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A Tanzania safari is one of the most rewarding adventures in Africa. It offers world-class wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and unique cultural encounters.
Before booking, many travelers ask: How much does a Tanzania safari cost? The answer depends on your travel style, type of safari, season, and the company you choose.
This guide breaks down all costs — from budget and mid-range to luxury fly-in safaris — so you can plan with confidence
I’ve put together the most up-to-date and detailed guide on Tanzania safari costs for 2024 and 2025.
I’ll show you what to expect at different budget levels—from around $250 per day to $1,500 per day for a luxury safari.
For most travelers, a safari is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It isn’t cheap, but the wildlife, landscapes, and memories are unforgettable.
To make this guide accurate and practical, I’ve done more than just online research. I’ve spoken with local guides in Tanzania, compared real prices, and reviewed costs from my own trips.
My goal is simple. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how much a Tanzania safari really costs. You’ll also see what each budget level includes and how to plan an itinerary that gives the best value.
I’ll talk you through typical costs, how to choose the best safari company and how much to budget for other costs such as tipping.
You might also find my new visual guide on the best time to visit Tanzania useful as this includes the best value times to visit.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of typical Tanzania safari costs when booking with a local safari company. For larger international travel agents or safari companies based in the US, UK, and other countries, prices can increase by 30–300%.
Private budget safaris start at around $350 per day, mid-range at $450, and luxury at $600+. Shared (group) camping safaris are also available from $250 per person per day.
While several factors affect the daily cost, the total trip price mainly depends on how many days you spend on safari. A 5-day Tanzania itinerary is a great starting point, and you can extend your safari according to your budget.
We’ll dive further into these figures in a minute to better understand what makes up these costs and how to get the best value for money.
The best value-for-money safaris are achieved by working with an up-and-coming local supplier.
Embark on the Safari of Your Dreams
Save time and ensure an incredible safari experience by getting quotes from my recommended local safari companies
The first thing I have to say on the topic of Tanzania safari costs is that Tanzania is definitely not the cheapest place in Africa to go on safari!
Tanzania is, however, arguably the best place in the world to go on Safari. Due to the higher costs, the parks are not packed so you get a much better viewing experience. Tanzania also features some of the very best safari parks in the world such as the Serengeti.
To put things in perspective, The Serengeti National Park has one of the highest densities of predators of any park and is absolutely huge – 30,000 square kilometres. That’s 20x the size of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, which it joins in the north at 1,510 square kilometres.
With that said, whilst you can spend as much as $15,000 per night in the Serengeti’s most luxurious hotel villas, you can have a fantastic safari in Tanzania from as little as $250-$350 per person per night excluding international flights, visas, tips.
Below I’ll give you some guideline figures for a typical safari in 2025/26.
I’ve broken the figures down for each safari type (budget, mid-range and luxury) by each booking method (self driving safari, local safari company and international travel agent / safari company).
Embark on the Safari of Your Dreams
Save time and ensure an incredible safari experience by getting quotes from my recommended local safari companies
A budget safari is an entry level safari – it’s the lowest cost way to experience a traditional safari where you travel around in a safari truck and view animals in the national parks.
Whilst most budget safaris are private, you can sometimes find scheduled group safaris where you share the safari truck with other people – this can provide a saving especially for solo travellers. However, they usually involve very basic camping accommodation and you have to follow a fixed itinerary of 3 or 6 days, which is why I prefer the flexibility and comfort of private safaris.
What’s the Difference with a Budget Safari? The biggest difference with a budget safari is the type of accommodation. Costs stay low by using basic options such as tents or small guest rooms, often located outside the national parks.
The example prices I’ve shared assume visits to Tanzania’s top national parks. But in some cases, budget safaris may focus on parks with lower entrance fees. They may also rely on less experienced—and therefore cheaper—guides.
Another difference is the activities included. Some budget trips offer walking safaris, which come with lower park fees than vehicle safaris.
