Dec 5, 2024 | Brave Africa Safari, Most Popular Blogs, Safari Tips
Is an African safari worth it? Yes an African safari is worth it 100% of the time, even with how much an African safari costs! If you love animals, if you enjoy unique vacations/holidays, if you want to experience travel unplugged from work, phone calls, and the internet, then a safari is one of the most incredible trips you can take.
But you do not have to take our word for it. Let us break down what it’s like to go on an African safari and then let you decide if a safari is worth it for you.
This blog has been updated with new information in December 2024! [Original blog was published in 2020.]
What Does an African Safari Cost and What Do You Get?
Dollar for dollar, African safaris are one of the most expensive vacations you can take. A luxury African safari can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 USD. It all depends on where you go on safari—South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, etc.—what season you go on safari, and how long you stay there. Also, please note that an African safari cost is usually divided up PER PERSON and per night.
So, is an African safari worth the price, and what do you get for the cost of a safari?
All-Inclusive
Most safaris are all-inclusive. This means that the nightly price for your lodge or camp covers everything: food, safari activities (game drives, mokoro, boating, walking safaris, etc.), and even most alcoholic drinks. The good news is that this means you can more easily budget your safari upfront and know exactly what an African safari costs from the very beginning.
At Brave Africa Safaris, your all-inclusive safari cost includes:
- Lodging
- All meals, snacks, and in-house beverages (including local beers and wines)
- All-day safari activities, including game drives, mokoro, village visits, walking safaris, etc.
- Daily laundry and cleaning services
- Road transfers between locations/camps while with Brave Africa
- $50 or $35 nonprofit donation per guest
Exclusivity
The higher you budget for an African safari, the more exclusive your experience will be. That is because the high cost includes private concessions, campsites, and locations not drowning in tourists. These off-the-beaten-path safaris cost more but also provide far more premium animal encounters. You won’t be in the middle of thousands of tourists, pushing through crowds to see a single lion on the ground. This makes an African safari worth it if you can afford it.
Exclusivity is one of the things that makes a Botswana safari so special. Botswana limits the number of lodges, camps, and tourists that can be in any location at one time. This means that there is serious crowd control, the animals are not used to humans, and there are many times on safari when you are alone. But a Botswana safari is also one of the most expensive safaris you can go on. You pay for exclusivity, but it is worth it. We promise. Botswana is one of the few countries left in southern Africa where a safari harkens back to the early years of adventures in the wilderness. Botswana’s safari tourism model is fewer tourists and better experiences. At Brave Africa Safaris, our vehicles max out at six guests (two per row) and six tents (12 guests total at camp and two safari vehicles).
An African safari should be about you, the animals, and nature. The value of an exclusive African safari experience cannot be overstated. It’s a chance to truly get away from it all: turn off the cell phone, disconnect from WiFi, say goodbye to people, and get in touch with Mother Nature. The key is choosing an African safari experience that focuses on exclusivity.
What Does an African Safari Cost?
Okay, so what does an African safari cost? It will vary wildly between locations.
- Kenya and Tanzania have many more affordable options ($500 – $700 per person per night), but you will face large crowds and less luxurious accommodations.
- South Africa has some of the most luxurious lodges in all of Africa and some of the most budget safari options. You can get a day pass to drive through Kruger Park in your own vehicle for very cheap. Or you can book a lodge in the exclusive Sabi Sands for more than $1000 – $3000 per night per person.
- Botswana is one of the most exclusive countries for a safari and one of the most expensive. Most of Botswana is ultra-luxury, costing upwards of $1500 per person per night. But there are also many incredible mid-range options, such as Brave Africa Safaris, which costs $600 – $900 per person per night.
- Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Nambia are great options, with a range of African safari costs from $500 to $1000 per person per night.
There is also a difference in the price of an African safari depending on the season.
- Green Season is typically December – March and is also “wet” season. You might experience rain during your safari and the dense greenery might make it more difficult to find animals, but prices will be a few hundred dollars cheaper per person and night.
- Shoulder Season is typically April, May, June, and November. This is a great time to visit because the crowds are fewer and the temperatures are more mild. You will also save on your nightly rate.
- High Season is July – October and is the most popular time to go on safari. This is winter in southern Africa, and animals tend to be easy to find as they gather at the few watering holes and cannot hide in greenery.
At Brave Africa Safaris, our cost is broken up by season. And we offer discounts for the more nights you stay with us and the more people in your group. Below is an image of our 2025 Botswana safari rates.
Why is an African Safari Better Than a Zoo?
Beyond price, many guests’ next question about whether an African safari is worth it is related to the experience. You can see wild animals in a zoo, how is an African safari better? What is the experience like, especially when animals are not guaranteed?
African Wildlife on Safari
A safari guest has a close and personal experience with a wild dog. This guest is a very experienced safari-goer and followed all guide instructions. The Matriarch came to her, curious. There was no aggression.
An African safari is an adventure. It is your chance to see animals in their natural habitat. This makes all the difference. Animals on a safari are engaging. They eat, walk, play, fight, chase, run, and interact in a thousand different ways. This means that you can see the same animal every day, and every time, it is new and exciting. Natural animal behavior makes a huge difference.
And then there’s the variety of wildlife. Yes, a zoo has all types of animals, but an African safari is better because the animals are not divided by fences and in human-created habitats. You can sit in your safari vehicle and watch elephants alongside hippos, impala, zebra, and wildebeest. And in the next second, you can find lions or wild dogs.
You never know what type of wildlife you’ll see on your African safari, but every day, every hour, it will be something new. Just make sure you choose an exceptional location for your African safari where wildlife is plentiful. Not all destinations are created equal.
