Average Costs of a Safari in Namibia (Per person per day)
The costings table here gives an instant overview of how much the average Namibia safari will cost, depending on your travel style. Despite the general sense of wilderness and the huge distances involved, the great thing about Namibia is the reliable infrastructure. This means it’s a very affordable safari destination, and one where it’s perfectly possible to go it all alone with a tent and a hire car. If you’re aiming for the luxury stars then Namibia has some of Africa’s finest safari camps. Coming in the low season will save money on these.
| Comfort Level | Private (per day) | Group (per day) |
|---|---|---|
Budget Camping
|
$225 | $175 |
Mid Range Accommodation
|
$225 | $175 |
Luxury Accommodation
|
$575 | $525 |
Budget Rates in USD $
Excluding additional costs, such as international flights, tips and personal items
Additional Costs Explained
The following list covers a few additional Namibia costs – some obvious,
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International flights
Getting to Namibia can be time-consuming and expensive. The only direct flights from Europe are with Lufthansa. There is nothing direct from the US. Most people transit through Johannesburg or Cape Town.
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Visa Costs
Many nationalities can obtain a tourist visa (valid for 90 days) on arrival for a cost of $75. A multi-entry tourist visa is $100.
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Accommodation
Namibia has a wide selection of safari accommodation in all price bands. If you want exclusive, intimate camps, Namibia has some of the best on the continent. It also has a good network of backpacker-orientated accommodation and comfortable mid-range guesthouses.
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Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations for entry into Namibia, and the dry climate means malaria is not a huge issue here.
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Tips
In top-end accommodation leave a tip that will be shared between all staff (around 10% of the total cost of your stay). Tips for drivers and guides can quickly add up: $25 per person per day should be ample.
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Travel Insurance
Standard travel insurance is fine for all safari activities in Namibia. If you’re going to add on a few days of sky diving and paragliding in Swakopmund, then check your insurance covers you for this.
10 factors influencing the cost of a Namibia safari
There are a number of different factors that can have an influence on the cost of a safari. Location, time of year, group size, and level of comfort and exclusivity are the most important things to consider. The good news though, is that with its vast open spaces and low number of visitors, nowhere in Namibia ever feels overly touristy.
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1
Length of stay
Park entry fees are charged on a 24-hour basis and don’t get cheaper the longer you stay in a park. If you’re on a fully organized safari then prices will only drop a little the longer you stay. If, however, you’re traveling fully or partially independently then prices on vehicle rental and accommodation can become significantly cheaper the longer you stay.
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2
Level of comfort of accommodation
Namibia is home to some of the plushest – and priciest – safari lodges in Africa. These are normally in very remote and wild regions. But the good news is that Namibia also has a comprehensive selection of good value and very affordable mid-range and budget accommodation. This includes wilderness campsites, urban hostels and park-authority-run cottages, which makes Namibia an ideal place for a memorable budget safari.
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3
Location of the accommodation
Namibia is a huge and sparsely populated country with numerous protected zones. The most famous parks are the astounding Etosha National Park and the Skeleton Coast National Park. But even here visitor numbers are relatively low and you can normally find something that suits the depth of your pocket. The only exceptions to this are the very exclusive safari camps located in remote parts of the country. These kinds of places can normally only be reached by air and are not designed for anyone on any kind of budget.
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4
Group size
Most organized safaris in Namibia are either fully tailored to the clients’ needs or are small group tours. There are very few large package-tour safaris. A large percentage of budget and mid-range travelers go on an independently organized safari. For this reason the size of your group doesn’t generally make a big difference to overall costs (unless splitting the cost of a rental vehicle).
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5
When you want to go
As with most safari countries, there’s a low, high and middle season in Namibia. Coming during the June to September high season will result in the highest accommodation prices. Conversely, coming in the October to February low season will generally result in lower prices. But, unlike much of Africa, low season in bone-dry Namibia doesn’t correspond with washed-out roads and closed parks. Instead it’s the grueling heat that can make travel at this time a challenge. Taking all this into account, we’d suggest the March to May period as the ideal combination of bearable temperatures and lower mid-season prices.
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How to get around
The most remote and exclusive camps can only really be reached by air, and flight prices tend to be high. You’d be lucky to spend less than $200 per flight per person. The vast majority of visitors travel everywhere by road. The good road network and stunning scenery make this a pleasure, whether traveling in a fully organized safari or with family or friends in a rental vehicle. (Bring camping gear if doing this.) Jeep rental can be had from $125 per day.
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7
Where you want to go
If you stick to areas that can be easily reached via the main road system using a standard saloon car and carry your own camping equipment, then a Namibia safari can be cheap. This can include most of the best-known parks and reserves. It’s a different story if you want to get out into the wilds. Then you’ll either need to join a fully organized, tailor-made safari, fly to an exclusive safari camp or hire a serious 4WD and be fully self-sufficient. You’ll need to carry a lot of spare fuel and water. Any of these options will cost a lot.
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Add-ons
The small coastal city of Swakopmund has become something of an extreme sports center for Africa. Many people like to add in a few days here to do paragliding, sand boarding and skydiving. Expect to pay around $325 per person for the thrill of chucking yourself out of an airplane.
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9
Extensions
Popular extensions to a Namibia safari include a few days in Cape Town (South Africa) or Victoria Falls (Vic Falls; on the Zambia–Zimbabwe border). Many people fly to Namibia via South Africa so the Cape Town extension is the easiest and cheapest option. Getting to/from Vic Falls from Namibia is generally a little more complicated and therefore more expensive.
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10
Specialized interests
In a country as hot and dry as Namibia, a hiking holiday might not sound very appealing. But Namibia is home to one of the geological wonders of the continent, the Fish River Canyon. The five-day, 85km-long hike along the floor of this dramatic landform is very popular but also very demanding. You can only do it in a group and should book well in advance.
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