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A Virtual World of Live Pictures.

Driving through the picturesque savannah landscape, tall grass and pristine acacias dot the horizon. The animal sightings are overwhelming. At first glance, you will run to your camera to take a photo of the grazing animals; giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, waterbuck and oryx. It is incredible to think how many centuries these lands have traveled. The real hunt on safari is looking for the Big Five. Find elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, and of course lions, they all come with time. On some safaris, they can arrive in one day.

Have you always wanted to go on a safari, but imagined an incredibly high price? If you’re looking for a good safari on a budget, some are easily accessible, self-driving is allowed, and entry fees are wallet-friendly. How about packing for a safari? There are some essential items not to forget. With our top picks in Africa, you’ll see all the expected animals, including a good shot at the Big Five.

What animals will I see on Safari?
It is normal to see a lot of wildlife and at times it can be overwhelming. Expect to see LOTS of wildebeest and antelope. Some parks have lots of elephants and giraffes. Depending on your luck and patience, seeing Lions is common, but you may only see a few. Seeing leopards and rhinos is rare. They are in many parks, but they are elusive. Leopards tend to hide in trees while rhinos stay away from vehicles.

Can I go on a safari on a budget?
Yes, you absolutely can! Safaris in East Africa are the most expensive, starting with the Serengeti and Masai Mara. If you are on a tight budget, scrap your plans to visit those parks as they will rack up the cost of several hundred each day you visit. Although they are worth it, they are not cheap. Safaris in South Africa and Namibia are great, they have very cheap entrance fees and you can drive yourself in a small sedan. Renting a car is cheap in those countries, making a safari very affordable. Another way to save money on a safari is to bring or rent a tent. The National Parks in Namibia and SA have camping and it gets expensive if you don’t intend to camp.

What is the Best Safari in Africa?
Each safari is unique. The landscapes create a different environment for what you are seeing each day. Some make it very difficult to spot animals, while others are wide open and much easier. Some safaris need 4×4 and you usually have to hire a driver, especially those in East Africa. Self-driving is permitted on most safaris in southern Africa, ideal for those independent travelers or backpackers on a budget. Finding the best safari in Africa for YOU depends on what you’re looking for, but chances are you’ll find it at one of these parks:

The best safaris in Africa:

Masai Mara National Park, Kenya

What to expect:
This iconic park, when one thinks of a safari, rolling savannahs teeming with animal life like no other, the Masai Mara fits the bill. Popular for decades as Africa’s premier park, the action here is second to none. Within minutes you can see lions, rhinos, a leopard and a few cheetahs. The big 5 are all in this park and you have a good chance of seeing them all, possibly even in one day. Come during the wildebeest migration between July and early September for the most action and the famous river crossing, with early September being the best time to come.
• Autonomous driving is an option. The park requires only 4×4.
• The entrance fee to the park is $80 per day.
• Camping is available from $7 – $15 per person outside the park gates.

Norongoro Crater National Park, Tanzania

What to expect:
Norongoro Crater is the largest inactive and unfilled caldera in the world, with a floor area of ​​more than 100 square miles (260 square kilometers). The wildlife is awesome. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and lions graze inside the crater. The elephants spend their last days in the Norongoro crater. They travel hundreds of miles just to get there. The views are impressive with the crater walls surrounding the flat plains, and wildlife is dense considering the size of the crater. It is a common side excursion as a day trip during a Serengeti safari.
• Autonomous driving is an option. They only require 4×4.
• The entrance fee to the park is $60 per day plus 18% VAT and $40 per day for the vehicle.
• Camp is $30 per night per person.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

What to expect:
When most think of big game parks and some of Africa’s most iconic parks, the Serengeti is often the first to blurt out. This famous park in Tanzania borders the Masai Mara to the south and is a huge park. Home to more than 3,000 lions and 1,000 leopards, the Serengeti is home to what most say is the largest population of big cats in Africa. There are also more than 2 million wildebeests, of which more than 1.5 million migrate north to the Masai Mara annually as part of the Great Migration. Come during the migration between July and early September for the most action and famous river crossings, with the best time to come in early September.
• Autonomous driving is an option. They only require 4×4.
• The entrance fee to the park is $60 per day plus 18% VAT and $40 per day for the vehicle.
• Camp is $30 per night per person.

