How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Cost?

There’s a lot of competition for the tourist visiting Tanzania among the safari companies and prices for the same tour are very similar. The trouble is, there are now so many safaris to choose from which offer similar itineraries and options that it’s not that easy to compare prices. It depends what you want, though it’s still generally true that the longer you go for, the less it costs per day.

Camping Safari Prices

For camping safaris with no frills, you are looking at an all-inclusive price of around US$230 to US$250 per day on a reducing scale up to 10 days (plus or minus 15%). The price includes transport, food (three meals per day), park entry and camping fees, tents and sleeping equipment and the wages of the guides and cooks. In other words, more or less everything except a few drinks and tips. The price per day for safaris over 9 days tends to rise somewhat since there’s a lot more organisation involved and you’ll be going to remote areas where there are no services available so everything has to be trucked in.

How Much does it Cost

The prices for safaris which involve staying in lodges or tented camps are considerably higher. Here you’re looking at a minimum of US$ 420 to US$ 600 per person per night in the lodges and up to US$900 in the luxury tented camps. The above prices are based on the assumption that you will share accommodation (a tent or lodge room) with one other person. If you don’t want to do this then you’ll have to pay what’s called a ‘single room supplement’. This is generally around 20 to 25% extra.

Unfortunately, the situation is not as simple as the above suggests. While it may be OK to use the above figure as a benchmark, prices vary widely. A three-day lodge safari to Tarangire and Lake Manyara or Arusha National park varies from US$480 to US$600 per day. A five-day lodge safari to Tarangire and Lake Manyara or to the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti varies from US$400 to US$550 per day; and a seven-day lodge safari to Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara and Tarangire national park and the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti plains or to Selous, Ruaha and Mikumi national park varies from US$300 to US$500 per day. In other words, you must do some legwork.

Collect as many company leaflets as you can, decide where you want to go, compare prices, work out what’s included and what isn’t, and then make your choice. Remember that, generally, what you pay for is what you get. A high degree of personal involvement in camp chores and a willingness to eschew creature comforts usually guarantees a low price. If you want the opposite, it will cost you more. The cost of budget accommodation in Tanzania is very reasonable so long as you’re happy with everything. Clean sheets are invariably provided and sometimes you’ll also get soap and a towel. For this, you’re looking at USD $80 a single and USD $140 as a double and up. It can be slightly cheaper on the coast, especially at Zanzibar. If you want a suite room, costs rise to from around USD $180 a single and USD 240$ double. Again, it can be slightly cheaper o the coast but more expensive in Arusha or Dar es Salaam.

Restaurant and Drinks Prices

There are plenty of small cafés in ever town, usually concentrated in a certain area. They cater to local people and you can get a traditional meal for around USD $ 4 to USD $6. Often, the food isn’t up to much but sometimes it can be excellent. For just a little bit more, the Indian restaurants are a great value. Some offer all-you-can-eat lunches for around US$10. The food is not only tasty but you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day either. A splurge at a better class restaurant is going to set you back between US$20 to US$30. The price of beer and soft drinks depends entirely on where you buy them. They’re obviously cheapest bought from a supermarket (around US$1 for a beer assuming an exchange rate of US$ 1 = Tsh 2400). Using this as a benchmark figure, you would be paying around 60% more for them in a basic bar, slightly more than double in a better class bar or restaurant, and up to eight times as much in a five-star hotel!

Public Transport

Public transport is very reasonable and the upcoming electrical trains are of excellent value. To travel from one end of Tanzania to the other (Arusha to Dar es Salaam) in the semi-luxury bus is going to cost you about US$20. While a boat from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar will cost you about USD $40 for a fast ferry which will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Car Hire

Car hire is even more expensive and is probably out of reach of most budget travellers. A 4WD Safari Jeep costs from US$300 to $200 per day with unlimited mileage and petrol is extra. If you don’t want 4WD then a small car, such as Toyota Rav4 costs around Usd 170 to Usd 130 per day.

Tipping

With such an active tourist industry, Tanzania is a country where tipping is expected. Obviously, there’s no need to tip in the very basic African eateries or hotels, on local minibuses or when using other public transport. In better restaurants, 5 to 10% of the bill is the usual amount. If you take a safari then it’s also expected that you tip your driver, guide and cook. The majority of employees in this industry earn low wages so it’s suggested you be as generous as you feel able to. Around USD $15 – 20 per day per guide per group and USD $10 -15 per cook per day per group and how much you give obviously depends on whether they have worked well to make your safari or trek enjoyable.   Prices in our website have been quoted in US dollars on the basis of USD $1 = TSH 2400 (the official exchange rate) but the international banks are trading at a much higher rate so, if you have hard currency, everything costs considerably less. Bear this in mind when considering costs. Having a problem planning your safari or Kilimanjaro Holiday in Tanzania? Contact us and our expert will be ready to assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions