All meals and game drives are included in the price at safari lodges such as Camp Olonana in the Masai Mara Reserve.

by Julia Bainbridge on Travel Deals

We'd love to see us a wild lion or two, but the zoo has had to do since our pockets started burning. Actually, though, this spring and summer you can expect to pay 25% to 35% less for a safari (depending on which countries you choose) than you did this time last year. Sanctuary Lodges and Camps in East Africa, for instance, is offering third or fourth nights free at its camps.

You can get a fourth night free at Olonana in the heart of Kenya's big game country. Go before June 20 and you'll pay $1,050 for 4 nights, as opposed to $1,400.

You can get a third night free at Uganda's Gorilla Forest Camp: Pay $740 for three nights, as opposed to $1,110.

For travel through: December 15

Rates include: All game-viewing activities, laundry, meals, and beverages. Not included are flights, park fees (which vary depending on the camp), and transfers (which vary depending on group size and vehicle used). At the Gorilla Forest Camp, you'll need to get a gorilla trek permit ($500 per person).

Wendy's tip: Travelers can get the best value for their dollar by booking through a safari expert such as Nina Wennersten of Hippo Creek Safaris. Nina, who has been in Wendy's Rolodex of the world's best travel agents for eight years now, knows every inch of these properties--the rooms, the camp managers, the guides, the game--and how to string together the lodges and camps best suited to your particular needs in order to create a flawless overall experience. You can read online reviews of Hippo Creek Safaris--as well as the other travel specialists in Wendy's Rolodex--here.)