What is the cost for Botswana safari these days?
 

We just got back from our 2nd safari and I'm in the phase where I'm obsessing about the next one :)

Just curious, what is the cost of Botswana these days? Back in 2005, we paid $5000 pps for 9 days (2 nts Tongabezi, 2 nts Duma Tau, 2 nts Kwetsani, and 3 nts Mombo), including all intra-Africa flights. I'm sure it's gone up a lot (cringe), but how much?

This was in early June, which at the time was considerably cheaper than July/Aug/Sept. Is June still a bargain?

You can probably get "lower" rates through middle of June (e.g., $700-800 pp pn). After that it's probably $1000 and up pp pn. That doesn't include flight transfers hither, thither, and yon. Not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

We went in 2006 and are planning to return in 2016, but it won't be the same kind of trip. We are priced out, so we might try a mobile safari and visit different places than just the Delta. There's Chobe, a river cruise (I cant remember the name - it's on the other Bots thread) , Khama Rhino Park and Mashatu.

Botswana sure is a special place, but I would plan for $1000 pppn. It may be a little more, a little less, but about that. So to answer your question - a lot.

There are exceptional green season deals. Kwando's 5 rivers is almost a certainty year after year. W-S's was for the 1st time in 2011 so it would be interesting to see what they do in 2012- usually announce between June to August.

I just came back in Dec'11 and though I had booked much before the W-S offers and didnt have any camps (except Duba) in the discounted price, it was an amazing trip- brilliant cats and dogs encounters and good plains game. Its hard to beat the beauty of the delta (IMHO)

Chitabe has a definite edge over Mombo on cats and dogs though nothing can beat Mombo plains game in green season. Heard good things about Little Kwara too. Check out the 6 country special ( W-S Sanctuary) and 5 rivers special (Kwando etc) from 2011 to get an idea of how low the prices can get. If you pick from among Kwara, Duma Tau, Tubu Tree, Xigera which were all dicounted last year (and the 1st 3 have had great sightings in green season; xigera for the boating/pure delta experience if you wish), you will have room to splurge on Chitabe/Little Vumbura-at both of which I had phenomenal sightings. Mombo will be USD1600+ pppn in green season.

Early green season and late green season could be different too. If you decide on November -which is shoulder season- you would probably find the floods at their lowest in a year. In June you would have to be very careful on picking camps as the floods peak and they have been very high last few years and similar expectation this year.

There are lots of recent Bots trip reports on Safaritalk to give you an idea of this past green season viewing.

should probably clarify when I wrote Early green season and late green season could be different too, I mean in terms of the exerience ( water, rains, longer grasses etc etc ) -though nothing written in stone on one being better than the other

I'm one of the people with a green season trip report over on Safaritalk- it was early December to Tubu Tree, Kwara and Duma Tau. Cost was $5500 for 12 days (excluding international flights).

I'm doing another trip in April to Duba Plains, Selinda and Tau Pan- cost about $4500 for 10 days.

In high season, you would more than double those prices.

I am not sure if Wilderness will have these offers on again this year. Last year I think they were only announced about June/July. Kwando have the 5 rivers special on every year. The only problem is that the Kwando circuit is very Linyanti- heavy. I was very lucky at Duma Tau because the wild dogs put on a good show for me, but the Linyanti is an area where general game numbers are very low in the green season. So if the predators aren't playing ball you could have a very boring stay! Someone over on ST did Lebala-Lagoon-Kwara and was a bit disappointed. Kwara seems to always deliver, but the Linyanti is hit and miss in the green season.

I shudder to even ask... how much is Mombo these days? I think when we went it was $1500 per night (for 2 people).

I was there in late Aug, early Sept last year. Banoka, Chitabe and Duma Tau. Agree that $1000 pp pn is easily the estimate for that time frame.

To all
As long as the economic crisis continues there will always be specials. We even offer a discount on those specials.

Yours on Safari
Mark

Prices vary between seasons, camps, and if the safari is fly-in or mobile tented camps. Try checking out the safaris on offer highlighted on the Botswana Tourism USA website at http://www.botswanatourism.us/travel...als/index.html

May I suggest you also consider Limpopo-Lipadi if your plan includes coming to the Tuli area near Mashatu. Our rates are very reasonable in comparison to northern Botswana.
http://www.limpopo-lipadi.org

>> I shudder to even ask... how much is Mombo these days? I think when we went it was $1500 per night (for 2 people).

It can now be as high a 2200$ pppn

I just returned from Botswana and had an extraordinary safari, despite this being the low or Green season. Pricing was around one-third what it would be in the peak winter season. Although we had a private vehicle throughout (which is not discounted) and several other extras, the 8 day safari was, in my opinion, very well priced. I would not pay full price in Botswana in the peak season given how well our trip went. Details are here:
http://safaritalk.net/topic/8028-bot...-green-season/

Wow, sounds/looks like an awesome trip. Do you know if the "green season" prices extends into May?

No they don't. I understand its only through the end of March.