Understanding the Cost of Safari in Tanzania: Budget Tips & Insights
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You might be wondering, what’s the cost of safari in Tanzania?
You’d probably never classify a safari trip as cheap (and if you do, tell me all your secrets to make me a billionaire!), but it can be done for a wide variety of price levels depending on your budget and your preferences.
There are a couple of factors that will impact the price of your safari:
Time of Year Like all destinations there are high and low seasons and high season will come with premium pricing.
Length of Trip The one is pretty self-explanatory, but the longer your trip, the more it will cost.
Area(s) You Want to See There are different park fees for various areas, so the more different areas you see, the more park fees you will incur. Park fees can range from $30-100 or more per person.
Point-to-Point or Lodge-Based Do you want to stay at a single lodge as your base and do daily safari drives from that lodge? Or are you willing to hotel hop every night (or two) with safari drives in between to see a wider area. Pricing will vary between these two options.
Accommodations Safari accommodations can range from tent camping to high-end luxury, with myriad options in between, and pricing varies accordingly.
Private or Shared Do you want to have a private safari vehicle and guide for your group or are you willing to share with other groups?
Food In many cases you eat lunch on the go in the middle of the Serengeti. Meals are typically provided by the lodge you’re staying at and if you prefer a hot lunch as opposed to, say, sandwiches, your food costs will be higher.
Add-Ons Optional extras, like a hot air balloon flight or spa treatments at your lodge, will also increase your overall safari price. Laundry service and alcohol are not included in most safari costs, so those will add to your total should you choose to partake.
Tips Tipping is customary in Tanzania, with a recommended amount of $10 to $20 per person per day, more for exceptional service. Tipping is expected for guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
Payment Fees From what I’ve seen, wire transfer is the preferred payment method of most safari operators. You might incur a wire fee, adding to your costs. Some operators accept credit card payments, however, you will be responsible for the credit card processing fees.
Let’s Go on Safari!
Average Cost of a Tanzania Safari
The average cost of a Tanzania safari can range from $200 to $1,500 per person per day, depending on the type of safari, accommodation, and activities. Budget-friendly options can be found starting around $80 per person per day and super high-end luxury safari experiences can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
What I Spent on My Tanzania Safari
Flights $1376.87
I’m based in Orlando, Florida, and I was able to book roundtrip business class flights using credit card points. The catch was that they were from New York City. This meant I needed a roundtrip flight from Orlando to New York. That flight, plus baggage fees, as well as my roundtrip flight to Zanzibar, are included in this price.
Bank Fees $10.27
Fees incurred for wire transfer payments.
Accommodations $2602.42
I spent 2 nights in New York due to my flight situation, so those are included here, as well as all of my Tanzania safari lodging. Note that my lodge bookings were full board, so they included breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Activities $2990
This includes: 5 days of safari (so guide, park fees, and transportation while on safari), a Maasai tribe visit, my hot air balloon flight, a tour in Stone Town, and a snorkel boat tour from Nungwi. Note that I booked a private safari, so I had a safari vehicle all to myself. Had I booked a shared safari, this cost would have been lower.
Food $497.75
This includes food in transit (including the nights I spent in New York pre- and post-trip), snacks, the occasional soda or cocktail, meals in Stone Town and Nungwi
Misc $946.72
- Camera lens rental $281.72
- Pet Sitter $600
- Laundry $65
Medical $729.76
This includes vaccines, malaria pills,“just in case” antibiotics, and Sudafed because I have ear issues and Sudafed helps the pain when I fly.
Shopping $399.71
I bought a hot air balloon hat, tanzanite earrings, some magnets, and some assorted hand crafted items.
Visa $101.50
Auto $277.15
This includes airport parking at home and two transfers in Zanzibar.
Tips $200-300
This is a guesstimate because I didn’t track it very well, but I’m basing it on the amount of cash I took with me and the amount I came home with.
Total Around $10,000
This was by no means a cheap trip. In fact, it was the most costly trip I’ve ever taken (and likely will ever take). But it was a splurge-worthy trip for several reasons and overall I’m happy with the value I got for the money.
Where I Could Have Saved Money
But because I’m me, I like to look back at things and there are a few places I could have saved some money.
Flights Taxes and fees when you fly on points can be pricey, but they were probably about the cost of paying out of pocket for economy flights. The addition of the roundtrip from Orlando to New York added to the cost here, but it was worth it for me to fly business.
Accommodations Having to spend the two nights in New York brought this higher, so with different flights maybe that could have been avoided. But honestly flying business class (on points, no less) was a game changer in terms of jet lag, so I don’t have any regrets.
Activities Booking a shared safari would have brought this down, but as a photographer (and introvert) I was very happy with my decision to book a private safari. And of course, the hot air balloon flight was a large chunk here, but I wouldn’t have skipped it!
Food I probably could have saved a little here in terms of transit meals and cocktails, but I was on vacation, so I went full YOLO mode.
Pet Sitter This was a last-minute unplanned expense as a stray cat adopted me just a few weeks before my trip. If you don’t have pets, you’ll save money here, but I have no regrets!
Shopping While I don’t think $400 is bad, I could have spent less here.
Auto I could have gotten a ride to and from the airport, but I’m a stubborn, independent person who doesn’t like to ask favors from people.
So yes, there were savings to be had in my budget, but for this one-in-a-lifetime journey, it was worth the spluge (to me)!
If you like it, put a pin on it!
Lori Barbely
Hi, I’m Lori, the Chief Travel Officer for Mostly Solo Travel! I created this site for solo (and would-be solo) female travelers. My goal is to inspire your trips, give you practical advice on how to plan, and to ease your fears so you can explore the world on your own.
