Tanzania Safari Cost 2026/27 – Everything You Need to Know!

Home to the iconic Serengeti National Park, and the marvel that is the great wildebeest migration, it really is no wonder that Tanzania is one of the most popular places in the world to go on safari.

It’s certainly one of my favourites, and I think my track-record of visiting at least once per year over the last five years is a testament to how much I love it. I quite evidently just can’t get enough of Tanzania!

With so many Tanzania safaris under my belt, I have a pretty good idea of how much a Tanzania safari costs. Add my own experience to the fact that I’ve helped over 5,000 people arrange their own Tanzania safaris, and I’ve got some pretty clear statistics.

Based on my data, the average price paid for a private budget safari in 2026 is $370 per person per day (full board and excluding flights and tips).

If you’re planning your very first safari, then that figure probably doesn’t have a lot of meaning right now.

You probably have a host of questions running through your brain, from how does that compare to other safari destinations? to what does a budget private safari even get you?

Well, in this guide my goal is to be as comprehensive as possible so that you can not only feel confident booking a great safari for a fair price, but also have a better idea of how to plan your dream Tanzania safari itinerary.

In order to make this the ultimate guide, I’ve read through everything I could find on the topic of safari costs and spoken extensively to the local guides I’ve worked with in Tanzania.

Let’s not discount my own personal experiences too. I’ve been on Tanzania safaris at all comfort levels, from $70,000 ultra-luxury fly-in safaris through to budget safaris in $20 per night hostels, and, of course, everything in between!

I’ll talk you through typical costs, how to choose the best safari company and how much to budget for other costs such as tipping.

Tanzania Safari Costs At a Glance

If you’re in a rush, here is a quick chart showing the typical costs of Tanzania safaris when you book through a local safari company.

In my experience, Tanzania actually ranks as one of the best value safari destinations in Africa, alongside Kenya, as you can see in my destination cost comparison section below.

Private budget safaris average $370 per day with mid-range cost $415 and luxury cost $625. It’s also possible to find shared (group) camping safaris from as little as $250 per person per day.

Local safari companies typically offer a good product for a fair price. Larger international travel agents and safari companies based in countries such as US / UK etc. will cost significantly more. As a guide, you can estimate they will cost between 30% and 170% more than the price of a comparable local company.

Based on bookings which I have assisted with, I can see that the most popular budget level (by far, taking up 56% of all bookings) is mid-range which costs an average of $415 per person per day, which is just $45 more than a budget safari, but gives you a much higher level of accommodation and food.

Whilst many factors affect the cost per day, the total trip cost is largely influenced by how many days you are on safari for. I would recommend a 5-day Tanzania itinerary as a starting point and then increase the number of days according to your budget.

The most popular Tanzania safari length is a 7-10 day itinerary. This allows you to visit Tanzania’s highlights at a comfortable pace.

You can see an example of a mid-range safari in my video below.

We’ll dive further into these figures in a minute, to better understand what makes up these costs as well as tips on how to get the best value for money.

The best value for money safaris are achieved by working with a reputable local safari company.

How Much Will Your Tanzania Safari Cost?

The exact cost of your Tanzania safari can vary depending on a number of factors. However, here are the calculations for how much a typical Tanzania safari will cost you in 2026/27:

We’re going to assume two people sharing on a 7-day private mid-range tour which is the most popular option, from my experience.

The mid-range safari itself costs on average $415 per person per day so you can expect to pay a grand total of $2,905 per person when booked through a local safari company.

That figure refers to the safari itself. You’ll then have your international flights which from my experience cost around $800 return from the UK to Tanzania or $1,200 from the US.

In terms of additional costs, visas are $50 for most visitors and $100 from the US. Then you have anti-malaria tablets which will be around $50 for 7 days.

The other notable cost is tipping which is technically optional… well, kinda. To be completely honest, tipping is very much expected. The most notable person to tip will be your driver guide. Exact tipping guidelines can vary from company to company, however, $10 – $20 per person per day is the most common amount. This works out at at least $70 for the 7 days.

That gives a total of $3,875 – $4,325 USD per person in total including your international flights.

When booking through a local tour operator, you would typically book your international flights yourself.

International travel agents would book your flights too but you will usually pay a 30 – 170% premium on this price compared to a local company.

There is, of course, a lot of flexibility with this pricing that I’ve laid out. Opting for a budget safari would reduce this cost by around $315. You can also increase the cost by adding comfortable extras such as internal flights, which would increase it by around $500.

I think it’s time we took a look at what a budget, mid-range, luxury and ultra-luxury safari all look like, the differences between them, the typical cost for each, and my personal preference.

Budget Tanzania Safari Costs

A budget safari is an entry level safari, meaning it’s the lowest cost way to experience a traditional guided safari across Tanzania’s national parks. A private budget safari comes at an average price of $370 USD per person per day.

I must add an important note here that if you encounter a private safari that costs less than this, I would be wary. Local tour operators have very small profit margins, meaning that this cost is really the cost to go on safari (as I will show you later on in this guide with a detailed cost breakdown). It simply isn’t possible for a company to operate profitably whilst charging less. Which means one of two things is likely happening, either the company is not being up-front about the costs and you will therefore be met with extra costs further down the line, or it’s possible the company is not legitimate.

There are of course ways to decrease the cost of your safari, such as omitting the more expensive parks from your itinerary. This cautionary message is referring to itineraries that claim to offer it all – Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater – but at an unrealistic price.

