Typically, we recommend booking your safari 6 or even 12 months in advance for best availability – however, COVID has made last-minute bookings not only possible, but advantageous.
Safari Planner Annie shares her insider tips below for booking a safari now.
It's not too late to book a safari for late 2020 or early 2021
If you are itching to travel… Kenya and Tanzania are now open for travelers, and this is a special year to be in Africa, with very few other visitors. This is a rare opportunity for a private, exclusive safari in East Africa, experiencing the best wildlife locations with a fraction of the typical crowds.
If you are going to travel in the time of COVID, this is the ideal destination – these areas have extremely low population densities, with the built-in ability for physical distancing, outdoor and open-air activities, plus serious safety protocols. East Africa is home to some of the wildest places on Earth, and after months at home, the rejuvenating effect of being in nature is even more profound.
Traveling here is a great way to support the local people, places, and wildlife who have gone without their much-needed tourism dollars for much of 2020.
There is currently good availability at the best camps in the most iconic destinations. We have never before seen so many tents available at the best camps in October, for peak dry season conditions and river crossing action; or for the late December holiday period.
Along with that, international flights are at prices we have never seen before; most major US gateways have roundtrip flights to Nairobi and Kilimanjaro for under $800 per person – with some closer to $500 per person! These prices are showing up for 2020 and even into high season 2021.
And you can feel confident in your investment with more flexible booking terms – we have pushed back final payment due dates; camps are currently still offering postponements for COVID-related reasons; and some camps have more flexible cancellation terms.
Please inquire with your safari planner for specific terms and conditions for your exact itinerary.
Now is the time to book a safari for all of 2021 (and 2022!)
In contrast to the wide open availability of 2020, mid-2021 onward has very tight availability due to all of the postponed safaris from 2020. We would recommend booking safaris for 2021 (and even 2022!) by the end of 2020, to ensure best availability for the top camps.
We are still seeing some great deals (free bush flights, free night specials, etc.) for 2021 and 2022, particularly in the shoulder seasons.
Use the Contact Form below to inquire with your safari planner for the latest deals.
