Safari Travel Trends: 2026 Data Report

Written By Steven BennaAuthor

Last Updated: July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 — 6 min read

Key Data Points:

• Squaremouth insured trip cost data shows that 8 of the 15 most expensive countries to visit in 2026 are Safari destinations.
• In 2026, the average safari costs American travelers over $25,000 per trip.
• Survey data shows that over half of all travelers (52%) are interested in taking a safari, making it the second most popular bucket-list trip, behind luxury Island vacations.
• Of travelers planning a luxury trip in the next 2 years, 26% of respondents said they will prioritize a Safari vacation over other types of travel.
• Bookings for Safaris are up 10% YoY, even with rising prices, global travel uncertainty, and Ebola health advisories for several African countries and their border regions.
• Booking data shows that 82% of safari travel bookings lack CFAR & IFAR coverage, which are the only types of travel insurance that can cover canellations and interruptions due to risks associated with safari destinations, such as Ebola, Level 4 travel advisories, and political unrest.

Luxury Safari Travel is Booming

Safaris are one of the most expensive trips you can take in 2026, yet demand for safari travel continues to rise. They are part of a growing trend whereby travelers are increasingly prioritizing aspirational luxury travel, even if it means cutting back in other spending areas to be able to afford it.

A recent survey of Squaremouth customers found that in spite of inflation and rising costs: 

• Over 40% of travelers are voluntarily raising their travel budgets this year.
• 23% of travelers are raising their travel budget in an effort to get a premium or bucket-list travel experience.

When asked which type of luxury vacations travelers were most interested in, safaris accounted for the second most popular type of luxury vacation, behind island destinations:

• 52% of travelers surveyed said they were interested in going on a safari
• Of those who reported having taken a safari vacation, 65% said they wanted to go again.
• 26% of travelers planning a luxury vacation within the next 2 years said they will prioritize going on safari.

Safari Demand By Age Group

Our analysis found that safaris have moved from a niche travel experience to a mainstream bucket-list trip with significant demand reported across all working-age demographics. 

The chart below shows safari interest, by age group, for travelers who have never been on safari in their lifetime:

The safari survey data clearly shows that younger travelers are the ones driving aspirational demand for safari travel:

• Over half of travelers under the age of 54 dream of going on a safari, whereas less than a third of travelers over 55 show the same interest.

Interestingly, safaris appear to buck a wider trend seen with luxury travel: 

• Seniors, with higher disposable income and more time to kill, typically lead the pack for booking expensive vacations.
• However, this group reports the least amount of interest in safaris as a bucket list vacation, with nearly half of travelers over 55 saying they’ve never been on a safari and have no interest in going.

Other senior-related data sets we’ve analyzed in the past have shown that this group tends to prefer trips closer to home, which could be one of the reasons why older travelers appear less interested in taking safari vacations. 

Most Popular Safari Destinations

Safari destinations rank as some of the most expensive countries in the world to visit, with Botswana ranking as the most expensive safari destination, according to our recent price index report.

Our internal travel insurance booking data from the first half of 2026 shows that South Africa ranks as the most popular destination for safaris, while also being the most affordable. 

Here is a look at the list of the most popular countries for safaris, based on our booking data:

Travel Risks in Safari Countries

Notably, several of these countries include regions with Level 3 and Level 4 travel advisories, which have implications for whether travel insurance can protect you. 

Regardless of the country’s overall advisory level, traveling in regions with a Level 4 travel advisory is excluded from standard travel insurance coverage, unless your plan includes a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) or Interruption For Any Reason (IFAR) upgrade. 

Travel advisories can also change at a moment’s notice, which is why it’s important to purchase travel insurance before the travel alert reaches a Level 4. 

Uganda

Uganda is currently at a Level 4 (Do Not Travel) travel advisory thanks to the Ebola outbreak, risk of political and civil unrest, and other concerns. Uganda also shares borders with the second and third most popular safari destinations, Kenya and Tanzania, as well as Rwanda. 

Kenya

Kenya is currently at a Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), but has areas within its borders marked as Level 3 and Level 4 due to security risks near the Somalian and Ethiopian borders. Any travel in these regions could be excluded from standard travel insurance policies, depending on the threat level at the time of booking. Kenya also shares a border with Uganda, where an active Ebola outbreak is happening, though no active travel warnings regarding Ebola are present for Kenya at this time.  

Rwanda

Rwanda has no reported cases of Ebola, but sits between two known outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The current travel advisory for Rwanda is at Level 3, but there is an active Level 4 advisory for certain areas within 10 kilometers of the border with the DRC.

This area also happens to be right where most Gorilla Trekking safaris in Rwanda take place, in the Volcanoes National Park. Although Volcanoes National Park is excluded from the current travel advisory, it’s important to note that travel advisories can change at any moment, and so it’s best to be prepared. 

Safari Travelers Are Underprotected

Travelers arguably have more money on the line than ever before, but our data shows that travel protection is lagging.

Safaris in 2026 cost an average of $25,169, demand is up 10% year over year, and several of the most popular destinations for safaris face active travel warnings from the U.S. government and include Ebola-related travel risks. 

Yet, 82% of safari travelers booking through Squaremouth this year skipped buying Cancel For Any Reason and Interrupt For Any Reason coverage, which is the only coverage that lets you cancel due to several of the current threats facing travelers to safari regions. 

As a reminder, advisory levels can change at any time, and standard comprehensive travel insurance will not reimburse you if you cancel or interrupt your trip simply because the threat level was raised, even if it reaches a level 4. 

Additionally, cancelling or interrupting due to foreseen events like the Ebola virus warning will also be excluded from standard travel insurance coverage, as these policies are only built to cover unexpected and unforeseen events. 

Therefore, plans with CFAR and IFAR coverage are the best options for travelers to safari regions, as they let you cancel or suspend your trip out of fear of travel, even if the country or destinations are reportedly safe to visit. 

What This Means for Travelers Booking a Safari

For bucket-list vacations like safaris, having the proper travel insurance coverage is key. 

Below are our recommendations on what to look out for when planning to visit these countries:

• Book travel insurance early to give yourself the best opportunity at having coverage in place before travel advisory levels have a chance to change.
• Keep an eye out for multiple travel alert levels per country, like Rwanda, which is at Level 2, but has Level 4 alerts near popular tourist areas. Take care to review if potential coverage gaps exist on your itinerary. 
• Look for policies with optional CFAR and IFAR coverage, as standard trip protection may not be enough to cover you for all scenarios in these regions. 
• CFAR and IFAR are only available within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit, so buying early will also give access to these time-sensitive benefits. 
• Confirm you have high enough emergency medical evacuation coverage limits that can evacuate you from the remote areas where safaris typically take place. 

To learn more about the types of coverage you may need, visit our page on the top safari travel insurance plans, or get a quote and compare coverage.