Botswana’s high-cost, low-impact tourism offering ensures an exclusive and unique experience for guests but is the destination overpriced?

While Botswana is viewed as pricier than its neighbours in Southern Africa, the country is hailed for its successful ecotourism and the exclusive and unique safari experiences.

Chobe Marina Lodge’s Malcolm Robinson and Nicky Dance, GM at Sense of Africa, point out that while Botswana is expensive this is based on high-cost, low-impact tourism in some exclusive areas, lodges and concessions. Dance emphasises that Botswana offers high-quality products and smaller more intimate lodges.

Yvette De Vries, President of the US-based Association for Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA), says Botswana is considerably more expensive than its neighbours, particularly when a favourable exchange rate prevails in South Africa. Botswana is also pricier than Zimbabwe. Says De Vries: “Zimbabwe offers comparable quality game-viewing to Botswana (and sometimes even better guiding) at substantially lower cost.”

Another factor pushing up Botswana’s pricing is the cost of flying, as many of the camps are accessed by air, explains De Vries and Gill Maskell, GM of Africa 2000 Tours. However, De Vries points out that Botswana is not the only safari destination where high flying costs and private charters come into play. “In part, as a result of the cost of flights between parks and Livingstone or Lusaka, the cost of a safari in Zambia in peak season is about on a par with Botswana,” she says.

Maskell says as a result of Botswana’s pricing, she has found her bookings have moved from being primarily in the high season to more in the shoulder season because of the difference in price. “I am ending up with a year that is flat out from January through to June and then things start to tail off in July through to October.” She adds that she is also having to look for cheaper camps for her clients. “I’m battling to sell high season because of the price.”

Edurne Martinez of African Pride says Botswana is an expensive and exclusive destination but argues that there is a wide price range. “From self-drivers to the most luxurious lodges in the Okavango Delta, there is a big variety of prices and options,” she says, adding that there is always good quality. Robinson adds that Botswana can compare favourably in terms of price in certain parts, such as Kasane.