Serengeti Safari Cost 2023 /2024, Best Serengeti Safaris, Budget & Luxury Tours
So how much does a safari in Tanzania cost? On average, a Tanzania safari costs $ 200 USD per person per day.
Budget Tanzania safari price is: $ 200 per person per day
Midrange Price: is from $ 350 USD per person per day.
Serengeti Luxury Safari Price is: from $ 600 USD per person per day.
Below, we have covered costs by to Serengeti, bytime of the year, accommodation, add on African safari tours and mode of transport.
Serengeti National Park Safari Prices (US$ 70 – US$ 650):
- Entrance Fees: Peak: costs $70 USD, Low Season $ 60 USDpp.
- 1 Day safari Serengeti costs from: $ 350 USD per person
- 2 Day Safari Costs from : $ 600 USD per person
- 3 Day Serengeti Safari from: $ 650 USD per person.
Serengeti is famous for the wildebeest migration, Animal list include, elephants, lions, cheetah, leopard, hippos, buffalo, giraffe and Zebras.
Serengeti National Parkis Tanzania’s largest and most famous National park with great wildlife and various hectares of savannah. It is located in Northern Tanzania and was established in 1951 and covers 14,763 sq km of large savanna grasslands, dotted with acacia trees. The park is home to the greatest wildlife and receives over 350,000 tourists per year. The Serengeti National Park is famously known for the annual Great migration where by thousands of wildebeests together with other animals like the elands, zebras, gazelle and impalas move to around the park throughout the year in search for better and new grazing lands and water. Amazingly as these wildebeests migrate also predators including the wild cats are finding their way to prey.
There are various activities that can be done in Serengeti National Park such as balloon safaris over the park; 6 people these safaris can be done throughout the year- this is an amazing experience whereby you can view the park well and also do photography, balloons used here carry 16 people and there are added services like a drive through the park and champagne breakfast in the bush. Other activities include; Luxury Safaris, Birding Safaris, Wedding Safaris, Wildlife Safaris, Camping Safaris. Over 500 bird species are found in the park and many of these are found in the swampy areas. Other animals found in the park except the wildebeests are the lions, bat eared foxes, leopards, jackals, cheetahs, hyenas.
Serengeti National Park can be visited any time in the year however the best months for wildlife viewing are between December and June. The best time for viewing the Great Migration is through May to July, though still this event can be viewed any time in the year since they move from place to play and their patterns are predictable by the park rangers in most cases they know where to find these animals. You can get to Serengeti by air (using flights), car hire or you can go through tour operators.
PLAN WITH OUR EXPERTS TODAY:
Our Local Experts have helped thousands of travellers to Plan, Save and Succeed! Reach out to them now
Get started with free quotes, and expert advice – WhatsApp/Call: +255 687 590 560
Serengeti Safari Prices By Activities
A safari is almost incomplete without engaging in the game drives that are scattered all over the country. However there are other activities that you can engage in and these are birding, balloon rides, guided walks, cultural tours to the rural areas of Tanzania, mountain trekking, relaxing at the beaches and many more others.
Wildlife Safaris Cost Serengeti $ 200 USD Per Day
Wildlife Safari in Tanzania Costs $ 200 USD Per Day on average.
Average Tanzania Safari Prices By Days
1 Day Safari Costs : $ 200 USD
2 Day Safari Costs: $ 380 USD
3 Day Safari Costs: $ 600 USD
4 Day Safari: $ 670 USD
5 Day Safari: $ 730 USD
6 Day Safari: $ 800 USD
7 Day Safari: $ 860 USD
8 Day Safari: $ 920 USD ( Northern Safari Circuit)
9 Day Safari: $ 1100 USD
10 Day Safari: $ 1350 USD
11 Day Safari: $ 1400 USD
12 Day Safari: $ 1460 USD
Budget Wildlife safari costs $ 200 per day
Midrange Safari Price is $350 per day.
Luxury Tanzania Safari costs $500 per day.
