With safari experiences at the top many travellers’ bucket lists, Kim Emmanuel rounds up  ideas to suit every budget.

Low-budget

Lokuthula Lodges

Lokuthula Lodges, in Victoria Falls Safari Lodge resort, offer two- and three- bedroom units, either on a self-catering or bed-and-breakfast basis.

There are currently 14 units, with plans to increase this to 19 by January 2018. “The Lokuthula B&B option is wonderful for families, destination weddings, conferences, as well as school and church groups and sports teams,” said Ross Kennedy, Africa Albida Tourism Chief Executive.

Guests can spend their time exploring the nature trails, sitting in the bird hide, experiencing a guided sitting at the Siduli Hide, and enjoying a vulture culture experience. At Siduli Hide, guests are hidden inside a hide that looks like termite mound, where they may catch sight of elephant, buffalo, kudu, warthogs, crocodiles, and vultures. Charles Brightman guides the two-hour activity at Siduli Hide.

Shindzela Tented Safari Camp

Shindzela Tented Safari Camp is located within the Greater Kruger National Park, Timbavati Private Game Reserve. 

The camp can accommodate up to 16 guests, with each tent comprising two single beds or one queen-size bed, mosquito nets, en-suite bathrooms, and corner stand fan. The tents also have adjustable canvas flaps for windows.

Shindzela faces a small watering hole and is home to over 40 mammal species, including Africa’s Big Five, hyena, jackal, giraffe, hippo, wild dog, zebra, kudu and impala. There are also over 350 bird species recorded in the reserve.

Your Africa suggests that guests seeking a low-budget safari can also self-drive in the Kruger Park and other national reserves, making use of the national parks’ accommodation options. Off-peak season travel and staying in alternative accommodation options could also help to make the safari a more affordable option, says the Your Africa team.

Midrange budget

Bateleur Main Camp

Bateleur Main Camp in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, is ideal for small groups of between two and eight people.

The camp comprises four safari tents with canvas sides, fixed mosquito screens, roll-down flaps and en-suite bathroom. One of the units has an interior bath tub and private outdoor shower, while the remaining three units have only an indoor shower. Guests who wish to experience a shower under the stars are provided with outdoor showers with water from a boiler heated by a wood fire.

Regular visitors to Bateleur Main Camp include nyalas, warthogs and bushbuck, while elephants, buffalo and rhino can sometimes be seen walking through the river bed in front of the camp. Bushwalks and astronomy are some of the activities on offer.

Lalibela Game Reserve

Vernon Wait, Marketing Director of Lalibela Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, says not enough emphasis is placed on the quality of the game viewing when booking a safari. “Lalibela, with its vast areas of natural savannah grassland, is blessed with huge concentrations of plains game and is therefore able to sustain the densest population of free-roaming predators in South Africa.”

Lalibela has three accommodation offerings – Tree Tops Safari Lodge, Lentaba Safari lodge, and Mark’s camp.

Tree Tops Safari Lodge is a tented camp perched on tree top platforms. The tents are joined by raised walkways that offer views over the valley. The lodge is able to accommodate up to 10 people. Each of the five units has an en-suite bathroom and a private veranda.

Lentaba Safari Lodge comprises eight chalets and sleeps up to 16 people. Each unit also has a private observation deck with views of the valley below.

Mark’s Camp comprises eight chalets able to accommodate up to 20 guests. Each chalet has an en-suite bathroom, ceiling fans and a private viewing deck with views over the surrounding bush.

The camp has an abundance of birdlife that can be spotted from the rooms, pool deck, and central lounge area. Mark’s camp has two swimming pools, outdoor dining boma, and an elevated bar area with views over the waterhole.

Guests at the camp are likely to see antelope, giraffe, elephant and predators coming to the waterhole.

High-end

Nik Lloyd-Roberts, Commercial Manager at Federal Airlines, says luxury safari travellers should opt for a fly-in safari. “Chartering an aircraft to take you to some of Southern Africa’s most beautiful locations will not only save on time by flying directly from camp to camp, avoiding commercial airports, but the experience is on another level altogether,” he adds.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

Melton Manor, at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, is a sole-use safari villa ideal for families or groups of friends.

The lodge comprises four en-suite bedrooms set around a central courtyard and swimming pool. Each bedroom has a large veranda and large windows that look out over the Afromontane forests.

Guests at Melton Manor have access to their own private safari vehicle, complete with team of tracker and ranger.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a Big Five reserve that also offers high-end travellers staying at their lodges the option to participate in a Rhino Conservation Safari. Guests assist in the darting, notching and DNA sampling process for conservation purposes, while the experience also provides insight into the differing behavioural patterns of Kwandwe’s Black and White rhino. Once the procedure is completed, guests also have the opportunity to take a short aerial exploration of the reserve by helicopter.

Additional safari activities available at the reserve are interpretive bush walks and big-game walking safaris.

The Outpost and Pel’s Post

Both the Outpost and Pel’s Post are in the northern Kruger National Park.

The Outpost sleeps 24 guests in 12 suites. Pel’s Post is an exclusive-use lodge of the Outpost and is ideal for family groups. Pel’s Post sleeps a maximum of eight guests.

Remote-controlled screens offer 180-degree views over the Luvuvhu River. The Outpost also offers walking safaris, and historic and cultural tours where guests learn more about the area and its people. The area also hosts over 350 species of birds and 80% of the Kruger National Park’s biodiversity.

Pel’s Post also offers personal treatment to guests in the form of a private chef, guide and vehicle. The lodge also has tailored experiences for children.

Ngoma Safari Lodge

Ngoma Safari Lodge is on the edge of Botswana’s Chobe National Park and comprises eight boutique-style suites with panoramic views over the Chobe River and floodplain.

Each suite has its own bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers, a mini bar, tea- and coffee-making facilities. The central area of the lodge houses the lounge, dining room, bar and a plunge pool.

Activities include an all-day safari, which includes a game drive through Chobe National Park, a picnic lunch and a cruise on the Chobe River, where guests might catch sight of elephants’ swimming, trunks up, across it; guided walks; and game drives. Guests will have the opportunity to view elephants, zebra, antelope and other game at the lodge.

Top end

Kings Pool Camp

Kings Pool Camp in Linyanti overlooks the Kings Pool Lagoon in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve.

The camp comprises nine luxurious tents, including one family tent, each with its own veranda, private plunge pool and thatched sala. Each room has an en-suite bathroom and outdoor shower.

A lounge, dining room and bar make up the main area, which is situated on raised decks. There is also a pool and an open-air 'kgotla' (meeting area) for evening dining under the stars.

The area is densely populated with elephants, while other wildlife include wild dog, leopard, and antelope. Wildlife activities include game drives, nature walks, fishing, and birding.

Ivory Lodge

Ivory Lodge in Sabi Sands comprises eight single villas and one double-suite villa. All villas are elevated and overlook the perennial Sabie River.

Each single unit has a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, outdoor shower in an indigenous garden forest, private lounge area with fireplace, a private pool and viewing deck, as well as a covered patio.

Lodge facilities include a lounge, dining and relaxation space, with an expansive wooden deck overlooking the Sabie River, and an Africology luxury spa and gym.

Safaris at Lion Sands Game Reserve are not confined to main roads, where guests can also spend extended periods of time viewing wildlife.