Luxury African Safari Lodges for $1000 per person per night

If you had $1000 to spend, which option would you choose?

If you ask us to choose between a 40sqm room in a Highrise building in London, versus an 80sqm free-standing, en-suite in the middle of pristine wilderness – both at €1,000 per person per night – there is no competition... In today's world, spending $1,000 a night for an entry-level room in most big cities has become normal. This doesn't even include the cost of a five-star stay in a popular tourist destination such as the Amalfi Coast or the south of France. The number of hotels worldwide with room rates exceeding a thousand dollars has tripled since 2019. In the United States, the number of hotels charging more than a thousand dollars has almost quadrupled in the last four years, increasing from 22 in 2019 to 80 this year.  

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Where would you rather stay for $1000 per night? A city hotel suite or a luxury safari lodge in the pristine African wilderness?

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Your options for an African safari at $1,000-$1,500 per night: a non-comprehensive list

To give you some insight into what this budget will get you in Africa, versus any similarly priced luxury European, UK and USA options, here are some options in Africa’s most popular destinations. Remember that any rates listed at high season will be much less in the low seasons!

Botswana

• Nxabega Okavango Tented $1,270 - low season 11 Jan - 31 Mar 25

• Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp $1,495 - low season 11 Jan - 31 Mar 25

• Chobe Under Canvas $1,090 - high season 01 Jul - 31 Oct / 21 Dec 25 - 02 Jan 26

• Savuti $1,400 (20 Dec 2025 - 5 Jan 2026) - $1,259 (1-30 Apr / 1 Nov - 19 Dec 2025)  

• King's Pool $1,424 - 6 Jan - 31 Mar 2025

• Mokete between $1,212-$1,418  

• Chitabe $1,480 - 6 Jan - 31 Mar 2025

• Chitabe Lediba $1,480 - 6 Jan - 31 Mar 2025

• Jacana $1,475 - 1 Jun - 31 Oct / 20 Dec 2025 - 5 Jan 2026

• Kwetsani $1,482 - 1 -30 Apr / 1 Nov - 19 Dec 2025

• Little Tubu - $1,480 - 6 Jan - 31 Mar 2025

• Little Vumbura $1,480 - 6 Jan - 31 Mar 2025

• Qorokwe $1,480 - 6 Jan - 31 Mar 2025

• Tubu Tree $1,480 - 6 Jan - 31 Mar 2025

• Linyanti Bush Camp $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025

• Linyanti Ebony $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

• Khwai Lediba $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

• Khwai Leadwood $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

• Atzaró Okavango Camp $1,225 - Mid Season: Apr 01 - May 31, 2025 & Nov 01 - Nov 30, 2025

• Litte Sable $1,350 - 1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 (High Season)

• Sable Alley $1,495 - 1 - 31 May 2025 (Shoulder High Season) $1,265 - 1 - 30 Apr, 1 Nov - 19 Dec (Shoulder Season)

• Tuludi $1,465 - 10 Jan - 31 Mar 2025 (Green Season)

• Mokolwane $1,350 - 1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 (Peak Season)

• Duke’s Camp $1,360 - 1 - 30 Apr, 1 Nov - 19 Dec (Shoulder High Season)

• Duke’s East $1,360 - 1 - 30 Apr, 1 Nov - 19 Dec (Shoulder High Season)  

• North Island Okavango $1,465 - 10 Jan - 31 Mar (Green Season) (lodge will be closed 5 January to 14 March 2025 for renovations)  

• Unchartered Expeditions Camp $1,505 - 10 Jan - 30 Jun, 1 Sep - 9 Jan 2026 (All year)

• Meno a Kwena $1,215 - 1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 (Peak Season)

• Camp Kalahari: $1,215 - 1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 (Peak Season)

Kenya  

• Suyian Lodge (suite) $1,500 - mid season 1 Nov - 20 Dec  

• Masia Mara Bateleur Camp (luxury tent) $1,420 - mid season 11Jan - 31 Mar / 01 Nov - 20 Dec 2025 / 6-10 Jan 2026  

• Masia Mara Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp (superior view tents) $1,420 - high season 01 Jul - 31 Oct / 21 Dec 2025 - 05 Jan 2026

Mozambique (Benguerra Island)

• Cabana $1,320 peak season 21 Dec 2025 - 10 Jan 2026 / $1,050 high season 11 Jan - 20 Dec 2025

• Casinha $1,445 - high season 11 Jan - 20 Dec 2025

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South Africa:

• Kirkmans Kamp (cottage) ZAR 25,450 ($1,434.07) - high season 11 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

• Ngala Safari Lodge ZAR17,820 ($1,004.13)- high season 11 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

