I'm planning to do my first solo African safari trip for 5-7 days in June but am having trouble deciding which country. I'd preferably like to see the "raw" animal experience while also staying at somewhat comfortable lodging, whether they be lodges or camping. I'm honing in on Botswana, South Africa (Sabi Sands), or Kenya (Masa Marai):
I've frequently read and heard that Botswana offers the best overall safari experience, but it's also the most expensive.
Sabi Sands has the best bang-for-your-buck, as you're able to stay in luxury for the cheapest USD, and you're more likely to spot the big 5. However, I've read that the experience can feel a bit more artificial than other African countries.
Kenya seems to be somewhere in between, offering a "raw" animal experience while being able to offer private tours at affordable prices, whereas if you you were to pay the same amount of USD for tours at the other 2, you'll be joined by other parties. The flights are also shorter (flights to Southern Africa seem incredibly long and brutal), and airfare is cheaper compared to going to South Africa. However, it sounds like it may be more crowded in Kenya compared to Botswana or Sabi Sands, and things are more spread out (i.e., takes a longer time to get to locations) compared to Sabi Sands.
Note this is just my preliminary research, so some of my assumptions may be wrong, but which African country would offers the best experience for a first-time safari, as well as best bang-for-your-buck, including countries I haven't listed?