Safari Tourism Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Adventure Safari, Private Safari), By Group (Couples, Friends), By Booking Mode, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global safari tourism market size was valued at USD 32.3 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% from 2022 to 2030. The increasing interest of bloggers and influencers in safari travel is the key factor fueling the growth of safari tourism. There are many travel bloggers and influencers on social networking sites, with a large follower base. These people post their travel content on social media platforms. The increasing preference of people for unique as well as exotic holiday experiences, growth in middle and upper-middle-class expenditure, and the growing impact of social media on the travel industry are the major factors that drive the growth.

The demand for safari tourism is considerably increasing, however different factors restrict safari tourism growth. The cost of safari tourism is very high, and therefore, its target customers are limited. Moreover, infrastructure issues along with prevailing security concerns among travelers hinder the growth of the market. Safari tourism is still a developing tourist activity with more growth possibilities. As travelers like to visit unexplored and interesting places, this can be observed as a growth opportunity for the market.

The COVID-19 outbreaks had a large negative impact on industry growth. As of June 2021, almost 60% of safari tour operators lost 75% or more bookings. About 18% of businesses recorded 50% of cancellations. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the major wildlife tourist destinations in the African continent, namely South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Zambia, saw a solid decrease in tourism flow. A lot of iconic wildlife travel experiences have been affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A safari is the most popular and desirable type of holiday in Africa. Going on safari is largely considered the definitive 'thing to do' in Africa. Typically, a safari in Africa implies a wildlife safari. People are attracted to see the natural habitat of the animals such as lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, leopards, and several other wild animals. Today, travelers want to have an in-depth look into the native culture of the places that they travel to. Several new players entering the market are considering this point and are providing a personalized experience to safari tourists, thereby driving the market growth.

Exposure to social media fuels the growth of the market. Posting pictures on various social media platforms to increase online engagement succeeds in nearly every sector. In addition, there are several travel bloggers and influencers on social networking sites with a large follower base. All these bloggers and influencers surge the interest in safari tourism among people by posting their tourism content. Apart from this, growing storytelling on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Blogger, and numerous other such platforms is generating interest in safari tourism among people globally.

Various types of safari trips provide a variety of means to explore the wilderness. Some of the major favored countries in various continents for safari tourism are Thailand, India, Nepal, and China in Asia, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania in Africa, and Brazil. The U.K., Germany, and France are the most vital European source nations for safari tourism in terms of market size, followed by Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Group Insights

The couples segment dominated the market for safari tourism and accounted for a revenue share of over 40.0% in 2021. Safari tourism as a couple will double the fun, the comfort, and the experiences while assisting to halve the budget. The supreme beauty of jungles as well as large national parks makes a safari honeymoon flawless for adventurous couples. Couple safari tourism aids to build new relationships as it allows couples to do new and exciting things together.

The friends segment is expected to register a lucrative CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Safari tourism with friends has largely become famous these days. Youngsters’ inclination toward safari tourism is increasing significantly over the last couple of years. Safari tourism with friends majorly reduces the cost, therefore the friends segment is likely to expand at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period.

Booking Mode Insights

The direct booking segment dominated the market for safari tourism and accounted for a revenue share of over 60.0% in 2021. Direct booking services through different platforms such as apps, websites, and social media offer an opportunity for players in the market to engage a greater number of customers and build positive customer relationships.

The marketplace booking segment is expected to register a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period. Marketplace booking permits consumers and travel agents to book trips, hotels, and holiday packages. Moreover, an internet booking permits customers to stipulate their travel needs including the city of departure, destination, departure date, arrival date, and a class of travel. High penetration of the internet in advanced and emerging nations and growing preference for the internet for online transactions and other utilities are vital factors anticipated to drive the marketplace booking segment during the forecast period.

Type Insights

The adventure segment dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of over 45.0% in 2021. Adventure tourism is largely famous among young tourists. Adventure tourism increases much of its enthusiasm by permitting the tourists to move outside their comfort zone. Adventure safari has been witnessing significant popularity over the past few years, with around 42% of all travelers wanting to take part in one or a range of safari adventure activities.

The private safari segment is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. This is owing to the various private safari benefits such as private dinner, transfer, vehicle, and safari activities. By booking a private safari, tourists have the opportunity to gather the people they want to hang out with. Personalized private tours give tourists total freedom as well as flexibility. An increasing number of private safari tourists are indulging in such tours as they enable these travelers to experience the finest local fragilities and purchase some of the attractive handicrafts. These tours are getting famous among travelers of all groups, thus the segment is expected to grow at a considerable CAGR during the forecast period.

Regional Insights

The Middle East and Africa dominated the market for safari tourism and accounted for a revenue share of over 50.0% in 2021. More than 30 million tourists visit Africa every year. African safaris have gained high popularity in the last couple of years not just in traditional traveler markets such as the U.S. and Europe but also in developing markets such as China. Africa is the world’s top destination for safari travel, which ranges from the exotic to the very simple. Major countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Namibia are largely contributing to revenue generation.

Asia Pacific is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. Wildlife safari tourism in the Asia Pacific is blooming most likely due to a great number of national parks, safaris, and wildlife reserves, which are being opened for tourists. In addition, safari vacations in the Asia Pacific are now common and in abundance due to the rich and diverse existence of flora and fauna. Countries such as India, Nepal, and Bhutan are growing rapidly in the market. Nepal has nearly 72% of the area under rich forests, thus safari tourism is a major revenue-generating industry in Nepal. Nepal is a tourist-oriented place to enjoy nature as well as relax throughout the year.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Prominent players in the industry are aiming to provide the customers with the best facilities in safari tourism. Therefore, such companies play a crucial role in expanding business in every corner of the world. Market players are entering into mergers and acquisitions and strategic partnerships to expand their geographical footprints. Key operators are continuously adopting novel technologies such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and IoT to provide advanced features to attract customers. Such initiatives are anticipated to produce high prospects for market growth in the forecast years. For instance, adventure safari operators are focusing on virtual reality to offer a realistic visual experience of safari activities and natural surroundings. Some prominent players in the global safari tourism market include:

• Wilderness Safaris

• Thomas Cook Group

• Singita

• Scott Dunn

• Rothschild Safaris

• Travcoa & Beyond

• Abercrombie & Kent Ltd.

• Gamewatchers Safaris

• Backroads

• TUI Group

Safari Tourism Market Report Scope

Global Safari Tourism Market Segmentation

This report forecasts growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global safari tourism market report based on type, group, booking mode, and region:

• Safari Tourism Market Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Adventure Safari

  • Private Safari

  • Others

• Safari Tourism Market Group Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Friends

  • Families

  • Couples

  • Solos

• Safari Tourism Market Booking Mode Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Direct Booking

  • Agents And Affiliates Account

  • Marketplace Booking

• Safari Tourism Market Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Bhutan

    • Nepal

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Kenya

    • Tanzania

    • Botswana

    • Namibia