Safari kings: SA leads 2026 bookings, Brazil and Gulf flights power healthy tourism year

South Africa leads the way for safari bookings in 2026, according to new insured-trip data from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth. The country captures 36.5% of the market, outpacing Tanzania (21.4%) and Kenya (20.9%). South Africa is also the most affordable safari destination compared to Botswana, which is the most expensive.

However, several popular safari countries have travel advisories, so it's important to buy travel insurance before a destination's rating changes. South Africa's tourism is experiencing a boom, with international arrivals climbing 12.8% year-on-year from January to May 2026. Brazil has been a standout growth market, with a 40.6% increase in May alone and a 32% increase from January to May.

LATAM Airlines launched a direct flight from Cape Town to São Paulo to accommodate this demand. Other markets, such as the Middle East and Europe, are also increasing their airline capacity to South Africa, which is seen as a reliable indicator of tourism growth.