Tanzania is the most visited wildlife safari destination in East Africa. Lots of tourist activities in Tanzania cover wildlife viewing, game drives and witnessing the big five animals. You can arrange with your tour operator to be picked from Kilimanjaro international airport or Dar es Salaam.
African Photo Safaris (US$ 750 – US$ 1200)
A photo Safari in Tanzania Costs between $750 to $1200 USD per person per day.
7 Day Photographic Safari: $ 2400 USD
10 Day Classic Photo Safari: $4900 USD
Photographic safaris are best carried out during the green season which is experienced from November to April and this is because the lighting during this period is good. Cost includes meals, transportation, an experienced and professional photographer as a tour guide and accommodation.
Birding Safaris (US$ 400 – US$ 600 )
Costing between $4oo and $600 USD per day, a birding safari in Tanzania is done during the green season (November to April) when the rainy season starts. Tanzania is a home to over 1000 bird species and these include migratory birds that fly into the county when the rains start, 43 near endemic bird species, 22 endemic bird species and over 800 local species. Birding in Tanzania can be done in any of the National Parks that are located in the country and some of the birding destinations that you should check out include the Ruaha National Park, Usamabara Mountains, and the Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro crater which is a home to the pink flamingo, Serengeti and Lake Manyara National park.
Cultural Experience Tours (US$ 50 – US$ 300 )
Tanzania Cultural Safari (Walking) Costs: $ 50 USD Per Day
3 Day Migration & Masai Cultural Safari : $ 800 USD per Person
4 Day Wildlife & Selous Cultural Safaris : $ 900 USD per Person
6 Day Tanzania Cultural Safari Costs: $ 2300 USD Per Person
9 Day Wildlife & Cultural Experience: $ 2200 USD per Person
14 Day Big Five Animals, Cultural Tours & Zanzibar: $ 3710 USD per Person
The most entertaining cultural tour in Tanzania is carried out in Masai land. A cultural safari costs between $30 and $40 and with this amount, you get to visit the famous Masai villages where you will learn more about their culture that is how they hunt, their language and get to enjoy an evening filled with dance and music with the locals. Other tribes to visit include the Hadzabe tribe, Datoga tribe, Sukuma, Iraqw and the Swahili.
Have a cultural tour to the Maasai communities. The Masai origins are not well traced but their families and history has existed for over 2000 years, Maasai is a world-renowned Nilotic ethnic group staying in the North of Tanzania and Southern Kenya, the mainly live near National Parks. They speak a language called ‘Maa’ and the Maasai was famous for their unique dressing code and customs.
Balloon Safaris(US$ 550– US$ 650)
These are normally carried out in Tarangire and Serengeti National Park and an air balloon safari costs $550. It is one of the ways that you can get an overhead picture of the wildebeest migration in Serengeti and getting a clear view of both National Parks form above.
Transportation in Tanzania safaris is mostly done using 4×4 van because of the poor roads that are found in the National Parks. Itineraries are different compared to which tour operator you are using and in most cases, the itinerary determines which type of transport you are going to use o your safari. You will either have to drive to the various destinations although there are those that are hard to get to which means that you will be forced to use inbound flights. Although the inbound flights are faster and save you from the bumpy roads and the long tiring journeys, they are quite expensive. Therefore if you are on a budget, it is better if you drive to the different destinations.
Transport also includes the style of the safari that you want to take. The style of the safari means the way that you are going to move around the different places within the country. There are three options that you can try out and these have been listed below.
- Self-drives, a self-drive is best for all those who are traveling on a budget because it reduces on the cost if a driver guide.
- Fly-ins, these are quite expensive but the best to use especially those that are in hurry. You get to use the charter planes that are available to travel from one camp to the next.
- Private drive-in, this normally works if you are only two in the tour van. You will get ample time to visit all the places that you want although it also does not come cheap.
This is one of the most important factors that will determine the cost of your safari to Tanzania. Note that the quality of the accommodation facilities that you choose in your itinerary will greatly affect the cost of your safari. There aree different types of accommodation facilities and these are categorized into three that is the budget friendly accommodation facilities which are normally used by those that are on a budget, the mid-range accommodation facilities and the luxury accommodation facilities which are used by tourists who put in their all in order to have the best while on a safari.
