The short answer
- Budget camping
- About US$250 to 350 a day
- Mid range
- About US$400 to 700 a day
- Luxury
- US$900 a day or more
- Serengeti fees
- About US$150 a night with concession
Tanzania is one of Africa's more expensive safari countries, mostly because of park fees. Every 24 hours in the Serengeti costs about US$83 in entry fees, camps inside the park add a concession fee of about US$71 a night, and the Ngorongoro Crater costs US$295 per vehicle on top of the conservation area fee.
Use the calculator to estimate your trip, see where the fees go, and check whether a cheap price really includes them.
Safari cost calculator
Estimated cost per person
US$2,290 to 3,090
About US$448 a day, for two people sharing a room, without international flights.
Park fees per person in the estimate
- Tarangire (1 day at US$59)US$59
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area (2 days at US$71)US$142
- Crater fee (US$295 per vehicle, shared by 6)US$49
- Serengeti entry (3 days at US$83)US$248
- Serengeti concession fee (3 nights at US$71)US$212
- Total park feesUS$710
Non resident adult rates including 18% VAT. Nights between parks are in Karatu or Mto wa Mbu, outside the parks.
A rough guide from typical tour prices and published fees (October 2026), not a quote. Fees change and differ between sources: confirm with your operator.
Typical prices by comfort level
| Level | Per person per day | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget camping | About US$250 to 350 | Dome tents at public campsites, a cook, shared 4x4 with a pop up roof |
| Mid range | About US$400 to 700 | Lodges and permanent tented camps, private or small group vehicle |
| Luxury | US$900 or more | Small camps in the best migration areas, expert guides, often light aircraft |
Including park fees, accommodation, meals and game drives, for two people sharing. Single travellers usually pay a supplement.
Park fees
| Fee | Non resident adult |
|---|---|
| Serengeti entry | About US$82.60 per 24 hours (US$70.80 from mid March to mid May) |
| Serengeti concession fee (camps and lodges inside the park) | About US$70.80 a night, usually built into the camp price |
| Serengeti public campsite | About US$35 a night |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area | About US$70.80 per 24 hours, also paid when driving through to the Serengeti |
| Ngorongoro Crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle per descent |
| Tarangire, Lake Manyara | About US$59 per 24 hours |
| Kilimanjaro (climbing) | About US$900 to 1,100 for a 7 or 8 day climb |
Non resident adult fees including 18% VAT, as published in October 2026. Serengeti and other national parks are set by TANAPA; the Ngorongoro Conservation Area by the NCAA. Published figures differ between sources and fees are charged per 24 hours, so confirm with your operator.
Tip: Ask how the crater fee is shared. At US$295 per vehicle, it costs about US$50 each in a full group of six, but nearly US$150 each for a couple on a private safari.
Why Tanzania costs more than Kenya
Comparing both countries? See Kenya or Tanzania.
- Fees per 24 hours: Entry is charged for every 24 hours you're inside a park, so leaving late can cost an extra day.
- Concession fees: Staying inside the Serengeti adds a nightly fee on top of entry, unlike most Kenyan parks.
- Transit fees: The road to the Serengeti crosses the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so you pay its fee on the way in and out even if you don't visit the crater.
- Distances: The Serengeti is a full day's drive from Arusha, so safaris need more days or flights.
Extras to budget for
- Balloon safari: About US$550 to 650 per person over the Serengeti, with breakfast.
- Light aircraft: About US$250 to 450 per person each way between Arusha and the Serengeti; bags limited to about 15 to 20 kg.
- Tips: Plan on tipping your driver guide and camp staff. Your operator can suggest amounts.
- Visa and insurance: US$50 for most nationalities, US$100 for US citizens, plus the compulsory US$44 inbound travel insurance since October 2026. See our visa and entry guide.
- Cultural visits: Maasai villages and Lake Eyasi visits are usually paid locally.
How to save money
- Travel in November, early December or March, when prices drop but rain is lighter than in April and May.
- Join a group camping safari and share the vehicle and the crater fee.
- Stay outside the parks in Karatu or Mto wa Mbu between game drives to avoid concession fees.
- Choose a 3 or 4 day route with Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater if the Serengeti doesn't fit your budget.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is a 5 day Tanzania safari?
About US$1,300 to 1,800 per person for a budget camping safari and US$2,200 to 3,500 mid range, including park fees, for Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Are park fees included in Tanzania safari prices?
Usually, but always check, especially the crater fee and concession fees. A price below the park fees alone can't include them.
Why is the Serengeti so expensive?
Entry is about US$83 per 24 hours, camps inside the park add a concession fee of about US$71 a night, and the access road crosses the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which charges its own fee.
Is Tanzania more expensive than Kenya?
Usually. Higher fees and longer distances mean Tanzania costs more per day and needs more days, although Kenya's Masai Mara fee rises to US$200 a day from July to December.
Sources we checked
Tanzania month by month
More Tanzania guides
Best time to visit Tanzania: safari, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar by month
June to October is the best time for most of Tanzania: dry safaris, good climbing on Kilimanjaro and sunny Zanzibar. January and February are a second high season, with calving in the southern Serengeti. Avoid April and May, the long rains.
Updated 16 October 2026
The Great Migration in Tanzania: where to see it month by month
The herds spend about ten months a year in Tanzania. Stay around Ndutu for calving in January and February, the Western Corridor in June, and the northern Serengeti near Kogatende for Mara River crossings from July to October.
Updated 16 October 2026
Tanzania safari itineraries: 3, 5, 7 and 10 days
Every northern safari starts in Arusha. Three days covers Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, five adds the Serengeti, seven is the classic northern circuit, and ten adds Zanzibar or the far north of the Serengeti.
Updated 16 October 2026
Serengeti safari guide: which area, how long and how to get there
The Serengeti is about 14,750 square kilometres, so where you stay matters. Central Seronera is good all year for big cats, Ndutu for calving early in the year, the Western Corridor in June and the north for river crossings from July to October. Allow at least two or three nights.
Updated 16 October 2026