Botswana Safari Cost: Complete Pricing Guide

A safari in Botswana is generally more costly than in many other African countries, but in return you get a premium experience. Botswana has a low-impact, high-value tourism model that specifically limits visitor numbers. It’s strongly conservation-focused: fewer visitors mean less pressure on the environment.

Fewer visitors also mean greater exclusivity and a higher-quality, more intimate experience. The higher cost of a safari supports higher operational costs for remote, high-end lodges and allows significant investment in protecting the pristine environment. Which translates to phenomenal wildlife in remote landscapes, all couched in luxury.

Botswana Safari Cost Overview

Planning a safari in Botswana involves several cost considerations, including the choice of destination, type of accommodation, travel season, and trip duration.

Prices, whether you have built a bespoke itinerary or book safari packages, are also influenced by park fees, accommodation, activities, popularity, accessibility, and internal transfers. Travelling during the low season can reduce costs by up to 50%.

Remote areas and seasonal flooding, not to mention huge distances, mean that fly-in safaris are common in Botswana. This affects the cost of safari package prices significantly.

What’s Included

Our safari pricing includes all local flights, transport, and transfers, but excludes international flights. ‘All-inclusive’ means all meals, local or selected alcoholic drinks, and activities (some activities will be extra) are included in the total cost. It often includes snacks, and sometimes even park fees. All-inclusive is the most comprehensive coverage and minimises extra expenses.

Travel and Transfers

International flights are not included in our Botswana safari package prices. They do include domestic transfers between lodges and parks, including inter-camp flights for fly-in destinations.

Road transfers may cost around $100 to $400 per trip, while charter flights between camps can range from $300 to over $700 per person, per leg, costs which do affect the cost of your package.

Average Price Ranges

• Mid-range safaris: start at $700 per person per day during low season.
• Luxury safari: can go up to $3,000 per person per day in high season.

At first glance, an all-inclusive luxury lodge may appear more expensive, but amenities are often sublime. Think private plunge pools, gourmet cuisine, spacious decks, and incredible locations.

Peak vs. Off-Season Rates

Travelling during peak season is always going to be more expensive. In low season, accommodation costs are lower and you get a more intimate, exclusive experience away from the crowds. Shoulder seasons offer mid-range pricing.

• Peak season (July to October): demand is high and wildlife viewing is at its best, driving your Botswana safari cost higher.
• Low season (January to March): you can expect cost reductions of as much as 50%, with fewer tourists.
• Shoulder season (April to June, November to December): the sweet middle-of-the-road spot with mid-range pricing, good wildlife viewing and not too many visitors.

All prices are per person, per night, sharing.

Prices are based on an average of lodge prices within the applicable category and are just an indication of pricing.

Last updated: 13 October 2025

Cost Factors That Affect Pricing

Group Size

It’s worth noting that groups of six or more can benefit from negotiated room rates on your safari package prices. Solo travellers, though, are often billed higher per-person costs.

Accommodation Level

Where you choose to stay has a significant impact on the overall cost of your African safari. The luxurious lodges and camps Botswana is known for, as well as the conservation, community, and reserve fees for private concessions, all drive prices. There are three accommodation levels: affordable, mid-range, and luxury. Defining features are levels of luxury, and dedication to responsible and sustainable practices to benefit wildlife and local communities.

Duration of Safari

It’s understandable that longer stays cost more, but they let you take it slower, become more immersed, and explore deeper. You come away with a different perspective than if you’re rushed.

Activities Included and Excluded

In building our safari itineraries and packages, we only work with lodges and camps that include game drives in your stay, so you aren’t faced with unexpected costs.

Other activities may carry extra fees, but we tailor your safari package according to any other activities and excursions you’re keen to try. These can include:

• Hot air ballooning
• Helicopter safaris
• Walking safaris
• Night drives
• Fishing and boat safaris
• Cultural visits

You may also arrange a private vehicle and guide at an extra cost.

