How many days do I need for a safari in southern Africa?

These local operators in southern Africa publish their minimum or shortest trip length on their own websites; each card quotes the company's own line.

How many days do I need for a safari in southern Africa?

There is no single answer: the 42 operators below each publish their own minimum or shortest trip length, quoted on their cards, from day trips upwards. Uncompromised Travel does not set a number of its own.

On this page: Africa Homeland Mobile Safaris, African Fairytale Tours, African Sightings Adventure Tours & Safaris, Afroventures Tours & Safaris, Armadillo Overland Safaris, Blue Crane Safaris, Brave Africa Safaris, Bush Baby Calls, Chameleon Safaris, Cuckoo Safaris, David Foot Safaris, Desert Africa Safaris, Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris, Endless Summer Tours, Exec Africa Travel and Tours, Great Guide Safaris, Ingwe Africa Safaris, Inzila Mobile Safaris, Kurt Safari, Legend Safaris, Meine Namibia Safaris, Mmilo Tours, MoAfrika Tours, Moonlight Safaris, Moriti Private Safaris, Namibia-Experience, Natureways Safaris, Okavango Walking Safaris, Peake Safaris, Penduka Safaris, Red Africa Safaris, River Horse Safaris, Roger Dugmore Safaris, Sekanka Travel and Tours Safaris, Shinzelle Safaris, Turnstone Tours, Ukhozi Tours, Unfold Africa Safaris, Viva Safaris, Wild Focus Safaris, Wild Horizons, Xaa Safaris.

What do they charge?

11 of the 42 operators on this page publish a price with its currency; for the others, nothing on their websites as read can be shown here.

• Blue Crane Safaris: Namibia Grand Highlights Expedition, 15 days, N$120,250 (N$143,500)
• Brave Africa Safaris: Taste of Botswana: 3 nights, from USD 1,935 per person.
• Kurt Safari: Victoria Falls 4 day packages from US$1 069 to US$1 631.
• Mmilo Tours: Day tours are priced for 1 or 2 adults, for example Cape Town Peninsula full day ZAR6231.00 for 1 adult.
• MoAfrika Tours: Ultimate Pilanesberg Open Vehicle Day Tour ZAR 2,995.
• Namibia-Experience: Namibia Family Tour 12 days, 5,008 USD adults / 3,829 USD children.
• Penduka Safaris: 2026 rates per person sharing, USD: 5 Day Luxury Delta (5 days, low and high USD 4 300); 5 Day Moremi (low USD 3 000, high USD 3 500); 7 Day Central Kalahari (low USD 4 450, high USD 4 900); 9 Day Classic (low USD 4 980, high USD 5 775); 11 Day Transfrontier Kalahari (low USD 7 200, high USD 7 700); 13 Day Botswana Explorer (low USD 6 650, high USD 7 650); 15 Day Circular (USD 8 950); 16 Day Namibian (USD 8 000, private on request); 20 Day combined (USD 10 850, private on request); combined 7 day Kalahari and 9 day Classic, 16 days (low USD 8 500, high USD 9 650).
• Turnstone Tours: Mundulea 4 days/3 nights N$34 200 pp (2/3 people) or N$30 700 pp (4 or more).
• Ukhozi Tours: Mpumalanga Scenic add-on is R4520 pppd (one person), R3620 pppd (two), R3275 pppd (3-4).
• Unfold Africa Safaris: Moremi photographic from USD 700 per day; self-drive from USD 650 per night.
• Wild Horizons: Published packages (US$ per person, 2026): 4 Night Signature Special (2 nights Old Drift Lodge, 2 nights The Elephant Camp, 1 complimentary activity) Green US$2674, Mid US$3337, High US$3,480; 6 Night (3+3 nights, 2 activities) Green US$4010, Mid US$5006, High US$5,221; 8 Night (4+4 nights, 3 activities) Green US$5347, Mid US$6674, High US$6961.

How do they run their trips?

