Many travelers to southern and eastern Africa go on safaris. There are so many beautiful landscapes and incredible animals to see. An important factor in planning your trip is deciding where to stay. Below are questions to consider when choosing a safari game lodge:
1. Which animals you are looking to see?
People going on safari for the first time often want to see the “Big 5” animals – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant. While there is no guarantee you’ll see all these animals no matter where you stay, there are only a few parks and reserves with the right mix of habitats and space to accommodate them all. The facility’s website should mention what you can expect to see.
Some animals prefer a specialized habitat which can only be found in a few countries such as mountain gorillas or black rhinos. This also applies to seasonal phenomena like the yearly Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra. Take this into consideration when choosing your lodging.
2. What is your budget?
There are places to stay for almost any budget. Three types of safari locations are national parks, public reserves, and private reserves. Private reserves tend to cost more but also have the benefit of fewer tourists and the ability to go on off-road safaris.
Tented bush camp sites cater to smaller budgets. These are often low-tech, self-catering, and more rustic; although, there are also luxury tent options at many parks. Game lodges are typically more expensive but include more amenities like guided drives and meals. Some companies even offer open air treehouses so visitors can spend the night under the stars.
Keep in mind, a lot of lodges charge per person rather than per room. In peak season, solo travelers might have to pay an additional fee.
You need to consider the total cost and what is included in your room fees. While an all-inclusive game lodge might seem pricey, they usually include all meals, guided game drives, and sometimes drinks and laundry. One lodge I stayed at in my favorite South African reserve included one guided drive a day, while another lodge included two drives a day.
3. What amenities are available at the facility and in the rooms?
Amenities vary by facility and room. Room amenities to consider are Wi-Fi, en-suite bathrooms, outside showers, covered patios, air conditioning, bottled water, tea and coffee stations, and mini bar fridges. Upgraded suites could contain fireplaces, plunge or infinity pools, and multiple rooms.
Facility amenities to consider are dining areas, lounges, bars, curio shops, open air bomas, and swimming pools.
If you plan to stay for a limited time, then you may not need luxury options. However, if you plan to stay for several days or are interested in relaxing at the lounge or pool, then you may want to treat yourself.
4. Is the facility willing to accommodate food restrictions?
Lots of people have food allergies or specialized diets (e.g., diabetic, vegetarian, kosher, halal). It is important to check with the facility ahead of your stay to see if they can accommodate any restrictions. On my recent trip, both Ivory Tree Game Lodge in South Africa and Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana asked the question in their initial booking form.
Some facilities have a la carte menus where restrictions become a bigger issue. However, even those with buffet-style meals may offer to alter or add additional dishes for certain visitors.
5. What is the facility’s child policy?
Many facilities do not permit children under the age of 6 on game drives. Some may have even higher age limits. Young children are more likely to make noise which may agitate animals. They also have a harder time staying engaged for the 2- to 4-hour drives.
Be sure to confirm these rules with your chosen accommodation before booking. If you are traveling with small children, some facilities have special dedicated programs.
6. Do you want to self-drive or participate in guided game drives?
Are you looking to enjoy the self-drive safari experience so you can make your own schedule and focus on the animals that interest you? Some reserves do not let you self-drive. While most national parks allow self-driving, some parks’ roads are too rough to drive yourself without a specialized vehicle.
On my first trip to South Africa, we had one guided game drive a day and then we chose to self-drive for the rest of the day. Both are awesome experiences depending on your goals. This latest trip involved 2 guided drives a day in both South Africa and Botswana. I liked giving up control – instead, focusing on spotting wildlife and enjoying the scenery.
Another thing to look into is the size of the game truck and how many other potential people you will have with you. My 2016 game truck held around 20 people. From the back of the truck, it was difficult to hear the guide. Both game trucks from my 2020 lodges held a maximum of 10 guests. Our Botswanan drives ended up being just us and the guide.
If you want a more personalized experience, you may also be able to secure a private game drive for an additional cost.
