Is a Luxury African Safari Worth it? An Anxious Traveler’s take

If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you are thinking about booking a luxury South African safari. And if you’re like me, you’re wondering if a South African safari is worth the time and money it takes to get there. Not to mention the million questions you have about lodging, bathrooms, air conditioning, food, and everything else us anxious humans worry about on a normal day.

I will answer all of that and more, so keep reading!

What You Need to Know about South Africa

General

South Africa is a country filled with diverse landscapes and people. From the shores of Cape Town, to the bush in Kruger National Park, with so many animals to see in between, it’s no wonder that many people choose South Africa for their first safari destination. If you are from the United States or Europe, you can travel visa-free for up to 90 days. (Some European countries only have 30 days, double check before you book!)

Language

South Africa’s constitution recognizes a whopping 11 languages. Thankfully, English is one of them! Most South Africans speak at least two languages, if not more. We often heard our safari guide speaking on the radio, mixing Afrikaans, English, and (what I think was) IsiZulu in a single sentence.

Money

The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR). You’ll definitely want to change money at the airport because everyone expects tips. We changed about $260 USD and gave all of it away in tips.

Safety

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room with this one: Johannesburg. It is very known for its high crime rate, and we heard several stories from other guests at our lodge about almost getting carjacked or robbed there. We were only transiting through there, and we opted to stay in our hotel overnight rather than go explore the city. It took us almost 20 hours to get there after we left Raleigh, so we were pretty tired anyways. There are two hotels in the airport, the City Lodge Hotel and the Intercontinental. We liked the City Lodge Hotel and I would recommend booking it if you are only transiting through to Kruger National Park. Read more about safety on the safari below!

Luxury vs Non-Luxury Safaris in South Africa

There are different levels of safaris depending on your budget.

Your “budget” category will get you mostly tented camps with basic amenities or hotels outside Kruger National Park. You probably won’t have air conditioning or other creature comforts we are accustomed to here in the United States. It looks more like glamping than camping but you are definitely going to be at one with nature.

“Mid range” will get you nicer accommodation both outside and inside the park. You might have a mix of nicer tented camps, guesthouses, or luxury lodges inside the park.

“Luxury” will get you the best lodges and camps with the highest level of service and amenities like a pool or air conditioning.

So is a luxury South African safari worth it? I absolutely think so. The extra level of service and amenities helped my anxiety tremendously on our trip. Our hotel was responsive before our trip, and they arranged transportation for us as well as ensured I was able to eat gluten free while we stayed with them.

Q&A for Travelers with Anxiety

We answered the question of if a luxury African safari is worth it, so let’s dive in to all the questions my anxious mind had going into this trip.

Where am I going to go to the bathroom on game drives?

The concession we stayed on allowed guests from any lodge to use their bathrooms. Additionally, there are picnic areas with bathrooms throughout the park. And if worst comes to worst, you can go in the bush. Your guide will make sure it is safe for you before you heed nature’s call!

Is it a safari safe?

Yes! Especially if you are staying at a mid-range or luxury lodge. The guides have years of training before they are allowed to drive you around the park. They are in tune with the animal’s body language as well. We were at a watering hole watching some elephants when an entire herd appeared filled with lots of babies. Some of the moms did not like that we were there, and they started to give us signals that they wanted us to leave. Our guide immediately started backing us out of there, giving the elephants the space they needed. However, we came across another herd of elephants on the side of the road, and there were other safari vehicles there from some budget accommodations. One of the drivers started honking his horn, which is a HUGE NO NO with elephants. The sound can provoke them and they will charge you. Our guide quickly got us out of there again because he didn’t want anything to happen to us from the other guide’s negligence. That alone makes a luxury African safari worth it!

What shots/medicines do I need?

If you are going to South Africa from a country that does not have yellow fever (i.e. from the US to South Africa with no stops between), you do not need a yellow fever shot. There are “recommended” shots but nothing else is mandatory for arrival. We opted to take Malaria pills even though where we were is a low risk zone. I am paranoid about insect borne illnesses after getting bit by a tick and not being able to eat red meat anymore.

Should I bring mosquito spray?

YES. Our lodge had some that we ended up using, but it’s not a bad idea to have your own. I also sprayed down some of our clothing with Permethrin before we left. It was overkill but I only got one bite so #worthit.

What do I need to wear?

Khaki, green, gray, and blue are all good colors. Neon, bright, stand out colors are not your friend. Essentially you want to be able to blend in with your surroundings. I did see people wear all sorts of colors, but everything was subdued. If you are planning on doing a bush walk, I highly recommend buying clothing that does match the bush. You can read more in my Safari Packing Guide (stay tuned!).

What if I am a picky eater/have food allergies?

This is why a luxury safari is worth it. You know you will receive a higher level of service, including making adjustments for things like this. Our lodge let me know what was gluten free as well as substitute red meat for chicken.

My Personal South African Safari Lodge Recommendation

Hoyo Hoyo front entrance

I absolutely loved staying at Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge in Kruger National Park. I would absolutely stay there again! It is all inclusive so your meals, game drives, drinks, and more are baked into the price you pay up front. Bush walks are also included in this price, but subject to the availability of the guides. They also have a spa, so if you want to get a massage while listening to the sounds of the bush, you can but you have to pay extra. We both got a massage for $50 USD!

And, the most incredible moment of my life happened while we were there. Hoyo Hoyo is situated on an ancient elephant migration path, so you can see elephants almost daily at the watering hole across from the eating area. And on Christmas Day, an elephant walked right up to our room! It wandered through the camp most of the afternoon, eating Amarillo fruit and grass growing up around the huts.

So if you are obsessed with elephants like me and dream of watching them splash in the water while you eat breakfast, book Hoyo Hoyo.

Bottom Line: Is a Luxury African Safari worth it?

YES. Start saving now because a luxury African safari is WORTH IT. We spent about $7500 including flights, hotels on either side of our trip in Johannesburg, safari lodge, and transfers from the airport. When I think about how much we spent on this trip versus some of the others we’ve been on, I think hands down this one was worth every penny. So what are you waiting for?

PS - if you have any questions that I didn’t answer above, drop them in the comments!