Most safari tours sold in the US are group departures: a fixed date, a fixed route, a shared vehicle and a price per seat. Of course, that suits some travelers. However, many of the people who write to us want the opposite. Instead, they want their own guide and vehicle, camps picked for their dates, and a route that doesn’t waste a day in the car.
In fact, that’s the only kind of trip we plan. NndeeAfrika is a family company with roots on Kilimanjaro and a home in California, so we plan from both ends of the journey: the long flight out of the US and the ground in Africa. So below are the African safari tours our guests book most, how to choose between countries, what a private tour includes, and how planning works with us.
14 African safari tours we plan most often
Each of these is a starting point, mapped day by day. Then we change the camps, the pace and the length to fit you. Each tour comes priced to your budget, so there’s no set price on any of them.
East Africa
| Tour | Days | Route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Northern Circuit, Unhurried | 10 | Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, central and northern Serengeti | First safari in Tanzania |
| Serengeti to the Spice Coast | 12 | Ngorongoro, Serengeti migration camps, Stone Town, Zanzibar | Safari plus beach |
| Following the Herds | 11 | Tanzania and Kenya, camps placed with the herds by month | Migration and river crossings |
| The East Africa Circle | 13 | Amboseli, a private Maasai Mara conservancy, Serengeti, Ngorongoro | Two countries in one trip |
| All Five, First Time | 8 | Kenya’s best Big Five areas | A shorter first safari |
| The Family Safari | 11 | Kenya and the coast | Children and grandparents |
| The Honeymoon: Wild Then Barefoot | 11 | Tanzania and Zanzibar | Couples |
| The Mara & the Indian Ocean | 12 | Nairobi, Maasai Mara conservancy, Amboseli, Seychelles | Safari plus islands |
| Gorillas & Golden Grass | 10 | Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Maasai Mara | Gorillas plus big cats |
| Kilimanjaro: The Lemosho Route | 11 | Lemosho route to Uhuru Peak | Climbers |
Southern Africa
| Tour | Days | Route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta, River & Falls | 9 | Maun, Okavango Delta, Chobe, Victoria Falls | Water safaris and elephants |
| Cape, Vines & Leopard Country | 11 | Cape Town, Winelands, a private Greater Kruger reserve | Safari plus food and wine |
| Cape, Falls & Delta | 12 | South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana | Three countries, one trip |
| Zambia on Foot & by River | 9 | Zambia’s walking-safari country | Repeat safari travelers |
See all 17 journeys, including Namibia, Egypt and Morocco, on our itineraries page.
What guests say about our African safari tours
Every review below appears on Trustpilot or Google, in the guest’s own words.
“I was introduced to Evance who did an excellent job by customizing our trip and the accommodation were really first class, likewise our guide was so professional.”
“Our guide Emmanuel was amazing and somehow managed to spot wildlife we never would have seen on our own. We did Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro.”
“This was my family’s first trip to Africa, so we had A LOT of questions. She made the process so easy and managed to alleviate any insecurities about us taking such a big trip with our children.”
You can also read more on our guest reviews page.
Group tours vs private African safari tours
In fact, the difference shows up on the first morning. On a group tour, the vehicle leaves when the schedule says, stops when the group agrees, and heads back for lunch. On a private tour, your guide waits at the leopard tree as long as you want, or skips lunch because the lions are moving.
What changes with a private tour:
- Your own guide. Private guides and vehicles are, of course, included where specified. At some Southern African camps, game drives may be shared unless a private vehicle is reserved, and we tell you which ones before you book.
- Your dates. You leave when your calendar allows, not when a departure is scheduled.
- Camps picked for the season. For example, the Serengeti in February and the Serengeti in August are different trips. So we place you where the wildlife is that month.
- Your pace. For instance, children, grandparents and photographers rarely want the same day.
We compare the two in more detail, including cost, in private vs group safari. If you’re weighing a packaged tour against a tailor-made one, read African safari packages vs tailor-made.
Where to go: choosing a country
Tanzania
The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire make up the Northern Circuit, which is still the classic first safari. In addition, this is Evance’s home country, and it’s the region we know best. Tanzania also has the Great Migration for most of the year, and a short flight takes you on to Zanzibar for the beach. Tanzania safaris
Kenya
The Maasai Mara is the place for big cats and the July to October river crossings. However, we prefer private conservancies on the edge of the reserve: fewer vehicles, night drives and walks, which the main reserve doesn’t allow. Then add Amboseli for elephants under Kilimanjaro. Kenya safaris
Rwanda and Uganda
Mountain gorilla trekking. Permits are limited and sell out for peak months, so we secure them first and build the rest of the trip around the trek date. Most guests then pair one or two treks with a safari in Kenya or Tanzania. Gorilla trekking · Rwanda vs Uganda for gorillas
Botswana
The Okavango Delta works on low numbers: few camps, large private concessions, and mokoro and boat safaris you can’t do in East Africa. It’s the best choice if privacy matters more than anything else. Botswana safaris
South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe
South Africa pairs a private Greater Kruger reserve with Cape Town and the Winelands. Also, some reserves are malaria-free, which helps families with young children. Meanwhile, Zambia is the best country for walking safaris. Finally, Zimbabwe has Victoria Falls and very good guiding at Mana Pools and Hwange. South Africa · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Not sure which one fits? In that case, our guide to the best country for a first safari walks through the choice.
