Budget lodges offer simple, functional accommodation focused on affordability and practicality. These properties provide a cost-effective base for exploring a destination without unnecessary extras, prioritising experience over comfort or exclusivity.
Standards vary by location, and what qualifies as "budget" in one country may differ significantly in another, depending on local costs, infrastructure, and how remote the destination is.
In some regions, particularly in Southern Africa, budget options can still offer excellent wildlife experiences. In higher-cost destinations, however, even modest accommodation may fall into a mid-range price bracket, so these categories should always be viewed in the context of where you're travelling.
Not sure how budget lodges compare across different destinations? See our Safari Accommodation Price Guide.
Contemporary convenience at its best, the 3-star Peermont Metcourt Hotel at Emperors Palace offers comfortable rooms, with quick-and-easy access from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, just minutes away. A courtesy airport shuttle runs every 15-20 minutes.
nThambo Tree Camp is a rustic, eco-friendly camp in the Klaserie Private Game Reserve, offering a unique bush experience, with comfortable treehouse-style tented accommodation. The camp offers a combination of game drives and walking safaris conducted by qualified rangers.
With easy access to the spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Farm House has cottages spread out over beautiful gardens and a coffee plantation in the Karatu area. It's a working farm with an organic garden. Expect fresh, delicious food and the tantalising aroma of the farm's own coffee beans which are grown, picked, roasted, ground and enjoyed right there.
Namushasha is one of those special places that leaves you wishing you could stay longer and once you have, wanting to return. The viewing decks and all of the chalets look out over the remote Kwando River, where hippo, elephant, buffalo and a multitude of birds gather. This riverside lodge emerges as the highlight of many a safari in the Caprivi region.
Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge in the Balule Game Reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park is affordable and intimate and offers comfortable accommodation in African-style thatched rondavels and family units. The lodge has beautiful lawns and giant trees and overlooks the bush and a distant waterhole.
Located 230 metres above the Tsitsikamma coastline, Misty Mountain Reserve offers a wide range of accommodation options. From standard, honeymoon and self-catering Ocean View Lodges and Lakeside and Forest View Tented Lodges to three unique outdoor living experiences, the secluded Stargazing Cube, Ocean Dome and Tsitsikamma Pyramid, Misty Mountain is perfectly positioned for both adventure seekers and those looking for an affordable tranquil escape on the Garden Route.
In addition to daily game drives through the scenic and game-rich Congreve Conservancy, Mbweha Camp in the Lake Nakuru area offers a variety of activities. This includes visits to hot springs at nearby Lake Elementaita, local prehistoric sites and the Menengai Crater as well as bicycle safaris and hot air ballooning over the majestic Great Rift Valley
Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp is perched on a hill overlooking the floodplain of Lake Manyara. Offering permanent tents and cottages that blend into the bush, its a quick drive to Lake Manyara National Park, with its diverse fauna and flora, prolific birdlife and a wide range of animals, including tree-climbing lions and abundant elephant herds.
With raised, beautifully decorated permanent tents placed far enough apart to ensure privacy, Lake Masek Tented Camp offers guests stylish accommodation in the African bush. Its position in the Ndutu area of Ngorongoro, just south of the Serengeti, is on the annual Great Migration route of millions of wildebeest, zebra and antelope, followed closely by predators. Depending on rainfall, the plains are filled with herds between November and May.
KwaMbili Game Lodge provides is an affordable private lodge offering an authentic safari experience. Situated in the private Thornybush Game Reserve near Hoedspruit, KwaMbili is within the Greater Kruger area. Home to the Big Five as well as an abundance of wildlife and birds, you'll have every chance of good sightings, either on game drives or on foot.
Kubu Lodge, situated on the banks of the Chobe River in Botswana, offers comfortable accommodation and is a gateway to the Chobe safari experience. It's located 2km from the meeting place of four countries: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kubu Lodge offers excellent cuisine, various activities and rustic accommodation with panoramic views over the Chobe River.
