planning process!
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Are South Africa Safaris all-inclusive?
Unless every night is on safari, your South Africa holiday is unlikely to be all-inclusive. Only safari nights tend to be all-inclusive, (or Fully Inclusive as we call them). Elsewhere the norm is for hotels to be on a Bed & Breakfast basis or sometimes possibly Dinner, Bed & Breakfast in a country area.
That’s because South Africa has some superb restaurants. Believe me, you don’t want to be tied into eating at the hotel restaurant in Cape Town!
You’d be missing some amazing foodie experiences!
So typically a 12-night itinerary in South Africa will include breakfast every day, 5 or 6 dinners and perhaps some lunches, (mainly on safari or if you are doing some day tours.)
Try to have longer stays (to take advantage of long stay offers)
HEARTFELT PLEA – Please give us a Budget Range!
Probably the BEST thing you can do to save money is to give your safari designer – such as us – a rough sense of your budget.
Sounds counter-intuitive perhaps?
But actually it makes sense. If you give a budget, then it is human nature for our safari designers to try to rise to the challenge! Our consultants get more creative in terms of ways of saving money, without compromising on the quality of the safari holiday. So you end up getting more bang for your buck.
They are also more motivated because they know they are on the right track. (It is frustrating for us to do a safari quote. And then find that the actual budget is HALF what we had assumed!)
Getting to a sense of budget is what this article is designed to help you with!
A South Africa safari holiday offers superb wildlife and all-round holiday interest. So it is worth aiming for a decent budget for it.
How much does a 7-10 night South Africa safari trip cost?
As we show in our table above, a 10-night guided tour with safari staying at Premier accommodation would be approx. $5,000 to $7,000 per person and a luxury trip would be in the range of $7,000 to $10,000 upwards – depending on the number of nights on safari. However a simple self-drive trip may start at $2,250 per person.
Are Park fees, conservation levies, and game drives included in lodge rates?
Yes, we always include all activities and mandatory costs such as park fees. The only extras are optional costs such as massages, curio purchases, or a premium bottle of wine.
Do kids get discounted rates on safari in South Africa?
Yes, a family safari in South Africa is often better value than East Africa because family suites and child discounts are more common. Most lodges which accept children under 12 offer lower prices assuming they are sharing with their parents. However if they are taking their own room, then they may pay full price.
Is malaria-free safari available, and does it change cost?
Yes, they are available and no this doesn’t really impact on the cost. It depends on the quality of the game lodge.
When should I book to get the best value?
There is no major difference in price except on the international flights (where earlier is better). However we recommend 6 to 12 months out (as then there will be enough availability for any long-stay offers available.)
Plan your South Africa safari with realistic, expert guidance
South Africa offers one of the best-value safari experiences in Africa, but the smartest itineraries are about balance, not simply spending more. The right mix of safari lodges, Cape experiences, routing, and travel style can make a dramatic difference to both the price and overall experience.
At Cedarberg Africa, we’ve spent 30 years designing tailor-made South Africa safaris for couples, families, and multi-generational travellers. We help you understand where to invest, where to save, and how to create a trip that genuinely fits your priorities.
Here’s how we help:
Tell us your preferred travel style and rough budget range
We suggest 1–2 realistic itinerary ideas
We refine the balance of safari, touring and downtime together
You receive a seamless, fully personalised safari plan
Whether you're dreaming of a first safari, a family adventure, or a more exclusive private journey...
We'll help you make sense of the options, and the costs behind them. So you know exactly what you're paying for (and why).
‘How Much Does a safari in South Africa cost in 2026’ was written by Kate, co-founder of Cedarberg Africa
Kate founded Cedarberg Africa in 1995 with her sister Ginny and has spent more than 30 years designing bespoke safaris across Southern Africa. Having travelled extensively throughout South Africa; from the Kruger’s private reserves to the Cape’s quieter corners, the team specialises in creating itineraries that balance exceptional safari experiences with smart value and seamless logistics.
Kate has personally inspected hundreds of lodges over the years and is known for helping clients understand where to splurge, where to save, and how to make the most of their safari budget without compromising on the experience. When not researching new properties, she can usually be found hiking in the mountains, or playing (overly) complicated strategy board games with her family.