Transport is also more limited. Expect to drive everywhere, since internal flights are expensive. If your trip includes Zanzibar, you may take the ferry instead of flying.
What’s the same with a budget safari: Your safari truck will be similar although might be slightly older, you will still have a driver / guide.
Notes on the Budget Safari Costs
You can save about 12–27% by joining a shared (group) safari where you split the vehicle with other travelers. Keep in mind, though, that accommodation is usually in basic tents, and itineraries are fixed—typically 3 or 6 days with set departure dates. If you compare similar accommodation options, the savings are closer to 12%.
Another option is a private self-drive safari, which costs less than booking with a local operator since you skip the driver/guide fee. That said, you’re already spending a significant amount on the trip, so paying a bit extra for a driver-guide is usually worth it. A guide not only makes the experience more relaxing but also helps you find the best wildlife sightings. ( I don’t recommend self-driving in Tanzania.)
Finally, booking through an international travel agent or safari company often costs more than working with a local operator. The extra expense covers their overhead and profit, while the actual safari is still run by a local company.
A mid-range safari is the most popular type of safari as it gives you a very comfortable experience and great value for money without the very high costs of a luxury safari.
What’s the Difference with a Mid-Range Safari?
The main upgrade with a mid-range safari is the accommodation. You’ll stay in comfortable lodges or permanent tented camps with real beds and private showers. These camps give you a luxury feel while keeping the cost reasonable.
With a mid-range safari, you’ll explore Tanzania’s top parks, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
Another difference is transport. Unlike budget safaris, mid-range trips may include internal flights. For example, you might fly from the Serengeti to Zanzibar if your itinerary includes beach time.
What’s the same with a mid-range safari: Your safari truck will be similar although might be newer with high spec such as phone chargers and drinks cooler. You may be allocated a more experienced guide.
Notes on mid-range safari costs
Luxury Tanzania safaris can be divided into two tiers: Luxury and Luxury+.
Standard Luxury
The standard Luxury option typically starts at $650 per person, per night. Guests enjoy high-end lodges, exclusive tented camps, and personalized game drives. These experiences focus on comfort while still offering an authentic safari adventure.
Luxury+
Luxury+ experiences begin around $1,500 per night, offering the ultimate in comfort, privacy, and bespoke services. Guests may enjoy private villas, premium tents with expansive decks, gourmet dining, and spa treatments.
Travel Convenience
Many luxury safaris include short scenic flights between parks, reducing travel time and maximizing time in the bush. This also provides breathtaking aerial views of Tanzania’s landscapes.
Flexible Safari Experience
Private guides and vehicles allow guests to create a fully personalized schedule, from sunrise game drives to sunset sundowners. Optional activities may include walking safaris, hot-air balloon rides, or night drives.
Luxury safaris combine adventure with comfort, ensuring a seamless, unforgettable experience in Tanzania’s spectacular wilderness.
With Luxury safaris you are getting the best of everything.
With luxury Tanzania safaris, longer drives may be replaced with scenic flights on small safari planes, cutting down travel time and giving you more hours to enjoy game drives or relax at your lodge. A flight from Arusha to the Serengeti, for example, takes just 45 minutes compared to a full-day drive. This not only maximizes your time in the bush but also gives you breathtaking aerial views of Tanzania’s landscapes from the Rift Valley escarpments to endless plains dotted with wildlife.
What’s Different About a Luxury Safari
The main difference with a luxury safari lies in the accommodation and methods of transport. Guests stay in some of Tanzania’s finest lodges and camps, featuring larger rooms or suites and exceptional amenities such as infinity swimming pools overlooking the Serengeti plains.
Travel is also more convenient. Long drives, such as from Arusha to the Central or Northern Serengeti, can often be replaced with short internal flights, which typically cost around $350 per person, one-way. This saves time and allows for more wildlife viewing and relaxation at camp.
