The Wide World of Safaris
THROUGH THE NEXT ADVENTURE LENS
One of Next Adventure’s most rewarding pandemic projects was examining our data from the last five years on a bednight basis (per person/per night), looking at exactly where and how our clients travel and who we are as a company.
Here are a few interesting data points from one safari specialist providing creative custom itineraries with a focus on responsible operators and excellent value.
HOW DO OUR CLIENTS TRAVEL
Over the last 5 years, Next Adventure designed custom safaris ranging from $300 to $3000+ per person per night for clients traveling to:
12 countries in East and Southern Africa
108 different wilderness areas (national parks, reserves and conservancies)
458 unique accommodations (hotels, resorts, camps and lodges)
By far, our clients spent the most time in the Okavango Delta and the Masai Mara. Both areas are well-known for having a remarkable density of charismatic megafauna, and they both offer a mix of national parks and private concessions to suit a range of budgets, activities and accommodation styles.
June and July are the most popular months for our clients to go on safari, coinciding with school breaks and the beginning of peak season when safari camps are full and rates are at their highest.
February, March and April are the least popular months which is our biggest opportunity to expand the safari calendar and take advantage of Green and Shoulder season specials. These months can be magical, and there are great values to be had.
Only 2 camp operators earn more than a 5% share of the bednights we book. The rest of our bednights are split over dozens of reputable portfolios and independent camp and lodge operators which speaks to our commitment to craft truly personal safaris for each client.
Of our top 5 local partners, we’ve been working with 4 of them for more than 20 years. The 5th, we’ve been working with for more than 10. These are the people we trust who will meet you on arrival, monitor your travels locally and respond directly to any concern, delay or interruption while you’re on safari.
NOTABLE TRENDS BY COUNTRY
While Botswana is known for having the most expensive safari camps on average, it is also home to what we consider the most affordable and best value safari.
South Africa sees our highest percentage of bednights at Premier level camps which is what South Africa does best: luxury, wine and wildlife.
Zimbabwe offers excellent overall value with the highest percentage of bednights at Traditional level camps, a great diversity of landscapes, mixed activities and a reputation for high quality guides.
Tanzania and Kenya often feature in single-country itineraries with direct international air access, iconic safaris and pristine beaches.
Namibia and Rwanda have seen the most growth in terms of insta-popularity and new luxury options, but they tend not to be on the list for first-time safaris.
Uganda and Zambia remain under-the-radar, hidden gems that most of our clients visit on short extensions (primate trekking or Vic Falls, respectively), but they make for exciting single-country itineraries with great value at the Classic level and truly unique circuits.
While some companies follow market(ing) trends and high-profile bucket lists, we like to inspire our clients and use our expertise to design unique personal itineraries. When there are so many kinds of safari, what kind of safari is right for you?
