01 · The experience
A joining safari puts you in a vehicle with other travellers on a fixed date and a fixed route, and splits the cost of the vehicle and the guide between you.
The saving is substantial and entirely legitimate. The vehicle, the fuel and the guide cost the same whether there is one person in it or six, so six people pay a sixth each.
What you give up is control. The vehicle leaves when the group leaves, stops when the group is ready to stop, and turns back when the group wants lunch.
02 · What it involves
What to check before you book one
How many seats in the vehicle
Six in a standard land cruiser means everyone gets a window. Seven or eight means somebody is in the middle all week.
Whether the departure is guaranteed
Some departures run with a minimum number and cancel below it. Ask what happens if the group does not fill.
What accommodation level is included
Joining trips span camping to mid-range lodges. The route may be identical and the price very different.
Who else is on it
Age range and language are worth asking about. You will spend a week in one vehicle with these people.
03 · Practical
