r/safaris

I am seeing a lot of different guidelines for tipping on safaris. We will be there the beginning of June and was hoping someone could shed some light on what is a fair amount to tip the driver. Do you also tip the spotter? If so, is it the same amount for both?
Thanks in advance

I have a Kenia transit, I am from Spain. My first flight depart from Arusha to Kenia and then Enttebe, the ticket of both are in the same ticket airline Kenia airways. Is it 100% sure I wont need Eta because i dont have to go to the inmigration gate or Should I get it just in case there is a problem (unknown) and I needed to go to the inmigration? What do you think? the waiting time is 4 hour

Hi all,

I’m planning my first safari and would really appreciate some input.

We’re looking at a 14‑day private “bush & beach” trip (4 adults) combining Kenya safari + Zanzibar. Roughly €5,000 per person (land only, no international flights).

Main points:

• Masai Mara (3 nights), including Mara Crossings Camp
• Lake Naivasha + activities (bike, boat, walking safari)
• Private vehicle + guide
• Fly from Masai Mara to Nairobi (not driving)
• 2 nights Stone Town (guided tour included)
• 5 nights Zanzibar beach (Nungwi area)

Questions:

1. Does this sound like a solid itinerary for a first safari?
2. Is this price in a reasonable range for what’s included?
3. Tipping: I understand ~$10–15 per person per day for guides – is that standard?
4. Also seeing ~$3–5 per person per night at hotels in Zanzibar – is that typical?

Thanks in advance for any insights 🙂

So..i have my honeymoon trip to Tanzania coming up in July. Over the past few months so much uncertainty has transpired. First the war in Iran, having to reschedule my Doha transit flight because of it…then my flight home being abruptly canceled from zanzibar, had to go with a completely different airline now paying more because of it, as well as cutting our trip about 9 hrs short too. then Hanta virus…and now there is an Ebola outbreak. Is this something that could spread to Tanzania? Should i reschedule? What do you guys think. It seems like the universe is preventing us from going for some reason lol.

Hi all, any local on the ground information would be appreciated. My family and I will be doing a northern Tanzania safari in August and wondering if we should postpone? Worried about travel restrictions and also wondering if anyone has experience with travel insurance coverage in these situations? Word on the street is they it could be invalidated depending on what your government’s restrictions are? Thank you in advance.

I have a Kenya safari booked for thanksgiving of this year. Obviously now reading all this El Niño hype has got me worried. I know November is the short
Rain season as it is. But now they are predicting this super niño.

I know anything can happen but after reading how bad the flooding was in Kenya last time this happened it has me questioning if this is a bad idea now. Does anyone have any good advice or can talk me off a ledge?

Of course weather is unpredictable, maybe I’m just hoping to hear peoples experiences so I can not
Over react !

Hi all,

Me and my husband are looking to do an 8 day safari i June 2026. Any suggestions as to where we would see majority of the big five? Ofcourse, if we can see the great migration, that would be amazing but not planning the trip around it. Our budget after flights is 5-8K pp. Where would you recommend staying? Or could we do 4 nights in Kenya and 4 nights in Tanzania. Would it be too much? The focus is mainly wildlife and less on accomodations. Still want something nice and comfortable but not focusing on spas and luxury.

What could be the reason some tour operators are offering very low prices? Please assume that they are all completely vetted. They are all legit. They are also top tour operators by credible standards.

I see one outlier offering 20% lower than the average or the median. I read in the reviews that it may have something to do with the cars, e.g. their cars are old, it gets broken inside the park, etc.

Hi,

I’m looking for advice on what people think would be the best safari & beach holiday for a lone parent and teenage daughter (15) when we travel.

I’m starting to look into a safari/beach combination for my daughter and I, as mentioned she will be 15 at the time. It would need to be school summer holiday so mid July/end of August and most likely 10-14 days long.

I started out with Tanzania/Zanzibar combination
Then came across Zambia and it’s all started to snowball a little.

Has anyone combined Zambia with Zanzibar? I was looking at Livingstone to take in Victoria falls with some adventures, but not sure what the safari side would be like.

I’ve also seen South Africa combined with Zambia.

Any advice/experience will be gratefully received.

Thank you.

Looking for recommendations for good travel insurance providers for remote self drive travel in Botswana/Zimbabwe.

I’m based in Australia and trying to find an insurer that genuinely covers:
• remote self drive 4WD travel within Botswana national parks
• rooftop tent camping
• medical evacuation/repatriation (potentially to South Africa)

This is NOT an adventure sports trip. No hiking, climbing, diving etc. Just remote safari travel in hired 4WDs with a group of 4.

I had been looking at Southern Cross Travel Insurance, however after contacting them they advised:

“Our policy does not provide cover if you are travelling in a remote touring area with limited or no telecommunications or medical services, unless you are travelling as part of a licensed, organised tour.”

