Here’s How Much It Costs To Visit The Serengeti

I was wondering how much it costs to visit the Serengeti National Park so I did some research.

Traveling to the Serengeti National Park (Tanzania) will cost you between $1700 to $2300 for a 5-7 day Safari.  This cost includes transport to the national park, accommodation in tented camps and game drives. How much money you actually spend will vary depending on the quality of your transport & accommodation and the length of your stay. In the post below I outline how much you expect to spend and tips on saving money when on safari in the Serengeti.

Serengeti Tour Package cost

The cost of doing a Serengeti to vary widely based on the type of accommodation you will be in and the length of your stay. However based on research I did on the internet and quotes that I got from a few tour companies, You should expect to spend anywhere from $1700 to $2300 for a 5-7 day safari in the Serengeti.

There are obviously tour packages that are more expensive than the figure I have quoted above,  these are more high-end and exclusive. You will also find some that are quite cheaper than $1700 tag.  The thing about Tanzania and most other African Nations is that you get what you pay for. My advice would be that you stay away from anything that seems to affordable when visiting the continent.

What is included in the Safari Package

The following items are typically included in most of the safari packages to the Serengeti.

• Park Entry Fees: The fee is typically is in the regions of $60 per person per day.
• Activities: These are things like safari drives and visits to any cultural events in and around the park.
• Accommodation:  since these packages are in the mid-tier Range you would expect to spend your night in tented accommodation within the park.
• A professional driver/guide:  your safari van driver, who also doubles up as your tour guide, is one of the most crucial parts of your trip to the Serengeti.  They have a vast knowledge of the best viewing spots for animals and have networks the park rangers and other tour operators so spotting animals will be easier.
• Transportation: This is all transportation within the park and also includes transportation to the park and from the park from at the start and end of the tour.
• Roundtrip airport transfer: Most tour packages usually also include transport from and back to the airport at the start and end of your tour.
• Meals: the packages also include all the meals you will have during the tour.
• (As specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinks: A number of tour operators will also include drinks in the list of the things that I included but will specify any  limitations that apply to this

What is excluded from the Safari Package

• Souvenirs: Any souvenirs that you buy when traveling within the Serengeti will fall outside of the cost structure of the package.
• Travel Insurance:  you need to take care of your own travel insurance when traveling within Tanzania.  Most tour operators do not bear this cost.
• International Flights:  you will need to also take care of the fare for international flights.
• Visa Fees:  you will also need to take care of the visa fees for entering Tanzania
• Tips: Teams also another out-of-pocket expenditure and they vary depending on who you are tipping but would range around $10 to $20 per day.
• Extra accommodation before and after the tour package: you may arrive earlier than the planned tour date or spend some time within Tanzania after the tour. You will need to make personal arrangements for this since the tour operator does not cater for this.

Tips of Saving Money on Serengeti Safari

1. Book many months ahead (flights and tour packages). You will almost always find great deals if you book way ahead.   this applies for both international flight and your tour package.
2. Visit in the offseason:  visiting in the less busy seasons of January to April provide you an opportunity to save a large amount of money since many tour operators experience low demand for their services. the only challenge with this season is that the roads become less navigable due to the Muddy terrain.
3. Travel in larger groups:  when traveling in larger groups like 4 – 6 you will have an opportunity to save money since the tour operator will spend less on transport per person and may be able to negotiate discounts with the hotels.
4. Negotiate a discount:  this applies for everything in Africa,  you always want to see if they can give you a better price and since they will be expecting you to request for a discount, they usually price this into their initial offer.
5. Shop around for the best offer: Try getting as many quotations as possible from the difference to operators to get a picture of how much my kind of toy you looking for costs.

How much Cash you Should Carry with You.

Most operators will accept card payments,  but there are occasions when you will need to use cash when traveling to the Serengeti.  these include times when you will be buying souvenirs or tipping the drivers or waiters.  Most vendors do not accept card payments and you do not want to flash your credit card to everybody you will meet along your journey.  This is where carrying cash comes in handy.

My personal advice would be that you carry $60 in cash for every day that you will be spending in the Serengeti.  with this, you will have sufficient cash to tip the people around you and to buy souvenirs along the way.

It is best to carry the US dollar when coming into Tanzania and exchange it at the forex Bureaus in any of the major cities like dar-es-salaam or Arusha before embarking on your Serengeti safari. While other currencies may be accepted in the places you’ll be visiting it is more appropriate to have the local currency to ensure that you do not get overcharged because you were flashing dollars around.

You also need to ensure that the US dollar bills that you are carrying are printed later than 2006. Bills older than this are not accepted at the bureaus due to the risk of handling counterfeit bills. You also need to ensure that the bills you carry are not crumbled up, old or dirty.  This will give you an easier time when exchanging them at the forex Bureaus.

Conclusion

To conclude I would advise anyone who wants to do a safari in Africa to plan ahead and do their research before coming. This will help you save the most money and have the best experience in your epic African Safari.

A Final Word

As you prepare for your trip to Africa, I would like to recommend a few products that would help make your life easier. 

1. Information About Africa: I have created a YouTube channel that focuses on things about traveling to Africa that only Africans can tell you about. Check out the channel for insights about African culture and things you can do as a traveler to optimize your trip. You should also visit TripAdvisor forum posts (Here is the Kenya Forum) and ask questions about your particular situation. There are a lot of people who are happy to help you out. 
2. Choosing a Safari Company: I have written an extensive article on how to choose a safari Company. You can. Check it out before starting the process of searching for a safari company.
3. Safari Planning Services: If you’d rather leave the planning to an expert, I offer personalized safari planning services. I handle everything from helping you choose the right safari company, creating your custom itinerary, managing bookings, and even providing a packing list and reminders for important trip details. It’s like having a personal assistant dedicated to your trip, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying the adventure. Learn More in this article