Botswana has almost double the elephants of ANY other country in Africa—over 130,000—along with 163 other species of mammals, including the usual suspects: lions, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, wildebeest, zebra, rhino, etc. The country is also home to more than 550 species of birds, including many rare and endangered species you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. And if you’re worried about going on a family safari with kids? Don’t be.
Nature Retreat
Beyond the wildlife, what makes an African safari worth it are the pristine and stunning landscapes. You will enjoy Mother Nature’s most impressive theater on a breathtaking scale. Explore vast swaths of wilderness where everything is raw, rugged, and stunning. Africa boasts a vibrant ecosystem with everything from dusty red deserts to lush swamplands, sweeping floodplains, expansive savannas, and vibrant forests. You’ll drive through rivers, explore lagoons, have lunch at elephant watering holes, hike rocky outcrops, and more.
Brave Africa’s vehicles can handle almost any terrain, including water.
The landscapes on an African safari will enchant you as much as the wildlife. And the best part is that you will enjoy these gorgeous landscapes without worrying about crowds—if you go to the right safari locations. Regardless of where you choose to go on your African safari, we can almost guarantee you’ll be talking about the beauty of nature for years to come.
5 Tips to Ensure Your African Safari is Worth It!
If you want an African safari to change your life and be “the best trip you’ve ever taken,” not just any safari will do. You must ask the right questions and choose a safari worth the hype and the cost. We recommend giving yourself the largest budget possible, so you can pay for the experience, accommodations, and location that best fits your dreams.
And do your research! Reach out to travel agents who specialize in African safaris. Read all the blogs you can! Ask questions of friends, family, and acquaintances who have gone on safari. If you will pay for the cost of an African safari, make sure you get everything you want!
Here are five tips to consider to ensure your African safari is worth it!
1. Choose the Right Location (Country and Region)
Forget about the name. You might have heard about Kruger and the Serengeti because they are well-known safari locations, but that does not automatically make them the best location for your safari. Lesser-known parks and locations can offer a far better experience with fewer crowds and more wildlife.
After all, animals don’t like to be around people, so popular is not always better. For example, Botswana’s Okavango Delta might be a lesser-known safari location, but the experience is superior to the crowded national parks in South Africa. In Botswana, you’re more likely to have untouched wilderness and wildlife not used to cars. In Botswana, you can also go off-road, experience walking safaris, night drives, water safaris, and so much more.
Do your research about all the different safari areas in Africa, and then choose the destination that best fits your needs and wants. And don’t forget to choose the right time for your safari! Not all seasons offer the same experience.
2. Pick the Best Safari Lodge or Camp for You
Whether or not your African safari is worth it will depend on the camp, lodge, or self-drive experience you choose. Do you have a tight budget that will limit where you stay, or are you willing and able to splurge for some luxury experiences? The bargain safari mindset might not give you the best experience.
An African safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people, so planning to do it right is essential. If you want a picture-perfect African safari that exceeds your expectations, you need to choose a safari lodge or safari camp that fits what you want.
There are a few things to consider.
- What luxury amenities are essential to your happiness? Do you need flushing toilets? Is WiFi a must? Are you willing to sleep on a cot, or do you want mattresses? Are you comfortable in a luxury tent, or do you need a lodge? Do you need daily laundry services?
- What features does your safari vehicle offer? Beyond the camp, you will spend most of your time inside your game drive vehicle. How nice are their vehicles? Are they new? Do they have charging options, refrigeration, windows, open-air, etc.?
- How good are the staff? Unlike a big chain hotel, the staff on an African safari will greatly impact your experience. You’ll interact with the staff regularly, especially the guide and camp manager, so you want to choose a safari camp where the staff receive good reviews and are focused on customer service.
- How important is the food? Not all African safari operators have a permanent chef on staff to create inspired meals that you’ll love.
- Do you want to change operators between locations or stick with the same operator, guide, staff, the entire time? A mobile lodge like Brave Africa Safaris, offers a consistent experience for guests even while changing safari locations. A traditional lodge requires you to pay for transportation—usually via plane—to get to each new destination.
- Is caring for the environment important to you? There are many environmentally friendly operators who use solar power, reduce their plastic use, and give back to conservation efforts.
- What is their game drive experience like? We’ll discuss this more below, just remember the entire point of an African safari is to see the animals and get out on game drives. Don’t focus so much on the luxury of your tent that you neglect the most important element: their focus on wildlife viewing.
3. Ask About the Quality of Your Guides: It Is Essential
Tabona Wina is Brave Africa’s co-founder and head guide with over a decade of experience in the bush.
A safari guide is essential to a great experience. You might think that you can get away with a lower budget by self-driving, but we can guarantee that the money savings will NOT make your African safari worth it! A safari guide is an expert animal tracker, nature enthusiast, encyclopedia, and more! Their knowledge and passion for the African bush will enhance your African safari to be worth it.
Safari guies are responsible for:
- Finding the animals,
- Telling you about what you’re seeing (it’s the difference between watching a National Geographic special with the voiceover or completely silent),
- Getting you to the remote locations,
- Keeping you safe,
- And more.
You’ll spend nine to twelve hours a day with your safari guide. They will be one of your best friends on your trip and will 100% make your African safari worth it. Without a great safari guide, you might as well head to your local zoo and walk around yourself.
Read more about the importance of safari guiding here.
4. Focus on Game Drives: That’s What You’ve Paid Big Money For!
The ENTIRE point of going on an African safari is to go on game drives. Only when you’re in the safari vehicle and driving away from camp in search of animals are you experiencing the value of your safari! People often forget that the purpose of a safari is to offer the BEST wildlife experiences and not just luxury camping.
