Best small group safari tours

For many travelers, going on safari sits firmly in bucket-list territory. But "safari" can mean wildly different things depending on where you go, what you hope to see, how much you want to spend and who you are traveling with. Depending on where you stand, the word safari could signal tracking the Great Migration across Tanzania, sleeping under canvas in Botswana, searching rainforest waterways for wildlife in Gabon or spotting capybaras and giant anteaters in Brazil's Pantanal.

East Africa remains the classic choice. Tanzania and Kenya are famous for vast savannahs, big cats and Great Migration viewing, while Uganda and Rwanda are known for primate encounters. Southern Africa offers another huge spread, from Botswana's Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park to South Africa's Greater Kruger region, Namibia's desert landscapes and Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park.

Then there are less obvious safari destinations. Gabon protects enormous areas of Central African rainforest, while Brazil's Pantanal swaps lions and elephants for caiman, capybaras, giant anteaters and prolific birdlife.

Safari travel has evolved considerably, too. The traditional game drive is still very much part of the picture, but today's small group safari tours can include conservation projects, community tourism, boat safaris, walking safaris, wildlife tracking, sound safaris, wellness retreats and camps positioned to make the most of seasonal animal movements.

Accommodation ranges from simple bow tents to private wilderness lodges and boujee converted mobile Land Rovers.

We've compared seven small group safari tours that show just how varied the experience can be, with options for solo travelers, families, accessible travel, remote exploration, wellness and lower-budget camping.

TL;DR

• Best for solo traveler safaris: Flash Pack, Wild Tanzania

• Best for family safaris: Explore, Botswana & Zimbabwe Family Adventure

• Best for off-radar exploration: Native Eye Travel, Gabon Explorer

• Best for the Brazilian Pantanal: Journey Latin America, Trogon: Natural Brazil

• Best for safari wellness: Flash Pack, South Africa: Sense Safari

• Best for accessible safaris: Limitless Travel, South African Safari

• Best for budget camping safaris: African Overland Tours, 8 Day Moremi and Chobe Botswana Adventure Safari Camping

  
  

Who this guide is for

This guide is for travelers who like the idea of a safari but want to look beyond a standard lodge and game drive package.

We've included traditional wildlife heavyweights such as Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa alongside less obvious safari territory in Gabon and Brazil. The trips also cover very different ways to travel, from family adventures and sociable solo trips to accessible itineraries and back-to-basics camping.

Best small group safari tours compared

Safari style	Company	Destination	Group size	Age range
Solo traveler safaris	Flash Pack	Tanzania	Avg 12 solo travelers	30 to 49 and 50 to 65
Family safaris	Explore	Botswana and Zimbabwe	8 to 12	Families w children aged 7+
Off-radar exploration	Native Eye Travel	Gabon	Max 12	Adults
Brazilian Pantanal	Journey Latin America	Brazil	Max 20	Adults
Safari wellness	Flash Pack	South Africa	Avg 12 solo travelers	30 to 49 and 50 to 65
Wheelchair-friendly safaris	Limitless Travel	South Africa	12 to 16	Adults
Budget camping safaris	African Overland Tours	Botswana and Zimbabwe	Max 12	12 to 65+

Best for solo traveler safaris

Flash Pack's Wild Tanzania is a premium Serengeti adventure created specifically for solo travelers aged 30-49 and 50-65. It combines serious wildlife viewing with some particularly creative safari accommodation. It's one of a global collection of small group adventures from Flash Pack.

Trip style

A premium safari with a strong social element, multiple game drives and a stay in converted Land Rover suites positioned around the seasonal movement of the wildebeest. The trip also continues to Zanzibar, adding beach time after the safari portion.

Group dynamic

Flash Pack's adventures are for solo travelers aged 30 to 49 and 50 to 65, with an average group size of 12 solo travelers. That creates a ready-made social group, with an opportunity for deep-seated connection and friendship, while retaining an intimate feel for safaris.

Example experiences

• Stay in the award-winning Bush Rover Migration Camp is set in a series of converted Land Rovers, for world-class game viewing away from all the crowds.

• Join morning and afternoon game drives on the Serengeti for a ring-side seat to the ‘greatest show on earth’ as 1.5 million wildebeest move in a vast loop across the Serengeti Plains.

