Perch AfricaSafaris · East Africa

Safari guide

Safari costs and fees

Where the money actually goes, and which numbers are fixed before anyone quotes you.

Private guide & vehicle

Never shared with strangers

Park fees in the price

Line-by-line proforma

Real camp availability

Checked before we quote

50% deposit secures it

Balance paid closer to travel

Safari pricing confuses people because a large share of it is set by governments and conservancies rather than by the operator. Park fees, permits and flight seats are the same for everyone; the camp and the vehicle are where quotes differ.

We show every one of these lines on the proforma invoice, with taxes separated, so you can compare our quote against anyone else's like for like.

01

What sits in a nightly rate

A camp rate almost always covers these; anything else is listed as an extra.

  • Accommodation, all meals and usually house drinks
  • Shared or private game drives depending on tier
  • Camp activities such as bush walks and night drives where permitted
  • Transfers between the camp and its airstrip

02

Fees set by others

Park and conservancy entry fees are charged per person per 24 hours and vary by park and season. Gorilla permits are fixed per trek. Concession and crater-descent fees apply in specific reserves. None of these are negotiable, and they are the same figure on every quote you receive.

03

Taxes

Kenyan and Tanzanian invoices carry statutory VAT, and Kenyan hospitality bills add a catering levy and service charge. We itemise them rather than folding them into the headline price.

04

Flights and vehicles

Internal scheduled flights between parks typically cost less than a full day of private vehicle hire once you count the guide and fuel, and they return a game-viewing day to your itinerary. Private charters cost more and suit groups of four or more.

05

Deposits and payment

We confirm a booking on a 50% deposit, with the balance due before travel and a reminder sent a month ahead. Camps hold space only once the deposit lands, particularly for July to October.

06

Tipping

Tipping is customary but modest and never compulsory. Guides, camp staff and airstrip porters are the usual recipients; we give written guidance with your final documents so you are not guessing at the gate.

Planning safari costs and fees?

Get a free, costed itinerary with real availability. No payment and no commitment until you are happy.

Get my free itinerary

Why settle for a brochure safari

Plan safari costs and fees with a team that plans it around you

  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Named stays and itemised costs
  • Availability checked before confirmation

Simple, no obligation

How planning safari costs and fees works

  1. 1

    Tell us the basics

    Dates, who is travelling, budget and what you most want to see. Two minutes in the planner or a short message.

  2. 2

    Get a costed itinerary

    A day-by-day route with named camps, flights, park fees and a clear total — plus alternatives if dates are tight.

  3. 3

    Refine, then secure

    Change anything until it feels right. A 50% deposit holds your camps; nothing is booked until you say so.

Questions about safari costs and fees

Is the itinerary really free?

Yes. You receive a costed, day-by-day itinerary with no payment and no obligation. You only pay once you decide to secure the trip.

What does the quoted price include?

Accommodation, meals as listed, your private guide and vehicle, park and conservancy fees and the transfers or flights shown. Every inclusion and exclusion is listed line by line on your proforma.

How do I secure my safari?

A 50% deposit holds your camps and flights. The balance is due closer to departure, and we send reminders well ahead of the due date.

Can I change the itinerary?

Anything can change before you book: camps, number of nights, the order of parks, adding a beach finish or switching between luxury and ultra-luxury.

Is it a group tour?

No. Every journey is private — your own guide and vehicle, leaving when you are ready and stopping when you want.

Keep exploring

Park fee tablesCurrent fees park by parkItineraries by lengthCosted 5 to 14 day journeysAccommodation tiersWhat each tier buys youBest time to visitSeason drives price

Every Perch Africa journey is built from scratch.

Tell us your dates, your travelling party and your budget and we will come back with a costed itinerary, real camp availability and a clear price — no templates.

Talk to a safari designerOpen the trip planner

Not every safari company. The safari company.

Planned around you. Priced in the open. Built to end on a high.

Anyone can send you a brochure. We build your journey with named stays, verified availability and every cost shown before you commit — then save the finest sighting for your final golden hour.

Build my free itinerary

  1. 01

    Built around you, never pulled from a template

    Your dates, pace, interests and budget shape the route. We order every stop logically and keep the strongest experience for the finish.

  2. 02

    A private guide and vehicle

    Your safari is not a shared departure. Leave when you are ready, stay longer at a sighting and adjust each day with your guide.

  3. 03

    Named stays and a costed day-by-day plan

    You see the proposed camps, transfers, flights, park fees, inclusions and exclusions before you decide—not just a headline price.

  4. 04

    Availability checked before we call it confirmed

    Suggested stays remain suggestions until checked. We verify the space for your dates before issuing the booking offer.

  5. 05

    Refine the trip before you commit

    Change the route, number of nights, camp level or transport until the journey fits. Nothing is booked until you approve it.

  6. 06

    One clear path from idea to departure

    The itinerary, quote and booking details stay aligned. A 50% deposit secures the approved trip, with the balance paid closer to travel.