This post may contain affiliate links. View the disclosure for more information.
Wanna know the best ways you can find Botswana safari deals? These are the tried-and-true, absolute ways to bag some of the best Botswana safari deals.
Botswana is notorious for being an expensive safari destination; however, there are ways to visit Botswana without spending a fortune, and one of those ways is finding Botswana safari deals. However, that requires a little bit of flexibility. As someone who loves Botswana safaris, I always set out to find the best deal before I book.
In this post, you are going to learn about Botswana safari deals, tips on finding the best safari deals, Botswana safari packages and more.
After learning about these tips, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to find the best Botswana safari deals.
Tips on finding the best Botswana safari deals
1. Pay attention to your itinerary
First and foremost, if you are planning a Botswana holiday, pay attention to your safari itinerary. You do not want your itinerary to be so random that your destinations are so far apart that you need to take multiple internal flights and flip back and forth.
This is because your itinerary will hugely influence the cost of your safari and the safari deals you can get.
2. Book directly with local tours
Although travel agencies play a crucial role in making your safari journey as easy as possible, that comes at a price. If you want to enjoy the benefits of Botswana safari deals, book directly with the local tour companies.
For instance, you can book directly with companies like Letaka Safaris, which is a local company and the safaris are reasonably priced.
3. Botswana safari deals: Travel off-peak
Botswana safari companies slash their prices during the green season, and you will be sure to find great deals during that time. You can pay nearly half the price on your safari during the low season compared to what you could have spent at the peak of the season.
When I travel during the low season, I always pick April because the weather is excellent and the wildlife is good as well.
Additionally, there will be different kinds of promotions during this time; for example, Okavango.com usually runs ‘stay 3, pay 2’ promotions.
4. Choose a safari package
Wanna bag a Botswana safari deal? Look into Botswana safari packages; often, the best Botswana safari deals are bundled together. Not only is it money-saving, but it will also save the time and effort of planning different itineraries and activities on your own.
If you are going on a honeymoon or want to experience a Botswana luxury safari, Safari.com will be great as they specialise in luxury travel, I mean, 5-star safari lodges!
5. Use the same safari operator
This ties back to choosing a safari package rather than organising your own itinerary. Packages usually come with a discount. This applies whether you are a returning guest or on your first safari and visiting different Botswana safari destinations.
On top of that, this will not limit your adventures in any way; for example, if you want to visit Victoria Falls or Namibia, they’ll organise that for you.
6. Botswana safari deals: Book early
This one is a no-brainer, but still worth mentioning. The early bird gets the worm. The earlier you book, the better chances you stand of finding great Botswana safari deals.
7. Look for discounts for returning guests
Botswana safari tours and guides love returning guests, mainly because of the relationships. For that reason, there are perks, which include special deals for returning guests.
If you are a returning guest, and these deals are not offered, please don’t hesitate to ask. Although the majority of safari companies don’t publish these discounts, these discounts range from 5% to 15%. For example, African safari consultants offer a 15% discount for repeat guests.
8. Botswana safari deals: Travel as a group
If you can, travel as a group or with a travelling partner. Although there are no direct Botswana safari deals specific to groups, you’ll still be able to save overall because you will share costs among yourselves.
9. Compare quotes and negotiate
To get the absolute best deal, get quotes from different safari operators and companies, compare the prices, and let the best safari operator of your choice beat that price. For example, Safari.com offers the best price guarantee, and you can secure a great deal by taking advantage of it.
10. Organise the trip yourself
This can be daunting, I get it. However, this is very doable. If you have experience travelling in Botswana, this should be easy. Even as a first-timer, consider organising and planning the trip yourself.
The best way to do it is to book an all-inclusive Botswana safari, choose the safari package you like and book directly with the company of your choice. I will use Natural selection as an example, since I have been on a solo safari trip, booked through them.
The only difference from booking through a travel agency is that if you plan your safari trip, you’ll have to book your international flights, which isn’t a big deal. Also, someone will be able to meet you at the airport.
Where is the safari deal in this? The deal is in savings on that surcharge you could have paid to the travel agency.
11. Botswana safari deals: Flexibility
This may not be possible for some people, given that the Botswana trip is usually a long-haul journey for many international travellers and requires planning. However, if you can be flexible, do it! This includes being flexible towards last-minute deals, tweaking your travel dates, and joining group tours. This can save you the big bucks.
Additionally, Botswana safari holidays come in different packages and styles. For instance, can you be flexible and take a package that combines luxury accommodation with a wild camping safari?
Best Botswana safari deals
These are some of the companies to check when looking for Botswana safari deals.
Safari.com
Looking for the best Botswana safari deals as an international traveller, while not looking forward to planning your safari by yourself. Look no further: Safari.com is one of the best safari operators; they plan your entire safari.
Moreover, they run special offers; not only do they offer the best price guarantee, but they also run last-minute deals where you can get 50% off from their high-end lodges.
Honeymooners and families with children, safari.com has something just for you.
Additionally, there are special offers for residents of SADC countries
Wilderness Travel
Wilderness Travel offers a range of safari deals, from honeymoon offers to solo travel discounts. Additionally, they have kids-stay-free deals. On top of that, you can fly for free around three different countries. So if you are a luxury traveller looking for a deal, start here.
However, keep in mind that these deals will change with the season. Overall, you will find the best deals during the low season.
Go2Africa
Go2Africa runs deals for different budgets. Although they are leaning more towards luxury travel, there is a range of safari packages. They offer last-minute deals, safari packages, discounts, and can even negotiate with camps and lodges to bring your costs down.
Lelobu safaris
If you are on a budget safari, Lelobu Safaris offers really affordable options. For example, you can get a 3-day camping safari in the Okavango Delta, including a mokoro trip, from USD 320. This is a fraction of what you could have paid for a luxury safari.
Safari Specialists
When looking around for a good deal, look into safari specialists. They run some of the best discounts. At the time of writing, they have 60% discounts. The best part is that you can book this safari for next year. This 60% applies to travel from November to April.
Additionally, they always have last-minute deals, so keep an eye out for that.
Natural Selection
Another excellent option for finding Botswana safari deals is Natural Selection, which is my favourite. Anyway, they slash their prices during the low season, and they offer different perks to go along with it.
For example, at the time of writing this post, there is a complimentary flight if you book at Tawana, which, by the way, charter flights are expensive in Botswana. Furthermore, if you book three more nights at one of their camps, you get a 50% discount for one partner.
Please take a look at different camps, as each offers its own benefits.
