Is there such thing as an affordable safari? How to holiday in the wild without breaking the bank

East African languages may not be your forte, but we all know one word in Swahili: safari. Though it actually translates as ‘journey’, we understand safari to mean a trip seeking animals in the wild. But there’s more to it than ticking off the Big Five on an African plain; safaris can just as easily focus on creatures much closer to home.

Whether it’s turtles in Turkey, birds on the Black Sea or even red squirrels and whales here in Britain, safaris are about heading out into nature and relishing the moment.

The catch is that, as a rule of thumb, wildlife thrives better in more remote regions, so getting there can be costly. But if you travel off-season, skip the luxury lodges, and choose destinations with favourable exchange rates, your bucket-list wildlife encounter need not have a budget-busting price tag. Here’s our pick of this season’s most affordable safaris.

Circle of life

Kenya is the ultimate safari hotspot (even if the exchange rate isn’t on our side right now). Take in Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and the Maasai Mara on a week-long tour to spot the Big Five (buffalos, elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos) among countless other creatures (from £1,339pp, excluding flights; intrepidtravel.com). Elsewhere, save money by spending only part of your trip in the wild. Three nights in Senegal’s Fathala Reserve (with elands, warthogs and monkeys) combined with a four-night Gambian beach break costs from £1,749pp, including flights (gambia.co.uk).

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Escape to the Cape

South Africa offers great value for money. Untravelled Paths’ nine-night Western Cape trip blends a safari lodge stay with Cape Town’s penguins, the winelands of Franschhoek, and Plettenberg Bay’s beaches from £1,569pp, excluding flights (untravelledpaths.com). Or to keep costs really low, Bushbaby Travel recommends racking up the Big Seven (the usual Five, plus whales and sharks) by combining a Cape Town self-catering stay with a self-drive safari in Pilanesberg National Park. Seven nights from £1,090pp, including car hire but not flights (bushbaby.travel).

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