Ku Sungula Safari Lodge offers affordable, cosy rondavel accommodation inside game-rich Balule Private Game Reserve, a large, private nature reserve that shares unfenced borders with the Greater Kruger Conservancy. Ku Sungula's main terrace and swimming pool look out over a waterhole that is often frequented by the wildlife that passes through Balule.
Kosi Forest Lodge is a 16-bed wilderness lodge located in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, almost on the South African/Mozambiquan border. Set in a beautiful, unspoilt sand forest on the banks of the Kosi Lake, the lodge offers a variety of unique experiences, including turtle tracking and exploring this pristine wetland environment in guided canoes and vehicles.
Completely rebuilt after the devastating fires of 2017, Knysna Hollow is superbly located on a secluded 3-hectare country estate, just 5 minutes from Knysna town and its expansive lagoon on South Africa’s famous Garden Route. It’s the perfect base from which to explore the many attractions and activities this beautiful area has to offer.
This mobile tented camp is set up in one of the best game viewing spots on the plains of central Serengeti. Kati Kati Camp is rustic rather than luxurious, but with fully-equipped, en-suite tents, you'll experience a more refined version of camping in the wild African bush. It's a true safari experience.
Kanonkop is a 5-star boutique guest house situated in Knysna, one of South Africa's favourite coastal resort towns. The individually appointed five bedrooms are all tastefully furnished, focussing on natural light and texture. The Paradise room is rated the 'best room in Knysna' by Frommers.
Ivory Tree Game Lodge is a large, well-appointed safari lodge in Pilanesberg National Park, offering a comfortable lodge-based safari experience close to Johannesburg. With a wide range of room types and family-friendly facilities, it suits travellers looking for an accessible Big Five safari at an affordable to mid-range price point.
Ilala Lodge is the closest hotel to majestic Victoria Falls. Dine al-fresco at their award-winning restaurant while watching the spray from the Falls and its thundering. It's an eight-minute walk to the Falls and all the fun and activities on offer at Victoria Falls are a stone's throw away.
Located within the heart of South Africa’s Mother City, the Hollow on the Square is within easy walking distance of the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town’s International Convention Centre and many of the attractions, eateries, museums and sights this bustling city has to offer.
Hippo Hollow Country Estate is conveniently located outside the town of Hazyview and only ten minutes drive away from the world-famous Kruger National Park. Nestled amongst lush indigenous gardens, this Lowveld retreat on the banks of the Sabie River will leave you feeling totally refreshed and relaxed. Hippo Hollow offers en-suite hotel rooms as well as self-catering chalets.
Experience the essence of African wildlife in the pristine and secluded Balule Game Reserve which shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park. Greenfire Game Lodge allows you to enjoy excellent game viewing by vehicle or on foot, accompanied by expert, professional guides with a vast knowledge of the wild animals, birds and bush of Africa.
Flatdogs camp is easy to get to from the airport and makes a good first night’s stop into the park, especially arriving on a late flight from Lusaka to nearby Mfuwe Airport. The camp is open from mid-March to mid-January every year. For Jess and her team, making sure you have the best possible stay is what Flatdogs is all about.
The Elephant Hide of Knysna Guest Lodge is a luxury bed & breakfast guest house situated in an upmarket residential area of Knysna. Perched on top of the Welbedaght Cliff Tops, it offers spectacular views over the Knysna estuary. The lodge offers 5 beautifully-furnished suites and outstanding personal service.
Eka Hotel is a contemporary, four-star hotel conveniently located on Mombasa Road in Nairobi. It is ideally situated for day trips to some of the capital city's most popular tourist attractions such as Nairobi National Park, the Karen Blixen Museum, the National Museum, the vibrant Bomas of Kenya, the Giraffe Center, urban eateries, and entertainment venues.
Why not chat to one of our safari experts who can answer all your questions and help you design your dream trip to Africa.
