There’s a perception that Botswana is ‘expensive’ and that only wealthy safari lovers can afford to come to our amazing country, but that couldn’t be further than the truth. Yes, there are super-luxurious lodges that clock in at thousands of dollars a night but those really are the exception rather than the rule. Because we’re based in Botswana, travel regularly, count lodge operators as our friends and know how to stretch a budget to splurge where necessary and save where possible, we can create Botswana safaris for virtually every budget. This is why we’ve quietly built a travel community who trust us to create a fantastic experience that delivers value for money.

Read on to find accommodation options in every budget band, from ‘I need just the basics’ to ‘I want to holiday in totally luxury’.

What a Botswana safari costs by area and budget

All of the following prices are estimates for a nightly rate, in other words, what you could expect to pay per person when there are two people sharing a room every night on safari. The rates are not fixed in stone and are subject to change but do offer a ‘ballpark budget’ for you to work around. Rates are seasonal (meaning different prices at different times of year) and safari camps and lodges generally include meals, accommodation, some activities and a selection of drinks. Transport or transfers to and from the camp are excluded (these can be by light aircraft or helicopter). To keep it simple, we’ve given just the lowest season price and the highest, but bear in mind that we often have special offers that will override these guideline rates.

It’s also important to understand that you can mix and match levels of luxury. You may want to start off with a simple guest house in the Chobe National Park and work your way up to a two-night splurge in the Okavango Delta before you fly home. Because your safari will be unique, nothing is off-limits.

Let’s dive into the money pit… or, rather, meerkat pit since we use our special meerkat rating to determine comfort levels across budgets.

Rating a safari camp is not like putting stars on a hotel. This goes beyond how comfortable the room is – it’s the service, the guiding and most importantly – the wildlife experience. We’ve used our expert knowledge and taken everything into account with our Meerkat rating:

2 Meerkats         Won’t break the bank
3 Meerkats         A few little extras
4 Meerkats         All the bells and whistles
5 Meerkats         Now we’re talking
6 Meerkats         Fit for royalty

Chobe National Park

2/3 Meerkats = budget / standard

between USD 250 and USD 500 per person and night

4/5 Meerkats = mid-range / superior

between USD 350 and USD 1000 per person and night

5/6 Meerkats = luxury and more

between USD 750 and USD 1700 per person and night

The Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai

2/3 Meerkats = budget / standard

between USD 350 and USD 1000 per person and night

4/5 Meerkats = mid-range / superior

between USD 750 and 2000 per person and night

5/6 Meerkats = luxury and more

between USD 1000 and USD 4000 per person and night

Have you considered camping?

If just looking at the figures above have got your pulse racing (and not in a good way), then don’t overlook camping as really cost-effective way to see Botswana. We don’t mean sending you off in a sagging tent with a shovel and some tent pegs: we mean a fully guided safari in comfortable tents with three meals a day in some of the country’s loveliest areas. Depending on how much of a ‘vacation’ you want, you can choose how much you participate in camp life: the more you help out with simple tasks like pitching your own tent, the cheaper the rate will be.

If a large group of you want to travel to together then you may be able to take over an entire campsite for yourself. Otherwise, your group will include people from all over the world, adding another exciting element to you camping adventure – you could make lifelong friends from just one trip.

The guide will handle all the ‘admin’ of the camping trip like driving, refueling, securing campsites, stocking up with supplies and so on. All you really need to do is look out for wildlife, smell the wild sage in the bush and feel the Botswana sun on your skin…

As you can see, there is no ‘one budget fits all’ for a Botswana safari. Our expertise lie in taking what you can afford and working with it to squeeze as much value and experience as possible out of it. Botswana is our home and safaris are our passion so let us do all the hard work for you! Contact us on info@safarispecialists.net for your perfect safari.