Why we don’t sell the cheapest safari

We are often sent a comparison with a much cheaper offer, for an itinerary that looks identical on paper. It is a legitimate question, and the answer is not that we are more expensive. It is that on a safari certain costs cannot be reduced, and when the price drops a long way the saving comes from items that do not appear in the list of parks visited.

What cannot be cut

Park entry fees are fixed and are charged per person per day. Fuel, distances and internal flights cost the same for everyone. On these items no serious operator obtains significant discounts.

Where the saving comes from

Where you sleep. A property outside the park costs less, but it means setting off later and missing the first hour of light, the best one. The shared vehicle. Six or seven people in the same vehicle, with different needs, and stops decided by the majority. The days. Three parks in four days, with more hours on the road than spent watching. The guide. A poorly paid guide depends more on tips and tends to chase the easy sightings reported over the radio.

It is not a question of luxury

A well-run safari does not require a luxury lodge: as we explain in how much a trip to Africa costs, it often makes more sense to spend on a private vehicle and the location of the property than on the category of room. The point is not to spend more, but to know where the money goes.

The questions to ask anyone

When you compare two quotes, ask: is the vehicle private or shared? Are the properties inside or outside the parks? How many hours of driving are there each day? Are park fees included, and for how many days? If the answers are clear, the comparison becomes honest. If they are not, you already have your answer.