Tanzania is one of the world’s best safari destinations, this being attributed to among other factors great constant weather, diverse safari parks, and attractions, and Zanzibar coast. That doesn’t mean it is the cheapest safari destination, The uniqueness, and diversity of Tanzania, unlike most East African countries, may be one of the reasons why Tanzania Safaris are highly-priced compared to neighboring Kenya. Here are the Major Factors that influence the cost of a Tanzania safari.
Style of safari.
The overall safari cost will be largely influenced by the style of safari you choose. By style, I mean the type of accommodations you pick. It’s either a camping safari or lodge/ tented camps-based accommodation it is possible to save money on accommodation, depending on the level of luxury/exclusiveness you choose be it private or shared safaris with other people. Shared safaris will see the prices go down by sharing costs of transport among other logistics making it a more affordable option as opposed to private safaris.
A private four days northern circuit Tanzania safari for two people based on standard lodge/ tented camps would cost between $ 450- $550 and between $320- $360 on a shared option per person per day.
While the same 4 days private safari on basic camping option at a public camping ground like the Seronera public campsite would range between $330- $350 per person per day. If you opt for a shared option on basic camping we would be looking at around $200-$250 per day per person.
If you choose to go on luxury options expect to dig a little dipper in your pockets spending anything between $550 to $ 1000 per day. It is also good to know that the maximum capacity of a safari jeep is up to seven people per car. Most shared safaris group size will be between four to seven people per car another important factor to bear in mind is that the cost of shared safari will depend on the final group size the above price range is based on our practical experience between the period 2019 to January 2022 and should provide an informed practical guideline on what to expect from any genuine safari provider.
Park Entry fees.
Park entrance fees are fixed by the government and park authorities some parks are more expensive than others a good example is the Serengeti Ngorongoro crater where a safari jeep entrance fee will be up to US$ 295 per vehicle per day, plus US$ 71 park fees charged per person per day. While at Serengeti park fees is at $83 per person per day, on top of this there is another $ 71 concession fees charged per person per night if staying in a lodge situated within the national park not forgetting a transit fee of $71 charged between Ngorongoro conservation area gate for anyone making a transit via Ngorongoro heading to Serengeti national park. Note this includes the government’s 18% VAT.
Special interests.
Special interests safaris may involve specific specialists or expert guides who specialize on that particular field plus there may be varying logistics with such safaris. A good example is an exclusive bird watching Safari; you will need guides who have specialized particularly on birds rather than just a regular safari guide, Same case with a night game drive in Lake Manyara In Northern Tanzania you will require the extra services of an armed ranger as opposed to day time safari game drives. All these extras come with their own costs which at the end of the day will determine the overall safari price.
Time of the year when you choose to go.
There are two distinctive seasons in East Africa; Namely dry and wet seasons high season, peak and low /off-season, High seasons falls under January to early March, April, May, and November are low seasons December falls under peak season this is also the festive season when most people are traveling for Christmas if you want to keep costs down, try visiting during a park’s offseason. While this can mean less visible wildlife and, if it’s the Wet season, occasionally washed-out roads, it does bring significantly lower prices, fewer tourists, and gorgeously lush countryside.
Mode of transport.
The most common mode of transport on safari is by road although there would be a mix of local flights in and out of the park on the so-called Fly in /out safaris Local flights would range at $250 to $350 while the average cost of hiring a safari jeep ranges between $250 to $ 280 per day.
Other major factors include the location of your accommodations where concession fees apply on accommodations that are located within the National parks and conservation area as well as the number of days you choose to go and any extra activities you may include such as a hot-air balloon ride, or even a bush lunch or dinner.
Whatever your interests are, from the most exclusive luxury safari experience to purely Great wildebeest migration safaris in the endless plains of Serengeti, Amet adventures has everything for everyone and we can always work on a bespoke safari package to suit your travel interests and budget.
