The Prices of Wildlife Tours to South Africa
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For those who long to witness the beauty of animals in their natural surroundings, wildlife tours around South Africa offer an unparalleled way to connect with nature. Picture yourself walking among stunning landscapes, spotting magnificent creatures, and leaving the logistics to the experts. These tours are thoughtfully designed with experienced guides and detailed itineraries to make your experience as magical as it is effortless.
In this guide, we'll dive into the costs and prices of wildlife tours, highlight some of the best options through South Africa, and share insights into destinations where you'll find nature's most incredible spectacles. We've done the research, looking at pricing, tour quality, destinations, and amenities to help you discover the top value experiences. Whether you're after a once-in-a-lifetime luxury adventure or a more affordable exploration, we've found tours to suit every traveler. So, get your binoculars ready – an unforgettable wildlife journey in South Africa is just around the corner!
Why does South Africa appeal to wildlife enthusiasts?
South Africa is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, offering unparalleled opportunities to observe animals in their natural habitats. South Africa's diverse landscapes support a rich variety of wildlife, making it an ideal destination for those seeking up-close encounters with nature.
How much do wildlife tours to South Africa cost?
The average price per day for wildlife tours in South Africa is $282, based on our analysis of 189 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $91 to $1,720 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $146 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $471 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
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The Best Tours in South Africa
Budget-Friendly Tours
Budget-friendly and affordable wildlife tours in South Africa average $146 per day, with daily prices from $91 to $179. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out 5-Day Group Garden Route & Addo Adventure Tour (one-way) here.
Mid-Range Tours
For typical wildlife tours in South Africa that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $227 per day. Daily prices range from $181 to $284. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is South African Odyssey 15 Days/14 Nights (Comfort).
Luxury Tours
Luxury wildlife tours in South Africa average around $227 per day, with daily costs ranging from $287 to $1,720. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is South Africa: From the Cape to Kruger.
Which tour companies offer wildlife tours?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer wildlife tours in South Africa. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Australia, Thailand, Tanzania, and Italy. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as camping, wine tasting, snorkelling, kayaking, cooking classes, island hopping, white water rafting, surfing, horse riding, whale watching, and bird watching.
See All Tours from Intrepid Travel
Acacia Adventure Holidays
Acacia Adventure Holidays offers local overland truck tours through South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, and others. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 3 days to 8 weeks. Their expertise is in organizing fantastic overland truck adventures to exciting destinations. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. Wildlife viewing tours are their specialty, so you'll know that you're signing up for a fun experience. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as camping, wine tasting, and whale watching.
See All Tours from Acacia Adventure Holidays
Amatungulu Tour
Amatungulu Tour is a smaller tour company that offers tours to 4 countries, including South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. There are opportunities to customize some tours to specifically meet your needs. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. Wildlife viewing tours are their specialty, so you'll know that you're signing up for a fun experience.
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journaway
Journaway is a large multi-national travel company which offers safaris to destinations around the world. Many of their safaris visit Asia and Europe. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia. Traveling with journaway provides for a very personal experience, because most of their safaris have less than 2 people. This company's safari offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers. Travelers usually enjoy the tour activities such as camping, island hopping, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, whale watching, water sports, cooking classes, white water rafting, wind surfing, and jetskiing.
Wildlife Destinations in South Africa
Wondering where wildlife tours visit in South Africa? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
A few of the most popular places visited by tours in South Africa include Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, and Tsitsikamma National Park.
Wildlife Tours vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
Trying to determine whether to book a guided tour or manage your own travel itinerary? Consider the advantages and trade-offs of both approaches.
Organized Tours
Pros- Many guided tours include local wildlife experts, so you can learn about the regional ecosystems.
- Guided tours often know the best spots where your chances of seeing rare animals may increase.
- Groups have more eyes, so someone is more likely to spot that elusive species that might be hiding.
- Some guided tours offer specialized off-road vehicles that can give you access to areas you might not otherwise see.
- Groups might be loud, which can scare of the animals.
- Guided tours usually have set itineraries, so there's less flexibility, making your chance of seeing some animals less.
- Some natural areas are difficult to access with larger vehicles, so you may be limited in where you can go.
Independent Travel
Pros- Local wildlife may be scared off by larger, louder groups.
- Independent travelers can move at their own pace and wildlife spotting often requires a lot of patience.
- Many group tours avoid the longest and most strenuous hikes, but these often offer the best chances of seeing local widlife.
- Off-the-beaten-path destinations often have the best wildlife, but these are sometimes skipped over with group tours.
- It can be difficult to know where to see the best local wildlife.
- For wildlife viewing, many independent travelers end up booking day tours.
- Local wildlife is usually concentrated in natural areas, which can be difficult to access if you're relying on public transportation or even your own vehicle.
- Some wildlife parks have additional entrance fees which may be discounted through a guided tour.
Which is cheaper?
Is traveling independently less expensive than taking guided wildlife tours? The answer isn't straightforward. Guided tours often include services like hotels, transportation, meals, entry tickets, guides, and activities, all of which you would need to arrange and pay for individually if traveling on your own. To determine the cost difference, you'd need to compare the total cost of the tour package with the cost of booking everything separately. You may prefer a less expensive hotel or splurge on dining, so the cost of a tour could either save you money or cost you more. Be sure to review what's included in the tour package before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Africa, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in South Africa, The Best Historical Tours in South Africa, The Best 10-Day Tours in South Africa, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in South Africa, The Best 3-Day Tours in South Africa, The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, The Best 3-Week Tours in South Africa, The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in South Africa, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in South Africa, The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, The Best Coach Bus Tours in South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best Cultural Tours in South Africa, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in South Africa, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in South Africa, The Tours for Animal Lovers in South Africa, The Best Photography Tours in South Africa, The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa, The Best Self Drive Tours in South Africa, The Best Safaris in South Africa, The Best Budget Safaris in South Africa, The Best Tours Under $1000 in South Africa, The Best Luxury Tours to South Africa, The Best Budget Tours to South Africa, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Africa, The Best Contiki Tours to South Africa, or The Best G Adventures Tours to South Africa for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.
Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Johannesburg, The Best 3-Day Tours from Cape Town, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Johannesburg, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Pretoria, The Best 10-Day Tours from Cape Town, The Best 10-Day Tours from Johannesburg, The Best 2-Week Tours from Johannesburg, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Pretoria for more package tour options.
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