For example, when the Points Guy went on his safari in Tanzania, he ended up VERY disappointed because while he paid top dollar for a luxury camp, the game drives failed to deliver. This ruined his entire trip and made his African safari not worth it.
Creature comforts are only one piece of your safari. You won’t be happy if you unknowingly compromise your African safari experience by asking for WiFi and forgetting about game drives. On most traditional safaris, game drives happen in the morning and evening for three to four hours each. We created Brave Africa Safaris to maximize game drive time and opportunities. We can do all-day game drives if you want, which means, from sunrise until sunset, you are out on safari to see the animals.
The key is to ask where your money is going. Do you want your money going toward exclusive pools and alcohol or spending time with the animals?
5. Spend Enough Time on Your African Safari
Plan enough time for your African safari if you want it to be worth it. The travel and cost might be too high if you can only spend three to four days on safari. While even a day is amazing on safari, the extended time out in the bush makes the biggest difference.
Since every single day and hour is unique on an African safari, the more time you have to explore and see what the wildlife has to offer, the better. Three days is barely enough time to taste what an African safari is truly like. Instead, we recommend planning at least seven days and six nights on safari. This will give you enough time to truly immerse yourself in Mother Nature.
Remember, National Geographic documentaries are filmed over months. Their photographers spend weeks at a time in the bush to get that once-in-a-lifetime shot. You can’t expect to go out in a few days and see it all. Check out our Magic of The Okavango Safari for 9 nights if you want to maximize your experience.
Final Thoughts: Is an African Safari Worth It?
At the end of the day, whether or not an African safari is worth it is up to you! Only you can decide if the experience is something you will enjoy. Just do your research before you plan your trip. Since an African safari can be expensive, you do not want to make the wrong decisions and regret it.
Reach out to us or an experienced travel agent to get all your questions answered. The only way an African safari is not worth it is if you book the wrong trip for your expectations.
Sep 27, 2024 | Brave Africa Safari
Every day on safari is unique. You’ll have new experiences and see things from a new perspective every single time you’re out in the Botswana wilderness. Even when you remain at the same camp for a few days, no safari drive will be the same and your daily safari schedule will always change. From sweeping savannahs to lush marshlands, dense forests, and arid plains, there’s always new scenery, not to mention new animals by the thousands.
No matter which Brave Africa safari package you choose—9 Nights, 6 Nights, or 3 Nights—you’ll enjoy the same experience.
What Does a Day on Safari Look Like?
There are no guarantees on a safari except to say that we’ll do our best to ensure you get the MOST time possible out on game drives and with the animals. To make this happen, you can expect some long adventurous days on safari, but believe us—they are completely worth it.
Here’s what you can expect from morning until night every day on safari, and though your experience may vary, we’ll try to stick as close to this daily safari schedule as possible.
5:30 AM – Early Wakeup & Light Breakfast
A day on safari starts early. Just before sunrise, around 5:30 am, expect your wakeup call. Our staff will stop by your tent to make sure you’re up for the day, normally calling out “Good Morning!” just outside your tent.
We recommend laying out your clothes the night before—with plenty of layers for the cold mornings—so you can get ready quickly.
Once you’re ready, you’ll head to the dining area where our staff will have a light breakfast waiting for you. There will be coffee, tea, juice, muffins, cereal, oatmeal over the fire, and cookies to tide you over. But eat fast…the animals are waiting.
6:00 AM – Start Your Game Drive
Our all-day game drive safaris are exactly what they sound like—an all-day experience. You’ll be out on the game drive from 6:00 am until 7:00 pm with a few short breaks for snacks, drinks, and lunch out in the bush. This is different from a traditional safari where you are only out on a game drive from 6 – 9 am and from 4 – 7 pm, and it means you get the most out of your African safari experience.
We try to start out either slightly before the first light or right after sunrise for your game drive. These cool morning hours are some of the best chances to spot wildlife while they’re active. Big cats and other predators love these early hours for some last-minute hunting or finishing off their kill from the night before.
Morning is also a great time for elephants, antelope, buffalo, giraffes, and more to start grazing and moving to water holes to quench their thirst. Wild dogs also tend to be most active at this time before the heat of the day makes it too exhausting to hunt.
Your guide will drive you around in this gorgeous early morning light (some of the best lighting for pictures) and give you a chance to see as much as you can see. The dawn offers excellent conditions for wildlife viewing, including birding.
9:00 AM – Morning Snack
Depending on how your safari drive is going and how everyone in your car is feeling and what you have decided your daily safari schedule will be, you’ll stop for a short break in the bush for additional coffee, tea, juice, and snacks. If you’re seeing/experiencing something spectacular, there’s no schedule, and brunch can be completely skipped or eaten later.
This is just a tentative break out in the bush before you’re ready to get back to it and continue your great day on safari until lunch.
12:00 PM – Lunch in the Bush
At Brave Africa, we believe in setting your daily safari schedule. You can stay out on your safari drive all day long or you can head back to camp for lunch and a siesta. It is entirely up to you!
Instead of being back at camp for a nap, wondering what’s happening out in the bush, we can keep driving through lunch. This allows us to range far from camp, giving you more opportunities to see something spectacular in the Botswana wilderness. It also means you get to choose when and where you eat lunch.
Your guide will find a nice shady spot with nearby animals to enjoy your lunch. Our staff will have a cold lunch and all the fixings ready to go. With a table and chairs along, you’ll quickly set up for a delicious lunch in the bush. Lunch is a full meal and includes alcoholic drinks and enough food that you’ll feel completely stuffed. Spend as long as you want enjoying the great food and even better company before packing up and heading back out on your game drive.
Or you can head back to camp in the afternoon and spend a few hours resting, relaxing, napping, and eating a casual lunch. It is entirely up to you and your dream day on safari.
