Africa&You says private safari demand is up 70% as travelers seek exclusivity

Africa&You says demand for exclusive-use camps, private vehicles and villas has risen 70% year to date versus 2025, as safari travelers favor privacy, longer stays and custom access. The company’s 2027 safari list spotlights five quieter destinations across southern and eastern Africa built around that shift.

Why it matters: - Safari luxury is shifting from high-end lodging to privacy and control over the experience. - The trend is strongest among multigenerational families and milestone celebrations that want flexibility, space and fewer scheduled constraints. - Africa&You says the demand shift is changing how safaris are planned, booked and delivered.

What happened: - Africa&You Managing Director Rachel Kyle released the company’s "Where to Safari in 2027" list of five quieter destinations for travelers seeking a more private safari. - The list reflects what the Africa&You team says its best-traveled clients are asking for: privacy, space and easier access. - Kyle said clients are now asking where they can have a destination to themselves rather than which lodge is best. - The company says requests for exclusive-use camps, private vehicles and villas are up 70% year to date compared with 2025.

The details: - Africa&You says three trends are shaping safari demand in 2027. - Privacy has become the main luxury, with private villas, private vehicles, specialist guides and private aircraft in high demand. - Clients are increasingly choosing three- or four-night stays in each location, with fewer flights and more time for unscheduled moments. - Travelers also want more than game drives, including walking safaris, horseback riding, conservation activities and cultural encounters. - Wellness is being folded into safari trips through private yoga spaces, local treatments and food-focused recovery time. - The 2027 list includes Eastern South Africa, South Luangwa in Zambia, Katavi in Tanzania, Kunene and the Skeleton Coast in Namibia, and the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana. - Eastern South Africa is described as malaria-free and a short flight from Cape Town, with big game safaris on private reserves and exclusive-use wellness retreats. - South Luangwa covers 3,500 square miles of river, lagoon and woodland and is known for leopard viewing, walking safaris and private small camps or exclusive-use villas. - Katavi is remote, with most guests arriving on light aircraft that fly only a few days a week, and is known for floodplains, buffalo herds and dry-season hippo concentrations. - Kunene and the Skeleton Coast offer desert-adapted elephants and lions, mountain and dune landscapes, and access to semi-nomadic Himba communities via private fly-in safari. - Makgadikgadi Pans is one of the world’s largest salt flats and offers walking with Zu/’hoasi San guides, time with meerkats and, in the green season, one of Africa’s major zebra migrations. - Each itinerary uses private specialist guides and access not available through standard bookings, including exclusive-use camps, private vehicles and aircraft.

Between the lines: - The safari market appears to be moving away from shared, schedule-driven travel and toward highly tailored trips with more autonomy. - The emphasis on conservation, culture and wellness suggests travelers want the safari to feel immersive, not just scenic. - Remote destinations benefit from that shift because scarcity itself has become part of the value proposition.

What's next: - Africa&You’s 2027 safari positioning suggests more demand for private, longer-form itineraries across less crowded regions. - The company is likely to keep building trips around specialist guides and hard-to-book access as travelers prioritize exclusivity over volume. - Travelers looking for a more secluded safari experience will likely focus on destinations that combine privacy with strong wildlife access and distinctive local experiences.