It might seem like 2025 just started, but from a travel standpoint, 2026 is just around the corner! It might seem early to plan your trips for next year, but when it comes to safari (and many other types of trips these days), the earlier you plan, the better.
If your safari wish list is specific or if you need to travel over certain dates – especially if you want to travel during one of Africa’s peak seasons – it’s best to plan at least a year in advance if not more. To fully understand when you should plan your safari, we’ve created this helpful guide. But it’s more than just time that factors into why you should plan your 2026 safari now. Here, we cover a few other reasons you might consider.
Where you stay on safari is a big part of your experience. You have an abundance of choices including tented camps, lodges, villas and even mobile camping. To have the full range of accommodation choices, you need to plan your safari well in advance. We are already seeing camps and lodges fill up over some 2026 dates – don’t wait to plan and risk missing out on your first choice!
Another great reason to plan in advance is to take advantage of the best flights and routing to get to Africa. You can book flights up to 330 days in advance, allowing you to choose exactly which airline you want, along with when and how you want to get to your destination. From new flights into Tanzania from Air France and Turkish Airlines and new flights into Madagascar from Emirates and Ethiopian Airways, additional routes to Africa keep opening up. There are also nonstop flights from the US East Coast into Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
By booking now, you’ll not only get the dates and accommodations you want, you will also get the best deal. As space runs low, it is more difficult to take advantage of any specials that might be on offer, and specials also sometimes disappear when bookings are high.
Journey Specialist tip – there are a few camps and lodges that have not yet released 2026 rates yet and are therefore honoring 2025 rates if you book soon. Ask a Journey Specialist where you can find the best early bird deal!
Are you thinking about finally making plans for your multigenerational vacation? Or that epic friends and family trip? Remember that it takes more time to plan when you’re coordinating a group. You’ll need to plan well in advance to determine schedules and to lock down accommodations that will work for your group.
If you wait to plan your African safari, you might have to take your second choice of dates or accommodations or perhaps push your plans back. Get your travel on the books now to have something to look forward to all year long – 2026 will be here before you know it!
Contact one of our Journey Specialists to start the process and subscribe to our newsletter below for more information and inspiration!
Photos courtesy of AAC Livingstone Club members Sean H., Mark H., David H., Robert P., the Fosha family, Beth L., Brian W. and Saudi C.