Tailor Made Safari vs Safari Tour Package

The pros and cons of the tailor-made safari and safari tour package.

Your expert guide.

The African safari tour offers a great deal to those ready to take that first step into the wilderness. From the moment you decide on that extra-special escape, the key to our planet's wildest regions is in your hands, and a trail of important decisions awaits. From the classic Serengeti game drive, unveiling Southern Africa's famous Big 5, to the off-the-beaten-track journey past peculiar sand dunes or remote wetlands, the safari has so much to offer. But, while magical landscapes and rare encounters are just within reach, the type of holiday you choose can make a huge impact.

This blog explores the benefits of the safari tour package and the tailor-made journey, comparing the two styles, with an aim to make this decision easier for you as you choose the perfect holiday for you and your loved ones. So, let's take a look.

• What is a safari tour package?
• What is a tailor-made safari?
• Pros of the safari tour package.
• Pros of the tailor-made safari.

What is a safari tour package?

Your typical safari tour package offers the classic game drive experience, typically in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, or Botswana, with all the essential components included. The pre-arranged style of this form of safari guarantees a hassle-free journey with accommodation, transport, and activities around the African wilderness. For those without much time on their hands, or who are looking for a simple, pre-planned experience with the family, the safari tour package offers clear advantages. 

For those seeking a budget safari holiday, packages can fall in the lower price bracket and are often generalised as cheaper than the tailor-made safari tour. However, it is important to keep in mind that package companies often mark-up these tours substantially, and leave out room for flexibility in accommodation, where you could potentially save money. On top of this, package tours often fail to outline additional costs you will face in many African safari destinations, like tipping fees, park entrance fees or premium activities, meaning the marked price isn't always indicative of the total holiday cost. 

First time safari goers may feel safer with the safari travel package, with organisation taken out of their hands and routes punctuated with famous parks and reserves packed with wildlife. However, if you seek full immersion into Africa's untamed wilderness, these tours may not make the cut, often following well-worn tourist trails where encounters are made artificial by the atmosphere of mass tourism. Parks may feel crowded, especially if you are travelling in peak seasons, and your operator may not prioritise sustainability, providing a less authentic and engaging journey into Africa.

What is a tailor-made safari?

Differing from the "quick and easy" style of the package tour, your tailor-made safari journey begins with some more decision-making, as you take time to reflect on your ideal journey: where you want to go, what animals you'd like to see, and the type of experience you seek. For many looking to embark on a wild African adventure, this step is the most fun! From here, tailor-made travel companies bring you a collaborative, smooth-sailing process, offering the hands-on guidance of a travel specialist with intimate knowledge on your chosen destination. This way, gaps in your knowledge won't hold your journey back, and the convenience of package tours is replaced by exclusive, personalised advice.

Once you have reached the end of your planning journey, including discussions with your specialist, you will have your curated travel itinerary to hand, the ultimate safari holiday tailored to you and your loved ones, with the level of luxury you desire or can afford. From here, tailor-made travel companies provide a concierge service, ensuring any issues along the way are resolved efficiently. For instance, if there are travel disruptions or weather interruptions, your personal concierge will do whatever they can (alter transfers, schedules, etc.) to keep your trip on track.

To find out more about how tailor-made travel can enrich and elevate your world travel, read our specialist blog:

The pros of safari tour packages

1. Convenience and time saving

Browsing for your safari tour package is a hassle-free process, entailing some small decisions on destination and price range, followed by a browse of a plentiful range of package holiday companies. Those with limited travel experience, or first-time safari goers, will find pre-planned routes, package prices, and property recommendations very convenient and reassuring as they venture into Africa's best wildlife havens. Issues like park permits, transport arrangements, and room sizes are taken out of your hands, making for an overall stress-free experience. 

2. Clear and streamlined travel routes

For those planning a safari tour where age and ability come into play, perhaps a family holiday or a getaway for an older couple, the streamlined travel routes of package safaris offer a great deal of advantages. Pre-arranged travel means that getting from, say, the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater, will be easy, safe, and avoidant of backtracking and unfamiliar routes. Package holiday companies often prioritise efficiency, so those who struggle with long journeys may enjoy the speedier processes of this type of safari experience, where light aircraft flights are chosen over bumpy Jeep transfers.

Wayfairer Top Tip: Remember to check with your chosen tour package if someone in your travel party struggles with long journeys - lengthy drives of up-to 8 hours are not completely off the cards with package tours.

3. Optimised routes, schedules & wildlife viewing

While safari tour packages create a distance between you and safari specialists, these itineraries are still planned by those who know the destination intimately. Tried and tested routes, reliable accommodations, and beloved wildlife reserves are included, reassuring you with an box-ticking experience that champions what many people love about the safari. As these package tours are created with wildlife sightings at the forefront, you are pretty much guaranteed some spell-binding sightings. If you are happy to safari alongside the main stream of tourists, who seek the same thing you do, then the package tour can feel like a no-brainer.

The pros of tailor-made safaris

1. Personalised to your preferences 

Tailor-made travel companies offer the luxury of centering yourself during the planning process. For many, the first safari is a lifelong memory, or reel of memories, often leading to the second and third safari. This is why we suggest going tailor-made if you can, as personalising your holiday may be the thing that transforms your holiday into something out of this world.

While at first, prices may feel intimidating, given you are paying for the service of your personal specialist and concierge, these safari holidays also bring the luxury of personalised costs. If you feel uncomfortable with a price, you can work with your specialist to try and reduce prices, perhaps downgrading an accommodation or removing premium activities like hot air balloon safaris or private dinners.

2. Exclusive & off-the-beaten-track experiences 

The relationship you build with your safari specialist amounts in a range of advantages, mostly due to their knowledge and personal experience in travelling and tailoring itineraries. Tailor-made travel companies like Wayfairer have built a far-reaching network of tour operators, local guides, and safari lodges, resulting in the toolbox for your dream safari tour. With feet on the ground in your chosen African safari destination, you have access to exclusive tours that package holidays won't include - perhaps a bush walk with local tribesmen, a private dinner on the open savannah, or a wildlife photography course with an expert.

Meanwhile, tailor-made safaris open up the opportunity for off-the-beaten-track experiences, where tourist crowds are sparse and the African wilderness is in its most primal state. While there are higher animal densities is popular parks frequented by package tours, more remote spots bring you closer to Africa's heart, making the tour feel less zoo-ish, but more like a step into a David Attenborough documentary. There is also still the chance to include a raved-about spot like Masai Mara National Park or Kruger, blending these hotspots with lesser-known gems to create a well-balanced itinerary.

Explore some of our inspirational safari tours to get an idea for what the tailor-made holiday has to offer:

3. Go Eco

With the freedom to tailor your safari holiday comes to the freedom to go green. Working with a eco-luxury travel company leads to a trusted relationship between you and your personal specialist, who has built a vast network of sustainable properties and ethical tour operators. If you care deeply about the Earth, its environments, and its communities, choosing a tailor-made, positive impact luxury safari means experiencing the wild in a way that’s not only noninvasive but actively nourishing to the planet.  

To find out more about how the trips we tailor benefit our planet, visit our Positive Impact page:

Plan your luxury tailor-made safari with Wayfairer

We know that everyone travels differently. We hope that this blog has helped you decide on your perfect travel style as you embark on the wildlife adventure of your lifetime - and we wish you all the best! If you feel that the tailor-made safari is for you, or that you'd like to find out more about this type of travel, please get in touch via phone call or enquiry form.

Enquire Now through our no-obligation form to begin your journey, or explore our destinations to learn more about where you can go.