Whilst most budget safaris are private, you can sometimes find scheduled group safaris where you share the safari truck with other people. This can provide a saving that is especially notable for solo travellers.

However, group safaris usually involve very basic camping accommodation, you have to follow a fixed itinerary of 3 or 6 days, and you have a fixed departure, meaning you have to work your dates around them and not the other way around. If your budget allows it, the flexibility and comfort of private safaris is definitely the way to go, in my experience.

If you’re looking for something even cheaper than a private budget safari, see my section: Can I go on a safari for even less cost than a budget safari?

You can see the typical cost of a budget safari based on different booking methods below.

Mid-Range Tanzania Safari Costs

A mid-range private safari is the most popular type of safari as it gives you very comfortable accommodation and great value for money, without the often high costs of a luxury safari.

The average cost of a mid-range safari is $415 per person, per day, according to my data, which is actually only $45 per day more than a budget safari.

Over 50% of visitors to Tanzania opt for a mid-range safari, which makes sense given the relatively small price difference between budget and mid-range, but quite a significant difference in the quality of the safari.

Luxury Tanzania Safari Costs

A luxury safari refers to a safari experience where the accommodation is very comfortable and there are additional amenities such as swimming pools.

But this type of safari is so much more than just creature comforts. Luxury properties also tend to be in the best locations too and so it’s typical to expect better wildlife experiences with a luxury safari.

There’s a huge price range for a luxury safari and so for ease, and to get a better understanding of what your money can get you, I’ve broken them down into both luxury and ultra-luxury.

Most people who opt for luxurious safaris go for basic luxury as opposed to super high-end ultra-luxury. A typical luxury safari costs an average of $625 per person per day, whereas an ultra-luxury experience costs around $2,400 per person per day which is a huge jump up.

On the one hand, you’re spending most of your time out on game drives and so very little time is actually spent at and thus enjoying your comfortable room and lodge amenities, and in this respect, luxury is more than enough.

On the other hand, however, ultra-luxury properties can often be found in exclusive locations and therefore the wildlife sightings are extremely good.

It’s also important to remember that a private safari has the ultimate flexibility and you are not confined to a particular budget category. If you want to switch things up and maybe have a more up-scale lodge in the Serengeti compared to other places, go for it.

I’ll come back to ultra-luxury in a moment. For now, let’s talk more about a luxury safari.

Ultra-Luxury Tanzania Safari Costs

Rooms on an ultra-luxury safari are stepped up another notch and you will find yourself with enormous beautifully-furnished rooms, sometimes even suites. Every comfort you could dream of is here! Some have private infinity pools, others have outdoor bathtubs.

With ultra-luxury Tanzania safaris, longer drives will be replaced with 45-minute flights on private chartered flights on small Beechcraft King Air 200, a twin-engine turboprop. It provides the twin-engine peace of mind and a smooth and quiet pressurised cabin. For popular routes you might also take a scheduled flight in Cessna 208 Caravan, a robust propeller plane used for safari transfers.

Ultra-luxury camps are in the best locations and some are even located within private reserves, meaning you will have very intimate, private wildlife sightings without crowds.

You will be allocated the very best and most experienced guides.

Can I Go On A Safari For Even Less Cost Than A Budget Safari?

Shared group safaris are an option if a private budget safari doesn’t align with the amount you were hoping to spend, or you fancy meeting other like-minded travellers. These start from $270 per person per day, assuming you are visiting the best national parks.

A private self-drive safari comes out marginally less, at $260 per person per day.

First of all, the difference between self-drive and a shared safari is so minimal ($10 per person per day) that I truly believe it’s worth the extra to save you so much hassle.

Self-driving in Tanzania is nowhere near as straightforward as it is in Southern Africa. Vehicle restrictions are great (have to have a 4×4 Land Cruiser or comparable) and some locations don’t even let you in without a guide (I’ve heard too many reports of self-drivers being turned away from Ngorongoro Crater).

On top of all of that, you have to navigate the minefield of arranging everything yourself: permits, fuel planning, accommodation, meals. Police road-blocks are also pretty common.

But perhaps the biggest argument against self-driving is the quality of your safaris themselves. If you’re not a trained wildlife guide or have copious amounts of experience tracking animals, you won’t see anywhere near as much wildlife as you would on a guided safari.

So, if your budget won’t stretch to a private safari, a shared safari is the next best option.

Factors Affecting Your Tanzania Safari Cost

Your exact safari price can fluctuate quite substantially depending on a number of factors. Below are the core factors, in order of which will have the biggest impact on your safari cost.

Factor 1: Type of Safari Company

There are four key ways that you can arrange and book a Tanzania safari itinerary: self drive (DIY), through a hotel chain or individual hotels (hotel provided safaris), a local safari company and an international travel agent / safari company (located in countries such as US, UK etc).

I’ll go into each of these options below and their effect on overall costs.

Self-Drive (DIY) Safari Costs

If you’re on a tight budget, or you just love the adventure that comes with doing everything on your own terms, you might be considering a DIY-style self drive safari.

Although self-driving can often be a cost-effective choice (though often at the cost of wildlife sightings), and can be practical in Southern African destinations like Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, it is not ideal for Tanzania.

And how do I know that? Well, firstly let’s take a look at my own experience.

