When Irish travelers dream of an adventure, few experiences compare to the thrill of a safari. The idea of leaving Dublin Airport and within a day or two standing face-to-face with lions, elephants, gorillas, or even polar bears is unforgettable. That’s why more families, couples, and adventurers are now searching for the best safari holidays from Dublin. Unlike quick European getaways, safari holidays immerse you in wild landscapes, let you witness incredible wildlife, and give you cultural encounters you’ll never forget.
Safari holidays from Ireland are no longer complicated or out of reach. Thanks to strong airline networks and well-designed tour packages, you can book safari holidays from Dublin, enjoy a direct or one-stop connection, and arrive in destinations as varied as Kenya, Brazil, India, or even Canada. Similarly, you can choose from affordable safari packages or go for exotic safari holidays. The choice is yours.
How Much Does a Safari Holiday Cost?
Before looking at the destinations, let’s talk money. How much does a safari holiday cost? The answer depends on destination, season, and comfort level.
Budget safaris (often camping or simple lodges in East Africa) start at around €2,500–€3,000 per person for a week, including flights. These are perfect if you are researching cheap safari holidays from Ireland but still want the full wildlife experience.
Mid-range safaris with comfortable lodges, professional guides, and small-group tours and the price ranges from €3,500–€5,000 per person. This is where most Irish families and couples fit when looking for family safari holidays from Ireland.
Luxury safaris can cost €7,000–€10,000+ per person. These include fly-in camps, gourmet dining, and private game drives. They appeal to travelers who see safaris as a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list event.
Flights are a major part of the cost. Most routes involve one-stop journeys through hubs like Doha, Istanbul, Amsterdam, or London. Smart travelers often combine flights with safari tours booked through agencies offering safari tours from Ireland, which can save time and hassle.
Best Safari Destinations from Dublin
1. Kenya – Masai Mara & Amboseli
No list of best safari holidays from Dublin is complete without Kenya. It remains one of the easiest entry points into African safari life and is a strong option for those booking Kenya safari holidays from Ireland.
The Masai Mara is world-famous for its endless plains and the Great Migration, when millions of wildebeest and zebras thunder across the savannah. Add Amboseli, with its backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, and you have the classic safari postcard. Families will find Kenya particularly attractive, with lodges offering child-friendly programs.
You must plan your visit to Masai Mara in July to October, during the Great Migration, though wildlife sightings remain strong year-round. From Dublin, airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Turkish Airlines offer one-stop flights to Nairobi, making Kenya one of the most practical African safari from Dublin options.
2. Rwanda – Gorilla & Primate Safaris
For something truly unique, Rwanda stands out. Seeing mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is one of the most profound wildlife encounters possible. Rwanda also offers Nyungwe Forest, with its canopy walk and chimpanzee treks, and Akagera National Park, where you can spot lions and rhinos.
The best time to visit is June to September when the forest trails are dry. From Dublin, you can connect through Amsterdam, Istanbul, or Doha to Kigali. While Rwanda safaris are not the cheapest, they are among the most rewarding. They appeal to couples and adventurous travelers who want more than a standard game drive.
3. Zambia – South Luangwa National Park
Zambia is less crowded than Kenya or Tanzania but equally rewarding. South Luangwa National Park is the birthplace of the walking safari, where you explore on foot with expert guides and track leopards, elephants, and hippos. Night drives here are spectacular, with frequent leopard sightings.
The dry season, from May to October, is the best time to visit. Dublin connects to Lusaka via London or Doha. Zambia safaris suit travelers who want authentic experiences with fewer vehicles around. This is also a good destination for people who frequently go to safaris to look for something fresh.
4. Namibia – Etosha & Skeleton Coast
Namibia offers a safari unlike anywhere else. Etosha National Park has vast salt pans that attract herds of elephants, giraffes, and lions. Meanwhile, the Skeleton Coast provides haunting beauty with elephants adapted to desert and beaches lined with shipwrecks. This combination makes Namibia one of the most photogenic safari holidays from Dublin Airport.
Visit from June to October for dry conditions and concentrated wildlife. Flights from Dublin airport connect via Frankfurt or Doha to Windhoek. Namibia is also safe and easy to self-drive, which makes it popular with families seeking independence on their family safari holidays from Ireland.