Basic accommodation facilities
The basic accommodation facilities are the best to use especially if a person is travelling on a budget. There are private tents that you get to sleep in and these are found in the recommended campsite near the tour destinations. All the food is provided and the facilities include washrooms and bathrooms. Some of the basic facilities do not have electricity and use solar but in case there is no solar, a campfire is built.
The mid-range accommodation facilities
The mid-range accommodation facilities have both the tented camps and lodges. The tented camps are either permanent or semi-permanent and they are constructed using local materials. Tented camps can house more than 20 people as compared to lodges and they also offer high quality services for example the food is better compared to basic, the rooms have private washrooms, they are spacious and you get a permanent bed as well. The lodges on the other hand are also made using local material and they offer private bathrooms, the food is got from the restaurant and their facilities are far better as compared to the basic facilities.
An approximate pricing of the mid-range accommodation facilities in the different parts of Tanzania
destination
cost
Accommodation type plan
Serengeti North $300 per person Full board
Arusha $80 per person Bed and breakfast
Ngorongoro $300 per person Full board
Serengeti South $300 per person Full board
Serengeti central $280 per person Full board
Karatu $150 per person Full board
Luxury accommodation facilities
The luxury accommodation are almost the same as the mid-range facilities and the difference between the two is the level at which services are offered. They are expensive but with the way you will be treated while here, you will realize that the money spent is worth the services provided.
When should I visit Tanzania for my safari? Well it is a good thing for all those intending to take on Tanzania in a safari adventure to always ask this question as it will also determine the cost of the safari.
The dry season is also known as the peak season ( June to October) as this is when large crowds of tourist can be seen in the various safari destinations and this is also the time to experience the great wildebeest migration. During the peak season, everything is hiked making the safari costs high. During the wildebeest migration in Serengeti, the prices on everything goes up increasing the cost of the safari and this is normally witnessed from July to August.
The rainy season comes with the calving of many of the animals and it is also the best time for birding. The rains come in intensively during the months of April and May causing many roads and National Parks to have few tourists and this is why it is known as the low season. The low season is the best time for all tourists who are on a budget since costs of everything ranging from accommodation, transport and many more others are reduced.
- The peak season experienced from June to October is the best time but costs will be high.
- The low season which is in November, March to May has an almost 40% reduction on the costs.
- Mid-season experienced in February, June and January has a 20% reduction on the safari cost.
Time of the year
Budget friendly facilities
Mid-range
luxury
Peak season( July to October)
$400-$565
$620-4850
$1000-$1500
Low season( April to May)
$400-$475
$600-$700
The cost here varies as most of the accommodation facilities are always closed.
Beginning of the rainy/low season( November to March)
$430-$550
$550-$750
$800-$1000.
NB: The accommodation prices also increase during the holidays especially Christmas and New Year seasons.
There are three different types of safari types which are group safaris, private safaris and self-drive safaris. If you are traveling on a strict budget, the best safari type that you can use is the group safari and if you want to go all out on the expense side, then the private and self-drive type of safari suits you well.
The best way for one to travel without worry is if you first calculate the daily costs that you will spend while on a safari as this will help you get the perfect safari type to use. While calculating what you are to spend per day, you should also find out the duration of your stay and see whether it fits into your budget or not.
For the ultimate safari experience, choose private safaris and avoid the rainy seasons. Private safaris allow you to visit the more remote parks such as the gombe stream national parks, you can have your own unique experience with the maasai culture, extend your trip length,
Private Tanzania Safaris(US$ 350 – US$ 600)
The cost of a private safari in Tanzania depends on a number of factors that is the places that you want to visit while on your safari and the size of the group of people involved in the safari. Going for about $350 to $600 per day for each person in the group, this is not the cheapest way for one to enjoy a safari while in Tanzania. The time that you are willing to spend while on a private safari will also make a difference to the cost of your safari for example if you are planning on spending more than five days, the cost will be high but if you are on a budget, then the cost will be low if you spend a few days in Tanzania.