2:00 PM – Afternoon Game Drive Continued
After lunch, you’re back out on your game drive. As the afternoon carries on, you’ll notice animals start to become more active again as the weather cools down. During these hours, you’ll continue to explore the wilds to see as much as you can see.
Your guide is an expert tracker and will follow footprints, listen to animal calls, and watch animal behavior to discover hidden gems you could never find on your own. He’ll take you to the best locations and follow the call of the wild, so you have the best chance possible to make a remarkable sighting that you’ll be talking about for years.
6:00 PM – Sundowner
A favorite safari tradition is the afternoon “sundowner.” During this short break, your guide will find a great view of the setting sun and a scenic outlook where you can sit for a little while to enjoy some snacks and drinks before you finish your game drive and close out your day on safari to head back to camp.
7:00 PM – Arrive at Camp
You’ll arrive back at camp right around sundown and have the chance to wash off the dust of the day and get ready for dinner. If we’re driving around a private concession or conservancy, you may be able to stay out after dark and use a spotlight to look for nocturnal animals, but most often, you’re pretty exhausted by this point and we head back to camp for dinner.
7:30 PM – Dinner
You might not think you’ll be hungry after such a filling lunch and so many snack breaks, but you’ll probably be more than ready to enjoy dinner near the fire pit. Our dinners are a multi-course affair accompanied by your drink of choice. We try to make meals that pay homage to local and continental cuisine, and our chef will meet any dietary restrictions you might have.
9:00 PM – Bed Time
After dinner, you’re welcome to sit around the fire and gaze at the star-speckled beauty of the night sky while you reminisce on your day’s experiences, but you’ll probably be exhausted and ready to retire to your tent for a hot bucket shower and a good night’s rest. After all, the sooner you head to bed, the more quickly the next day arrives and you get to go out on another day on safari!
Traditional Daily Safari Schedule
There may be days when your car decides not to go out on an all-day adventure, maybe you’re tired and want a little more time at camp. If that’s the case, your safari schedule will look more like the traditional safari. Instead of an all-day game drive from 6:00 am until 7:00 pm, our traditional safari will take you back to camp for a hot lunch and time to rest.
- 5:30 AM: Wakeup call and light breakfast
- 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Morning game drive
- 9:15 AM: Relaxation at camp
- 12:00 PM: Hot lunch at camp
- 1:30 PM: More relaxing at camp
- 3:00 PM: Afternoon tea and prep for evening game drive
- 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Afternoon game drive with sundowner
- 7:30 PM: Dinner
- 9:00 PM: Bedtime
The Day You Arrive on Safari
What about the day you arrive? How does your day on safari work when you don’t arrive until the afternoon?
Everyone’s daily safari schedule will be slightly different depending on when your plane lands at the dirt airstrip near your camp. This schedule is not up to us and is set up by your bush flight—they work to accommodate guests at all camps and locations. You’ll typically arrive sometime after lunch and our guide will be at the airstrip to pick you up. We’ll throw your bags in the safari vehicle and immediately head out on an afternoon game drive.
If you’ve been traveling for days to get to Botswana, we know you want to jump right in, so we won’t delay. We’ll try to spend as much time as possible out in the bush before heading back to camp for dinner. Remember to check out our Getting Here page for insight on traveling to and from Brave Africa.
The Day You Leave Safari
We’ll know your schedule for flying out the day before you leave and we’ll talk with you about your plans that night. Most often, flights are scheduled out in the early afternoon. This means that you’ll have plenty of time in the morning for a final game drive.
Keeping the same early schedule, we’ll bring your bags along with us as we head out on our final great adventure safari together. You’ll have one last opportunity to experience the best that Botswana has to offer before we drive you to the nearest airstrip in time for your bush flight. Don’t worry; our guide has a radio that can be contacted in case anything changes with your flight plans. We won’t let you miss your flight or force you to sit at the airstrip when your plane is delayed. Our goal is to ensure your Brave Africa experience is top-notch until we say goodbye.
Jun 20, 2024 | Brave Africa Safari, Safari Tips
“I’m so worried! I’ve seen the videos online. Is a Botswana safari safe and what happens if things go wrong?” We know you are concerned about Botswana safari safety and that you want to have a magical trip with no worries. So, what do you need to know?
We have discussed “Is an African Safari Safe?” on our blog before, but we thought we would touch on the topic again and bring up a few more things. There are many ways we keep you safe on safari, and there are many ways to keep yourself safe. So, let’s talk about it!
And YES your kids are safe and welcome, too!
Safari Animal Safety
Are you going to be eaten by a lion? Is an elephant going to run over your vehicle? Is a leopard going to run through camp and enter your tent? You are in the wild, so everything is possible. Right?
“I have seen safari videos online. It is dangerous! How can you protect safari guests from animals attacking? Are animal attacks common on safari?”
The short answer is, “Animals are not dangerous on safari if you follow the rules and act smartly.” Those videos exist because they get millions of views and, thus, a lot of money. They are viral videos because dangerous situations on safari are so rare, and as such, they are newsworthy.
If you have a reputable guide and stay at a reputable lodge, you should not worry about animals when it comes to Botswana safari safety. Here’s why.
Safari Guides and Safety
No guide would ever put a guest in danger! In fact, guides undergo years and years of training to ensure guest safety at every moment. And yes, this means guest safety even when interacting with animals.
- Animal Behavior: Reputable and experienced safari guides have spent years studying animal behavior to know how and when to interact with the many animals you will encounter on safari. Your guide will be able to tell you when an animal is stressed, when they need space, when it is safe to approach, how close to approach, and everything in between.