Getting there from the USA
Flight time decides more of your itinerary than most people expect.
- Kenya: nonstop flights run from New York (JFK) to Nairobi.
- South Africa: likewise, nonstop flights run from the US East Coast to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
- Tanzania: there’s no nonstop from the US. Instead, most guests connect once in Europe or the Middle East and land at Kilimanjaro.
- Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe: usually via Johannesburg.
We also plan a quiet first night after the long flight. It’s worth it, because a game drive straight off a 16-hour journey is wasted on everyone. More detail on routes, airlines and timing is in flights from the USA to an African safari.
What a private safari tour includes
Inclusions vary by camp, so we list them line by line in your quote. On our tours, the usual set is:
- Camps and lodges chosen for your dates and style
- All meals and house drinks on safari
- Game drives, walks or boat activities led by your guide
- Park and conservation fees
- Light-aircraft flights between parks, where that saves a long drive
- Airport meet-and-greet and private transfers
- Laundry at most safari camps
- Support from our team while you travel
What’s usually extra: international flights, travel insurance, visas, gorilla permits (quoted separately), balloon flights, premium drinks and tips. Our tipping guide covers how much and when.
How much African safari tours cost
Every journey is priced to your budget. What moves the price most is the season, the camps you choose, the number of nights, flights between parks and whether you want a private vehicle throughout. As a guide, luxury safari camps and lodges typically run from about $1,000 to $3,000 or more per person per night, and June to October costs more than the rest of the year.
Also, park fees are set by governments, not by us, and they’re included in your quote. The full breakdown, with examples, is in how much a luxury safari costs. There are also country-specific guides for Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana and South Africa.
When to go
- June to October: dry season across East and Southern Africa. Animals gather at water and the bush thins out; as a result, this is the busiest and most expensive time.
- July to October: Great Migration river crossings in the northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara.
- January to February: calving season in the southern Serengeti, with plenty of predators and fewer vehicles.
- November and April to May: green season. Lower rates, fewer people and good birding. However, some camps close in April and May.
- Gorilla trekking: possible all year. Still, June to September and December to February are drier underfoot.
For Christmas, New Year, US summer holidays and migration dates, book 9 to 18 months ahead. That is because the best small camps fill first. See when to go on safari for month by month detail.
How planning works with us
- A call. The first consultation is complimentary. We ask about dates, who’s traveling, what you want to see and your budget.
- Your proposal. Next, we send a day-by-day route with camps, flights and a clear quote.
- Changes until it’s right. For example, swap camps, add a beach or slow the pace. Then we confirm every camp, flight, guide and permit.
- On the trip. You get full travel documents before you leave, and our team is reachable while you travel.
Read what past guests say on our reviews page, or start your inquiry.
FAQs about African safari tours
How long should an African safari tour be?
For a first trip from the US, plan 8 to 10 nights on safari. That gives you two or three areas without rushing. Add 3 or 4 nights if you want a beach at the end. Shorter trips are possible, but most of the first two days go on travel and recovery.
Are private safari tours worth it compared with group tours?
For families, photographers and anyone with fixed dates, usually yes. Above all, you control the pace, the vehicle and the timing. However, group tours cost less per person and suit solo travelers who want company. Our private vs group safari guide compares both.
Which country is best for a first African safari tour?
Tanzania or Kenya for classic savannah wildlife and the migration. South Africa if you want Cape Town and the Winelands in the same trip, or a malaria-free reserve for young children.
Can I combine a safari with a beach?
Yes. For example, Zanzibar follows Tanzania easily. Similarly, the Seychelles and Mauritius pair well with Kenya or Southern Africa, and Mozambique’s islands pair with South Africa. See beaches and islands.
Are African safari tours safe for families?
Yes, with the right camps. Many camps set minimum ages for game drives, often six and up; however, a private vehicle or a family house usually removes that limit. Our family safaris page lists what works at each age.
Plan your African safari tour. Tell us your dates and who’s traveling, and we’ll send you a first route. Start your inquiry
Written by NndeeAfrika · Published 4 November 2026 · A planning guide for 2027 travel
