Why are safaris so expensive + Come to Tanzania with us in 2026
Published about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 8 min read
Hi Reader,
How are you doing today and this week?
We are full into spring mode and I am loving the flowers and the scent in the air, especially the beautiful cherry blossom trees I am enjoying all throughout Japan, I am loving every minute of it πΈ
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I do not love the constant taking off and putting on layers, but it's a small price to pay to enjoy the beginning of the good weather months in the northern hemisphere.
Go check out what I am up to in our Instagram stories and join the waitlist to be the first to know when the tour goes live later this month.
Why are safaris in East Africa so expensive? Inspired by a post in the group that was asking how to go on safari on a budget, I wanted to share the inside story on why Kenya and Tanzania have made safaris so expensive and what you should expect to pay
Our Tanzania tours for 2026 are all live on the website, both the Value and the Luxe versions of the tours, don't miss out!
Yep, a cheetah jumped on our car last month, this was the second time this happened in the Serengeti, we also had this same situation happen in 2022
Two weeks ago, there was a discussion in the group around the prices of safaris in Tanzania and Kenya.
A member was trying to find a budget safari option and the cheapest tours she could find were $5,500 for 10 days.
While this may seem like a lot, it really is not that much when you consider the unavoidable costs associated with running a safari and the fees and taxes charged by the Parks Authorities an Government agencies.
Even though Tanzania and Kenya do not advertise tourist taxes or have a minimum spent like countries like Bhutan, the park fees have escalated to such levels in the last 5 year that they have essentially turned safaris into a holiday for the rich.
And sadly, the money is going to the Government, not the local guides or business owners...
The baseline cost of running a safari
We have been running safaris in Tanzania since 2021 and are very familiar with the costs of doing business.
I have also been to the country more than 100 times and spent probably more than 150 days on safari. I am in talks with our local partners and guides constantly.
This is to say that I know the situation first hand.
Below is what it costs to run a safari in Tanzania. Kenyan prices are even higher since the Government raised park fees at the end of 2023 to levels above Tanzania's.
Park fees: This is the biggest chunk of costs if you visit the main parks like the Serengeti, Maasai Mara, Ngorongoro Crater, etc. Daily fees are $83 per person plus a $300 per car. Total for 10 days: $830 + $3,000 to split among the group
Safari car rental: $150-200 per day for a quality, well maintained cost. Petrol cost can be $100 per day or more depending on how many hours you go on game drives and how far you drive. Total for 10 days: $2,500-$3,000 to split among the group
Guide fees: A fair payment for a guide who is driving you 8 hours a day and spends 12-14h taking care of you (plus cleaning the car, refuelling while you sleep, etc.) should be $150. Total for 10 days: $1,500 to split among the group. You also need to consider the cost of their accommodation and food. This can range from $60-100 a night at the cheapest lodges. Our guide stays at the same kind of room our guests sleep in. If it is not good for the guests, it is not good for the guides, but some guide accommodation provided by the lodge can be super basic and not even have running hot water. Total for 10 days: $800 to split among the group.
Accommodation costs: You can find lodges for $100 a night and lodges for $10,000 a night (all inclusive of meals and accommodation), literally. Let's take a comfortable 3.5* tented camp at $300 per person per night sharing. Total for 10 days: $2,700
There are several other miscellaneous costs (repairs, spares, rental one day before your tour starts to prep, snacks and drinks in the car, phone calls, transport of the guide to / from starting point, etc.) and if you fly in / out of any of the parks you'll have to add that. Flights to the main parks can cost as much as 500USD one way.
Alcoholic drinks and spa (if available) are not included and you may need to pay for an extra day of car rental and guide if they are to drive back to Arusha from the Serengeti when you fly out, which they sometimes need to do.
πΈ If there are 6 of you in a car (safari cars can take up to 7), the cost of the basic items mentioned above is: $830 + $3000 / 6 + 1,500 / 6 + $2,700 + 800 / 6 = $4,400 per person sharing.
