How I saved money booking a safari… as a solo traveler.
Going on safari in the Serengeti was a lifelong dream although it never felt like a tangible goal. I think it seemed so exotic, so far away, so difficult to plan, and, of course, expensive that I didn’t think I could make that dream a reality. After I had other international travel experiences under my belt, I decided, a bit on a whim, that I was going to fulfill that dream and go see the Serengeti.
After some initial research I began to rethink if my safari dream would be possible. It was going to be too expensive! But I can be rather determined when I make up my mind to do something so I kept researching. I then discovered, through word of mouth, a local company with an online presence that made it easy to book and without the overhead of a western team managing the booking. It was interesting to learn that the western owned companies contract with the same pool of local guides. The overall cost was much less and more money was pumped into the local economy.
The company I chose was extremely attentive to detail, very organized, and highly focused on customer service. The company’s owner provided valuable advice on travel logistics and helped me arrange ground transportation and accommodation as well. He was even able to arrange an afternoon farm tour when I arrived to town earlier than expected. As of the time of this writing, the company has 132 total reviews on trip advisor and 129 of them are 5 stars.
One of the big draws of this company was their willingness to group solo travelers together. This was an added cost savings as I didn’t have to pay for a private tour and I was able to split the tips with the other travelers. And, lucky for me, there were only 3 of us in a vehicle designed for 6! The icing on the cake was that one of those other passengers has become a wonderful friend with whom I have now traveled on 3 different continents.
While going on a safari isn’t exactly budget travel, there are ways to make your safari dream a reality for much less that what you may find upon an initial research.
If you want more information on my experience, I’m happy to share! Let me know in the comments or contact me by email!
Photos taken in Serengeti National Park, Ngorogoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire National Park.
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