• Ngala Tented Camp ZAR24,100 ($1,358)- high season 11 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

• Ngala Tree House ZAR10,800 ($608.56)- high season 11 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

• Phinda Forest Lodge ZAR17,100 ($963.56) - high season 11 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

• Phinda Mountain Suites ZAR16,750 ($943.84) - high season 11 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

• Phinda Rock Lodge ZAR21,750 ($1,225.58) - high season 11 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

• Phinda Vlei Lodge ZAR21,750 ($1,225.58)- high season 11 Jan 2025 - 10 Jan 2026

• Ecca Lodge ZAR22,100 ($1,246.62) - 16 Jan - 20 Apr '25 / ZAR23'800 - 1 Oct '25 - 30 Apr '26

• Great Fish River ZAR22,100 ($1,246.62) - 16 Jan - 20 Apr '25 / ZAR23,800 ($1,342.51) - 1 Oct '25 - 30 Apr '26

• Kambaku River Sands ZAR13,535 ($763.48) - Year-round 2025 - add a private vehicle for ZAR12,000 ($676.90) to get a more exclusive experience

• Kings Camp ZAR17,300 ($975.86) - 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

• Makanyi ZAR23,000 ($1,297.39) - 01 April 2025 – 31 March 2026 (luxury pool suite)

• Walkers Plains Camp ZAR15,880 ($895.76) - 15 Jul - 31 Aug '25 / 16 Dec '25 - 10 Jan '26 (Peak Season). Add a private vehicle for ZAR12,100 ($676.90) to get a more exclusive experience

• Leopard Hills ZAR24,900 ($1,404.56) - 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025

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Tanzania

• Lake Manyara Tree Lodge $1,390 - mid season 11 Jan - 28 Feb 2025

• Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge $1,310 - mid season 11 Jan - 31 Mar / 01 - 15 May / 1 Nov - 20 Dec 2025

• Serengeti Klein's Camp (Cottages) $1,050 - mid season 11 Jan - 31 May / 01 Nov - 20 Dec 2025

• Serengeti Under Canvas $1,130 - mid season 01 Nov - 20 Dec 2025

• Usawa Serengeti Camp $1,540 - 18 Dec 2025 - 28 Feb 2026

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Namibia

• Serra Cafema ZAR26,516 ($1,494.14)- 1 Jun - 31 Oct 2025 / 20 Dec 2025 - 5 Jan 2026

• Skeleton Coast Hoanib ZAR19,305 ($1,087.81) - 1 Apr - 31 May / 1 Nov - 19 Dec 2025

• Sossusvlei Little Kulala ZAR24,312 ($1,369.94)- 1 Jun - 31 Oct / 20 Dec 2025 - 5 Jan ' 26

• Kwessi Dunes ZAR18,495 ($1,042.17) - 1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 (High Season)

• Hoanib Valley Camp ZAR23,995 ($1,352.08) - 1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 (High Season)

• Shipwreck Lodge ZAR24,850 ($1,400.26) - 1 Sep - 31 Oct, 20 Dec 2025 - 9 Jan 2026 (High Season)

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Rwanda

• Magashi $1,322 - 1 Jun - 31 Oct 2025 / 16 Dec 2025 - 28 Feb 2026

• Sabyinyo (Cottage) $1,441 - 1 Mar - 30 Apr 2025

Zambia

• Livingstone Toka Leya $1,088 - 1 Jun - 31 Oct 2025 / 20 Dec 2025 - 5 Jan 2026

• Thorntree River Lodge $1,490 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

• Lolebezi $1,225 - Mid Season: Apr 01 - May 31, 2025 & Nov 01 - Nov 30 2025

Zimbabwe

• Little Makalolo $1,324 - 1 Nov - 19 Dec 2025

• Little Ruckomechi $1,464 - 1 Jun - 19 Nov 2025

• Nyamatusi Camp $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

• Nyamatusi Mahogany $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

• Bumi Hills Safari Lodge $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

• Somalisa Camp $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

• Somalisa Acacia $1,305 - High Season: Jun 01 - Oct 31, 2025  

Insider top-tip: most safari lodges offer Pay 3-Stay 4, honeymoon or reduced single traveler packages, which brings the cost person per night right down to much less than any comparable European or USA rates! At Wild Wonderful World, we stay up to date with the latest safari offerings & discounts, taking the guesswork out of safari planning and optimising your African safari experience with insider tips and information.

Let’s make it happen!

Any of these destinations tickle your fancy? Curious to explore how your next overseas holiday can be a little less stressful and a whole lot more relaxing? Don’t hesitate to contact us via email or schedule a non-committal, free call with one of our experienced travel consultants to scope out your dream African safari!

Written by Evelyn Poole

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