Luxury safaris take you to Tanzania’s premier national parks, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. For those seeking even more adventure, southern parks such as Selous National Park are accessible, though they require a higher budget to reach.
Vehicles on luxury safaris are usually newer and of a higher specification, often equipped with phone chargers, plug sockets, and drinks coolers, ensuring comfort and convenience throughout your journey.
While your safari truck resembles those used on standard safaris, luxury options feature upgraded specifications, including extra comfort, modern amenities, and added convenience for your journey.
Notes on Luxury Safari Costs
Choosing the self-drive option can save money because you don’t pay for a driver or guide. However, if you’re already investing in a luxury safari, paying a little extra for a professional guide can make a big difference. A guide not only improves your chances of spotting wildlife but also ensures a more relaxing and seamless experience. I wouldn’t recommend self-driving in Tanzania.
International travel agents or safari companies charge higher prices than local providers because their fees include overheads and profit on top of the local operator’s costs. Luxury safaris are where international companies often earn the most. Many clients at this level are less price-sensitive and may perceive higher prices as an indicator of higher quality or value.
Recommended Booking Options For Luxury Tanzania Safaris
Private Safari
Luxury prices start from $600 per person per day.
Visit Tailor made for free quotes from trustworthy local tour companies I use to book my own trips.
In some African countries, you can travel cheaply by overlanding. You join a large group of travelers in an off-road bus. That option isn’t really available in Tanzania. Game viewing on these trips can also feel limited. You don’t have the freedom to move around the vehicle for better sightings.
You could, in theory, hitchhike or use minibuses to move between parks. From there, you can join walking safaris in the places where they’re allowed. But minibuses in Tanzania are risky. Many crashes happen. While I was there, a guide told me his friend lost a leg in one. Because of that, I see minibuses as a last resort.
If a safari in Tanzania is out of your budget, it’s often better to choose another country. Travel and wildlife experiences can be much more affordable elsewhere.
Below are the factors that have the biggest impact on your safari cost.
If you’re a solo traveler booking a private safari, group size jumps up in importance. It can move to position two or three (depending on your accommodation level). That’s because you’re covering all the fixed costs—like the vehicle and driver/guide—on your own. In a group of two or more, those costs are shared.
There are four main ways to arrange a Tanzania safari:
Hotel-provided safaris
Local safari companies
International safari companies (based in the US, UK, etc.)
Each has a different effect on cost, which I’ll explain below.
Self-driving can be a great option in countries like Namibia, Botswana, or South Africa. In Tanzania, it’s far less practical.
In 2017, I went on a self-drive trip in Namibia and loved it. But I wouldn’t do the same in Tanzania. Here’s why:
At a lodge near the Ngorongoro Crater, I met a German couple who had rented a 4×4 for a self-drive safari. Unfortunately, they soon discovered that only specialized safari trucks are allowed into Tanzania’s national parks. Their rental car wasn’t permitted.
They had to book a safari through a tour company at the last minute. That meant paying for both the rental car and the safari company.
Yes, you can rent self-drive safari trucks from local companies. But for groups of two or three, the savings are minimal. Once you split the cost of a driver/guide, the price difference is tiny.
You might think you’ll save money by booking things yourself. In reality, two things often cancel that out:
Lack of experience—self-planners often overpay.
Local safari companies get trade rates. Their markup is usually covered by the gap between trade and retail prices. In practice, you don’t pay more for their planning services.
Tanzania is set up for guided safaris. Companies handle everything: vehicle, driver, and guide (often the same person). This makes trips slightly pricier, but in my opinion, it’s worth it.
A good guide doesn’t just drive. They know where to look and how to spot wildlife you’d likely miss. After paying for flights, hotels, and park fees, why risk missing out on world-class wildlife encounters just to save a small amount?