32 of the 42 operators on this page say how they run trips (private, scheduled or overland); for the others, nothing on their websites as read can be shown here.

• Africa Homeland Mobile Safaris: Mobile camping safaris priced per person with a minimum of 4 people; set itineraries of 4 to 10 days.
• African Fairytale Tours: Private trips can be arranged; some are shared.
• Afroventures Tours & Safaris: Private tours are sold.
• Armadillo Overland Safaris: Small group safaris (mixed groups, maximum 8 guests), family safaris (minimum 6 guests) and private safaris (minimum 4 adults).
• Blue Crane Safaris: Private bespoke guided trips are sold, plus scheduled guided group departures with fixed dates (for example Namibia Desert, Coast & Etosha Explorer departs 09 and 16 Nov 2026 and on set dates in 2027) with 2 to 6 guests per vehicle.
• Brave Africa Safaris: Private trips: private vehicle for families with kids under 12, private car or whole camp available on request.
• Bush Baby Calls: Private-style group trips priced by group size (2, 4, 6 or 8 pax).
• Chameleon Safaris: Scheduled small-group departures on fixed days with no minimum number of people, group size normally a maximum of 10; private guided safaris on your own dates; overland truck for 12 to 20 for large private groups.
• Cuckoo Safaris: Private tours and small-group safaris are both offered; the 6-day trip is labelled 'Small Group'.
• Desert Africa Safaris: Private, tailor-made trips.
• Endless Summer Tours: Specialises in private tours and shared small group tours.
• Great Guide Safaris: Private trips are available and shared safaris with other guests depending on availability.
• Ingwe Africa Safaris: Private tours are offered (the Kruger day tour has a 'Can I book a private tour?' question; honeymoon packages are private for 2).
• Inzila Mobile Safaris: Each safari has a maximum of 6 people; an exclusive (private) safari is available on request.
• Kurt Safari: Shared scheduled departures: small-group packages leave Johannesburg Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, max 10 per vehicle, minimum 2 people to run.
• Meine Namibia Safaris: Private guided safaris and a set-itinerary small group tour for a maximum of 7 guests; guided off-road convoy tours with a 4-participant minimum.
• Mmilo Tours: Shared drives with other lodge guests are included in some packages (shared 3-hour drives on the budget Pilanesberg safari).
• MoAfrika Tours: Private trips are offered (private Kruger safaris, private Pilanesberg and Cape Town tours, private Garden Route tours).
• Moonlight Safaris: Private game drive is offered (US$90.00).
• Moriti Private Safaris: Private departures only: one guide and one vehicle, on your own dates, not a fixed departure.
• Natureways Safaris: Scheduled safaris can be joined via the safari calendar and new departures can be opened for a minimum of 2 people.
• Peake Safaris: Private only: 'With the camp and your guide to yourself' the safari is curated for your group.
• Red Africa Safaris: Tours are private ('Our Tours are Private meaning that your accommodation, transfers and certain routes are done privately'), though other guests may join some activities such as open vehicle game drives and bushwalks.
• River Horse Safaris: Private trips are confirmed on minimum payment of six guests.
• Roger Dugmore Safaris: Private safaris only: each group has a private camp with no other guests.
• Shinzelle Safaris: Shared tours: vehicles carry up to 9, rarely more than 6, with no set departure dates; guests share only if another booking has the exact same dates and tour.
• Turnstone Tours: Shared and private day tours; day tours with more than four people can be booked, with the shared day tours arranged on request.
• Ukhozi Tours: All tours are private and bespoke.
• Unfold Africa Safaris: Private small-party trips: 'Your own vehicle and guide'.
• Viva Safaris: Guaranteed daily departures.
• Wild Focus Safaris: Scheduled fixed departures in small groups of max 6 guests for 2027 (minimum 4 guests to run), plus customised private safaris for private groups, film crews and photo workshops.
• Wild Horizons: Private options: bespoke private game drives, river safaris and Falls tours for up to 7 guests (US$405 each).

