An all-inclusive luxury safari usually covers accommodation, meals, most drinks, game activities and laundry. Park fees, flights, premium drinks, spa treatments and tips vary. Here is a checklist to compare quotes.
On a luxury safari, a common guideline is US$10 to US$20 per guest per day for your guide, US$5 to US$15 per guest per day for the camp staff tip box, and US$5 to US$20 for trackers. Here is how and when to tip.
Tanzania offers bigger parks, the full migration cycle and the Ngorongoro Crater. Kenya offers the Masai Mara’s private conservancies, shorter flights and easy access from Nairobi. Here is how to choose for your first luxury safari.
Tanzania offers the Great Migration, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, with a wider range of luxury lodges. Botswana offers the Okavango Delta, water safaris and exceptional exclusivity. Here is how to choose.
A luxury safari costs two to four times more than a mid-range one. The difference buys location, privacy, guiding and flexibility more than thread counts. Here is where the extra money goes and when it is worth it.
School holidays match Tanzania’s safari seasons well: summer brings the Mara River crossings, Christmas brings calving in the south, and Easter falls in the quieter, greener season. Here is how to plan each.
A multi-generational safari works best with private vehicles, exclusive-use villas or family suites, fewer moves, and an itinerary that suits both grandparents and grandchildren. Here is how to plan one.
Exclusive-use safari villas give families their own house, guide, vehicle and chef. Here are some of the best in Tanzania and South Africa, what they cost, and when they are better value than suites.
Malaria-free reserves in South Africa, such as Madikwe and the Eastern Cape, are ideal for young children. Tanzania, Kenya and Botswana are malarial but manageable with the right precautions. Here is how to choose.
The best age for a first family safari is about 6 to 12, when children are old enough for game drives and young enough to be amazed. Here is what works at each age and the common lodge age rules.
