Tanzania Safari Packages
Ready-made 3, 5, 7 and 10 day northern-circuit safaris, private or group-joining.
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How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Cost?
An honest breakdown of park fees, accommodation tiers and what really moves the total — so you can tell a realistic quote from a suspicious one.
Safari costs
Where your money actually goes
Tanzania is not a cheap safari destination, and the main reason is government fees rather than operator margins. Before a single meal is cooked, a safari day inside the Serengeti carries a park entry fee, a concession or camping fee, vehicle fees and government tax. Understanding that split makes it much easier to judge whether a quote is realistic.
We deliberately do not publish package prices. Two couples travelling the same route in different months, with different lodges and different group sizes, receive very different figures — a fixed number on a web page would be misleading for one of them. Instead we quote every trip individually and itemise it, so you can see exactly which part is a government fee and which part is ours.
Fixed costs
Government fees, per person per day
These are set by the Tanzanian authorities, identical for every operator, and subject to revision each July. Current indicative rates for non-resident adults:
- Serengeti National Park entry — USD 70 + 18% VAT per 24 hours
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area entry — USD 71 + VAT per 24 hours
- Ngorongoro crater service fee — USD 295 per vehicle per descent
- Tarangire / Lake Manyara entry — USD 53 + VAT per 24 hours
- Public campsite — USD 35–40 per person per night; special campsite USD 60+
- Concession fee at lodges inside parks — USD 60–70 per person per night
Variable costs
What differs between quotes
- Accommodation level — the single biggest lever, from public campsites to private-suite lodges
- Private vs group-joining vehicle — private typically adds 20–35%
- Group size — vehicle, guide and fuel costs split across more travellers
- Season — peak July–September rates can be 40% above green-season rates
- Flights vs driving — a light-aircraft hop back from the Serengeti saves a full day of road time
- Trip length — longer trips dilute fixed transfer and arrival costs
Getting your figure
How to get a real number in 24 hours
Rather than guessing from a price list, send us four details and we will build the actual budget for your trip — free, itemised and with no obligation.
- Your travel dates, or even just the month
- How many of you are travelling, and any children's ages
- How many nights you can give to safari
- The style you want: camping, mid-range lodges or luxury
- WhatsApp +255 670 912 578 or email info@rutalegacysafaris.com — a guide in Arusha replies personally
Extras
Budget for these separately
- Tanzanian visa — USD 50 (USD 100 for US passports)
- Travel and medical insurance — compulsory on our trips
- Tips — USD 20–30 per day for your guide from the group
- Balloon safari over the Serengeti — priced by the balloon operator
- Drinks, laundry and souvenirs
- International flights, which vary hugely by origin and season
Questions
Related questions
Why are Tanzania safaris more expensive than Kenya's?
Park fees are higher, the Serengeti is much larger so distances and fuel costs are greater, and Tanzania's conservation model funds itself largely through tourism fees. The trade-off is lower vehicle density in the parks.
Why are there no prices on this website?
Because an honest safari price depends on your dates, group size, parks and accommodation, and a single headline figure would be wrong for most travellers. We would rather spend ten minutes building your real itinerary and sending a written, itemised quote. Message us on WhatsApp and you will usually have it the same day.
How can I tell whether a quote is realistic?
Add up the government fees for the parks and nights involved — they are published above and identical for every operator. Anything priced close to those fees leaves nothing for vehicles, crew wages or food, and that is where corners get cut.
Is a group-joining safari worth the saving?
For solo travellers and couples on a budget, absolutely. You share a vehicle with up to five others but the guide, parks and accommodation standard are the same.
Do children pay full price?
No. Park fees are reduced for children aged 5–15 and most lodges offer child rates or family rooms; under-fives often enter parks free.
Enquiry
Ready to turn this into a trip?
Send us your dates and we will build an itinerary around everything you have just read.
- Reply within 24 hours from our Arusha office
- Itineraries built around your dates, pace and budget
- Free quote, no deposit and no obligation
Email info@rutalegacysafaris.com
WhatsApp / Call +255 670 912 578 (0670 912 578 in Tanzania)
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