What do they say about children?

24 of the 42 operators on this page publish a child or family policy; for the others, nothing on their websites as read can be shown here.

• African Fairytale Tours: Child rate on the Hwange budget trip: from US$400 per child against US$780 per adult (US dollars).
• African Sightings Adventure Tours & Safaris: Child rate: children under 12 pay R1950 (morning and afternoon), R2650 (full day) and R4500 (Addo and Schotia), against adult rates.
• Armadillo Overland Safaris: Children accepted from 2 years; 10% discount for a family safari of 6 or more guests; children's books, games and activities, mattresses and pillows for naps and a flushing toilet on board.
• Blue Crane Safaris: The Ultimate Namibia Family Camping Adventure is for families with children, minimum age 5 years; children 5 to 11 pay 50% of the adult rate (N$31,975 Green Season baseline, N$33,900 Peak).
• Brave Africa Safaris: Children aged 7 and over accepted; four-person family tent; kids menu; private vehicle for families with kids under 12.
• Chameleon Safaris: Minimum ages vary by tour, usually 5 or 12 years.
• Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris: Children over 4 are welcome on open vehicle safaris; families with children under 4 can book a private safari or a closed air-conditioned vehicle.
• Exec Africa Travel and Tours: Minimum age varies by tour: some tours 'suitable for children of all ages' (min age 0+), others minimum age 3.
• Great Guide Safaris: Children should ideally be 12 years and older to join; age and ability are considered when confirming bookings.
• Ingwe Africa Safaris: Family trips are offered: Family Kruger & Victoria Falls (8 days) with junior ranger bush programmes, child-safe malaria-free options and family suites and a Kruger Family Safari day tour with Junior Ranger activity packs.
• Kurt Safari: Children 11 years and below sharing with parents get 50% off package rates; under 12s have discounted safari rates and half-price conservation fees.
• Legend Safaris: Child rates on day trips: Hazyview full day R 1 750 per adult and R 900 per child under 12 (1 Nov 2026 to 31 Oct 2027)
• Mmilo Tours: Pilanesberg 2026: children aged 12 and younger sharing with adults ZAR768.00 per child; aged 13-17 ZAR1875.00.
• MoAfrika Tours: A children's rate is available on request; children 6 and under are not permitted on open safari vehicles for game drives and the minimum age for a guided bush walk is 16, following FGASA recommendations.
• Namibia-Experience: The Namibia Family Tour (12 days, private) is priced 5,008 USD adults / 3,829 USD children; it says there is no strict minimum age but kids aged 6 and above enjoy it most.
• Natureways Safaris: Child policy: children under 14 are not recommended on canoe safaris for safety reasons and are not accepted with mixed groups; they are welcome if the trip is private or with other families.
• Peake Safaris: Children under 12 at time of travel: 1 child at 50% of the adult rate per two full paying guests; a second child 25% off.
• Red Africa Safaris: Children below 6 years are not permitted on open vehicle game drives; children below 12 are not allowed on any bushwalks.
• River Horse Safaris: Generally 15 years is the minimum age; exceptions for 12-14 year olds on a private trip accompanied by parents and a support boat carrying provisions and younger children can be provided on request.
• Roger Dugmore Safaris: Children between 6-12 years are welcome at a rate of 25% less.
• Turnstone Tours: Children under 12 are charged 50% of the adult rate, for all destinations.
• Viva Safaris: Child rate (under 12) published on each package (for example 4 Day Tremisana/Masango 2026 R7795).
• Wild Focus Safaris: Scheduled departures have a minimum age of 12 years; younger children are advised to book a private safari tailored to the family.
• Wild Horizons: Old Drift Lodge welcomes children over 7; ages 7 to 16 pay 50% of the adult sharing price; family suites sleep up to 4; under 16 not permitted on walking safaris.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 3 November 2026 · updated 3 November 2026