• Relax in between safaris with hand-drawn baths and cocktails, decadent meals and campfire appetisers from a talented team of chefs.

  
  

Who this is best for

Solo travelers aged 30 to 49 or 50 to 65 who want the social side of group travel without sacrificing premium accommodation or big-ticket wildlife experiences. It is especially strong for travelers who want the Serengeti to feel like the centerpiece of the trip, with an immersive front-row seat to the safari wilderness.

Best for family safaris

Explore's Botswana & Zimbabwe Family Adventure is a wildlife-focused family trip pairing classic safari country with river travel and Victoria Falls. It's part of Explore's much broader worldwide collection of family and adventure trips.

Trip style

A moderate-grade family adventure with game drives, boat-based wildlife viewing and several nights of simple camping. There are some long and bumpy travel days, so this feels more adventurous than a fly-in lodge safari.

Group dynamic

Groups range from 8 to 12 travelers and children aged 7+ can join. The family format means kids get to share the experience with other travelers rather than spending the entire safari exclusively with their own household.

Example experiences

• Head out on game drives through vast, unspoiled wilderness in Moremi Game Reserve, in search of cheetahs, lions and other wildlife.

• Cruise along the Okavango River with a two-night stay aboard an exclusive houseboat.

• Look out for huge elephant herds and abundant wildlife in Chobe National Park, one of Botswana’s most celebrated wildlife regions.

Who this is best for

Families with children aged 7+ who want wildlife to be the headline act but are happy with a little roughing it along the way. The moderate grading and camping element make it better suited to families comfortable with an adventurous itinerary rather than those seeking a polished luxury safari.

Best for off-radar exploration

Native Eye Travel's Gabon Explorer is a highly remote expedition into one of Central Africa's least visited wildlife destinations. The trip is one of many far-flung adventures in Native Eye Travel's global lineup.

Trip style

This is expedition travel rather than classic safari luxury. Expect rainforest, waterways, tented accommodation and places where tourism infrastructure remains relatively limited. Wildlife sightings can require patience, particularly in dense forest environments.

Group dynamic

Groups are capped at 12 travelers, keeping numbers relatively low for an expedition into remote parts of Gabon. Participants tend to be experienced travelers who share a curious, comfort-pushing outlook.

Example experiences

• Take an exhilarating boat journey along the Ogooué River, traveling deep into Gabon’s rainforest

• Stay at a tented camp beside Lake Oguemoué as part of a community-based tourism project, exploring the surrounding forests and waterways in search of Gabon’s diverse wildlife

• Experience a look inside “Africa’s last Eden,” where vast areas are protected as national parks, and nature remains remarkably wild

Who this is best for

Experienced, curious travelers who are more excited by remote rainforest exploration than luxury safari lodges. Wildlife here can include elephants, hippos, crocodiles, gorillas and chimpanzees, but sightings in thick forest are less predictable than on open savannah.

Best for the Brazilian Pantanal

Journey Latin America's Trogon: Natural Brazil is an escorted trip mixing wildlife with some of Brazil's biggest cultural and natural landmarks. It sits within Journey Latin America's extensive collection of trips across Central and South America.

Trip style

More than a standalone safari, this is a broad Brazil itinerary combining Rio de Janeiro, Iguazú Falls, Brasília and several days in the Pantanal. Wildlife excursions take place on foot, horseback, by boat and by road.

Group dynamic

The trip has a maximum group size of 20 and travels with a Journey Latin America tour leader. This is a good fit if you enjoy the structure and sociability of an escorted group but want to experience Brazil far beyond the top-tier sights.

Example experiences

• Spend three days exploring the Brazilian Pantanal, a vast area of wetlands considered to have the world’s most dense flora and fauna ecosystem.

• Stay at a working ranch, ride a horse across the savannah, motorboat down the local rivers or explore the Pantanal by night.

• Join knowledgeable local guides to explore areas inhabited by giant storks, caiman, giant anteaters, armadillos, howler monkeys and capybara.

Who this is best for

Travelers who want wildlife without making their entire vacation about safari; and also those seeking a different kind of safari experience beyond the classic African plains. There are multiple internal flights and some longer travel days, but the payoff is a trip that covers Brazil's wetlands, cities and Iguazú Falls in one itinerary.