The first ever safaris I booked were through international travel agents. Once I realised I was paying waaaay over the odds, I did a complete 360 and decided to go to the whole other extreme. I planned out a 2-week self-drive adventure across Namibia, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Let’s ignore the fact that my vehicle broke down in the middle of the Namib Desert and instead focus on another key aspect that didn’t go quite to plan. I allowed myself an entire day to see Etosha National Park (the key wildlife location in Namibia), self-driving through the national park. And for most of the day I saw… well, not very much. Juggling driving with map-reading, wildlife spotting and photography was quite the ask, and I had absolutely no idea what I was looking for or where to look. In the end I resorted to following the guided vehicles, who inadvertently led me to a lion. That was just lucky. For all I knew, they could have been heading to the toilet block.

But Ella, you may be thinking, you could very well just be terrible at wildlife spotting. Now, that could well be true. However, my incident was not an isolated one. On a more recent safari to Botswana, I crossed paths with a couple who had spent the past month self-driving through Namibia and Botswana. During that time they hadn’t seen a single leopard or wild dog. I then proceeded to go on a guided Botswana safari and saw two separate leopard sightings as well as three wild dog sightings over a fraction of the time.

Let’s face it, unless you’ve grown up in or spent ample time in the bush, you’re just not going to see anywhere near as much wildlife as you would on a guided safari.

But spotting wildlife in Tanzania is just the first challenge.

During my first visit to Tanzania, whilst sipping on an ice-cold beer beside a roaring fire-pit, in a lodge on the edge of Ngorongoro Crater, I had the pleasure of meeting a delightful German couple who had rented a 4×4 vehicle for a self-driving expedition in Tanzania.

Unfortunately, they had just found out that the national parks only permit specialised safari trucks to enter the parks, and therefore their 4×4 would not be allowed.

As a result, the couple had to quickly organise a safari with a separate tour company, which meant they had to pay for both the self-drive car and the safari company. Ouch.

Whilst it is possible to hire self-drive specialist safari trucks from local safari companies, and thus escape the same fate of the German couple, when you crunch the numbers, there isn’t much of a saving for groups of 2 or more (since the cost of the driver/guide is split between the members of the group) compared using a safari company who provide you with a truck and guide together.

Tanzania is very much geared towards using safari companies who organise everything for you, including a safari truck and driver (usually they are the same person). This makes it slightly more expensive than doing everything yourself, but in my opinion this is a small price to pay for a significantly more relaxing and rewarding experience.

The below chart gives you a rough idea of where your money goes when you opt for a DIY self drive Tanzania safari.

Local Tanzania Safari Company Costs

This is by far my preferred way of booking a safari. A good local safari company will provide you with the best value for money, in my experience, providing an amazing service and experience for a fair price. They will also save you a lot of time and use their local knowledge to organise the best safari based on your requirements.

But it’s not just as simple as booking your safari with a local tour operator. There are quite literally thousands of local safari companies in Tanzania. And, as I have very much learnt the hard way, not all companies are created equal. Choosing the right company is arguably the most important factor in ensuring you have the Tanzania safari of your dreams.

But, lucky for you, I’ve tried and tested dozens already. And all of this experience has taught me a lot about how to select the perfect tour operator.

For the ultimate ease, I have my own list of tried and tested Tanzania tour operators who I trust, who you can easily request free no-obligation quotes from.

My list of recommendations is compiled from both my experience and from recent guest feedback. As well as that, a tour operator has to reach a certain criteria to be recommended. This is based on reviews, having an up-to-date license, ethical credentials and so much more.

I will stress that the cheapest and biggest companies are rarely, if ever, the best.

The largest companies are typically stretched too thinly, hiring sub-standard safari trucks or cheap guides. And the cheapest companies are well… doing something very wrong and will likely not be around in a couple of year’s time.

Another benefit of my recommendations is that most of them actually own their own lodges which allows them to provide high-quality safaris at excellent value-for-money.

My recommended companies offer a consistently high level of service as well as higher specification trucks and experienced guides.

Due to their low overheads, many local companies only include a small 10-15% margin in their quotes which goes towards their wages and limited business overheads, leaving them with just 3-5% profit.

And then when you consider that lodges either offer special trade rates to tour operators, or in some instances the tour operators actually have their own lodges, the savings you get with accommodation actually cancel out the company’s profit.

In many cases I have found local tour operators to be cheaper than arranging everything independently. Less hassle and a good price… honestly a win win!

The below chart gives you a rough idea of where your money goes when you book your safari with a local safari company

As you can see, accommodation and park fees make up over 50% of the total safari costs when working with a local tour operator. Park fees may be expensive but it truly is a worthwhile expense. Your money goes towards the upkeep of the parks as well as protecting the wildlife from poachers. Only around 4% goes to the safari company as profit after their overheads.

The above chart is based on a mid-range safari. With budget safaris accommodation costs will make up slightly less of the total and with luxury safari packages, accommodation costs can make up as much as 50% or more of the total costs.

International Travel Agent / Safari Company (US, UK etc.)

Booking your safari with an international travel agent who may be based in your country may seem like the easiest option.

International companies often bundle international flights into safari packages and so the entire booking is taken care of for you.

But there’s a large cost for the ease and that is that this type of safari is between 30% and 170% more expensive than booking with a local tour operator.

