Is Going On An African Safari Totally Overrated? I Went On One To Find Out

In the week leading up to my trip, my Instagram feed was flooded with videos of travelers on game vehicles traversing the vast African bush, capturing herds of zebras running in unison and lions lounging in prides. I must admit, as my flight drew closer, my anticipation grew. I knew that soon, I too would be immersed in the naturescape of South Africa on my safari vacation.

But no amount of anticipation or living vicariously through Instagram reels could have prepared me for the breathlessness that comes when you’re just feet away from a mighty lion, watching its careful, deliberate movements as it stalks a herd of gazelles. To be so close to the kings and queens of Africa, protected only by an open-air game vehicle and a seasoned guide with a rifle, sun-weathered from countless days in the South African bush.

Nothing can prepare you for the heightened sense of awareness, where every rustle of the tall grass demands your attention, and your eyes scan the vast landscape, attuned to the slightest movement. It’s a feeling of primal humanity, a connection to nature that comes from fully immersing yourself in one of the remotest and most biodiverse places on Earth. It’s an experience that can transform the most casual vacationer into a wannabe expeditioner.

In many ways, your first safari experience will change you. It’s a realignment with your primal humanity – what it means to be just feet from danger, to be enveloped in beauty. It’s addictive, and despite its reputation as overrated or an experience reserved only for the wealthy, it can be an attainable experience.

My safari experience wasn’t something I had initially planned. Like many, I thought of it as an adventure that was simply too expensive. Living on the western coast of South Africa in Cape Town, I felt far removed from the rugged bush in the East. But when I discovered that children and students in South Africa go on safaris for educational field trips, I became obsessed with making a safari happen.

Finding Your Safari Experience

When I first began researching safari options, the results were disheartening. Luxury lodges are priced at over $1,000 a night, plus an additional $200 or more per game drive. This was way out of my budget, as I had set aside just $1,000 for the whole experience. I started searching for alternatives with phrases like “camps near Kruger National Park, game drive included, RND, .za.” RND is the currency in South Africa, and .za is the country’s domain extension. This search strategy led me to lodges and camps catered to South Africans rather than Western tourists, increasing my chances of finding something more affordable.

After much research, I finally found Honeyguide Camps, and it turned out to be everything I wanted. Located on a private reserve near a national park, it offered a more intimate experience with fewer crowds. Private reserves allow for extended game drives, including the chance to stay out past dusk when many animals are most active. The camp included both morning and evening game drives, avoiding the extra charges that some safaris tack on. Plus, this reserve was home to the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo – along with other incredible wildlife like cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and giant eagles. Most importantly, it was affordable. It was everything I had hoped for.

When planning your safari vacation, it's essential to define what you want to experience. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What type of animals do you want to see?

• What kind of landscape do you prefer?

• Are you looking to stay in one location, or do you want to explore multiple terrains?

• Are you comfortable with other tourists and game vehicles around you?

• What is the cost of getting to your chosen location?

Do you envision vast grasslands where you can watch herds of zebras running together in Kenya? Or perhaps a river safari where you navigate channels by boat, getting up close with hippos and crocodiles in Botswana? Maybe you’d prefer driving through the bush and camping under a sky filled with stars in South Africa?

Being clear about what you want will greatly assist your online search for the right place and camp. Keep in mind that unless you're willing to spend a significant amount of money, you'll need to invest time in thorough research.

Planning Your Safari

Once you’ve found your camp and safari, the next step is figuring out how to get there before you make any bookings. Travel costs are often the most expensive part of the journey, and reaching your destination may involve multiple flights and long car or boat rides. You're venturing into areas far removed from what we consider normal infrastructure. For me, traveling from within Africa didn’t make much difference in cost, surprisingly, even though my flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg was certainly shorter than it would have been from the United States.

From Johannesburg, getting to my camp in Manyeleti near Kruger National Park, which is on the border of Mozambique, involved either a six-hour drive or another two-hour flight followed by an hour-and-a-half drive into the park. You’ll need a special private transfer with a driver who knows the area well. While renting a car is an option, I met some people who did it, and honestly, it’s likely that anyone driving on these reserves will incur damage costs to the rental vehicle. I chose to hire a driver because I was stopping at the safari on my way back to the U.S. after living in South Africa, so I had a lot of luggage. In hindsight, I should have gone on the safari while I still had my apartment in South Africa to avoid carrying so much.

When flying out, remember to pack lightly. You’ll likely be on a small plane with a weight limit of around 30 pounds, which isn’t much. Pack minimal, lightweight, earth-toned clothing. Most camps offer laundry services, so packing light is feasible – three to four outfits should suffice. It’s wise to include a windbreaker or fleece, as night game drives can get chilly. Avoid patterns and bright colors; animals tend to shy away from bright colors, and patterns might attract bugs. Stick to neutral tones.

Also, think about how much you care about crowds. Some popular spots, like Kruger National Park in South Africa or the Maasai Mara in Kenya during the migration, can get crowded. In my opinion, this detracts from the experience of enjoying the natural landscape and observing animals. With 20 other game vehicles around, it can feel more like a glorified zoo than a true safari. Consider finding a private reserve close to the big parks, which is what I did. There are fewer vehicles, and it feels like it’s just you and the animals, creating a much more intimate and authentic experience.

Cost Breakdown

This is a rough price breakdown of what you can expect to pay for a 2024/2025 safari, including flights from the U.S. It will be around $3,500, which is not cheap, but it’s comparable to a European vacation or a Hawaiian holiday.

• Flights and car transfers: $2,000

• Three nights and four days of lodging, meals, and game drives: $1,000

• Two nights of lodging in a transfer city: $300

• Medication for a safari (malaria and yellow fever): $200

So, is going on an African safari totally overrated or unattainable for us everyday folks? The answer is a resounding no. There is simply nothing like listening to the soft hum of the South African bush as the melon sun slowly dips behind the tall grasses while you watch the most majestic lioness stalk a group of gazelle. The slow and calculated movement of her massive and beautiful body is memorizing. This memory replays in my mind wherever I need a reminder of nature's serenity and the world’s profound beauty. Even as I write about it now, I find myself longing to return to that place where cell phones don't work and you're surrounded by the most incredible wildlife. 

If anything, I wish I had spent more time on safari. I was there for a total of four days and went on six game drives that allowed me to see almost the entire reserve and nearly all the animals I wanted, thanks to our amazing guide Dan. I don’t think I would have spent more days at the specific location I was in, but rather, move to a different part of the park altogether. Four days was plenty of time at one camp, but while I was already in South Africa, it would have been wonderful to move to a different camp and have two or three more days just immersed in the wildest landscape I’ve ever been in. 

With that in mind, I will simply dream of the next time I can wake up among the tall grasses where giraffes run in serene South Africa.