Once you’ve decided when to go on safari and where you should go on safari, it’s time to choose your accommodation. There’s a safari lodge for every preference, so here are the things to consider when selecting an Africa safari camp.

The Ultimate Safari Travel Guide

On my travels to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and beyond, I’ve stayed in treehouses, glamping tents, luxury bungalows, and almost every other type of safari accommodation. So here’s my step-by-step process for finding the safari lodge of your dreams.

Here’s what to consider when choosing an Africa safari camp!

Choose Your Safari Lodge With Care

Your safari accommodation will set the tone for your entire trip. Unlike hotels where you come and go, your lodge will be where you spend most of your time. And in most cases, your safari lodge will also provide the game drives and any other activities you want to do. 

For better or worse, your safari lodge will likely be the only place you interact with on your trip. So before you commit, do your due diligence!

Amenities and Service

Make a list of the amenities you want your safari lodge to have. Do you want WiFi, a shared pool, a private pool, multiple restaurants, adults-only, etc.?

Don’t be afraid to be picky and specific because there’s a lodge that will have everything you want!

In my experience, most safari lodges have stellar service. Every lodge I’ve stayed at made me (and every guest) feel like a VIP. That being said, it’s crucial to read reviews before you book.

Safaris are often a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so you don’t want it spoiled by less-than-stellar service, especially since your lodge staff will also be your game drivers and activity guides.

Always check multiple blogs or review sites before you decide where to stay.

Safari Lodge Aesthetic

My preferred safari lodge aesthetic is vintage, classic safari – an homage to the early safari goers combined with modern-day luxury. But I’ve also stayed in modern safari lodges with all-glass rooms, minimalist glamping tents, and over-the-top bungalows. 

There’s a safari lodge out there for everyone!

Look through photos of a potential safari lodge – make sure you search for images from travelers and not just the professional website photos – to see if you’re drawn to a lodge’s overall “vibe.”

When you’re going through photos, pay special attention to the main lodge. This is where you’ll spend the bulk of your time. At many lodges, there’s no WiFi (and sometimes no power) in individual rooms. So you’ll rely on the communal spaces for a relaxing place to chill out, as well as meals and drinks.

Game Viewing and Activities

Do you want to do more activities than just game drives? Every lodge will have game drives, but if you want to do bush walks, riding safaris, visit local villages, do a river safari, or other activities, you’ll need to confirm that a lodge offers these options.

For many people who go on safari, seeing the “Big Five” – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and cape buffalo – is a priority. You need A LOT of luck to see all of these on one trip, but if this is one of your goals, you need to choose a lodge that clearly states on their website that you could possibly see all five when staying with them.

If a lodge states that you’re guaranteed to see all of the Big Five during your stay, that’s a red flag. No ethical lodge can guarantee you’ll see all five. If a lodge says otherwise, this means the lodge is probably using unethical methods to lure or manipulate wildlife.

My favorite lodges are ones on a riverbank or with on-site watering holes where wildlife is likely to be seen from your room, table, or pool!

Room Types

What kind of room do you want to sleep in? Bush tent, private bungalow, glamping tent, treehouse, open-air, or something else? The sky’s the limit on the types of safari accommodation you can book! 

Many lodges have multiple options on-site where you could sleep in a different type of accommodation every couple of nights without moving to a new safari lodge. This is an excellent option if you stay in one place for more than three nights.

Price is a significant factor in accommodation types. If you’re only staying for a short time, road tripping, or spending most of your time out exploring, a super luxurious accommodation might not be worth it.

But if you’re planning to stay in one place for a while, I’d recommend splurging on a safari lodge with everything you want.

Is a safari lodge you’re considering an ethical accommodation? Safaris are centered around safely and responsibly entering animals’ habitats without adversely affecting the wildlife. 

Sadly, too many companies prioritize profit over environmental welfare. So do your due diligence in researching a safari camp’s policies on interacting with wildlife, their habits, and local populations.

When you go on safari, you see first-hand how important it is to conserve these animals and natural habitats. And an ethical safari lodge will put a significant percentage of your fee towards environmental protection.

A thorough Google search should provide you with a definitive answer to whether a lodge is ethical or not. The World Wildlife Fund is a great place to start your research. You should also carefully read the “About” section of a lodge’s website. If they’re implementing ethical practices, they will state it.

Budget

Safaris are not cheap, and you get what you pay for, so don’t skimp on your lodge. As a general rule of thumb, you should plan on spending a minimum of $1,000 per night per person at an all-inclusive resort. 

You can find cheaper options, but this is a red flag for your experience, the service you’ll receive, and how the lodge treats wildlife and locals.

I recommend opting for all-inclusive options unless you’re road tripping. If you’re staying at a different accommodation every couple of nights and/or hiring a driver or guide, the all-inclusive rate might not be the best choice.

Be wary of overcrowding when considering an all-inclusive accommodation that’s less than $1000 a night. Before you book, establish how many guests a property can accommodate. It’s a good sign when the lodge website states how many people will be on game drives. The last thing you want on a safari is to be packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people on game drives, at the pool, at dinner, and in the common spaces.

If you need to reduce your safari costs, take a shorter trip. A three-day safari at a lodge of your dreams will be a better trip than a week-long safari at an accommodation you have to settle for.

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