What vehicles do southern Africa safari operators use?

These local operators in southern Africa describe the vehicles they use on their own websites; each card quotes the company's own line.

What vehicles do southern Africa safari operators use?

It depends on the operator: the 35 below each describe the vehicles they use (type, seats, roof, charging or fridge), quoted on their cards. Most describe open game-viewing vehicles; a few mention pop-up roofs or closed, air-conditioned vehicles.

What do they charge?

7 of the 35 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$143,500)
• Mmilo Tours: Day tours are priced for 1 or 2 adults, for example Cape Town Peninsula full day ZAR6231.00 for 1 adult.
• Namibia-Experience: Namibia Family Tour 12 days, 5,008 USD adults / 3,829 USD children.
• Penduka Safaris: 2026 rates per person sharing, USD: 5 Day Luxury Delta (5 days, low and high USD 4 300); 5 Day Moremi (low USD 3 000, high USD 3 500); 7 Day Central Kalahari (low USD 4 450, high USD 4 900); 9 Day Classic (low USD 4 980, high USD 5 775); 11 Day Transfrontier Kalahari (low USD 7 200, high USD 7 700); 13 Day Botswana Explorer (low USD 6 650, high USD 7 650); 15 Day Circular (USD 8 950); 16 Day Namibian (USD 8 000, private on request); 20 Day combined (USD 10 850, private on request); combined 7 day Kalahari and 9 day Classic, 16 days (low USD 8 500, high USD 9 650).
• Skeleton Coast Fly-In Safaris: Skeleton Coast Safari, 4 days / 3 nights, private flying safari, 01 Oct 2026 to 31 Mar 2027: US$ 23,273.38 per person for 1 pax, US$ 17,023.38 for 2, US$ 14,940.04 for 3, US$ 13,898.38 for 4 per aircraft. 01 Apr 2027 to 31 Mar 2028: US$ 24,603.26 for 1, US$ 18,053.26 for 2, US$ 15,869.93 for 3, US$ 14,778.26 for 4.
• Tony Mobile Safari: Nine trips with 'starting at' prices in USD: 3 day Chobe National Park 968; 4 day Savuti>Chobe 1595; 5 day Kasane to Maun 2563; 6 day Kasane to Maun 2618; 7 day Kasane to Maun 3278; 8 day Kasane to Maun 3500; 9 day Kasane>Maun>Makgadikgadi 3938; 10 day Kasane to Maun 4538; 15 day Chobe>Savuti>Mababe>Moremi>Kwai>Maun 5148.
• Turnstone Tours: Damaraland mobile camping 4 days/3 nights N$35 500 pp (2/3) or N$31 100 pp (4+).

How do they run their trips?

25 of the 35 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.

• 16° South: Private trips only: 'there are no set departures or allocated seats on the bus waiting to be filled'.
• Barclay Stenner Safaris: Private only: a 'privately guided and hosted 100% tailor made exclusive safari' with no mixing of groups.
• 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.
• 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'.
• Endless Summer Tours: Specialises in private tours and shared small group tours.
• Firefinch Safaris & Car Hire: Private guided safaris are sold.
• Jenman African Safaris: Private tours and set-date guided group departures.
• Kalahari Tours: Private trips are possible (children under 12 only on private bookings).
• 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).
• Moonlight Safaris: Private game drive is offered (US$90.00).
• Moonstroll Safaris: Private and small group safaris plus tours with set departure dates.
• Nalange Mobile Safaris: Private and small-group safaris are offered.
• Natureways Safaris: Scheduled safaris can be joined via the safari calendar and new departures can be opened for a minimum of 2 people.
• Savannah Adventures: Private and small-group safaris (2-9 guests) in open 4x4 vehicles.
• 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.
• Skeleton Coast Fly-In Safaris: Private safaris on special request; groups of two or more may reserve any departure date.
• Sunway Safaris: Scheduled small-group departures (max 12), many marked guaranteed, in English and German, with dates through 2027.
• 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.
• 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 For Game Safaris: Private mobile safaris.
• Wild Photo Africa: Private safaris (whole vehicle for your group, up to 10 guests) and shared day trips (shared vehicle with other guests, multiple pick-ups).

What do they say about children?

14 of the 35 operators on this page publish a child or family policy; for the others, nothing on their websites as read can be shown here.

• 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).
• 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.
• Jenman African Safaris: Indemnity forms must be completed by a parent or guardian aged 21 or over for children aged 12 to 18 on scheduled tours.
• Khangela Safaris: Multi-generational families welcome; family units with children under 16 preferred on their own exclusive trip.
• Mmilo Tours: Pilanesberg 2026: children aged 12 and younger sharing with adults ZAR768.00 per child; aged 13-17 ZAR1875.00.
• 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.
• Skeleton Coast Fly-In Safaris: Children are welcome and there is no upper age restriction; guests must tell the office children's ages in advance.
• Sunway Safaris: Minimum age 12 (occasional exceptions); ages 12-17 accepted only with an accompanying adult on scheduled tours; parents must supervise children, some campsites are unfenced.
• 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.

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