Sensational Safaris for All Budgets

If the call of the wild has you craving adventure of the animal kind, grab your khakis and head to South Africa for some of the best safari camps in the world.

Safari vacations are always a huge investment in time and money, so you want to make sure you get what you're looking for.

Do you want to splurge and stay at a private game reserve, or pitch a tent at a rest camp? Whatever your budget, South Africa's Kruger National Park has you covered, from the affordable to the outrageous. Kruger is one of the top-rated safari destinations in Africa and continues to impress with new safari options.

The goal of any safari vacation is to spot the "Big Five" -- the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Be sure to bring binoculars and have your best camera gear ready because what you'll see will blow you away.

Safari Option #1 -- Affordable Rest Camps

One of the best-kept safari secrets is that you can actually camp out in Kruger National Park. This is a popular budget option because two people can stay in a tent for less than $50 per night. The area where you camp is fenced off to keep the animals out, unlike the private game reserves where you can wake up and have a rhino on your front porch.

A top rest camp in the southern part of the park is Skukuzza. This is a prime animal sighting area and a favorite with families because you can stay in a tent -- or spend a little more and rent a simple bungalow for around $75 a night. This camp is set up like a small town and can hold up to 1,000 people. If you're looking for a more authentic experience, you'll need to venture into the bush.

Safari Option #2 -- Private Game Reserves

There's nothing to match the safari experience of staying on a private game reserve. Private reserves are what put African safaris on the map.

These reserves aren't fenced off, so you're truly living in the middle of an amazing animal kingdom. At any moment, a zebra can stroll by your table while you're having lunch, or you can spot a giraffe or elephant from your bedroom.

This unfiltered wildlife experience means you have to take extra safety precautions, and at night most camps don't allow you to walk around without an armed guide.