- Situational Awareness: Nature can always be unpredictable; that is why safari guides are also trained to never put themselves or their guests in a situation where there is no easy escape. It is one of the first rules of Botswana safari safety. This means that your guide will not drive your vehicle into an area where they could not easily get you to safety if the situation calls for it. Your safety is always their first priority.
- Safety Over Photography: We know that guests go on safari to get incredible photos and videos that will last a lifetime. But your guide will never prioritize your pictures over your health and safety or the health and safety of the animal. So, sometimes you might have to sacrifice the “perfect picture” for a safe experience.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more insight!
Safari Camp Safety
What about at camp? “I have seen your canvas tents. How is that safe? Animals could break into your tent or come through camp at any time!”
We love it when animals visit camp, and so do our guests. That is part of what makes a mobile safari camp so attractive: the chance to sleep and interact with animals where they live. And who doesn’t want to wake up to elephants drinking at the nearby river?
The key to remaining safe at your safari camp is listening to your guide, following the camp rules, and using common sense. Another key to Botswana safari safety is always remembering that we are visiting the animals’ home, so you must respect it!
Camp Rules
To ensure your safety at camp, there are a few critical rules you will need to follow.
- Never walk anywhere at night without a guide! When the sun sets at camp, you cannot walk anywhere you want. Night is the most dangerous time, and so you will be walked around camp and to and from your tent by someone on staff. This is for your safety and the safety of our staff.
- Never leave your tent at night! Once you enter your tent at night, stay inside. There is never an excuse to leave your tent at night. Yes, you will hear a lot of noises outside, but the animals will never bother your tent. You are safe inside. Do not go outside to look. Listen, enjoy the experience, and then ask your guide in the morning what happened. All sorts of animals come by camp at night, and they have night vision while you do not.
- Do not approach any animals without permission. If animals come into the camp, do not approach them unless you are with your safari guide and they give permission and show you how to approach safely and appropriately. In most cases, we do not want to interact with the wildlife directly for everyone’s safety and comfort.
Plan your safari experience with Brave Africa today!
Safari Vehicle Safety
One concern we often encounter when it comes to Botswana safari safety are our open safari vehicles. Unlike in Kenya and Tanzania, most Botswana safari vehicles are open to the environment with no doors or windows, and it can seem unsafe if you have never been on a safari before.
“Can animals jump into the car and eat us on safari? What happens if an animal charges us? What about the vehicle getting stuck in the African bush?”
The first thing to know about your safari vehicle safety is that the vehicle has been specifically designed for an amazing safari experience. Our vehicles are entirely customized to ensure your safety and comfort on safari. We talk all about them in this blog. For now, let’s focus on safety.
Safari Car Safe Practices
There are many ways we practice Botswana safari safety during game drives in our open-air vehicles. Here is what you need to know.
- Listen to your guide. The first key to safari vehicle safety is to listen to your guide. They will tell you how to be safe near the animals inside the vehicle. This means:
- Never leave the car unless your guide gives the okay.
- Talk in low voices when near animals that may not react well to more animated chatter.
- Stay seated during animal sightings unless your guide gives you permission to move around.
- Keep your hands, arms, legs, feet, and heads inside the safari vehicle, especially around animals.
- Never reach out to touch the animals.
- Prepare for off-road driving. Safari guides are exceptional drivers. They have to be. Their roads are dirt tracks, marshlands, waterways, tall brush, narrow paths, and so much more. The good news is this means that you can go where the animals are and see things you could never see outside the bush. But don’t expect an always smooth ride because we cannot promise that.
- Trust in the community. When you go on safari with a reputable company and guide, you are never alone on safari. The entire community will come together to help if there is ever a need. For example, on a recent safari, another camp’s vehicle got stuck in deep water. Within an hour, 10-12 different safari vehicles and guides stopped to help rescue the vehicle and guests. Vehicle breakdowns, flat tires, and other mishaps can happen, but there is always help available. That’s why your guide has a radio connected to the entire community and camp—just in case.
Safari Safety: Injuries, Sickness, and More…
Lastly, you might be worried about being in the bush if something happens: you get sick, someone in your group gets injured, you have an allergic reaction, etc. If you need a doctor or a hospital, being away from civilization can seem terrifying. That’s why a key element of Botswana safari safety is our plan for first aid.
We do not leave your health or safety up to chance. We have various plans and contingencies in place to take care of you in case the worst should happen.
- Okavango Air Rescue: If a worst-case scenario should occur and you need emergency help, we would go with Okavango Air Rescue to get you to the hospital as quickly as possible. They have a medically equipped helicopter and emergency doctor who we can call to evacuate you from the bush immediately.
- First Aid Treatment: If you have a smaller injury that doesn’t require a doctor, we have multiple first aid kits around camp and in our vehicles that are available. These kits contain everything you would need for basic first aid.
- Non-Emergency Aid: If you become sick or injured in such a way that you are unable to finish your safari, but it is not an emergency needing immediate attention, we will work with the local bush flight companies to get you back to Maun or Kasane and a local doctor. Depending on your situation, we also might be able to drive you back into town.
We Take Your Botswana Safari Safety Seriously!
The key thing to note when it comes to your safety on safari is that your safety is our number one goal. It is even more important than getting the perfect picture or seeing all the wildlife. We know you will not have a good time if you feel unsafe or you get hurt.
If you have any questions or concerns about Botswana safari safety, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]. We promise an African safari is worth it. You will not regret a moment!
Jan 25, 2024 | Botswana News, Brave Africa Safari, Most Popular Blogs
One of the things that makes a Botswana safari so unique is the Okavango Delta. Known as “the river that never meets the sea,” the Delta is an incredible, ever-changing floodplain that you have to experience to believe. It is different every season and a surprise from year to year, making every Botswana safari a unique experience.