Best for safari wellness

Flash Pack's South Africa: Sense Safari takes the usual safari rhythm and slows it right down, blending wildlife encounters with yoga, meditation and sensory experiences. It forms part of Flash Pack's global collection of premium small group trips for solo travelers.

Trip style

Part safari, part retreat. The group stays at a private wilderness property near Greater Kruger, with the lodge and game drives exclusive to Flash Pack guests (= no other jeeps around). Mindful activities sit alongside wildlife experiences, creating more breathing room than you get on a game-drive-heavy itinerary.

Group dynamic

The trip is designed for solo travelers aged 30 to 49 and 50 to 65, with an average group size of 12 solo travelers. The group travels together throughout, so the wellness sessions, meals and safari experiences all double as opportunities to get to know each other.

Example experiences

• Stay at a private safari lodge that is entirely exclusive to your group of Flashpackers, set on the edge of Greater Kruger National Park with the opportunity for intimate and extraordinary wildlife encounters.

• Unwind via a hand-picked selection of mindful activities, including sunrise meditation, yin yoga, sound healing, massage treatments and stargazing.

• Experience a one-of-its-kind sound safari using specialized audio equipment. You’ll explore the bush and tune into the rich soundscape of the wild, from the low rumble of elephants to the rhythmic call of cicadas.

Who this is best for

Solo travelers aged 30 to 49 or 50 to 65 who want safari time but do not necessarily want every waking hour devoted to chasing sightings. The slower pace, private lodge and wellbeing program make this a particularly distinctive choice for anyone who likes wildlife with some genuine downtime.

Best for accessible safaris

Limitless Travel's South African Safari is designed around wheelchair-friendly travel, combining wildlife experiences with adapted accommodation, vehicles and professional support. It is part of the company's wider selection of accessible group vacations in destinations around the world.

Trip style

A supported South African safari using accessible vehicles in which wheelchairs can be securely clamped into position, plus accommodation with spacious bedrooms and adapted wet-room bathrooms. Professional carers travel with the group, making accessibility a central part of how the tour operates.

Group dynamic

Group sizes range from 12 to 16 travelers, allowing for personalized support while retaining the friendly, social atmosphere of a group vacation. Solo travelers are welcome and many guests travel independently.

Example experiences

• Spot hippos on a boat safari. Cruise through iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s largest estuarine system, keeping watch for hippos and crocodiles along the way.

• Spend an immersive day in a traditional Zulu village, learning about local customs, traditions and ways of life.

• Head out on safari for the chance to encounter some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo.

Who this is best for

Disabled travelers and solo travelers with mobility requirements who want the sociability of a group safari with practical support built into the experience. 

Best for budget camping safaris

African Overland Tours' 8 Day Moremi and Chobe Botswana Adventure Safari Camping strips safari back to its outdoorsy essentials, with six nights under canvas and extensive game viewing. It's one option within the company's much larger collection of overland tours and safari adventures across Africa.

Trip style

A camping safari traveling through some of Botswana's major wildlife areas. Accommodation includes six nights in bow tents with mattresses and one night in lodge accommodation, so the emphasis is firmly on a bush experience rather than fancy digs.

Group dynamic

The trip has a maximum group size of 12 and is open to travelers aged 12 to 65 and older. Solo travelers, couples and friends can all join, so expect a broader mix of ages and travel styles than you would find on an age-specific group tour.

Example experiences

• Camp out in the wilds of Botswana. Experience a true bush adventure on a unique camping safari through some of the country’s spectacular game reserves.

• Explore Moremi Game Reserve on game drives, journeying through a diverse landscape of wetlands, floodplains and drier wilderness in search of wildlife.

• Spend a day exploring Northern Chobe’s famous floodplains, a wildlife-rich landscape home to an incredible variety of iconic African species.

Who this is best for

Travelers who would rather put their budget toward getting deep into Botswana's wildlife regions than high-end accommodation. You need to be comfortable with bow tents, simpler facilities, bumpy transfers and a more hands-on style of adventure, but in return you get plenty of time immersed in the bush.

FAQs

Where are the best places in the world for a safari?