The style of travel chosen (accommodation) will also greatly impact on the costs of a private safari in Tanzania. The type of accommodation facilities that you can use while on a private safari include the basic accommodation facilities which involve basic camping around the National Parks and with these, each person will at least have to pay about $350 per day. The basic camping package includes tents, meals, a tour guide, the activities to be carried out, water, all camping equipment and transport. The net type of accommodation is the mobile camping and this tentatively costs around $500 per day for each person. You will need to book in advance for this type and some of the services offered here include mobile tents, more comfort as compared to the basic camps , meals, a tour guide and the camping equipment.
The first factor that affects private safari costs is the destination that is the game parks that you want to visit on your safari. Each safari destination has a different cost entrance fee attached to it which means that the more safari destinations you plan to visit, the more the costs are going to increase. The second factor that affects the cost of private safaris is the number of people who are travelling together. For example if you are travelling in a group of 20 people, the cost will greatly reduce because most of the fees will be shared amongst the group as compared to when you are travelling in a group of only two people. Below is an example of the size of the travel group and how the costs vary on a 6 day safari in Tanzania.
- In a group of 2 people, each person will pay about $400 per day.
- 6 people will each pay around $250 per day
- 4 people will each pay $300 per day. These are just estimates but they clearly show the big difference in costs that a size of a group makes.
You can as well spend about $600 or more per person on a private safari but this can be reduced especially if you are travelling in the low season.
Luxury Safari Type(US$ 500– US$ 1400 ) Per Day
The luxury safari type is also affected by the seasons that is during the low season, a luxury safari lodge can go for as low as $500 and during the peak season, it go beyond $1400 depending on the luxury lodge that you want to use as your accommodation during your stay. Luxury lodges start from 4 star hotels to 5 star hotels and the more comfort you want, the more money you will spend on your trip. To get a better listing for the best luxury lodge to use, contact us and get the best recommendations.
Tanzania Budget Safari (US$ 80 – US$ 200)
The budget safari type is the cheapest safari type and is best for all tourists who have a low budget while traveling. The accommodation here is extremely basic with tents being placed on the ground for tourists, a washroom is available but in most cases, electricity is not available. There are also both semi-permanent and permanent camps available but you will have to share the bathrooms and toilets. With a budget safari, you can go as low as $80 to $ 200 per day on a budget safari type. Most tanzania safari companies provide affordable safaris to take you to the African wilderness.
Additional Costs On A Tanzania Safari
There are several other activities that you should also budget for while on a safari to Tanzania and these include the following:
Visa Fees
Tanzania visa costs US$100.
The Tanzanian visas which are got by tourists can be used in both the Tanzania and Zanzibar. For the nationals, the visa can be got at the border for $50 and it is valid for 90 day with a single entry into the country while tourists with US citizenship can get the Visa for $100 only and this is valid for 12 months and one can use it for multiple entries into the country. Tourists with South African citizenship do not need a visa to explore Tanzania.
Tipping
Tipping is about $10 USD and more.
Tipping in Tanzania is like a culture and the staff that will be at your beck and call will expect a tip from you. Some accommodation facilities have tipping boxes that are placed at the reception area and it is only polite for you to at least leave something in the box at the end of your stay. The group of people that you should consider while tipping include tour guides, potters, and chefs especially if you are into private camping and staff at the accommodation facilities.
Travel Insurance
Tanzania safari travel insurance costs about $ 100 USD.
Anyone who is travelling through Africa knows that they need travel insurance and the same applies to Tanzania. You will need to get an insurance policy that covers the whole of your stay in the country and the most important things it should cover include theft, cancellation of either flights or the tour operator, sickness among others.
Laundry Costs
Laundry services are offered to tourists at the various recommended accommodation facilities but they come at a cost, about $20 USD
Drinks
Whereas food and water during game drives is provided by us, other drinks and their costs have to come from you for example wine, beer, whiskeys and the rest. Most accommodation facilities have a bar and you are free to enjoy all that they have to offer but you have to pay for it as it is not part of the itinerary. About $ 30 USD per day should be enough for a whisky lover. Water costs less than a dollar.
