Safari planning guide: when to go, what it costs and how to choose

Facts last checked October 27, 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. Rules, fees and advisories change; confirm with the official source before you book. Not a government website.

A safari is one of the more complicated trips you can plan: several countries, small planes, park permits, vaccines and a big budget. This guide walks through the decisions in order. For country-specific entry rules, see the guides to Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Botswana, and our general Africa travel tips.

Step 1: Choose a country

Each of the four main safari countries offers something different. This comparison is a starting point, not a ranking.

Combining countries is common: Kenya with Tanzania, or South Africa with Botswana and Victoria Falls. Check yellow fever certificate rules if your route crosses borders, and allow for visa costs at each stop.

Step 2: Choose a season

Wildlife viewing changes with rain, not just the calendar.

• Serengeti (Tanzania): Tanzania National Parks says the dry season from June to October is best for watching the great migration, and January and February are calving season, when wildebeest give birth in the southern Serengeti. The park is open year-round.
• Maasai Mara (Kenya): the Mara's peak season is reflected in its fees: Narok County charges non-residents twice as much from July to December as from January to June, when the migration herds are typically in the Mara in the second half of the year.
• Kruger (South Africa): the dry winter months (roughly May to September) generally make animals easier to see, as vegetation thins and wildlife gathers at water. Summer is hotter and greener, with more rain.
• Okavango Delta (Botswana): the delta's floodwaters arrive from Angola months after the rains, so the flood typically peaks during the dry season in the middle of the year, which is also the busiest and most expensive period at camps. Confirm conditions for your dates with your operator.

Shoulder and rainy seasons can mean lower lodge prices and fewer vehicles, but some camps close, and roads can become impassable.

Step 3: Understand park fees

Park and conservation fees are set by the park authority and are often a large part of the cost. Ask any operator whether their quote includes them, and for how many days.

Because fees for parks like the Serengeti are charged per 24 hours, an itinerary that leaves a park and re-enters can trigger extra fees.

Step 4: Choose a style and an operator

Styles:

• Lodge or tented camp safaris with daily game drives led by a guide. The most common choice for first-timers.
• Fly-in safaris link remote camps by light aircraft. Common in Botswana and for longer distances in Kenya and Tanzania.
• Self-drive safaris, most practical in South Africa's Kruger National Park, which has a network of roads and rest camps.
• Walking safaris and balloon flights are specialist activities, offered in some areas. Check that your insurance covers them.

Vetting an operator:

• Ask about licensing and insurance. The State Department notes that the Kenya Wildlife Service requires tour operators and safari lodges to carry nationally mandated insurance, and suggests asking whether operators comply and checking guides' qualifications and safety record. For Botswana, it notes that the tourism industry is unevenly regulated and safety inspections are inconsistent.
• Get a written itinerary that lists each night's accommodation, park fees, transfers, meals and what is excluded.
• Ask how many people share a vehicle and whether you will have a window seat.
• Ask about emergency procedures: how the camp would contact help and get you to a hospital.
• Pay securely, ideally by credit card, and be wary of operators who want large wire transfers to personal accounts.

Step 5: Safety in the bush

• Follow your guide's instructions. Stay in the vehicle on game drives unless the guide says otherwise.
• Unfenced camps are common. Do not walk alone at night; camps often provide an escort to your tent after dark.
• Keep your distance. Never approach, feed or call to animals.
• Do not support animal interactions such as cub petting or walking with captive predators.
• Sun and dehydration catch out many visitors. Bring a hat and drink water through the day.
• Malaria: many safari areas are malaria zones. Take the medication your doctor prescribes and use repellent.

Step 6: Pack for the bush

• Soft-sided bags are often required on light aircraft, which typically enforce strict weight limits. Ask your operator for exact limits.
• Neutral-colored clothing (khaki, green, brown) is standard. Layers matter: early-morning drives can be cold even in hot countries.
• Binoculars for everyone in your group, and a camera with a zoom lens if photography matters to you.
• Insect repellent, sunscreen, a headlamp and any medicines in your carry-on.
• Power adapters and a battery pack; some camps charge devices only at set times.

Step 7: Paperwork and money

• Passport: check validity and blank pages for every country on your route, including transit points (see the checklist below).
• Visas and eTAs: apply only through official sites.
• Tipping: customary for guides, trackers and camp staff in all four countries. Ask your operator for local guidelines.
• Cash: bring some U.S. dollars in newer bills and small denominations.