Etosha National Park, Namibia

What to expect:
This gem of a park in Namibia, not far from the picturesque Namib Sand Dunes, is one of the best parks in Africa. It is a very large park with a central salt plan that floods during the rainy season. The park has excellent trails along the salt flat and savannah, as well as through the forest. Many natural and man-made watering holes help animals congregate, especially during the dry season. There are three main camping areas with watering holes to view at night. The park is full of wildlife. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, antelopes and elephants. everyone calls Etosha home. We had several close encounters with lions. A cheetah mom tried to kill an antelope with her two cubs of hers. Hundreds of giraffes would congregate to drink water. Etosha was one of our favorite safaris and is a great option for those on a budget. For the quality of the animals and the accessibility, this might be the best budget safari in Africa. The best time to visit is from May to October during the dry season.
• Autonomous driving is an option and 4×4 is not needed.
• The cost of admission to the park is $6 per day plus $2 per car per day.
• Camps for up to 8 people are $18 per night.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

What to expect:
Mountain gorillas can only be found in four national parks, all bordering the Virunga Mountains. You can visit the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the Virunga National Park in the Congo, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda and the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has the largest number of mountain gorillas of any park, home to almost 400 of the 900 living mountain gorillas. Visits are daily and you can often track large families with several large male silverbacks and young gorillas. This is unique to most African safaris, which is in search of only one species and is entirely on foot, but the memories of this may trump all others.
• The best time to visit is from May to September when it is not the rainy season. Prices are lowest during the rainy season, making it a great time for those on a budget.
• The Bwindi Mountain Trek costs $600 per person during the main season and $450 during the low season (April, May and November).
• Camping costs $5 per person in the national park and between $7 and $10 at rest camps outside the park.

Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

What to expect:
This highly underrated park is arguably the most diverse of these parks. It is home to the largest waterfall on the Nile River, Murchison Falls, along with excellent game drives and scenic Nile River boat cruises. The delta here by Lake Albert offers excellent hippo and bird watching. The savannah is stunning with rolling hills. We loved the unique landscape in Murchison that was alphabetized with palm trees, a rare thing in the savannah. The park is home to many giraffes, hippos, exotic birds, lions, antelope, buffalo, crocodiles, and the occasional leopard. There are also chimpanzee walks available. The best time to visit is from May to September.
• Autonomous driving is an option and 4×4 is not needed.
• The entrance fee to the park is $40 per day.
• Camp is $8 per person at Red Chili Rest Camp.

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

What to expect:
The Moremi Game Reserve, in northwestern Botswana, sits on the edge of the Okavango Delta and is well worth a visit when visiting Moremi. This park is one of the best safari drives for self-drive enthusiasts. The gravel roads make for fun but difficult driving conditions through forests and smaller open plains. You can drive for a couple of days or take the longer trek through Moremi to Chobe for a 5-7 day Safari. Wildlife is very dense with elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, antelopes, lions, leopards, hyenas and the rare wild dogs. The best time to visit is from June to September during the dry season, but when the floods are at their highest in the Okavango River Delta.
• Autonomous driving is an option. They only require 4×4.
• The cost of admission to the park is $11 per day plus $5 per day per vehicle.
• The cost of camping ranges from $15 to $50 per person, depending on each campsite.

Chobe National Park, Botswana

What to expect:
Chobe National Park is one of Africa’s premier parks and has some of the densest concentrations of animals in Africa. They host the second largest number of elephants in Africa. The animals travel hundreds of kilometers to make the journey to the Chobe River. Along with Moremi, this park is excellent for self-driving enthusiasts. Their game drives are excellent, but the real bonus is the Chobe River. Take a sunset boat cruise and watch elephants cross the river, hundreds of hippos eating, exotic birds, lying crocodiles and many other animals can be seen. The occasional lion can be found on the banks of the river having a drink. The best time to visit is from May to September.
• Autonomous driving is an option. They only require 4×4.
• The entrance fee to the park is $7 per day.
• The cost of camping ranges from $15 to $50 per person, depending on each campsite.

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