Industry Data
Safari Market Report 2026
21,410
Safari Tours
51
Countries
832K
Verified Reviews
$2,165
Avg. Price / Person
Tours by Country
According to SafariPicked data, Tanzania leads with 12,756 tours at an average of $1,805 per person.
| Country | Tours | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | 12,756 | $1,805 |
| Kenya | 4,296 | $2,314 |
| Uganda | 1,759 | $2,921 |
| Rwanda | 624 | $3,040 |
| South Africa | 496 | $2,709 |
| Botswana | 488 | $4,146 |
| Namibia | 220 | $4,458 |
| Zambia | 161 | $2,687 |
| Ethiopia | 122 | $1,803 |
| Zimbabwe | 103 | $2,683 |
| Madagascar | 76 | $2,229 |
| madagascar | 40 | $3,977 |
| Malawi | 31 | $3,706 |
| DR Congo | 28 | $1,955 |
| south africa | 22 | $2,716 |
| ethiopia | 20 | $4,796 |
| Egypt | 20 | $897 |
| Morocco | 14 | $1,063 |
| Mozambique | 11 | $3,243 |
| Angola | 10 | $2,722 |
| kenya | 9 | $2,059 |
| tanzania | 8 | $2,394 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 6 | $2,516 |
| Nigeria | 5 | $2,647 |
| Mauritania | 5 | $2,138 |
| Liberia | 5 | $917 |
| Cameroon | 4 | $4,242 |
| Western Sahara | 3 | $935 |
| Sierra Leone | 3 | $1,075 |
| Senegal | 3 | $2,610 |
| Central African Republic | 3 | $2,160 |
| Cape Verde | 3 | $1,516 |
| Algeria | 3 | $1,523 |
| zimbabwe | 2 | $3,619 |
| uganda | 2 | $2,428 |
| Seychelles | 2 | $16,423 |
| Ghana | 2 | $2,890 |
| Gabon | 2 | $9,464 |
| DRC | 2 | $2,943 |
| Burundi | 2 | $2,044 |
| zambia | 1 | $2,937 |
| mozambique | 1 | $5,290 |
| malawi | 1 | $11,000 |
| Vietnam | 1 | $245 |
| USA | 1 | $7,195 |
| Tunisia | 1 | $904 |
| Niger | 1 | $1,908 |
| Lebanon | 1 | $6,640 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 1 | $2,161 |
| Comoros | 1 | $773 |
| Chad | 1 | $4,106 |
Average Price by Comfort Level
According to SafariPicked data, luxury safaris average $3,876 per person compared to $1,920 for standard tier tours.
Top-Rated Parks by Tour Rating
According to SafariPicked data, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park ranks as the top-rated park with an average tour score of 5 across 5 rated tours.
| # | Park | Country | Avg. Rating | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | South Africa | 5 ★ | 5 |
| 2 | Murchison Falls National Park | Uganda | 4.98 ★ | 126 |
| 3 | Nyungwe National Park | Rwanda | 4.97 ★ | 46 |
| 4 | Ruaha National Park | Tanzania | 4.97 ★ | 52 |
| 5 | Nyerere National Park | Tanzania | 4.97 ★ | 203 |
| 6 | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Uganda | 4.97 ★ | 734 |
| 7 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | Uganda | 4.96 ★ | 233 |
| 8 | Mikumi National Park | Tanzania | 4.96 ★ | 286 |
| 9 | Mana Pools National Park | Zimbabwe | 4.96 ★ | 13 |
| 10 | Volcanoes National Park | Rwanda | 4.96 ★ | 339 |
| 11 | Liuwa Plain National Park | Zambia | 4.95 ★ | 6 |
| 12 | Aberdare National Park | Kenya | 4.94 ★ | 35 |
| 13 | Sabi Sand Game Reserve | South Africa | 4.94 ★ | 31 |
| 14 | Tarangire National Park | Tanzania | 4.94 ★ | 3137 |
| 15 | Lake Manyara National Park | Tanzania | 4.93 ★ | 1486 |
Safari Style Distribution
Classic Game Drive dominates the market with 13,754 tours, reflecting the enduring popularity of open-vehicle game drives across East and Southern Africa.
| Safari Style | Tours | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Game Drive | 13,754 | 84% |
| Walking Safari | 1,312 | 8% |
| Gorilla Trekking | 877 | 5% |
| Fly-in Safari | 351 | 2% |
| Honeymoon Safari | 36 | 0% |
| Mobile Camping | 15 | 0% |
| Family Safari | 9 | 0% |
| Photographic Safari | 2 | 0% |
Tour Duration Distribution
4-7 days trips account for 46% of all safari tours, making them the most common itinerary length.
34%
1-3 days
10,490 tours
46%
4-7 days
14,142 tours
18%
8-14 days
5,515 tours
2%
15+ days
569 tours
Review Volume by Platform
SafariPicked aggregates reviews from 2 platforms. Total coverage: 832,412 reviews with verified scores.
| Platform | Reviews | Avg. Score |
|---|---|---|
| safaribookings | 830,560 | 4.91 ★ |
| tourradar | 1,852 | 4.81 ★ |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an African safari cost on average in 2026?
Based on SafariPicked data covering 21,410 tours, the average safari price in 2026 is $2,165 per person. Prices range from under $150/day for basic bush camps to over $1,000/day for ultra-luxury private reserves.
Which African country has the most safari tours?
Tanzania leads with 12,756 tours in the SafariPicked database, at an average of $1,805 per person. Kenya and Tanzania collectively account for the majority of all safari listings on the continent.
What is the most popular safari style?
Classic Game Drive is the most popular safari style with 13,754 tours in the SafariPicked database. Classic game drives remain the default choice for first-time safari visitors, offering the best access to the Big Five in open 4x4 vehicles.
How long is a typical safari?
The most common safari duration is 4–7 days, accounting for 46% of all tours in the SafariPicked database. Most travellers book 5–7 day itineraries to cover 2–3 parks, which is considered the minimum for a meaningful wildlife experience.
How many safari operators are there in Africa?
SafariPicked tracks 3,463 safari operators, of which 2,141 are currently active and 737 have verified aggregate ratings. The market is highly fragmented, with hundreds of small independent operators alongside large multinational travel groups.