Best offers for last minute safari travel
A safari is different from a ski holiday or a fly and flop on the beach in that, traditonally, there’s been no discounting in a last minute scramble to fill beds.
The best safari camps are small, typically accommodating fewer than 20 people, with some having only three tents. Many camps fill early, with some of the more popular properties – yes, I’m looking at you Giraffe Manor – chock full up to 18 months ahead.
However, there are still some blank spaces and, like every good business, safari camps would rather fill these. A couple of our favourite companies have given us some brilliant offers to pass onto you if you can book and travel with just a few weeks to go.
Zambia – Travel within eight weeks and get 50% off one partner’s costs
The remote wilderness areas of Zambia present an unparalleled opportunity to experience Africa in all its vastness and a safari here gives a taste of the real Africa and a feel for genuine adventure and exploration.
Elephants spotted on a wildlife drive from Kakuli Camp
An example of the camps included:
Chongwe River Camp
Mchenja Camp
Kakuli Camp
How it might work:
All our safari holidays are bespoke, planned around your dates and wishes, but we’ve outlined an example itinerary below:
Day 1
Fly overnight to Johannesburg
Day 2
Fly onward to Lusaka and then take a light aircraft to the Lower Zambezi National Park
Spend three nights at Chongwe River Camp, a fabulous spot with panoramic river views and abundant local wildlife. An impressive array of safari activities will allow the ultimate exploration of this magnificent African paradise.
The mess tent at Chongwe River Camp – a perfect spot to watch the world go by
Day 5
Fly further north to South Luangwa by light aircraft
Three nights at Mchenja Camp where luxury meets adventure in the heart of this wonderful national park. Home to an award -winning guiding team, large herds of elephant and regular sightings of lion and leopard.
Luxurious accommodation, in prime wildlife country, at Mchenja Camp
Day 8
Fly by light aircraft to Lusaka and on to Johannesburg
Fly overnight to the UK
Cost: (indicative only)
Jul-Oct – Normal price £13,460 (per couple), Last minute £11,245 (per couple)
Apr-Jun & Nov – Normal price £11,440 (per couple), Last minute £9,730 (per couple)
Price includes: International and internal flights, accommodation, meals, drinks, safari activities
Botswana – Travel within four weeks and price drops by almost half at luxury camps
Botswana is without doubt one of Africa’s finest safari destinations. At the heart of it’s safari areas is the Okavango Delta, where Africa’s third-largest river fans across desert sands in a myriad of shimmering waterways and lagoons, giving birth to a green oasis half the size of Switzerland. Our wonderful special offer combines a few nights in the Delta with three more in a private reserve to the far north of the country full of both predators and prey.
Wild dog hunting near Lagoon Camp
Camps included:
Splash Camp
Lagoon Camp
Lebala Camp
How it might work:
We tailor all our holidays, but to show how it might work I’ve outlined an itinerary below:
Day 1
Fly overnight to Johannesburg
Day 2
Fly onward to Maun and then by light aircraft into the Okavango
Three nights at Splash Camp, a classic tented camp set in a private concession in the Okavango Delta and known for consistent sightings of lion, cheetah and leopard as well as prolific plains game. Safari activities from Kwara include walking, boating, day and night vehicle based wildlife drives.
Splash Camp
Day 5
Fly further north by light aircraft into the Linyanti area
Spend three nights at Lagoon Camp perched on the banks of the Kwando River. The vast concentration of wildlife here – large herds of elephant and buffalo in particular – attracts the attention of predators with excellent opportunities to spot endangerd wild dog.
Lion cub practising climbing skills close to Lagoon Camp
Day 8
Fly by light aircraft to Maun and on to Johannesburg
Fly overnight to the UK
Cost (indicative only):
Jul-Oct – Normal price £7,755, Last minute £4,040
Apr-Jun & Nov – Normal price £6,315, Last minute £3,280
Price includes: International and internal flights, accommodation, meals, drinks, safari activities
Any questions?
If you’ve got this far and not found an answer to a question you have that we should have included, please ask in the comments section below, or pop us an email. We’ll be sure to reply and may amend the article to include our answer.
What next?
We would be delighted to help you plan a holiday, or answer any questions if you’re at an earlier stage. Our team of experts have travelled widely throughout Africa. They can offer expert advice on every type of safari from family and beach holidays to riding and primate safaris. If you would like to talk to someone who has been there and done it, please just send us an email or give us a call.
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