Private Conservancies

Generally, stays at private, more remote conservancies come at higher price tags. Safaris that involve flying into remote luxury lodges and camps situated within the private concessions and core areas of the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve are often the most expensive.

Tipping and Gratuities

Tipping is customary – but it’s not expected. Consider it a thanks for a great safari or excellent service. A rule of thumb guide:

• Guides and trackers: $10 to $20 per day, per service
• Drivers: $5 to $15 per day, per driver, but this may vary based on the length of the transfer
• Lodge staff: About $20 per guest, per day, often via a communal tip box
• Specialty services: for extras, such as hot air balloon rides or private excursions, consider a tip of $20 to $50 per person

Park Fees

You will pay entry fees for national parks and private concessions, but they should be included in your budgeting. Many lodges add them to your stay costs.

In Botswana, the government sets conservation, community, and reserve fees that visitors must pay. Many private concessions have a partnership model with local communities and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. They charge conservation levies or community fees, but the amounts can vary quite a lot between concessions.

Fees are typically included in lodge or safari operator rates, and are used to help fund local community development and conservation work.

2025 national park fees, in Botswana pula, are:

All fees are per person, per day.

Last updated: 30 September 2025

Some Itineraries

Our Chobe, Makgadikgadi, Okavango and Moremi Safari is a nine-day epic. Costing $5,795 to $9,365 per person for the safari package, it includes transfers and internal flights, meals and local brand drinks, and lodge game activities. It excludes international flights, visas, travel insurance, and gratuities.

For this, you spend two nights at Chobe Game Lodge, with its outstanding wildlife seen from land or water; then take a light aircraft flight into the Okavango Delta for two nights at Camp Okavango, with its mokoro rides.

Another scheduled flight takes you to Moremi Game Reserve, where you stay at Camp Xakanaxa on the banks of the Khwai River. Finally, another flight takes you to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, where you stay at Leroo La Tau.

The lodge is built on cliffs, giving unsurpassed views of the river and the Makgadikgadi Pans to the east. Day and night game drives and boat safaris (depending on the season) are included in your experience. Your last flight takes you to Maun Airport for your onward journey.

Our Value for Money Botswana Safari is five days of bliss. Costing $2,890 to $3,750 per person, it includes transfers and internal flights, meals and local brand drinks, and lodge game activities. It excludes international flights, visas, travel insurance, and gratuities.

Your first two nights are spent at Elephant Valley Lodge in Kasane Forest Reserve, with game drives in Chobe National Park and boat safaris on the Chobe River. Wildlife moves freely from Chobe to the Zimbabwean national parks, stopping at the lodge’s waterhole along the way.

From Kasana, a charter flight takes you to Kadizora Camp, where you can go on game drives, game walks and mokoros. Between April and September, you can book a hot air balloon safari over the Okavango Delta at an extra cost.

Your week ends with a charter flight back to Maun.

Our Botswana Mobile Camping Safari is a seven-day immersion in the wild. Costing $2,965 to $4,930 per person, it includes transport transfers, meals, and local brand drinks, excluding spirits, and lodge game activities. It excludes international flights, visas, travel insurance, and gratuities.

Three nights are spent in the Moremi Game Reserve, and three in Mababe Private Reserve, by the Khwai River.

Your trip begins with a light aircraft flight from Maun into the Xakanaxa area of the Okavango Delta, where Letaka Tented Camp has already been set up for you. It’s your home for the next three nights.

Travelling by vehicle and mokoro, your next stop is the Mababe Private Reserve where you camp on the banks of the Khwai. Night drives are part of the experience at Mababe.

Your trip ends with a charter flight to Maun.

Ready for Your Botswana Safari?

Botswana safari package prices are more costly than many other African safari destinations, but they offer luxury, exclusivity, and an intimate experience. With fly-ins, they are less rushed and you have more time to explore.

Browse our safari tours or let us help you craft a journey that speaks just to you.

Note: Prices are approximate and can vary based on specific choices and market conditions.