East and Southern Africa remain the major safari regions. Tanzania and Kenya are particularly famous for savannah wildlife and the Great Migration, while Botswana is known for the Okavango Delta and Chobe. South Africa combines major reserves with a broad choice of lodges and infrastructure. For something less conventional, Brazil's Pantanal offers exceptional wetland wildlife, while Gabon offers a much wilder rainforest experience.

Are small group safaris good for solo travelers?

Yes. A small group safari can work particularly well for solo travelers because game drives, meals and wildlife sightings naturally become shared experiences. Some companies specifically cater to solo travelers, while others welcome a mix of solo guests, couples and friends. Check the group size, room arrangements and typical age range to find the right social dynamic for you.

How many people are usually on a small group safari?

It varies by operator. The trips in this guide range from an average of 12 solo travelers with Flash Pack to a maximum of 20 with Journey Latin America. Vehicle capacity matters as much as overall tour size, so it is also worth checking how many people typically share each safari vehicle (or how busy a particular reserve is).

Are safaris suitable for families?

Yes, but minimum ages vary significantly. Some camps and activities have restrictions for younger children, particularly walking safaris. Explore's Botswana & Zimbabwe Family Adventure accepts children aged 7+ and is specifically structured as a family trip.

Can you travel on safari with limited mobility?

Accessibility varies widely between destinations, lodges and vehicles. Specialist operators such as Limitless Travel offer adapted safari vehicles with wheelchair clamps, accessible accommodation and professional support. Always check the specifics before booking, including transfers, bathroom facilities, terrain and whether you’ll need to transfer out of your wheelchair for game drives. 

Do you need to stay in a luxury lodge to have a good safari?

No. Accommodation can dramatically change the price and feel of a safari, but expensive lodges are not the only way to see wildlife. Camping tours can put travelers right inside major wildlife areas while keeping accommodation simpler. The African Overland Tours itinerary in this guide, for example, keeps prices down by including six nights in bush-based bow tents.

What is the best safari for seeing the Big Five?

The Big Five are lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. South Africa, Tanzania and several other African safari destinations offer opportunities to see them, but no ethical wildlife tour should guarantee sightings. If the Big Five are a priority, look closely at the reserves visited, the number of game drives included and how much time is actually spent on safari.

What is the Great Migration?

The Great Migration is the huge cyclical movement of wildebeest and other grazing animals through the Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystem. The location of the herds changes throughout the year, so timing and location matter when choosing a trip.

Are there good safaris outside Africa?

Absolutely. Brazil's Pantanal is one of the standout alternatives, with wildlife including caiman, capybaras, giant anteaters, monkeys and huge numbers of birds. Elsewhere, wildlife-focused trips in India can center on tigers, while destinations such as the Galápagos offer a completely different style of close-up animal encounter.

What is the best time of year to go on safari?

It depends on where you’re going and what you want to see. In many African safari destinations, the dry season is a popular choice because wildlife gathers around water sources and thinner vegetation can make animals easier to spot.

In East Africa, timing also matters if you’re hoping to catch the Great Migration, while destinations such as Botswana and Brazil’s Pantanal have their own distinct wildlife seasons. Always check the conditions for your specific destination rather than relying on one universal “safari season.”

What should I look for when comparing safari tours?

Look beyond the destination. Compare the actual reserves visited, number and length of game drives, group and vehicle sizes, accommodation, internal transport, physical demands and how much time is spent traveling between locations. Think about the animals you most want to see, too. A Serengeti safari and a Gabon rainforest expedition may both be called safaris, but they are very different experiences.

How we chose this guide

We compared small group safari tours based on the wildlife experiences included, destination, group size, traveler type, accommodation, accessibility, activity level and the overall style of each trip.

We've included trips that demonstrate how broad modern safari travel has become. That means classic Serengeti wildlife viewing alongside Botswana camping, a family adventure, an accessible South African safari, a wellness-focused retreat, Brazil's Pantanal and remote rainforest exploration in Gabon.

We also compared practical details including group sizes, age ranges, accommodation and itinerary structure. Safari plans can change according to wildlife movements, weather, water levels and local conditions, so it is always worth checking the latest itinerary for your specific departure before booking.

Best small group safari tours by GroupTravelReviews.com