Where this price difference gets challenging to justify is that the international travel agent will actually outsource the safari to a local company. So you are receiving the exact same product as those who saved up to 170% by booking directly with the local operators. What’s even more frustrating is you have no say over which company they choose to outsource to and are unable to check reviews of that company to check they’re up to scratch.

I know this because I booked my first ever safari using an international travel agent. And when I turned up, I noticed that the cars had another company’s logo on. And then when I got talking to people staying at the same lodges, some informed me that they’d paid direct and I gasped when they told me how much they paid. It was a lot less than I had.

So how can an international travel agent justify such a high price? Well, you are now paying for two company’s overheads rather than just one as you have a ‘middle man’ involved too (international agent). The agent’s overheads will also be a lot higher than the local tour operator’s as the cost of everything from labour to office space is typically a lot more in countries like the UK and US.

International safari companies in the US / UK etc. do of course provide some perks. For example, they can book international flights for you. They are also more experienced with high-end requests such as chartering private aircraft.

However, typically overseas travel agents who specialise in safaris tend to cater to the higher end. From my experience, you typically have to be spending $15,000 USD plus to get their attention and you really need to be spending $50,000 USD + to get their full service.

Another draw towards international travel agents is the perceived safety of booking with them.

In the UK you will be covered by Package Travel Regulations which can provide some assistance if they go bust before your trip. If they book international flights as part of your package, you will be covered by the ATOL scheme.

In the US there is no single national scheme like ATOL, so your protection depends on who you book with. Some states, such as California, have Seller of Travel laws which require travel agents to register and, in some cases, hold your payments in a trust account or bond.

If your travel agent sells you flights, the US Department of Transportation’s refund rules require them to refund you promptly if a flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you choose not to travel. Tour operators who are members of the United States Tour Operators Association also have to put up $1 million security under its Travelers Assistance Program, which is used to repay customers’ lost deposits and payments if a member goes bust.

The below chart gives you a rough idea of where your money goes when you opt to book your safari with an international US / UK etc. safari company.

When you compare this to the cost breakdown with a local safari company, you can see that when using an international travel agent / safari company there are now extra costs associated with your safari.

“Safari company overheads and profits” reflects the overheads and profits of the local safari company who will deliver the safari on behalf of the International travel agent/ safari company who sold the safari.

“Travel Agent Overheads & Profit” reflects the overheads and profit of the International travel agent / safari company which they need to add to the safari costs. In this chart we have added around 50% extra costs to represent the lower-cost international travel agents but in some cases with the very high end suppliers the extra cost can be up to 100% or more!

Hotel Provides Safaris Costs

Some of the ultra-luxury hotels in Tanzania’s national parks and private game reserves offer their own safari trucks and guides. You will usually have to share these with other guests.

This is the most expensive way to arrange a safari but it might be worthwhile considering if you plan to spend your time based in just one or two lodges for your entire safari and don’t mind sharing a vehicle. However, despite the initial premier appearance of this option given its high costs, there are quite a few draw-backs to this way of booking.

Firstly, unless you book the entirety of your safari with one hotel company, you will have to make a number of bookings and even arrange for your own transport between each lodge. This is time-consuming and there’s more margin for error. And with Tanzania, I really don’t recommend booking your own internal bush-flights yourself as it’s complex and the flight schedule is prone to changing at the last minute. Therefore you have to have internet access for the 24 hour period before your scheduled flight time and make note of last minute changes.

Once, my morning flight at 9am from Arusha to the Serengeti got moved forward to 7am and the airline only sent an email about it late the previous night. Thankfully my tour operator was informed and liaised with me about the earlier time that my operator was now picking me up. I have a feeling other people, who booked the flight without a tour operator, didn’t get the memo as we ended up being the only people on the flight!

Having a shared vehicle is a major drawback of a lodge-provided safari. This takes away so much flexibility as it means fixed safari times (you can’t stay out as long as you want), less preference on what animals to see and how long to see them, and you will all be pushing for the best views. If an animal is on one side of the vehicle, you’ll have to crane your neck to the other side, past other people to see it.

Sometimes a shared vehicle really is inevitable, such as when visiting a private reserve which only allows the lodge’s own vehicles to traverse the area, and in these instances, the wildlife opportunities beat having to share the vehicle.

Some lodges do have the option of renting a private vehicle for an additional cost. This is typically around $200 extra per game drive.

I’ve not provided a breakdown of costs for this option as it’s not applicable.

Factor 2: Safari Accommodation Costs

The level of accommodation is the single biggest factor which contributes to the price differences between budget, mid-range and luxury safaris.

Most of the local Tanzania safari companies I use for my safaris operate their own lodges and camps which allows them to offer very competitive prices for the whole safari as well as allowing them to ensure a consistent standard of accommodation throughout the safari.

There really is such a huge range in lodge prices. The cheapest accommodation I’ve seen is $30 per night whereas the most expensive is $15,000 per person per night.

You’ll typically find that accommodation in Tanzania charges a rate per person rather than per room. This is partly because they typically include full board (food and drinks) in the prices.

Accommodation costs are more expensive inside the national parks for two reasons: 1) Parks charge overnight fees for each person and these are added to the room rates. 2) It costs accommodation providers more money to operate in the national parks which they pass on in higher room rates.

Table showing typical prices per person per night including overnight park fees where applicable for different levels of accommodation in different locations on a full board basis in peak season.

