The short answer
- Core route
- Arusha, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti
- Add ons
- Tarangire, Lake Eyasi, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar
- Minimum
- About 5 days
- Rule we follow
- Stay where the herds are
In Tanzania, your month decides more than the weather: it decides which part of the Serengeti to stay in, from the calving plains around Ndutu early in the year to the Mara River in the far north from July to October.
Choose your month, days and extras below. When you're happy, send the route to a local specialist for a free quote, or compare ready made safaris.
Build your route
1. When are you going?
2. How many days do you have, including travel days?
3. What would you like to add to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro?
Your 10 day route for August. A full plan with no spare days. About 13 hours of driving in total.
- August is usually Mara River crossing season in the northern Serengeti, so the route stays three nights near Kogatende.
- The drive in to the northern Serengeti takes about 8 hours with game drives on the way. Some safaris fly in as well to save the day.
- Every visitor must buy Tanzania's compulsory US$44 inbound travel insurance, included in the cost estimate. One policy covers the mainland and Zanzibar.
| Days | Where | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarangire | Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport. Drive about 2.5 hrsElephant herds and baobab trees along the Tarangire River |
| 2 | Ngorongoro Crater | Drive about 2 hrsA morning descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for black rhinos, lions and huge herds; the night is on the rim or in Karatu |
| 3 to 5 | Northern Serengeti | Drive about 8 hrsGame drives along the Mara River for the migration crossings, the most dramatic sight of the year |
| 6 to 9 | Zanzibar | Flight, about 1 to 2 hrsStone Town's lanes and markets, then a beach on the north or east coast |
| 10 | Zanzibar | Fly home from Zanzibar's international airport |
Rough cost, budget to mid range
US$2,340 to 4,480
Per person for two sharing, including about US$779 in park fees, without international or light aircraft flights. Fine tune it in our safari cost calculator.
Want this exact route?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for your dates.
Or compare ready made tours: Tanzania safari tours →
How the planner decides
- The migration: It moves your Serengeti stop to Ndutu, the centre, the Western Corridor or the north for your month, and adds a night when the herds are calving or crossing. See the migration tracker.
- Long drives: When the herds are in the far north, it suggests flying out of the Serengeti.
- Park fees: Serengeti entry and concession fees, the Ngorongoro fees and crater fee, and the compulsory US$44 insurance. See the safari cost guide.
- Kilimanjaro: Climbs come first, with a rest night before the safari, and it warns about the rainy months. See climbing Kilimanjaro.
- Spare days: Extra days go to the Serengeti first, then Zanzibar.
Rather have a trip to Tanzania made just for you?
Answer a few quick questions and a local specialist will send you a free, no-obligation itinerary and price.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the cost?
It's a rough guide for budget to mid range trips including park fees, for two people sharing. International and light aircraft flights, tips and the visa are extra.
Can I change the route?
Yes. Send it with the quote button and a specialist will adapt it to your dates and budget.
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
How much does a Tanzania safari cost? Prices, park fees and a calculator
Expect about US$250 to 350 per person per day for a budget camping safari, US$400 to 700 mid range and US$900 or more for luxury, including park fees. Fees alone add about US$150 a day in the Serengeti once the nightly concession fee is included.
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