5. Botswana – Makgadikgadi Pans & Okavango Delta
Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans feel otherworldly. Vast salt flats that burst into life when flamingos and zebra migrations start. Add the Okavango Delta, one of the richest wetlands in the world, and you get a diverse safari experience.
The dry season (May to October) is ideal. Access is usually via Dublin to Johannesburg and Maun. Botswana is one of the pricier safari options, but it delivers exclusivity and luxury. If you’re looking for the best safari holidays from Ireland in terms of untouched wilderness, Botswana is hard to beat.
6. Uganda – Kidepo & Bwindi
Uganda combines classic savannah safaris with gorilla trekking. Kidepo Valley National Park is remote, dramatic, and almost free of tourists. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest offers gorilla encounters like Rwanda but often at a lower permit cost.
Travel between December and February or June to September. Travelers from Dublin can reach Entebbe with one-stop connections through Istanbul or Doha, using airlines such as Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways. Uganda appeals to adventurous travelers who want both primates and big savannah wildlife in a single trip.
7. Madagascar – Lemurs & Baobabs
Madagascar isn’t a typical safari, but it’s unforgettable. Instead of lions, you’ll see lemurs leaping through rainforests, chameleons changing color, and baobab trees towering over dusty roads. Parks like Andasibe and Isalo deliver unique wildlife you won’t find anywhere else.
Best time to visit is April to October, during the dry season. From Dublin, fly via Paris or Amsterdam to Antananarivo. Madagascar safaris are great for those who want a safari holiday from Ireland that feels truly different from traditional African parks.
8. Tanzania – Tarangire & Mahale Mountains
While the Serengeti is famous, Tanzania has hidden gems. Tarangire National Park is known for massive elephant herds and giant baobab trees. Mahale Mountains, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, is one of the best places in the world for chimpanzee tracking.
The dry season (June to October) works best to visit this national park. Dublin connects via Doha, Amsterdam, or Istanbul to Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam. Tanzania safaris are perfect if you want both big savannah wildlife and rare primate encounters.
9. Brazil – Pantanal Wetlands
South America’s answer to the safari, the Pantanal is the best place on Earth to see jaguars in the wild. You’ll also find giant otters, capybaras, and hundreds of bird species. Unlike dense rainforests, the wetlands give open views, making wildlife easier to spot.
The dry season, from July to October, is ideal. Dublin connects via Lisbon or Madrid to São Paulo, then onwards to Cuiabá. For Irish travelers who want a different kind of safari, Brazil offers something new without going to Africa.
10. Canada – Churchill, Manitoba
Safari doesn’t always mean lions. In Churchill, Canada, you go on tundra vehicles to see polar bears up close. In summer, thousands of beluga whales gather in Hudson Bay, turning it into a wildlife hotspot.
The best time to sight polar bears is October to November and for belugas, July to August. Dublin connects via Toronto or London to Winnipeg, then onward to Churchill. It’s a unique option for family safari holidays from Ireland, giving children a chance to see Arctic wildlife.
11. India – Kanha & Bandhavgarh
India’s tiger reserves deliver adrenaline-packed safaris in open jeeps. Kanha inspired “The Jungle Book” and offers dense forests filled with tigers, leopards, and sloth bears. Bandhavgarh has one of the highest tiger densities in the world.
The best time to visit Kanha and Bandhavgarh is from March to May, when tiger sightings are at their peak. For travelers who prefer cooler weather, the winter months between November and February offer a more comfortable climate, though sightings may be slightly less frequent. Dublin flights connect via Doha, Istanbul, or London to Delhi or Nagpur. For Irish travelers seeking an exotic, cultural twist to their safari holidays from Ireland, India is ideal.
Final Thoughts
Planning the best safari holidays from Dublin has never been easier. From gorilla trekking in Rwanda to tiger safaris in India, jaguar spotting in Brazil, and polar bear adventures in Canada, Irish travelers have the world at their feet.
What matters most is choosing the destination that excites you, matches your budget, and gives you memories that last a lifetime. Because whether it’s lions on the savannah or polar bears on the tundra, safari holidays from Ireland are about one thing: the thrill of the wild.