7. Does the safari game lodge have access to nearby activities (e.g., river cruises)?
In certain locations, there may be additional activities near the park or reserve. In Chobe National Park, our lodge had a private dock on the river. This meant that every day we had a river cruise included in our package and we could easily walk from our room to the water.
If your facility does not have this kind of access, then you may incur additional costs traveling to a third-party site and booking the activity through another group.
8. Are there waterholes near communal areas for wildlife viewing?
Lodges and camps may have a waterhole near communal areas like lounges or dining rooms. This way guests can see wildlife without having to leave the facility. Waterholes like these often attract zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, and birds.
9. What is the drive time and distance from the park?
I prefer to stay at a lodge/camp within or just outside the park or reserve. This way you don’t waste valuable game drive time getting to and from the entrance. Animals are most active at dawn and dusk, meaning a long drive in or out can limit some of the best sightings. Most tourists visit during the dry, winter months when daylight hours are shorter, which also cuts down your game drive time.
Are you considering an African safari during the green/rainy season? Check out my 10 Reasons to Travel Southern Africa During Green Season.
On the other hand, lodges and camps located farther away will typically be less expensive. If you are self-driving and have all day to spend in the park, then the distance might not matter.
10. How will you get to the safari game lodge and is it an additional cost?
Some parks and reserves will have an airport close by. Others may be hours from any major transport hub. You will need to figure out how to get to your accommodation from your arrival point. You can find your own way, or they may agree to facilitate a transfer at an additional fee.
Both times I stayed in Pilanesberg National Park, we had a rental car and drove there from Johannesburg. For our stay in Chobe National Park, we flew into Kasane airport. As long as we arrived on a regularly scheduled flight, the transfer from the airport to the lodge was included in our package.
11. What is the size of the property or park?
If you want to see impressive animals like the Big 5, they need space to roam around. To co-exist in vast enough quantities, you need a park or reserve with at least a couple dozen hectares.
Smaller parks and reserves may be perfect if you have a specialized interest in their local wildlife or specific offerings. They also have the added benefit of more intimate game sightings – for example, you are less likely to have 20 trucks surrounding a pride of lions.
12. Do they support conservation efforts?
Part of the reason safaris in game reserves and parks are so amazing is because you can enjoy these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. If supporting ethical encounters and long-term conservation efforts is important to you, research the facility’s stance.
Read the “about,” “conservancy,” or “responsible tourism” section on their website. If they participate in these kinds of initiatives, they should list them and connections to major conservancy groups or environmental programs.
Some factors to consider are ecotourism, recycling projects, supporting local programs and education outreach, employing local guides and staff, and initiatives with farmers and landowners.
I hope my tips will help you when choosing a safari game lodge on your next trip!
Really great tips! I wouldn’t have thought of some of these things. Hopefully I one day soon we can travel again!
Thanks Diane! I’m also looking forward to getting out there again. I’m so glad I was able to squeeze this southern Africa trip in right before travel restrictions.
Well Steph, I thought you covered it all in the past blogs but I learned valuable tips here. Thanks,
I’m so glad I was able to still fit some new information in for you! Thank you for following along in my adventure Liz!
Wonderful travel tips! The watering hole is intriguing. Not the time to travel, but definitely on the list! Photography is exceptional.
Thanks Cheri! I love hearing that people enjoy my photos as much as I love taking them. Watering holes are a fun, safe way to bring nature to you 🙂
Fantastic ideas! A safari is a bucket list item! Thanks for the tips!
Thanks Colleen! Safaris are an excellent bucket list item – so fun and different than what you can see on other trips.
I love this! I love how you’re centering a lot of your posts about Africa – a place I highly recommend travelling to for other people! Great tips here – especially the child policy! I can’t wait to go back and explore some more countries!
Thanks Sarah! I love Africa and am always happy to pass along helpful information for people who are interested. I can’t wait to explore new African countries as well!