Location	Budget	Mid-Range	Luxury
Arusha	$25	$90	$480
Karatu	$65	$150	$700
Ngorongoro	$180	$600	$1,000
Serengeti Central	$200	$400	$1,200
Serengeti North	$200	$416	$1,200

These are the prices you would pay if you booked the accommodation yourself. When you book a full safari package through a local tour operator, the accommodation usually costs them less, because lodges give tour operators lower trade rates and some operators own their own lodges.

Budget Tanzania Accommodation Costs 

Budget Tanzania accommodation costs between $25-$200 per person per night depending on the location.

Typically budget accommodation is located outside of National Parks with the exception of the Serengeti where the park is too big to stay outside.

In the case of Ngorongoro Crater, budget accommodation is typically located around 1.5 hours drive away in Karatu. This means an earlier wakeup and longer drive to reach the crater in the morning.

The other exception is camping accommodation which tends to be inside the national parks.

These days I tend to pay the extra for mid-range or luxury accommodation as the difference when the accommodation is part of a full safari package is usually only around $50 per person per day extra between budget and mid-range. My two main reasons for this are:

1. They are typically in better locations such as inside the national parks which allows me to start my safari as soon as the parks open vs waiting at the gates. It also allows me to come back to the lodge for lunch and downtime in the middle of the day if I wish, when game viewing is less productive.
2. The other reason is the food – I find the food is often much better at mid-range and luxury lodges.

The budget-range accommodation I stayed at in the Serengeti featured a bucket shower – I gathered this was because all water in the Serengeti is brought in on trucks. It’s quite a fun experience which involves the staff winching a bucket of warm water over your accommodation. You then turn on the shower inside your bathroom and shower as normal. If the water runs out they quickly winch up another bucket.

Mid-Range Tanzania Accommodation Costs

Typical mid-range safari accommodation in Tanzania costs from $90-$416 per person per night depending on location.

In the national parks the accommodation will usually be tented and in the cities you will stay in lodges. The tented camps are very different from the budget tents – they are big permanent tents and have traditional beds and showers. You can see an example below.

Mid-range accommodation will often be inside the national parks or, in the case of Ngorongoro Crater, nearby so you only have a short drive in the morning to enter the crater.

Below is an example of a mid-range lodge in Arusha which had a swimming pool.

Luxury and Ultra-Luxury Tanzania Accommodation Costs

Luxury safari accommodation typically costs between $480 to $1200 per person per night depending on location. For Ultra-Luxury prices tend to range from $1,500 to $5,000.

Both luxury and ultra-luxury are usually in the form of tented camps in national parks with a few lodge options in both categories.

Luxury accommodation will provide large rooms and swimming pools even inside the national park. They will often be very well located, for example many of the luxury lodges for Ngorongoro Crater are located right on the rim of the crater which gives you incredible views as well as a quick 15 minute drive into the crater to allow you to be one of the cars driving down to the crater floor in the morning.

Ultra-luxury can have extra amenities such as medical centers, tennis courts, spas and private pools.

It’s always a treat to stay at luxury accommodation. However, sometimes if I’m on safari from 6am till the end of the day, I don’t always get much time to appreciate the accommodation as much as I’d like to.

Having a day or afternoon / morning off from safari gives you the time to really make the most of luxury accommodation as well as to rest and recharge, especially on longer safari itineraries such as a 2 week Tanzania and Kenya itinerary.

I often like to stay at a luxury hotel at the start and end of the safari, such as the one below.

Factor 3: Time of Year Costs Differences

As with most holiday destinations, safari costs vary based on the time of the year.

I’ve visited Tanzania in all of the different seasons and I’ve found there isn’t really a bad time to visit, apart from the long rainy season between mid-March and mid-May.

The exception being luxury accommodation, I’ve not noticed much of a cost difference in lodges throughout the year, so my main reason for going at different times of year is to see different stages of the Great Wildebeest Migration as well as different landscapes. Parks are also much quieter outside the peak season.

Below are the three ‘seasons’ for Tanzania safaris.

You can sometimes save around 20% in low season and 10% in shoulder season on a full safari package. Most of the savings will come from accommodation as it is the accommodation which offers the biggest discounts outside of peak season.

Luxury and ultra-luxury accommodation can be discounted by as much as 40% from their maximum prices at the height of peak season to their lowest rates in the depth of low season.

For more information on choosing the best time for you, see my guide on the best time to visit Tanzania.

Factor 4: How You Travel Between Safari Parks

Your mode of transport will have a big impact on the cost of your safari.

Minibus (Public Transport)

This is the cheapest option. However, minibuses are often overloaded and involved in crashes. They are also not allowed inside the national parks. Personally I would always recommend being picked up from the airport in a luxury taxi, especially if travelling at night. If you’re booking your safari through a reputable local tour operator, they will arrange this for you as part of your package.

Safari Truck

A safari truck is a cost-effective and safe way to travel between safari parks as well as on safaris themselves. They are comfortable and kitted out with luxury features such as plug sockets, fridges and speakers.

Scheduled & Chartered Propeller Planes

If you’re in a rush or want to avoid some of the longer road journeys, scheduled propeller planes can take you between safari destinations but come at a price. Prices average around $300 per adult one-way. You can see one provider called Coastal’s schedule and 2023-2027 prices here.

You also have the option to charter a dual engine private propeller plane with a pressurised cabin if you wish to travel at a specific time or are traveling to an airstrip which doesn’t have scheduled flights.

