Plan a safari budget and compare quotes
Ask each quote to cover the same trip before comparing totals. Separate the local itinerary from international travel and personal spending, then check stays, transport, activities and cancellation terms.
Separate three parts of your budget
Local holiday: accommodation, transport, guiding, meals, park visits and activities between arrival and departure. The written quote determines what is included.
International travel: consider flights, connections and any extra airport stay separately. Our inquiry form asks for a per-person local holiday budget in US dollars, excluding international flights.
Personal spending and flexibility: list insurance, travel-document costs, drinks, shopping and excluded activities. Choose your own buffer rather than relying on a universal percentage.
Use the same brief for every quote
Dates and group: the same dates, adult and child numbers, and the same basis for children's ages.
Days and nights: identify arrival and departure dates and whether airport and transfer days are included.
Transport: compare private or shared vehicles, group size, road or regional flights and baggage arrangements.
Stays: match each property, location, room, occupancy and any substitution conditions.
Meals, park visits and activities: identify included meals, water, park charges and activities, and all supplements.
Services and terms: check transfers, guide language, taxes, payment schedule, cancellation and amendments.
When totals differ, ask what changed
Ask operators to mark differences against one route: property location, room, vehicle arrangement or included activities may have changed. A lower total with missing essentials is not a like-for-like saving.
If you have no firm budget yet, share your available time and two priorities. Ask about trade-offs between pace and accommodation. Operators confirm current prices for your dates.
Four useful questions for an operator
Which property and room is quoted each night, and how will a substitute be agreed if unavailable?
Which necessary expenses between airport pickup and drop-off are excluded?
Which activities are optional, and which services are still awaiting confirmation?
What happens to payment, amendments and cancellation if dates or group size change?