The short answer
- Camping
- About US$250 to 350 a day
- Lodges and tented camps
- About US$400 to 700 a day
- Best of both
- Camp in the Serengeti, lodge on the crater rim
- Nights at the crater rim
- Cold: bring a warm sleeping bag
Tanzania has a big camping safari scene, from Arusha's budget operators to small group overland trips. It's the cheapest way into the Serengeti, but very different from a lodge safari. Here's what each is really like.
Side by side
| Camping safari | Tented camp or lodge | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About US$250 to 350 a day | About US$400 to 700 a day, more for luxury |
| Sleeping | Dome tents with mattresses at public campsites | Proper beds, private bathrooms, often hot showers |
| Facilities | Shared toilets and showers, sometimes cold water | En suite, with power for charging |
| Food | Cooked by your safari cook | Restaurant or camp dining |
| Location | Inside the parks, at public campsites | Inside the parks or just outside |
| Wildlife | Animals may walk through camp at night | Similar in tented camps; less in big lodges |
What a camping safari is really like
- Setting up: On most budget safaris the crew or your guide sets up the tents; on participation trips you help.
- Nights: Hyenas and lions sometimes walk through Serengeti campsites. Stay in your tent at night and use the toilet before dark.
- Cold: The Ngorongoro rim campsite is at about 2,300 m and can be close to freezing. Hire a warm sleeping bag.
- Fees: Camping avoids the Serengeti concession fee, but the campsite fee is about US$35 a night.
Mix and match
A good compromise is camping in the Serengeti, where the campsites are right among the wildlife, and a lodge in Karatu or on the crater rim for a hot shower and a warm bed. Use the safari cost calculator to compare.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a camping safari in Tanzania safe?
Yes, with a licensed operator and by following the rules: stay in your tent at night and keep food out of it.
How much does a camping safari cost in Tanzania?
About US$250 to 350 per person per day, including park fees, for a group camping safari on the northern circuit.
Are there showers on a camping safari?
Public campsites have shared toilets and showers, but hot water isn't guaranteed.
Tanzania month by month
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How much does a Tanzania safari cost? Prices, park fees and a calculator
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