How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Cost?

10 Factors Influencing the Cost of a Tanzania Safari

• 1

  Length of stay

  If you’re on a full-package safari (especially a budget safari) then per-day costs will likely be slightly cheaper the more days you include. And hiring a 4x4 vehicle and driver is always cheaper per day if you hire the vehicle for a longer period. The amount of time you spend in Tanzania, in general, doesn’t tend to alter day-to-day costs. Park entry fees are charged on a 24-hour basis and don’t get cheaper the longer you stay in a park. Occasionally safari camps and lodges might have a special offer on where every fourth or fifth night is free.

• 2

  Level of comfort of accommodations

  It goes without saying that going all adventurous and pitching a small tent on a basic campground (most parks and reserves have official camping areas) and cooking your own meals is considerably cheaper than accommodations of the four-walls-and-a-roof kind. And like anywhere the more luxury you demand the more the price rises. What does surprise many first-time visitors to Tanzania, though, is that even very basic accommodations can often cost more than a nice mid-range place in a popular European city.

• 3

  Location of the accommodations

  Perhaps nothing influences the cost of a Tanzania safari like location does. A lodge with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater naturally costs more than a place of similar quality an hour down the road and with a view over nothing in particular. But what’s unusual is the enormity of the price difference. Sometimes hundreds of dollars a night separate the two. If you want to save money then opt for a lodge just outside park gates rather than a place within the park. This might also save you on some entry fees as well.

• 4

  Group size

  The bigger your group size then the cheaper your Tanzania safari will be on a per-person basis. If you’re on a fully organized safari then having eight people crammed into a safari vehicle brings costs right down, but on the flip side it’s also likely to mean a lower-quality safari. The same rules apply on a private safari, except that here it will be you who has picked your travel companions, which generally leads to a more intimate and enjoyable safari.

• 5

  When you want to go

  High season is June to September and mid-December to mid-January. Late February, when the wildebeest give birth, is also a popular time for the southern Serengeti, but the most expensive time for a Tanzania safari. Low season is March to May. Rains sweep across much of the country and some safari accommodations close. This is the cheapest time to go on safari with prices often 50% lower than in high season. For an ideal balance between costs, weather and general value for money, the in-between months (October to mid-December and late May to mid-June) are a good compromise.

• 6

  How you get around

  If you stick to the main parks and reserves of northern Tanzania, the cheapest way of getting about is by vehicle. An organized budget camping safari can cost from around US$150 per person per day excluding park fees. But exercise caution with very cheap safari packages, they’re cheap for a reason! If time is more precious than money, or you’re taking in remoter Tanzanian parks and reserves, or visiting all four corners of the country, flying between parks is the best way to go. But it’s also more expensive with even the shortest hop costing at least US$150 per person.

• 7

  Where you want to go

  Where you go makes a big difference to what you pay. Hit up Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater or Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and you’ll pay for the privilege. Aim for lesser-known parks such as Katavi, Saadani or Arusha National Parks and you’ll still see a fabulous array of wildlife (and sometimes of an even greater variety than if you just stuck to the Serengeti). And, what’s more, park entry fees and accommodations will often cost you less than in Tanzania’s big-name parks. A win all round!

• 8

  Add-ons

  Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro or taking a hot-air balloon ride is a popular safari add-on. But, neither of these activities is cheap by international standards. Kilimanjaro park fees alone average out at around US$1,200 per person. An organized trek to climb the mountain by the shortest possible route (not recommended for acclimatization issues) costs at least US$1,800 per person. But for safety reasons, you should avoid these very cheap offers. Instead, expect to pay closer to US$3,025 per person for a trek with a reliable operator. A hot-air balloon ride across the Serengeti costs at least US$825 per person.

• 9

  Extensions

  There’s more to Tanzania than just safaris, and many safari-goers sensibly decide to break up the endless days in a safari 4WD vehicle with a bit of beach time. The most popular beach location by a long way is Zanzibar. There are enough accommodations here to ensure that competition is fierce so you can normally find a decent room for a fair price. But, for a cheaper beach holiday, forget Zanzibar and try mainland Tanzania. There are some superb beaches, including Sange and Ras Kutani, with good-priced accommodations at both.

• 10

  Specialized interests

  A special-interest holiday, such as one focused on chimpanzees and visiting the parks and reserves in the west of Tanzania, which provide a home to our closest cousins, is likely to cost more than a standard safari around Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit. A special-interest holiday focused on bird watching or hiking might see you paying more per day for a specialized guide, but as you will likely travel to some lesser-visited and therefore cheaper parks, you’ll probably end up with a cheaper Tanzania safari overall.