That obviously concerns me given areas like Moremi, Savuti and Chobe are exactly that and this is despite me stating that we will have a satellite phone with us for the trip.

We also have Okavango Air Rescue membership, but I still want proper insurance that will fully respond if someone needs evacuation and hospital treatment.

Has anyone here:
• done a similar Botswana/Zimbabwe self drive trip?
• had to actually claim?
• found insurers that were good with remote Africa travel?

Particularly interested in real world experiences with:
• Cover-More
• Allianz
• Fast Cover
• World Nomads
• SCTI
• any others people would recommend

Would really appreciate any advice before I commit to a policy.

Thanks

So we are a family of 4 travelling to Masai Mara. We have 6 days safari. How much should we tip the guide? Are we also supposed to tip the hotel staff at our accommodations? Pls help me with this as it’s my first time on an African safari. Thank you!

I’m about to embark on my 5th safari on the Northern Circuit in Tanzania! In the 17 years I’ve been going, there has been constant change. Not all of it good.

For those of you sitting on the fence about going…. Go! Do it soon. You might find that your “once in a lifetime adventure” becomes something you want to do over and over again. Don’t wait until you’re too old to make that a possibility!

Safari njema!

I am in the early stages of planning our trip for later this year and am ready to book flights. Curious if this itinerary makes sense? I have read that a 5 day safari can be enough and thats fine by me to get a bit more variety and visit Zanzibar and Istanbul since we have a layover there anyway.

Would also love any recommendations on a Tanzania / Zanzibar safari package if anyone has experience with that. Here is my shortlist of local companies I was going to reach out to for quotes:

Serengeti Smile, Safari Soles, African Big Cats Safaris, Daylight Adventures and Safaris

https://preview.redd.it/wbslcs36pq0h1.png?width=650&format=png&auto=webp&s=3cd64c7664f69fdaba55f6af53b4cfedc771a7f5

Hello,

I am currently looking for an affordable safari to Masai Mara from Nairobi, Kenya. The trip will take place in August 2026. On websites, such as safaribookings.com, I see offers for a 3 day (2 nights) safari trips for as low as 310 euro. I am looking at the right date. It also says park fees are included. However, park fees are 200 USD per day from July 2026, so I am wondering if it is some sort of a trick or a scam?

I have looked at other options for around 500 euro, but that also seems unrealistic considering all the fees I see people paying in this sub reddit. Has someone here had similar experience with budget safaris? Do they make you pay the park fees there despite what it says on the website?

Also, is there any other offers you think are better for my case?

Thank you in advance!

Looking for recommendations on safari operators in Tanzania!

I've spent countless hours on Safari Bookings & TripAdvisor and I'm SOOO overwhelmed with the thousands of operators out there.

I've read so many reviews, but it's truly been hard to tell if reviews have been coerced, or paid for. And even a lot of the ones that have great reviews, also have horrific reviews regarding things of great concern.

Just wanting real, honest, recommendations. :)

I'm looking at booking a safari in Tanzania as a surprise for my mum's birthday this year - the big 50. Will be, myself, my mum & my sister.

Here's what I'm after:

- We definitely won't mind a shared tour - we would love to meet new people, and also have other people to talk to so we don't drive each other insane. And I know this will help budget wise.

- I'm looking for somewhere locally owned & operated in Tanzania - no big companies owned by someone in the USA or elsewhere.

- Also wanting somewhere ethical - guides, drivers & cooks paid fairly, no risk taking or unethical practices for/during animal sightings, and community support.

- Mid-range budget, with a mix of different accommodations - will be fine camping for a couple of nights, but don't want to go full on budget in a tent the whole time.

- 5 - 7 days covering a classic northern route (Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara)

- Includes cultural experiences

- Good food & ability to accommodate dietary requirements (vegetarian for one of us)

This will be my mum & sisters first trip out of the country, and this will be my first multi-day safari (have done safaris in Sri Lanka & India) so also if anyone has any advice or tips, would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks all in advance!!! 🫶🏻

Been seeing a few safari packing lists around lately and thought I'd share a slightly contrarian version. I run a lodge in the Mara (done a few hundred safaris myself) and a lot of what travelers panic about beforehand just doesn't matter much on the ground.

The short version: most of what packing lists tell you to buy is unnecessary. You don't need heavy boots - game drives are 95% sitting in a Land Cruiser and for a little bit of walking along the river, picnic lunch, your regular shoes are fine.

You don't need a full neutral wardrobe - the real reason for earth tones is laterite dust, not animal vision (most are red/green color-blind anyway). You don't need shit tons of DEET - daytime Mara just isn't a heavy mosquito environment. You don't need a mosquito-net hat. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a cap, layers, comfortable shoes, a fleece for cold mornings. That's most of it - and even if you're missing these, you're fine. Hakuna matata.

Might help if you're mid-stress about your packing list.