Cheetah spotted last year
=> Now you realise that a $5,500 is cheap and probably includes a more basic accommodation perhaps outside the park, a guide that is paid closer to $50 a day than $150, and limitations on how much you can drive and how far to save on fuel. Because the company selling the tour also needs to make a commission to pay for all the overhead costs, the customer support and all the inside knowledge and group environment it will provide.
How to save on safari
β¨ The only way to bring these costs down is to:
Stay at cheaper accommodation - camping also attracts concession fees of $72 a night but you can find more basic lodges at $100 a night
Shorten your trip - most guests are happy with 6 days on safari (that's what we do on our tours)
Visit cheaper parks - Serengeti and Ngorongoro are the stars of the show and offer incredible viewing opportunities but other parks are also good and cheaper
Stay outside of the park - so you save on the overnight fees
Visit other countries - Tanzania and Kenya have the highest park fees, they also, in my opinion, offer the most incredible viewing opportunities, but other countries like South Africa, Malawi, Zambia or Botswana don't collect such high fees.
I hope this provided some background and perspective to the cost of a safari.
If you find a 10-day safari for less than $5,000 you know they compromised on quality and someone isn't getting paid. Usually, that is the guide, who ends up having to work for tips or stays at really basic accommodation without running water or food covered.
On safari with our guests last September
π¦π¦ππ¦ Is a safari on your dream travel list?ππππ¦
Join us in Tanzania for a safari + Zanzibar.
We offer two options depending on how ready you are to splurge
βTanzania Value -> Great value for money, full board on safari and half board in Zanzibar. 3-4* lodges and hotels
βTanzania Luxe -> Great accommodation choices including THE nicest resort in Zanzibar (yes, i have visited all the 5* resorts there) and all inclusive on safari + Full board in Zanzibar. 4-5* lodges and hotels
Both trips will take place during The Great Migration plus we also have a Xmas + NYE Value Tanzania tour and a November Luxe Tanzania tour.
Our Tanzania 2026 safari + Zanzibar tour are live!
Large herds of elephants and babies
For the 6th year in a row, we are returning to Tanzania for our signature Safari + Zanzibar tours.
A safari is a trip of a lifetime, and it can be as fancy as you can imagine, that's why we offer two versions of the trip.
βTanzania Safari + Zanzibar Value: 11 days total, accommodation in 3.5-4* hotels, resorts and lodges, all meals on safari and breakfast+dinner in Zanzibar.
βTanzania Safari + Zanzibar Luxe: 10 days total, accommodation in 4-5* hotels, resorts and lodges, all inclusive on safari (alcohol too) and all meals in Zanzibar.
The Great Migration
On all of our Tanzania tours enjoy:
Female safari driver-guides, we are the only tour company employing exclusively female guide and helping train more to join the industry. Plus a female mechanic in training to be a guide
Well maintained safari trucks with max 5-6 guests per car, so there is room for everyone (trucks can fit 7 guests), have power sockets, snacks and a stocked fridge
The golden triangle of safari parks: Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti National Park, where close wildlife encounters with lions, cheetah, elephants, giraffes, hippos, antelope, and all the rest of the animals are almost guaranteed and really close, often mere centimeters from your window
Dates during The Great Migration, to spot thousands of wildebeest and zebra crossing the Mara River as crocs wait for unsuspecting victims. Or spend Christmas and New Year's with us in Tanzania!
Single and shared spots so you can save on the single supplement or have your own room if you prefer privacy.
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PS We have a couple of spots available on this year's tours too:
Ateshgah of Baku is an originally zoroastrian temple that was founded on top of gas reserves that used to burn continuously for centuries. When the gas started to be extracted for commercial use, the reserves dried up and the temple lost its appeal to fire worshippers. A couple of decades ago the government re-channelled gas reserves from Baku to the temple to light its flame again.
This week's photo is of something that has made the country famous among travelers....
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