I tend to use internal flights for journeys of over 5 hours as it gives me incredible views and I arrive feeling fresh and ready to safari. For example, I’ll usually fly between Arusha and Central Serengeti.

The only catch is the small planes have quite low weight limits for cabin luggage and I often have to pay extra as my bags are often overweight. Hold luggage also needs to be in soft duffel bags.

Factor 5: Tanzania Park Entrance Costs

Tanzania’s national parks and reserves have their own unique pricing and some locations are considerably more expensive than others.

As you can see from the cost breakdowns here, Tanzania park entrance fees can make up around 25% of your total safari cost.

The chart below gives you a good indication of the variation in entrance fees for some of the most popular parks.

I’ve calculated the fees based on 2 adults and a safari truck, including 18% Tanzanian VAT. Vehicle entrance fees have been included for better comparison with Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area.

Vehicle entrance fees are low in both the National Parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, at around $16 per day. It is the crater service fee that makes the Ngorongoro Crater the most expensive.

Once you’ve paid the $158 fees for 2 adults and a vehicle to go inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, going into the crater is $295 on top of those fees.

The Serengeti fees shown are not the full story as you will pass through Ngorongoro Conservation Area on your way to the Serengeti (assuming you start from Arusha and drive rather than fly) and thus have to pay around $158 (for 2 adults and a vehicle) Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance fees on top of Serengeti fees shown, or around $316 if you drive back the same way.

It would make sense to have an Ngorongoro safari on your way to the Serengeti to make the most of your entrance fees.

Tanzania National Parks Entry Costs (Conservation Fees), 1st July 2026 to 30th June 2027.

I’ve also included the popular Ngorongoro Conservation Area which is a Conservation Area rather than a National Park.

National Park	Peak season (16th May – 14th March) Per adult per day	Low season (15th March – 15th May) Per adult per day
Ngorongoro Conservation Area *Motor vehicle permit is TZS 41,300 (around $16) per day	$70.80	Same as peak
Ngorongoro Crater *Motor vehicle permit is TZS 41,300 (around $16) per day Extra fee to visit crater: $295 per vehicle / trip	$70.80	Same as peak
Serengeti and Nyerere National Parks	$82.60	$70.80**
Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Arusha National Parks	$59	$53.10**
Kilimanjaro National Park	$82.60	Same as peak
Katavi, Mikumi, Ruaha, Rubondo Island, Saadani, Kitulo, Mkomazi, Udzungwa Mountains, Burigi-Chato, Ibanda-Kyerwa, Rumanyika-Karagwe, Saanane Island National Parks	$35.40	Same as peak
Gombe National Park	$118	Same as peak
Mahale Mountains National Park	$94.40	Same as peak
Ugalla River National Park	$23.60	Same as peak

Factor 6: Safari Group Size

Group size will affect the costs of the fixed portions of your safari cost such as the safari truck. However, in my experience beyond a group size of 2 people, the cost savings for bigger groups are not that significant. This is largely down to Tanzania accommodation typically charging on a per person basis.

A safari truck with a driver / guide can cost $250-350 per day depending on specification. The safari truck can take up to 7 guests. However, the greatest savings come from having two people rather than one person with a saving per day per person of $125.

Sharing with a 3rd and 4th person saves $41 and then $20 per person. Beyond 4 people the extra savings per person by adding more people to the truck are minimal.

Effect of group size on truck cost per person

Party size	Truck contribution per person	Group size savings per person
1	$250.00	$0.00
2	$125.00	$125.00
3	$83.33	$41.67
4	$62.50	$20.83
5	$50.00	$12.50
6	$41.67	$8.33
7	$35.71	$5.95

Northern Circuit Vs Southern Circuit Safari Costs

Most of the costs in this article are based on the northern circuit as this is by far the most popular safari circuit in Tanzania and includes many of the famous national parks.

The southern safari circuit requires a lot more travelling due to the much larger distances involved both to reach the start of the southern circuit and also to move from park to park. These longer distances are compounded by a lower quality of roads which slow down travel.

Also as the southern circuit has fewer visitors there are fewer services such as flight operators in that part of the country and as such flight costs can be higher due to less competition. For this reason the Southern circuit is notably more expensive.

Below is a quick example to give an indication of the extra costs involved in the southern circuit.

Transport costs are one of the main extra costs of going on Tanzania’s southern circuit. However, other factors which could increase costs further are the fact that there are  less safari operators who cover the south which means less competition and higher rates. The same can be true for the accommodation in the south.

As a rough guide, taking into account extra travel costs plus other cost factors above, you could assume 30-40% more per day to visit the southern vs northern circuit for a mid-range and luxury safari.

For the reasons mentioned above the southern circuit is not the best option for a budget safari.

How do Tanzania Safari Costs Compare with Other African Safaris?

With typical prices for a budget Tanzania safari coming in at $370 per person per day, safaris in Tanzania are some of the lowest cost safaris in Africa, coming second only to Kenya which sits at $284.

Whilst I expected Kenya budget safari prices to increase with the Maasai Mara fee increase, which over doubled them in the high season on 13 October 2023, they’ve actually stayed pretty stable, possibly because budget safaris now spend fewer days in the Maasai Mara.

Tanzania safaris are lower-cost than all the other popular safari destinations such as South Africa, Botswana, Uganda and Rwanda.

