Last updated 10 August 2026 · 14 min read
Most travellers land on this page wanting one number, so here it is. A properly run Tanzania safari in 2026 costs USD 250 to USD 1,500 per person per day, all in, once you are on the ground. Camping trips sit at the bottom. Mid-range lodge safaris, which is what most of our guests book, run USD 450 to USD 750 per day. Genuine luxury starts around USD 900.
For a couple on a 7-day Northern Circuit safari with a private vehicle and comfortable lodges, budget USD 3,500 to USD 5,500 per person, excluding international flights.
Those numbers are not marketing ranges. They come out of the quotes we send from our Arusha office every week.
What you actually pay for, in one table
| Tier | Per person per day | Vehicle | Where you sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping | USD 250 to 350 | Shared 4x4 Land Cruiser | Public campsites such as Seronera and Simba, our crew cooks |
| Mid-range lodge | USD 450 to 750 | Private 4x4, senior guide | Lodges and tented camps such as Moonbow, Tarangire Simba, Kubu Kubu |
| Luxury | USD 900 to 1,500+ | Private 4x4, sometimes bush flights | Lion's Paw, Masek Tented Lodge, Elephant Springs, The Retreat |
The gap between camping and luxury is not the wildlife. It is the bed, the bathroom and how many other vehicles are near you.
Park fees are the part nobody explains
Before a single dollar reaches us, the government takes its share. These are 2026 rates for non-resident adults, and they are the single biggest reason Tanzania costs more than most African destinations.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Serengeti National Park entry | USD 70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area entry | USD 70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro crater descent | USD 295 per vehicle per descent |
| Tarangire and Lake Manyara entry | USD 53.10 per person per 24 hours |
| Concession fee, camps inside the parks | USD 60 to 71 per person per night |
| Public campsite | USD 41.30 per person per night |
| Vehicle fee | USD 41.30 per vehicle per day |
On a 7-day Northern Circuit trip for two people, park and crater fees alone come to roughly USD 1,300 to 1,500 for the pair. That money goes to TANAPA and the NCAA, and it funds rangers, roads and anti-poaching patrols. It is not negotiable and no honest operator can discount it.
Where a mid-range dollar goes
Here is the real split on a USD 650 per person per day mid-range safari:
- Park, crater and concession fees: about USD 200
- Accommodation and all meals: about USD 240
- Vehicle, fuel, guide salary and guide allowance: about USD 130
- Transfers, water, permits and office costs: about USD 50
- Operator margin: about USD 30
That last line surprises people. Margins on Tanzanian safaris are thin. When you see a price that is 40 percent below everyone else, the saving has come out of the guide's wage, the vehicle's age, or the distance between your lodge and the park gate.
Real prices from our own itineraries
We publish per-person prices on every package, and they drop as your group grows because the vehicle and guide cost is shared.
| Itinerary | 2 travellers | 4 travellers | 6 travellers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Tarangire and Ngorongoro, mid-range | from USD 1,190 pp | from USD 990 pp | from USD 890 pp |
| 7-Day Northern Circuit Classic | from USD 2,890 pp | from USD 2,450 pp | from USD 2,290 pp |
| 9-Day Wakanda Ultra-Luxury | USD 5,750 pp | USD 5,028 pp | USD 4,525 pp |
Check the live figure on each package page, because seasonal supplements move them. The pattern holds though: two people pay roughly 25 percent more per head than a group of six for the identical trip.
Season changes the price more than anything else
| Season | Months | Effect on price |
|---|---|---|
| Peak | July to October, and 20 Dec to 3 Jan | Plus 20 to 35 percent, camps sell out 9 to 12 months ahead |
| High shoulder | January to February | Plus 10 to 15 percent, calving season in Ndutu |
| Green | March to May | Minus 30 to 40 percent, some camps close in April |
| Low shoulder | June, November | Standard rates, excellent value |
Our honest recommendation for value: early June or November. You get dry-season game viewing at shoulder-season prices, and the parks are noticeably quieter.