So, let’s talk about the Okavango Delta for your 2024 Botswana safari.
- How the flood works.
- What you can expect.
- The best time to visit.
- Why floodplains make the best safari experience.
All About the Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is an extensive inland delta system located in north-western Botswana. It is one of the world’s most pristine and untransformed wetland systems. As a uniquely adaptable ecosystem, you’ll find a remarkable habitat with incredible species diversity and ecological resilience.
Approximately 600,000 hectares (6000 KM) and up to 1.2 million hectares (12,000 KM) of seasonally flooded areas. The Unesco World Heritage Convention designates 2.28 million hectares to the Delta in total area. So, suffice it to say, it’s massive.
Known as an endorheic delta, the Okavango has no sea outlet. Instead, its waters drain into the Kalahari Basin and its desert sands. As a result, the dry Kalahari Desert habitat is home to a nutrient-rich and sustainable ecosystem. This miraculous area is beautiful and home to a diverse range of species.
Thanks to the amazing ebb-and-flow of the Okavango Delta’s water system, there is no limit to the spectacular wildlife displays you can see on your 2024 Botswana safari. There’s a chance for everything from large herds of African elephants, buffalo, zebra, and red lechwe to hyena clans, lion prides, and wild dog packs.
The Delta’s habitat includes:
- 1061 species of plants
- 89 fish
- 64 reptiles
- 482 species of birds (including 24 globally threatened birds)
- 130 species of mammals (including the world’s largest population of elephants)
Seasonal Rains in Angola & the Annual Flood Tide.
Every year, the Okavango Delta relies on the rainy season in Angola (October – April) for its flood waters. Even though Angola is not a border-sharing country, it is the origin of all the rivers that supply the delta with water. So, when the summer rains hit Angola, the water fills the Cubango and Cuito rivers. From there, the water travels into Namibia, becoming the Kavango River. Finally, the waters reach Botswana and begin the seasonal flood of the Okavango Delta.
Now, as you can imagine, this is a long process. So, while the summer and spring seasons bring rains to Angola, the winter and fall seasons bring the annual flood tide to Botswana—peaking in June and July. Ironically, during the peak of Botswana’s dry season, you’ll find the most vibrant wetland. The Parid landscape transforms from sand, dry, and brown depressions into extensive waterways, flood plains, and swamps with crystal clear waters.
Throughout the year, the Okavango Delta continuously transfers its geography in a complex interplay of climatic and biological processes. Islands, channels, river banks, flood plains, and lagoons come and go based on the rains and flood waters.
What Can You Expect on a 2024 Safari in the Delta
The Okavango Delta has been dealing with drought for the last few years. Water levels have been low, and the floods haven’t been as spectacular as usual. This is for a variety of reasons, including poor rainfall in Angola. To learn more about this complex ecosystem, we highly recommend the National Geographic documentary,
Into the Okavango. It is an interesting and educational film all about the flood waters.
So, what about your 2024 Botswana safari? How are the floods looking?
Things were very dry in the early season (October – November 2023). And there were a lot of fears that this season would be another drought. But El Niño came to the rescue…6 weeks late. Over the past month (December to January), Angola has received abnormally heavy rains—almost twice the level of rain as last year. In fact, it is some of the most rain we’ve seen in 4 years. Even Maun, Botswana (a town just outside of the Delta) has seen 80mm of rain in January so far.
What does this mean for a safari in the Delta? As those rains make their way down the rivers and into the Delta, we’ll see groundwater rise across the region. This should make for some truly beautiful scenery and happy wetlands for the wildlife. We’re truly excited to see what the season brings!
The Best Time To Go On Your 2024 Botswana Safari
So, when should you schedule your 2024 Botswana safari for the best experience with the most abundant animal activity? You want to arrive after the floods arrive, and the Delta comes to life with great migrations of predators and prey. This generally occurs from July until October, which ironically correlates with Botswana’s dry season. There may be little rain, but there’s lots of groundwater.
Going on safari during this time means that animals are crowded into a smaller number of outer-lying dry areas, which creates some incredible wildlife opportunities. When you have a large number of animals forced to share what little land is available (and nowhere to hide), it is the perfect recipe for game-viewing. Plus, with so much nutrient-rich water available, animals migrate hundreds (if not thousands) of kilometers to enjoy the plentiful food and drink.
This does not mean that you shouldn’t visit Botswana any other time. During the green and shoulder seasons (Nov – June), you’ll find vibrant colors, baby animals (it’s a birthing season), and fewer crowds with lower prices. During this time, you’ll not only save money on safari but also have fantastic wildlife opportunities.
Unique Activities to Enjoy the Okavango Delta
During the flood season, when water levels are high, there are a number of different ways to enjoy the Delta. At a “dry” camp, you’ll take game drives and/or walking safaris around the flood waters and enjoy seeing a hugely diverse population of animals.
You can also participate in a water safari, an entirely unique and incredible way to experience the Delta.
Mokoro Safari (Canoe Safari)
A traditional mokoro safari is an enchanting and fascinating way to explore the beauty of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. You’ll journey through reed-lined channels in a dug-out canoe, propelled with poles and guided by local experts.
As you glide in relative silence through the peaceful waters, you’ll enjoy the sounds of nature, from the croak of the smallest frog to the grunts of hippos, bird songs, and watery footsteps. And from the water, everything becomes larger and grander. Trees will tower overhead, elephants will appear as gentle giants, and the landscape will seem to last forever.
Boating Safari
Another type of water activity is the boating safari, which takes place on a motorized boat. This is a classic way to see as much as possible from the water. You’ll explore the vast waterways of the Okavango Delta by going where vehicles can’t.
