Yes, there is such a thing!  Certainly in South Africa, there are a plethra of more affordable/budget private lodges, which offer the same game viewing experiences as their more expensive neighbours but at a fraction of the cost.   True, the standard of accommodation may not be as high or luxurious, or the food may be less inspiring, but if you are there primarily for the game viewing, then you really cannot go wrong. 

Tanzania generally tends to be a more expensive safari destination overall, but you can still make your budget work for you.  In both Tanzania and in Kenya too, you can seek out the larger safari hotels or resorts, which tend to have lower rates than the smaller, more exclusive lodges.

Even the more expensive lodges often run special offers where you can get an extra night FREE when you pay for 2 or 3 nights, or get a free stay at a 5* hotel when you book a safari.

To find out more, see our Special Offers or ask us to recommend a special offer for your trip.

A very popular safari option in both Tanzania and Kenya is to use a private driver-guide instead of flying into your chosen safari destination.

With a private driver-guide, you literally 'hire' the services of a professional guide for the duration of your safari, together with the exclusive use of a 4x4 or safari minivan vehicle.  Your guide will be your personal safari chauffeur, and all your game drives (and any travelling inbetween) will be done with him rather than with the lodge's own guides. 

Although this may sound expensive at first, the main cost advantage is that not only do you avoid having to pay for return flights per person, you can also book the less expensive Full Board rate offered at most lodges and camps, which only includes your meals and accommodation. 

Especially if you are in a group of 4+, this works out much less expensive overall, as the vehicle cost is shared between you.

Your driver-guide's accommodation is obviously included in the rate, but he will stay in the designated guides accommodation, and you generally do not tend to socialise with him once you are at the lodge.

If you can be flexible on the time of year you travel, then you can take advantage of the low season rates offered by many safari lodges.

These do, however, tend to co-incide with less than favourable weather conditions, so there is a downside - but the wildlife is still about, whether it is raining or not! 

In Zambia, for example, the heavy rains fall between November and April; in Kenya, the heavy rains are between April and June; and in Tanzania, between April and May - so the lodges that remain open over these months will offer very good rates in order to attract clients still to come and experience a safari at a fraction of the normal high season rate cost. 

In South Africa, the low season rates run from the beginning of May until the end of September, but this is NOT when the rainy season is, oddly enough!  Rather, the low season rates in South Africa are linked to when the weather is worse in Cape Town!  In all honesty, these months are actually the best time to go on safari here.  The winter months of May through to September in the safari areas such as Kruger and Madikwe are the dry months, which means the bush is not as green and lush, making for better game viewing, plus the wildlife are more reliant on waterholes and rivers, so finding the game is easier too in that respect.

Botswana is a year round safari destination, with individual safari destinations offering their own unique experiences at different times throughout the year.

The Etosha National Park in Namibia is another year round destination, but the Park is always extremely busy during December and January in particular.