Yes, You Can Do an African Safari on a Budget!

Many people think that safaris are only for the rich and this is an outdated notion. There is an entire level of the market in Kenya catering to travellers who are looking to save money, and the wildlife they will see on a budget trip is the same wildlife that the luxury guests pay ten times more to see. The lions don't know in which camp you slept.

The first step to reducing the price is to know what you can't change and what you can. The authorities set the entry fees for the park, and all visitors pay them, on a per-person, per-day basis. On the Masai Mara they spend about a hundred dollars a day in the first half of the year, and about twice that in the second half when it is busier. That floor is equal for a backpacker and a billionaire. The bed, the car, the meals, everything above it is where a budget traveller saves.

The largest lever is accommodation. Budget safari trips involve simple tented camps and modest lodges, usually just outside the park gates and not deep within the park. The tents are equipped with proper beds and basic toilets, the food is genuine and satisfying, and the bush noises are complimentary. The nightly cost is reduced significantly by avoiding the exclusive camps in private conservancies that charge higher rates.

The second lever is transport. A road safari in a shared minibus or a well-maintained safari vehicle is a much cheaper alternative to flying between parks in light aircraft. The trade is the longer driving days, but the drive through the Great Rift Valley is a sight to behold, and a good guide fills the hours. The road is more down to earth and less expensive for a budget trip.

The per-person price is controlled more quietly than by anything else, by group size. The cost of the vehicle, the guide and the fuel are the same whether one person is in the car or six, so the cost of the trip is reduced by sharing it over a full car. That's why there are shared, set-departure trips: they combine solo travellers and couples in one car, and each person pays a fixed amount for the trip. A single traveller joining a group trip can save about half the cost of a private trip.

The final major lever is season. During peak months around the migration, the lodges are more expensive and the park fees are higher. The green season (March, April and May) offers reduced prices, fewer tourists and a green country, but at the expense of some afternoon showers and a bit more dispersed wildlife. If you are a budget traveller who is not too particular about the dates, then the single easiest way to save real money is to travel during the shoulder or green months.

Add those levers up and the numbers drop quickly. As a general rule, a budget road safari, with simple camps, costs about one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty US dollars per person per day, including park fees, a shared vehicle, a guide, and food. That's a big trip for a fraction of the luxury price, over a week touching the Mara and one or two other parks.

The best budget tip is to purchase an all-inclusive package instead of arranging the trip yourself. With park fees, accommodation, the vehicle and guide, meals and transfers all included in one price, you can compare quotes without the drip of additional charges that can ruin a tight budget. All of this is included in one price by operators providing budget Kenya safari packages, and is much easier and cheaper to arrange than booking lodges, vehicles and park entry separately from overseas.

Some strategies further reduce the price. Visit less parks and spend more time in each park, as each transfer day consumes fuel and time. Stick to the traditional route of Mara, Lake Nakuru and Naivasha and not the far-flung north, which is lovely but costly. Carpool with friends. Book a cheap long-haul flight to Nairobi in advance. Bring a water bottle and some snacks instead of purchasing everything at the lodge.

The guide is one of the places a budget traveller shouldn't cut. A low cost operator with worn out vehicles and inexperienced guides saves a little up front and costs a lot in breakdowns, missed sightings and stress. The guide is the final corner to cut, and the difference between a good trip and a forgettable one. Vehicle condition is also important as a breakdown in the middle of a park is no one's idea of a saving.

A little of the budget goes for safety and legitimacy. It is a licensed Kenyan operator that operates to government standards and is answerable should something go wrong. The cheapest unlicensed operators sometimes save money in ways that result in overcrowded cars, inexperienced drivers, or bookings that fall through on arrival. It is worth paying a little more for a licensed, reviewed operator.

It is helpful to understand what a budget day is like, as it is similar to any safari. Early morning drive when the animals are active, back to camp for brunch, rest through the heat of the day, and then another drive that starts in the afternoon and ends at sunset. The vehicle, the parks and the animals are the same as a more expensive trip. The only thing that changes is the tent you go back to and the plate you eat off of, and neither of those is the safari.

It's important to know the difference between budget and mid-range to make sure you pick the right level. A mid-range trip, which costs about two hundred and fifty to four hundred and fifty US dollars per person per day, will provide better lodges, a private car and more comfort. A budget trip is a trade for simpler camps and sometimes a shared car, which is a real saving. If comfort is more important than cost, move up a level. The budget tier doesn't sacrifice anything that impacts the wildlife if money is a concern.

Manage expectations and a budget safari provides all that is important. The tent is simpler, the food is plainer, but the elephant herd at the waterhole, the lion at first light and the wildebeest pouring across the plains are the same as the luxury guests see. Travellers who go in understanding that come home thrilled. A safari is within reach of far more people than the glossy brochures would have you believe, and the great wildlife spectacle of East Africa costs about what an ordinary holiday costs, with none of the compromise where it counts.