Can you do an African photo safari on a budget?

The short answer is yes, but doing an African photo safari on a budget should not be confused with doing one on the ‘dirt cheap’. Any good quality photo safari in Africa worth its salt will come at a cost, but there are a number of very good reasons for that. In this blog, we’ll take you through these reasons, we’ll offer a few ways you can avoid breaking the bank, and we’ll also give you some examples of wildlife photography trips that offer great value for money.

Why Good African Photo Safaris Aren’t Cheap

1. Exclusive locations equal great photographic opportunities

As a general rule, it’s much better – photography-wise – to go to a private reserve or concession as opposed to a National Park. This comes at a price, but with the masses left behind at the airport, the quality of your photographic output on these private concessions will improve significantly. And if you’ve come this far, quality is definitely one thing not worth skimping on.

Private reserves offer better photographic opportunities for a few reasons. First of all, you’ll be able to go off-road in your game drive vehicle, which means that your guide will be able to take you close to exciting sightings, follow wildlife as they move through the bush, and get you the right angles for photography. When you’re in a private reserve, you’ll also be guided by the very best local guides and trackers – the best people to find out the right sightings.

Needless to say, private reserves are also much less crowded. You won’t see many other people, and when you’ve found a pride of lions, your view won’t be blocked by a dozen other game drive vehicles.

So it all comes down to the fact that in private reserves, wildlife sightings are more frequent and of a much higher quality than in National Parks. But obviously this comes with a price tag – one that we think is worth it, if stunning photographs is your goal.

2. Group size matters

Good photo safaris are done in small groups. This affords you the very best personalised attention from experienced photographic guides that know their stuff, creating a next-level experience simply not available on a cheaper tour. Smaller groups also mean that you won’t be jockeying for space on your safari vehicle. No accidental elbows in the face as you sight your first lion. No bruised ribs in the jostle for a vantage point as hippos wallow at the waterhole. You will have all the space you need.

In most cases, good photo safaris won’t take more than six people, so that everyone has a ‘window’ seat in the game drive vehicle, and views are wide open. This also leaves plenty of space for everyone’s gear.

3. You pay for expertise

Good photo safaris are guided by professional photographers who aren’t just great photographers, but also good teachers, and experts in their field. Your photography guide will be there to offer tutoring, both during theory or post-production sessions, and while you’re out photographing, so that you can elevate every element of your craft. Good photography guides will also be able to tailor their tutoring to everyone’s level, which allows for everyone – from beginners to semi-pros – to gain a lot from the experience.

How You Can Avoid Paying Too Much

1. Avoid luxury that doesn’t add to the photography experience

Some top level (and expensive) African photo safari destinations are renowned for 5-star accommodation that is often reminiscent of colonial days: opulent king-size beds, five meals a day with wait-staff at your beck and call, and every little extra you can think of. This is all very nice but, while perfect for a honeymoon or special anniversary, if your main goal is a top notch photography experience amongst world-class wildlife, you don’t really need 5-star accommodation. Being comfortable can be enough.

2. Do your research and compare different trips

Make sure you pick a photo safari that offers good value for money. You can do this by doing your research; compare similar trips by different companies and find out where your money is going. What’s included and what isn’t? Will you be in private concessions? What’s the accommodation like? How big is the group, and which photographer will be guiding you? Ask a lot of questions. This will allow you to pick a trip that offers you exactly what you want, and doesn’t overcharge.

Examples of Good Value For Money Photo Safaris

If you are on a budget, our more affordable photo safaris still provide super comfort but most importantly, focus on getting you right where you need to be, to take the best wildlife photos you can possibly take. And isn’t that what you are here for?

1. Botswana Photo Safari: venture to Botswana’s hidden gem

Exploring the Tuli Block on our Botswana Photo Safari is a shining example of the great value for money we are talking about. Described by Lonely Planet as Botswana’s best kept secret, the Tuli Block is a private nature reserve marked by striking lunar landscapes, large river beds lined with giant nyala trees and starry night skies that open up the heavens for incredible astrophotography. It is a land populated by lions, leopards, cheetahs, large herds of elephants, hippos, hyenas, wild dogs and cheetahs, plus an impressive variety of birds.

At Serolo Safari Camp you will be fed three square meals a day and sleep well at night in two-bed safari style tents, fully serviced with hot running water, ensuite showers and flush toilets. It’s perfectly comfortable but nothing fancy and for many, that’s exactly what the photography doctor ordered. Starting at $US3750 per person, you can find out more about what to expect from this hidden wildlife gem right here.

2. South Africa Photo Safari: Big Five photography without luxury

If a South African photo safari has always been on your bucket list, and all you want is that top level Big Five experience, you can enjoy an exclusive wildlife photography experience at Timbavati Game Reserve, without the exclusive price tag. Our South African Photo Safari in this private reserve is Big Five heaven, and particularly brilliant for photographing the otherwise elusive leopard.

Umlani Bushcamp offers rustic African charm with comfortable thatched huts, en-suite facilities and an open-air bush shower that brings new meaning to getting out and about in nature. The welcoming bush bar overlooks a waterhole, swimming pool and traditional African boma, where you will enjoy three home-cooked meals a day. Sounds great, right? And from $US4195 per person, your wallet will think so too.

3. Maasai Mara Wildlife Photography Workshop: The Greatest Show doesn’t have to cost the earth

Kenya’s Maasai Mara is one of the most expensive destinations for photo safaris, and photographing the Great Migration is generally unavoidable for most. So we’ve launched a cheaper alternative. For great value for money, our wildlife photography and conservation workshop in the Maasai Mara is unsurpassed. Starting at just $US2745 per person for a 1-week tour, this once-in-a-lifetime journey gives you the chance to be part of the greatest show on earth. An astonishing 1.2 million wildebeests, 300,000 zebra, and other herds of smaller herbivores set the scene as they begin their trek along age-old routes, moving from the southern part of Tanzania’s Serengeti Desert up to Maasai Mara in Kenya, then back again.

Whilst it’s impossible to set your watch by this annual event, our Maasai Mara tours are timed to coincide with the migration season, giving you every opportunity to capture this spectacle in the flesh.

A Cheaper Alternative To Photo Safaris: Wildlife Photography Volunteer Projects

If the passion for wildlife photography still burns bright, but you are looking for something a little easier on the bank account, there are other alternatives that still get you up close and personal, without burning a hole in your pocket. Consider joining one of our hands-on volunteer programs, where photography meets conservation.

With our wildlife and conservation program at Victoria Falls, you’ll stay in a rustic campsite on the banks of the iconic Zambezi River, brush up on your photography skills with practical and theoretical training, and get hands-on conservation experience whilst you are at it. All of this a short drive from the smoke that thunders, the magnificent Victoria Falls.

This photo safari for beginners, is where real world experiences replace the high-end bells and whistles of more exclusive and expensive tours. Starting at just $US2195 for a 3-week program, this is also where those on a tighter budget can get truly incredible value for money.

To find out if one of our volunteering programs is the right choice for you, read more here.

Conclusion: Come for the creatures, not the creature comforts

So the message we’d like to leave you with, is that whilst it is unlikely to be cheap, it is possible to do an African safari on a budget, especially if you don’t mind forgoing a few creature comforts. And given you’re heading to the African bush in search of a brilliant photography experience, the idea of turned-down sheets at bedtime should probably not be your top priority!

So, dust off your boots, make sure you pack your digital SLR and slide your sense of adventure into your duffel bag, as you prove to those who might have their doubts, that you really can do an African photo safari on a budget. Trust me, you won’t regret it.