We offer boating safaris only in Moremi Game Reserve, and they are subject to water levels, weather, and availability. Contact [email protected] to ask about boating during your 2024 Botswana safari!
Plan Your 2024 Botswana Safari
Are you ready to plan your 2024 Botswana safari? There’s no better time than now! We still have availability throughout the year with discounts for larger groups and the more nights you stay with us.
So, the time is now if you have always dreamed of going on safari and seeing the Okavango Delta. The 2024 Botswana safari season is shaping up to be an incredible one. Email us at [email protected] to learn more!
Dec 29, 2023 | Adventure Safari, Brave Africa Safari, Most Popular Blogs
As the year draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to share some of the best Botswana safari holiday experiences in 2023! It was a truly incredible year, and the entire Brave Africa team would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each one of you. This year has been wonderful, and it’s largely because of your support and enthusiasm for the adventures we offer in beautiful Botswana.
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2023’s Best of Botswana Safari Holiday
Here are a few highlights from 2023 that we wanted to share with you! Let us know your favorites in the comments. Then, email us at
[email protected] or
contact us on our website to plan your 2024 safari adventure!
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Walking with Buffalo in Khwai
One of our favorite Botswana safari holiday memories happened in July, when a family of five FINALLY joined us on safari after postponing since 2020. They came for their daughter’s birthday, and on one very special day, they walked for three hours in the middle of a huge herd of buffalo. It was incredibly magical and an experience to remember forever!
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Elephants Visit Camp
A shout-out to every single time elephants joined us at camp, so our guests could enjoy the herd just outside of their tent. It’s always a memorable Botswana safari holiday experience. And we always try to choose our campsites specifically to have the BEST chance of animals at camp.
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Traditional Bread-Making in the Bush
We loved making fresh-baked bread in the bush with some of our younger guests. It’s a great activity if you want a break from going out on game drives or if you just want to experience something different and unique.
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Up Close Time with Lions
We always love getting to spend alone time with the wildlife. This year, in particular, we had a lot of close-up experiences with lions. In this instance, we enjoyed a lioness and her sister with a still-suckling cub! These types of encounters happen all the time while on safari, but they are always memorable.
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Safari Activities for Children: Archery
Kids have the best time at Brave Africa! Not only do they get to enjoy our regular safari experiences, but we also have special kids-only programming for extra fun. On one of our favorite family trips this year, our two young guests participated in an archery competition with each other, and had an absolute blast! It’s just one of our fabulous safari activities for children.
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Rare Cheetah Sighting!
Cheetahs are a rare sight! They usually travel alone and are very skittish. But on this day, a cheetah gave our Brave Africa guests an awesome sighting by hanging around and marking a tree right in front of them. It was a dream come true for our guests and our team. These sightings and so many more are what make a truly unforgettable Botswana safari holiday!
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Hyena Cackle Experience
Watching scavangers do what scavangers do! This hyena clan ( or cackle) enjoyed their meal right in front of our vehicle. And one adventurous hyena even decided to check us out to see if we had anything more to offer. We did not. But we always appreciate a close-up!
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Lion Pride Enjoying a Kill
It is a rare but special opportunity to watch a large pride of lions eating a fresh kill. But on this special Botswana safari holiday during the summer, our guests got to experience it. Our amazing guide, Wina, discovered a recently hunted buffalo with an entire pride of lions still feasting on their prey (cubs included). And our guests got to sit there for hours and just enjoy the spectacle.
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Every Sundowner!
Sundowners are, without a doubt, one of our favorite times on safari. We take a break from looking for wildlife to just sit and soak in the beauty of Botswana. Our guide finds an incredibly beautiful spot in the bush. Then, we get out the drinks and snacks, and everyone enjoys the breathtaking Botswana sunset. There are few views better.
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Lion Roar
There are hundreds more Botswana safari holiday experiences we could share with you, but we’ll end with one of our favorite sounds in the bush: the lion’s roar.
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Enjoy Our 2023 Best of Botswana Safari Holiday Reel
Each Botswana safari holiday in 2023 has been a unique journey, filled with
unforgettable experiences. We hope your time with us has left you with cherished memories and stories to tell for years to come. Your trust in us is not something we take for granted, and we look forward to welcoming many of you back in the future.
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Thank you once again for choosing Brave Africa for your Botswana adventure. Here’s to many more journeys together!
Nov 9, 2023 | Adventure Safari, Brave Africa Safari, Most Popular Blogs
Has someone told you, “You just have to go on an African wildlife safari!”? But you were not sure what they meant. Don’t worry! You are not alone.
While an African wildlife safari is a bucket list vacation for many people, it can also be intimidating and confusing. We get so many questions about going on a safari—what it is, how it works, where to go, etc.—that we wanted to create a blog series to help you out.
Over the next few blogs, we’re going to deep dive into everything you need to know about African wildlife safaris. For this first blog, we are starting with “What is an African Wildlife Safari?”
So, let’s go!
What is an African Wildlife Safari?
In the simplest terms, an African Wildlife Safari is a sightseeing trip to observe animals in the wild (bush). These are NOT hunting safaris. No animals are harmed during a wildlife safari. Instead, you go out in a 4×4 vehicle and search for animals in the vastness of the African wilderness—off-road and/or on designated paths.
The word “safari” is actually a Swahili word that means “journey or trip.” This is why, when we discuss going on safari, we don’t talk about an end goal. It’s about spending time exploring the bush and everything it has to offer. It is about the journey, and experiencing everything you can—and not the destination.
Wildlife Safari Guides
An African wildlife safari can be professionally guided or self-guided. Though we HIGHLY recommend a guide. A safari guide is a professionally trained individual who:
- has a passion for wildlife,
- has studied animal behavior and tracking,
- has a deep knowledge of the bush,
- and is ultimately responsible for your incredible (and safe) experience.
