Namibia has secured a spot among the world’s most sought-after safari destinations, ranking 7th globally according to new travel booking data from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth.
Data compiled from the first half of 2026 shows that 2.8% of international safari travelers chose Namibia as their primary destination.
The findings underscore a resilient global appetite for African wildlife adventures, even as safari holidays maintain their position as some of the most expensive travel itineraries on the market.
According to Squaremouth’s consumer survey, safaris accounted for the second most popular luxury vacation style, capturing 24% of luxury travel demand and trailing only tropical island getaways (42%).
They report siad that data from the first half of 2026 shows South Africa ranked as the most popular safari destination among 36.5 of travellers and it is also the most affordable.
“Tanzania and Kenya are also proving to be popular safari destinations this year, with 21.4% and 20.9% of travellers booking a trip to these African countries.”
They added that part of a growing trend is that travellers are increasingly prioritising aspirational luxury travel, even if it means cutting back in other spending areas to be able to afford it. “Despite inflation and rising costs, over 40% of travellers are voluntarily raising their travel budgets this year. And 23% of travellers are raising their travel budget in an effort to get a premium or bucket-list travel experience.”
The report noted that 52% of travellers said they were interested in going on safari, and of those who reported having taken a safari vacation, 65% said they wanted to go again. “While 26% of travellers planning a luxury vacation within the next 2years said they will prioritise going on safari.”
