The nitty gritty

Planning: There are no African safaris that you can’t afford. Tent camping and 35-person tours, favored by students and young couples, are cheap and fun. Highpriced lodges cost more because they offer more, from personal airport transfers to private cabins, comfortable beds, meals, beverages, game drives, offsite tours and even laundry service.

Getting there: For South African Airways’ routes, flight times and special offers see www.flysaa.com. Visas to enter Zambia are sold at the Lusaka Airport; the $50 visa is slightly more expensive but provides multiple entries.

Staying: See the Bushcamp Company at www.bushcampcompany.com; the Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge at www.sabisabi.com; and the Islands of Siankaba at www.siankaba.net. These and similar safari lodge websites provide photos, maps and descriptions of lodging, meals, wildlife, game drives and climate. All-inclusive safari lodge rates per person, per night, range from $570 to $1,000 or more.