I went on a budget and a luxury safari in Africa. Here's how they compare — and the one thing you really need to look for when booking.

Fiona ChandraMar 14, 2024, 23:25 IST

An African safari is an epic trip for those who love animals. Fiona Chandra

I have been on two glamping safari trips in Africa on two very different budgets.
My all-inclusive stay was great but my cheaper glamping experience was fine, too.

I've been on two African safari trips. Both involved glamping but on completely different budgets.

My first more affordable trip, a lodge in South Africa with separate safari excursions, cost me about $1,100. My second, an all-inclusive lodge in Tanzania, cost me about $4,000 after a 50% off deal.

Here's how the two compare and what I think you should look for before you plan an African safari.

My affordable safari experience was at Jackalberry Ridge, where some tents cost $80 a night.

This is one of the tent setups at Jackalberry Ridge.Fiona Chandra

My main tent felt pretty spacious, with a king bed and a living-room area.

My one-bedroom tent at Jackalberry Ridge was simple. Fiona Chandra

The bathroom was standard, with a tub, shower, and toilet.

My room had a shower next to the tub. Fiona Chandra

I also had access to a kitchen in the same building as the bathroom.

The kitchen that came with my tent at Jackalberry Ridge was decent. Fiona Chandra

I signed up for a couple of day safaris and did one at night.

I got to watch zebras drinking from the river. Fiona Chandra

I got to see zebras, giraffes, and more.

We spotted numerous giraffes on our safari.Fiona Chandra

For my next safari trip, I leveled up.

The sunset view at Taasa Lodge was beautiful. Fiona Chandra

My tent was luxurious and equipped with a comfortable king bed and a large living room.

My Taasa Lodge tent was pretty spacious. Fiona Chandra

The bathroom felt spacious, with two sinks and a shower.

The bathroom inside our glamping tent at Taasa Lodge was pretty nice. Fiona Chandra

There's a main lodge with a communal living room, dining area, and bar.

Tassa Lodge has a dining room and communal living area. Fiona Chandra

We also passed a small pool next to the main lodge.

The pool at Taasa Lodge was small with nice views.Fiona Chandra

On the mornings with an early safari, we had a simple breakfast next to our Land Cruiser.

The breakfast setup on morning safaris was simple. Fiona Chandra

At the private game reserve, we got pretty close to wildlife.

This was the closest I've ever been to a lion. Fiona Chandra

We saw a bunch of animals in the private reserve and Serengeti.

The lions we spotted were two male lions, which is not common in one pride, so we guessed they were probably brothers.Fiona Chandra

Every dinner at the resort consisted of three courses: soup, an entrée, and a dessert.

Eggplant and rice was one of the vegetarian main-course options one night.Fiona Chandra

One morning, we had a special breakfast on the plains.

The special breakfast setup was nice. Fiona Chandra

We also got another special treat in the bush that morning — a toilet!

The portable toilet they brought out for our bush breakfast also came with toilet paper. Fiona Chandra

Again, we spent a lot of time watching lions.

We saw lion clubs playing, too. Fiona Chandra

On a different morning, our guide got a tip that another car had found a leopard sleeping.

This leopard is resting after catching an impala.Fiona Chandra

Our trip ended with a great happy hour and outdoor dinner.

The sundowner was fun. Fiona Chandra

My big takeaway is that it's really worth paying to be inside a private reserve.

I enjoyed seeing cheetahs in the wild. Fiona Chandra

I toured an experimental Boeing 777X aircraft, which the planemaker is using to certify the new $442 million widebody. See inside.

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I went on a budget and a luxury safari in Africa. Here's how they compare &mdash; and the one thing you really need to look for when booking.