You can see how costs compare across popular African safari destinations below:

Destination	Private Budget Safari Cost PP/Day
Kenya	300 USD
Tanzania	350 USD
South Africa	400 USD
Botswana	450 USD
Uganda	450 USD
Rwanda	650 USD

Cultural Experience Tours Costs

With over 150 tribes, Tanzania has one of the most diverse cultures in Africa. No safari would be complete without one or more cultural experience tours which will allow you to learn more about some of the tribes of Tanzania including their unique traditions and way of life.

The cost to visit a tribe in Tanzania ranges from $40 to $150, excluding tips.

My visit to the Hadzabe hunter-gatherer tribe was my joint #1 experience in Tanzania along with the Mara River crossing in the Serengeti.

Visiting the Maasai and learning about their way of life was also an eye-opening experience and one which I will never forget – I absolutely loved joining them for their traditional jumping dance.

Cost Of Visiting the Maasai

No trip to Tanzania is complete without a cultural excursion to visit the world-famous Maasai tribe, famous for their distinctive dress and warrior traditions.

The Maasai migrated to Tanzania from present-day South Sudan in the 15th century. The Maasai people are a semi-nomadic pastoralist community who move with their livestock to different areas in search of grazing land and water sources.

Cows are sacred to the Maasai and they rely on their cows for everything.

Like many tribes in Tanzania the Maasai are polygamous, meaning they have more than one wife. Please stay open minded when learning about their unique way of life.

The Maasai are warm and welcoming to guests and they will usually celebrate your visit with their traditional jumping dance featuring amazing vocals. During the dance, the men of the village show their strength by jumping as high as they can. You might even be invited to join them in the dance.

The Maasai will teach you about their semi-nomadic lifestyle and show you their houses, school and sacred cows. In some cases you may wish to spend the evening with the tribe for food by the fire and dancing.

I visited the Maasai in the Maasai Steppe Region in the Ngorongoro Highlands and Lake Manyara.

You can view a couple of videos of my experiences visiting the Maasai below:

Visiting the Hadzabe Cost:

The Hadzabe tribe is one of the oldest indigenous groups in Tanzania and one of the last remaining hunter gatherer tribes in the world.

The Hadzabe are located in Tanzania’s Lake Eyasi region.

Anthropological evidence suggests that the Hadza people have been living in Tanzania for at least 50,000 years, possibly longer.

Visiting the Hadzabe is like taking a step back in time – you will need a specialist guide who has lived with the Hadzabe for at least 6 months to learn to communicate with them. Meeting the Hadzabe is never guaranteed due to their nomadic nature.

Visits to the Hadzabe include learning about their lifestyle such as seeing how they make fire, their simple dwellings and how they cook their food. You can even join the tribe for a short hunt.

You can view a video of my visit to the Hadzabe here:

Special Interest Safari Costs

Special interest safaris such as a photography or bird watching safari sometimes require specialist guides or equipment which can make them more expensive compared to a standard safari. Let’s delve into the most popular types below!

Birding Safari in Tanzania Cost

Tanzania is a fantastic destination for bird watching enthusiasts, with over 1,100 bird species recorded in the country.

Approximately 35 species are endemic to Tanzania and the adjacent countries of Kenya and Uganda. Some of these are restricted to the Eastern Arc Mountains and the coastal forests.

The best time for a birding safari is at the beginning of the rainy season, known as the green season (November to April) as many of the migratory birds fly into Tanzania as the rains start.

Birding highlights in Tanzania include Serengeti National Park with 500 bird species including ostriches, secretary birds, eagles and vultures. The Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania are home to Usambara Akala, Spot-throat and Taita Fiscal who are endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains. Ngorongoro Conservation Area: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to over 500 bird species, including the rare Lammergeier vulture and the Kori Bustard.

In the south of Tanzania, Ruaha National Park which covers 20,000 square kilometres offers sightings of birds such as African Fish Eagle, African Grey Hornbill and the African Harrier-Hawk as well as various species of eagles, owls, storks, and vultures.

A birding safari will usually require a specialist guide with extensive knowledge of Tanzania’s birds.

You may also require a long distance lens for your DSLR camera with an 800x magnification or similar.

Photography Safari in Tanzania Cost

If you’re a keen photographer like me, you may be interested in a safari that is centred around taking photos or videos. A safari like this varies significantly from a standard safari and so it’s essential that you let your preferred local tour operator know that you’re looking for this kind of trip.

The number one factor in having a great photographic safari is your guide. They will know how to find their own wildlife sightings, away from the crowds, as well as how to position the vehicle in accordance with the light. A guide who is competent in both of these areas is specialist and so I’d put great thought into choosing a good company.

It’s no secret that I love photography and so all of my recommended tour operators are able to organise photographic safaris.

As well as requesting the company’s top guide, there are a number of specific requests you can make to the vehicle and set-up which will maximise your photographic opportunities.

First of all, request that the back windows be completely removed (they will be replaced with a clear plastic sheet which rolls up and down to protect you from dust when travelling long distances).

Secondly, ask to borrow beanbags. All competent tour operators will have some which they can lend you for the duration of your safari.

If you’re travelling as a group of 4 or less people, ask the tour operator to remove the middle seats in the vehicle for you, and to provide a comfortable floor mat / mattress. This allows you enough room to crouch down on the floor and get low-angle shots.

These vehicle modifications, guide upgrade and beanbag hire all add to the cost.