What is included in a Serengeti Wakanda quote
- All park, crater, concession and camping fees
- Accommodation and every meal from pick-up to drop-off
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, charging points, fridge and unlimited mileage
- A senior guide who speaks English and knows the sectors, not a driver
- Bottled drinking water throughout
- Airport transfers at Kilimanjaro or Arusha
- Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
- All government taxes
What is not included, and what it costs
- International flights
- Tanzania e-visa: USD 50, or USD 100 for US passport holders
- Tips: USD 25 to 40 per day for the guide from the whole group, USD 10 to 20 per day for camp staff
- Hot-air balloon over the Serengeti: USD 599 per person
- Walking safari in the Ngorongoro highlands: USD 100 per person
- Hadzabe and Datoga cultural visit at Lake Eyasi: USD 50 to 100 per person
- Bush flights between sectors: USD 250 to 450 per leg
- Travel insurance, alcohol at some lodges, laundry, souvenirs
Adding Zanzibar
Most guests add four to six nights on the coast. Budget USD 250 to 450 per person per day at a good mid-range beach resort with breakfast, and USD 600 to 1,200 at the top properties on the north and east coasts. The Arusha to Zanzibar flight is USD 280 to 340 one way. Our fly-in combinations bundle it so the transfer day does not eat a beach day.
How to spend less without spoiling the trip
- Travel in June or November instead of August. Same animals, 20 to 30 percent less.
- Sleep just outside the gate. Karatu lodges such as Moonbow are half the price of crater-rim camps and add 40 minutes of driving.
- Grow the group. Adding two friends can cut USD 400 per person off a week.
- Go 6 nights well planned rather than 9 nights spread thin. Long transfer days cost money and give you nothing.
- Camp for part of it. Our camping safaris use the same guides and the same parks. The crew cooks better food than most people expect.
- Skip bush flights unless they save a whole day. They usually cost more than the day is worth on a short trip.
What we would not cut
Vehicle age, guide seniority and 2-night minimum stays. A tired Land Cruiser breaks down in the western corridor. A junior guide will find you a lion; a senior one will tell you which lion, and put the light behind you.
Frequently asked, quickly answered
Is Tanzania more expensive than Kenya? Usually yes, by 15 to 25 percent, almost entirely because of park fees and the crater descent charge. The trade-off is far lower vehicle density in the Serengeti than in the Masai Mara.
How much deposit do you take? Thirty percent to confirm, balance 60 days before arrival. Bank transfer or card.
Can I pay in cash on arrival? For extras, yes, and small US dollar notes are useful. The safari itself is settled before you travel.
“Guests ask me why the crater day costs so much. I show them the gate receipt. Two hundred and ninety-five dollars leaves the vehicle before we have even driven down the descent road. That money is the reason the rhinos are still there.”
Ready to turn this into a trip?
FAQ
How much does a 7 day Tanzania safari cost?+
For two people sharing, budget USD 2,600 to 3,500 per person for camping, USD 3,500 to 5,500 for a mid-range lodge safari with a private vehicle, and USD 7,000 upward for luxury. Groups of four to six pay 15 to 25 percent less per person.
Why are Tanzania park fees so high?+
Serengeti and Ngorongoro both charge USD 70.80 per person per 24 hours, plus USD 295 per vehicle to descend into the crater. The money funds ranger salaries, roads and anti-poaching work. It is set by TANAPA and the NCAA, and no operator can discount it.
What is the cheapest realistic Tanzania safari?+
About USD 250 per person per day on a shared camping safari in the low season, using public campsites. Anything advertised well below that is cutting the guide's wage, the vehicle standard, or driving you so far from the gate that you lose half of every game-viewing day.
How much should I tip on a Tanzania safari?+
USD 25 to 40 per day for your guide from the group as a whole, plus USD 10 to 20 per day for camp or lodge staff. See our full tipping guide for the numbers we actually give guests.
Are prices per person or per vehicle?+
Per person sharing a twin or double room. Solo travellers pay a single supplement, typically 20 to 35 percent, because the room is priced for two.
When do prices go up?+
1 July for the peak season, and again over Christmas and New Year. Camps publish rates roughly a year ahead, so booking early locks in the older rate at many properties.
Is a balloon safari worth USD 599?+
For a first Serengeti trip, most of our guests say yes, especially in the central Seronera area between June and October. It includes the flight, a champagne breakfast on the plains and the park's balloon fee.
Do children pay full price?+
No. Park fees for children aged 5 to 15 are roughly half the adult rate, and most lodges offer child rates or family rooms. Under-fives are usually free at the gate.