An unguided safari is more like driving through a national park in other areas of the world and hoping you see something, anything. You rent a 4×4 and drive on the paths and roads, crossing your fingers that wildlife will be nearby and easy to spot. There is no guide to help you track, and you will NOT be in an open-air vehicle for your own safety.
But a wildlife safari guide offers even more than the ability to find more animals. They are also living encyclopedias. We dare you to try and stump your guide with a question. If they have been guiding for a few years, there are few questions they have not answered and few facts about the animals, landscape, plants, and stars that they have not learned.
What Are the Different Types of Wildlife Safaris?
Now that you know what an African wildlife safari is, let’s talk about the different types of safari experiences you can expect. It may seem a lot more complicated than a trip to the city or theme park, but it doesn’t have to be.
There are three main types of safaris, each at a different price point and with a unique experience: Self-Drive Safaris, Mobile Camping Safaris, and Lodge Safaris.
Self-Drive Safaris
This is the most basic type of safari and the most affordable (kind of). You rent a car, buy tickets to a national park, and drive yourself and your family around the park searching for animals.
The simplest version of a self-drive safari is a day trip to a park such as Kruger National Park in South Africa. In this case, you would purchase a park ticket for one day and drive along the roads within the public portion of the park and see what animals you can see. You CANNOT drive off-road in this case, and you will be in the portion of Kruger that is open to all tourists (this means it is BUSY).
A more complicated type of self-drive safari is a multi-day camping safari. For this type of self-drive safari, you would rent a 4×4 vehicle and pay for a campsite within a national park such as the Khwai Community Concession. You would set up your campsite, and then every day of your trip, drive out in your vehicle along the paths to see what wildlife you can discover. You would need to be proficient at both camping and driving off-road.
The key thing to remember about self-drive safaris is that you are 100% on your own. You do not have a professional guide who knows the area or the animals. You have to be completely self-sufficient. Oftentimes, this results in vehicles getting stuck and needing to be rescued or poor animal sightings because you can’t track them.
Mobile Camping Safaris
The next type of safari is a mobile camping safari. This is what we are at Brave Africa. Basically, you work with a safari company to go on a guided safari. The company provides the tents, vehicles, food, and professional guides to make your experience as incredible as possible.
The difference between a mobile camping safari and a lodge is that a mobile safari takes place in mobile tents that can move between locations. This means you can sign up for one safari package, and the company will move you between locations on your safari without you having to book different lodges in different locations and pay for travel between each site. Think of it like paying for a tour versus paying for separate hotels.
However, it is important to note that there are different levels of mobile camping safaris.
- Basic: The basic level includes very small camping tents without attached baths or toilets, and that you may need to set up and tear down yourself. You should also expect simple meals (sandwiches or basic fare cooked over a fire), and very few other accommodations. You mostly pay for the professional guide and the safari vehicle to take you around. This is a no-frills type of camping safari.
- Premier: A comfortable but modest mobile camping safari experience, which includes larger tents that are put up and taken down by the safari company. But the tents still tend to be basic along with the meals. You should expect drop toilets, potentially communal shower areas, cots instead of mattresses, and basic meals. This is a good option for people who are okay with roughing it.
- Luxury: At the highest level, you’ll find mobile camping safaris like Brave Africa. We are a full-service African wildlife safari offering outstanding amenities, ambiance, service, and experiences. We offer large 3-room tents, luxurious mattresses, flushing toilets, private showers, superb chef-cooked meals, a fully-stocked bar, and all the amenities. We take care of everything just like if you were staying at a lodge. You’ll have a professional guide, daily housekeeping, laundry services, chef-prepared meals, and so much more.
For a mobile camping safari, you typically book a longer multi-day trip with a company that will allow you to go on safari in a few different locations. For example, we offer both 6-night and 9-night mobile camping safaris where you spend 3 nights at each campsite before moving to another location. Think of it like booking a safari tour, and all you have to do is show up and we do the rest.
Here are some tips for planning your ultimate mobile camping safari experience.
Lodge Safaris
The final type of safari is the lodge safari. This experience is most similar to booking an all-inclusive hotel. You find a lodge in a location where you would like to stay, and you book your room in the lodge for however long you want to stay.
If you want to visit multiple locations in the African bush, you need to book a room at different lodges and figure out transportation between each location (bush flight, helicopter, road transfer). For most locations in southern and eastern Africa, moving between lodges means paying for a bush flight. This is because camp locations are normally an all-day drive away through the bush. So, you’ll normally hop on a bush flight and get picked up at your next lodge. This is the main difference between a luxury mobile camping safari and a lodge safari—as a camping safari includes transfers between camps.
But lodges provide the ULTIMATE luxury. Depending on how much money you are willing to spend, you can stay in the most elegant and opulent lodge imaginable, with private pools in each room, the highest-end liquors, and the full range of world-class comforts and delights. There are also lower-end lodges that use very similar tents to Brave Africa and have a very similar experience, but you will still pay more for the lodge because their expenses are slightly higher, and you’ll require more bush flights.
Plan Your African Wildlife Safari Today
An African wildlife safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you do not want to miss. It is transformative and life-enriching. You will talk about it for years to come!
And, if you are like most guests, your first safari will not be your last. You’ll discover how incredible it is to sleep under the stars, hear a lion’s powerful roar, witness colorful birds in flight, and make memories that fill you with wonder and excitement. You will not only want to come back, but you will want to share the experience with everyone you meet.
So, if you are ready to take the plunge and plan your Botswana safari, reach out to Brave Africa today. You can email us at [email protected] or submit a contact form on our website.