Hiking and Walking Safari in Tanzania Cost

Hiking and walking safaris are a great way to immerse yourself in nature. They can also be lower cost than a vehicle safari. The parks charge a walking fee of around $24 to $30 per person (including VAT) on top of the daily entry fee.

Tanzanian law dictates that the maximum number of tourists per walk is 6 and they must be accompanied by an armed ranger.

Balloon Safari in Tanzania Cost

Balloon Safaris can be a great way to watch game from the air, especially in huge parks such as the Serengeti.

Kilimanjaro Hiking Costs

With a height of 5,895m above sea level, the Kilimanjaro range is the highest in Africa, home to the Chaga tribe and very popular with tourists.

You can simply spend a day walking over the lower levels of the mountain or multiple days climbing to the summit.

Other Safari Costs

Below is a list of costs not included in the rates quoted by safari companies. Most safari quotes don’t include international flights.

Tips / Gratuities

Tipping is part of the culture in Tanzania. It’s preferred to tip in USD but you can also tip in Tanzanian Shillings, Euros and GBP.

I would normally tip my driver guide $20 per day based on a party size of two i.e. $10 per person in the party. If they have been exceptional, I may go slightly higher. Some safari companies have their own recommended tipping rates which may help them attract the most experienced guides.

It’s recommended to give your guide their tip at the conclusion of your safari.

Tipping in accommodation is at your discretion. If you wish to leave a tip, you can do so by leaving the tip in the tipping box at the end of your stay. Guideline tips are $5 per adult per night depending on the level of service.

You’re not typically expected to tip the Maasai or Hadzabe tribes if you visit them. Instead you can buy some souvenirs from their shops to show your support and appreciation. See my Souvenir price guides later in this guide for how much to pay.

Visas

Visitors from most countries including the UK require the ordinary Tourist Visa for $50.

Visitors from the US require a Multi-Entry Tourist Visa for $100.

You can apply for a Tanzanian visa online here. e-Visas are usually processed within 10 days and allow travel for up to 90 days.

I also recommend taking a look at the below websites which give up-to-date details on any entry requirements and mandatory vaccines:

US Travel State website for Tanzania

UK Government travel advice for Tanzania

Souvenirs

I’ve been quoted as much as $400 for a large painting and as much as $80 for a tribal handmade bracelet. However, I typically politely negotiate prices to what I consider a reasonable level which is around $20-30 for a handmade bracelet and $40 for a smaller A2 size painting.  Technically the best way to barter is to make an offer quite a bit lower than you wish to pay and then eventually meet in the middle. Sometimes I will also just state the max price I’m prepared to pay and let the seller take it or leave it.

I’m always very polite, friendly and respectful when bartering. I’m just looking for a fair price that I can afford and not to exploit the situation as many of the people are very reliant on money from tourism.

Clothing

As with all clothing there is a wide range of costs for safari clothing. As a general rule it’s going to be much cheaper to buy the safari clothing before your trip rather than in the hotel shops.

If you’re just going on safari from inside a safari vehicle, light muted coloured clothes (avoid bright colours such as red or orange) will be fine to keep cool and not attract bugs. You can wear a proper safari outfit if you wish but it’s not essential.

Don’t wear army style camouflage as this can be illegal.

If you’re going on walking safaris then proper safari gear is advised to ensure you don’t startle the animals.

Vaccines & Medication

The cost of travel vaccinations at a travel clinic for patients without health insurance typically includes:

An initial consultation fee of $15 to $100

A shot administration fee of $10 to $20 per shot

The cost of the vaccines, which can range from less than $10 per dose to $150 or more per dose

You can find information about recommended vaccinations below:

US citizens Guide to Tanzania vaccines

UK citizens Guide to Tanzania vaccines

Anti-malarial tablets are also recommended for Tanzania and these cost around $2 per day. You would typically take the tablets for a few days before your trip and 4 weeks after. Please check instructions for your specific Anti-malarial tablets.

How Much Cash To Take

You can pay for most costs on your card. I found it easy enough to draw out money on my Visa Cards but Mastercard only seemed to work infrequently. Both cards worked fine for paying for costs on chip and pin machines.

Remember to tell your bank that you’re travelling through their App or over the phone to ensure they don’t auto-flag your overseas transactions as potentially fraudulent and block your transactions by mistake.

Currencies which are widely accepted are Tanzania Shillings and USD.

The things which I used cash for were:

Tips: Budget around 20-30 USD per person per day in total for tips for your driver, porters, other guides etc.

Buying Souvenirs and small purchases at markets: Around $35 for a handmade necklace etc. You might wish to take $200 for souvenirs.

Final Thoughts

As you’ve probably gathered, Tanzania is not the cheapest place to go on safari. However, the country is one of the best safari destinations in the world which makes it money well spent.

The higher costs to go on safari in Tanzania actually contribute to the safari experience in the country as it ensures the parks are not overcrowded as can be the case with cheaper safari destinations which leads to better wildlife viewing.

The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater parks are simply out of this world with all of the big 5.

The cultural aspect of Tanzania is also unrivalled with access to the Maasai tribe and the Hadzabe, one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes in the world.

Local safari operators such as the ones I work with myself represent the best value for money whether you’re looking for budget, mid-range or luxury. You can get free quotes on Safaris By Ella.

If required, costs can be reduced further travelling out of peak season and choosing accommodation outside of the national parks.