Whilst it is possible to hire self-drive specialist safari trucks from local safari companies, there isn’t much of a saving for groups of 2-3+ (since the cost of the driver/guide is split between the members of the group) if any vs using a safari company to provide you with a truck and guide together.
You might save a little by avoiding a local safari company’s markup. But two main factors usually cancel out that saving:
Inexperience – Without local knowledge, you’ll probably overpay for parts of your trip.
Trade prices – Local safari companies secure special trade rates on most trip elements. Their margin comes from the gap between trade and retail prices. In practice, you pay the same while benefiting from their expertise.
Tanzania is very much geared towards using safari companies who organise everything for you including a safari truck and / driver (usually they are the same person). This makes it slightly more expensive but in my opinion this is a small price to pay for some of the best safariing on earth.
By having an experienced guide, you can view much more wildlife as opposed to attempting to track it down independently!
Note: The way I saw it was, after paying for flights, accommodation, park fees etc, why would I want to miss out on all the amazing wildlife sightings a good guide can offer, just to save a few dollars by driving myself?
The below chart gives you a rough idea of where your money goes when you opt for self drive Tanzania safari.
A good local safari company will provide the best value for money in my experience. They will also save you a lot of time and use their local knowledge to organise the best safari based on your requirements.
I tend to use smaller up-and-coming local companies as I discovered that some of the most popular local companies had become victims of their own success and had started to hire sub-standard trucks (we saw quite a few broken down) to keep up with demand and hire inexperienced guides.
WeGuide African Safaris is smaller up-and-coming companies tend to offer a consistently high level of service as well as higher specification trucks and experienced guides.
Due to their low overheads, many small local suppliers only include a small 10-15% margin in their quotes which goes towards their wages and limited business overheads leaving them with 3-5% profit.
In the case of accommodation for example, local suppliers usually receive special trade prices which means that they take their small margin from the accommodation provider and not from the customer which makes it very cost effective to work with a local supplier. In some cases I found them to be cheaper than arranging everything independently and sooo much less hassle!
The below chart gives you a rough idea of where your money goes when you book your safari with a local safari company
As you can see accommodation and park fees make up over 50% of the total safari costs when working with a local supplier. Park fees go towards the upkeep of the parks. Only around 3% goes to the safari company as profit after their overheads.
The above chart is based on a mid-range safari. With budget safaris accommodation costs will make up slightly less of the total and with luxury safari packages, accommodation costs can make up as much as 50% or more of the total costs.
From my research and chatting to local guides I found out that International travel agents and safari companies in the US, UK etc, subcontract their safaris out to local safari companies who apply their own logo to the truck.
Using a safari company based in your country is a more expensive option as you are now paying for their overheads (offices, staff, marketing etc.) and profits as well as the overheads and profits of the local safari company.
Based on my research, like-for-like safari costs are usually 20 – 300% more expensive when booked through a US / UK travel agents / safari company.
Sometimes there can be communication issues as you give your sales rep your preferences who then passes them on to the local Tanzania company who then has to pass them on to the driver / guide.
International Safari companies in the US / UK etc. do of course provide some benefits. They can book international flights for you. They are also more experienced with high-end requests such as chartering private jets.
Typically overseas travel agents who specialise in safaris tend to cater to the higher end. From my experience, you typically have to be spending 15,000 USD plus to get their attention and you really need to be spending 50,000 USD + to get their full attention and service. Costs can easily reach $100,000’s.
In the UK you will be covered by Package Travel Regulations which can provide some assistance if they go bust before your trip. If they book international flights as part of your package, you will be covered by the ATOL scheme.
In America there are schemes such as the Airline Passenger Protection Act and the Federal Aviation Administration’s consumer protection rules which apply when booking through a local travel agent in the US.
WEGUIDE AFRICA SAFARIS 100% Tailors Made Africa Authentic Incredible Experiences. WeGuide Safaris is bespoken tour operator that specialists in crafting high-quality, customized Authentic experiences to Tanzania. Africa.
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