How Much Does a Safari in Tanzania Cost? (2025 Guide)

When I first started planning our Tanzania safari, I had no idea just how much prices could vary. I assumed I’d get a few quotes, compare them, and pick the best one. But wow — the range in costs was huge.

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If you’re trying to figure out how much a safari in Tanzania should cost, here’s a full breakdown of what we learned while booking our July 2025 trip, including exactly what we paid, what’s included and where we managed to save.

My First Safari Quotes

My initial quotes came in much higher than expected. We wanted to see Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti and the Mara River crossing (where the wildebeest migration happens) and then fly across for a week at the beach in Zanzaibar. I requested itineraries with mid-range accommodation from several well-known safari companies.

One of my first quotes: $25,000 USD for two people
Most others: $10,000-$12,000 USD
Duration: 6–7 days safari and 7 days in Zanzibar
Many included: internal flights across the Serengeti

I’d sent requests to some of the big names you’ll find at the top of Google like Tanzania Specialists and other well-known international operators. While the itineraries looked good, I just couldn’t justify spending that much for a week-long safari.

Why Prices Vary So Much

Then inspiration struck and I realised that booking through international tour agents might be driving the costs up.

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Most of my early quotes came from foreign tour operators based in the UK, the Netherlands or other European countries. These companies aren’t the ones actually running your safari. They’re middlemen — subcontracting local Tanzanian safari providers, adding their margin on top, and passing the cost onto you.

Once I figured this out, I started looking for Tanzanian-based safari agencies instead — and that’s when the quotes became far more reasonable.

Who We Booked With & What We Paid

After a lot of research, we booked directly with See Endless Adventures, a Tanzanian-based tour company. Their pricing was significantly lower than every international quote we’d received.

Our Total Safari Cost: $6,114 USD

That’s $3,057 USD per person all-in — less than a third of what some international operators were quoting us.

Safari Cost Breakdown

Here’s exactly what was included in our $2,330 USD per person base price:

Included in the Safari Package

Airport transfer from Kilimanjaro to our lodge in Arusha
Private driver & guide — just us, no group sharing
Private Jeep — huge perk for flexibility and comfort
Three Amazing Safari Spots — Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and the Central Serengeti
Accommodation for 4 nights:
Three meals a day — breakfast, packed lunches and dinner
Hot air balloon ride in the Serengeti
Internal flight from Kilimanjaro Airport → Zanzibar

Why We Skipped the Mara River Wildebeest Crossing

One big difference with this safari quote is that it didn’t include seeing the wildebeest migration at the Mara River. To reach the crossing, you generally need a minimum of 7 days on safari due to the extra driving distance, which also pushes the cost up.

Honestly, we felt 5 days in a safari Jeep was already plenty — the days are long, and you cover vast distances. We saw huge herds of wildebeest in Ngorongoro and were happy with that.

Since our trip, we’ve seen lots of photos and videos of the Mara River crossing, and while it’s spectacular, it also looks extremely crowded with tourists and jeeps. We were glad we skipped it in the end.

Our Hot Air Balloon Splurge

One of our non-negotiable was doing a hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti — something Luke had dreamed of for years.

We downgraded our lodge choices to lower mid-range to balance the budget — and honestly, the hot air balloon ride was 1000% worth it and our most magical travel experience to date.

Costs We Booked Separately

See Endless offered package extensions to include five nights in Zanzibar, which was only around $500 more. However, we decided to book Zanzibar separately because their accommodation options didn’t suit what we were looking for.

We also booked our first night in Arusha ourselves at Kutoka Lodge, which I highly recommend. We preferred Kutoka’s quieter location outside central Arusha.

How Much to Tip on Safari in Tanzania

Our tour operator recommended tipping our driver, who was also our guide, $10 per person per day. We gave a total tip of $100.

We also brought plenty of small dollar bills for additional tips. We left contributions in the tip boxes at our accommodations and occasionally tipped staff directly, although this was never expected.

International Flights

Our safari price did not include international flights.

Route: London Gatwick → Kilimanjaro (via Istanbul)
Return: Zanzibar → London Gatwick (via Istanbul)
Cost: ~£1,000 GBP per person
Tip: Flying into Kilimanjaro and out of Zanzibar saved us from having to loop back, which made the itinerary smoother.

Key Takeaways for Booking a Tanzanian Safari

Book with a Tanzanian-based tour operator — you’ll save thousands.
Decide your splurges early — for us, it was the hot air balloon, so we adjusted accommodation to offset the cost.
Compare multiple quotes — we got around 7 before deciding.
Check the accommodation — tour operators work with certain accommodation providers but usually have a few different options. Check reviews of the accommodations separately to check you’re happy with them. We made a few adjustments to our itinerary to have some better accommodation picks.
Check which national parks and stops are included — especially if you want to see the wildebeest migration. Ask directly to ensure this is in your itinierary.