About & methodology

SafariCostCalculator is an independent budget tool for planning African safaris. It is not a tour operator and does not sell safaris.

Why this exists

Safari prices are hard to compare: park fees are set by different authorities, lodges quote per person or per room, and package prices bundle everything. We break a trip into transparent components so you can see where the money goes before you ask operators for quotes.

How an estimate is built

1. Park & conservation fees – non-resident adult and child fees from the park authority’s tariff for the month chosen (e.g. Maasai Mara USD 100/200 by month; KWS parks; TANAPA + 18% VAT; UWA categories). Primate permits are added only if you choose them, and each includes that day’s entry.
2. Lodging – a low–high range per person per night (sharing), by tier and by peak/off-peak month, taken from named sample properties (listed on the Data page). Children pay 50–75% of the adult rate; a solo traveller pays +50%.
3. Vehicle & driver-guide – either a private 4x4 (priced per vehicle per day, up to 6 guests) or a shared seat.
4. Flights – rough economy-return ranges by origin, always marked estimate and excluded if you untick them.
5. Tips & extras – published tipping guidance and an extras budget you choose (our assumption).

The calculation uses day count rules: nights = days − 1; park fee days = days − 1 (arrival/departure transfer day excluded); concession/camping fees apply to nights inside parks (nights − 1, minimum 1). Each side of the range (low and high) uses a different plausible park mix, shown next to each result.

Verified, sourced, estimate

Data status: Verified read in the official tariff of the body that sets the price · Sourced published by a lodge, operator or reseller (or a mirror of an official tariff) · Estimate our own assumption or an unconfirmed figure. Every figure has a source URL and last-verified date on the Data page.

What is not included

• Operator margin and booking fees – real packages often cost more than the sum of public prices.
• Domestic/bush flights, visas, travel insurance, vaccinations, airport taxes.
• Drinks, optional activities (balloons, night drives), conservancy fees outside the sampled parks.
• Ngorongoro Crater, Akagera, Nyungwe and other parks not yet in the dataset.

Prices change

Park tariffs are revised at set dates (for example, the Maasai Mara fee changes on 1 July and UWA publishes changes from 1 January 2027), and lodges re-price every season. Treat every number here as an estimate and confirm with the park authority and your operator before you book.

How we make money

See the affiliate & lead disclosure. In short: we may be paid when you request quotes or book through a partner, and that never changes the numbers shown.

Corrections

Spotted an outdated or wrong number? Please tell us (contact address to be added before launch) and quote the line on the Data page.