How much does a Tanzania safari cost per person?
Ours start from $1,295 for two days and $4,230 for seven days, at mid-range level with two people sharing. Budget and luxury options are also available.
Tanzania Safari Tours: How to Choose the Right Trip, From 2 to 10 Days
Private safaris across the northern circuit, run by a licensed team based in Moshi.
A Tanzania safari is one of the few trips that lives up to everything you have imagined. Lions on the plains at dawn, elephants walking between baobabs, the crater floor spread out below you. But it can also be hard to plan. The parks are far apart, the wildlife moves with the seasons, and the prices you find online can be impossible to compare.
We run private safaris across Tanzania's northern circuit from our office on Mawenzi Road in Moshi. Our trips range from 2 to 10 days, and prices start from $1,295 per person. This guide helps you decide how long to go, which parks to choose, when to travel, what it costs, and which style of safari suits you.
How to plan a Tanzania safari: the short answer
For a first Tanzania safari, plan on 5 to 7 days in the northern circuit: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Travel from June to October for the most reliable game viewing, or from January to March for calving in the south. If you have a week, take the 7-day safari. If you have five days, the 5-day safari still covers all four parks.
How many days do you need for a Tanzania safari?
The parks are spread out, so length decides what you can see. Here are all of our safaris, from shortest to longest.
| Days | Safari | Parks | From, per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2-Day Tarangire and Ngorongoro Safari | Tarangire and Ngorongoro | $1,295 |
| 3 | 3-Day Tarangire and Ngorongoro Safari | Tarangire and Ngorongoro | $1,920 |
| 4 | 4-Day Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari | Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro | $2,610 |
| 5 | 5-Day Northern Circuit Safari | All four northern parks | $3,040 |
| 6 | 6-Day Northern Circuit Safari | All four northern parks | $3,605 |
| 7 | 7-Day Northern Circuit Safari | All four northern parks | $4,230 |
| 8 | 8-Day Safari and Zanzibar | Four parks, then Zanzibar | $4,490 |
| 9 | 9-Day Extended Northern Circuit Safari | Four parks, including the northern Serengeti | $5,215 |
| 10 | 10-Day Safari and Zanzibar | Four parks, then Zanzibar | $5,620 |
Prices are at mid-range level with two people sharing. As a rough guide:
- 2 to 3 days: Tarangire and Ngorongoro, without the Serengeti.
- 4 days: the shortest realistic trip that includes the Serengeti.
- 5 to 7 days: all four northern parks, at a pace that gets better with each extra day.
- 9 to 10 days: the northern Serengeti and the Mara River as well.
Which Tanzania safari parks should you visit?
Each of the northern parks offers something the others do not, which is why so many trips combine them.
Serengeti National Park
Tanzania's largest and most famous park, with big cats and the Great Migration. Give it at least two nights if you can.
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcano with a resident population of lion, buffalo and black rhino. It is one of the best single days on safari anywhere.
Tarangire National Park
Large elephant herds and giant baobabs. It is at its best from June to October.
Lake Manyara National Park
A small and varied park below the Rift Valley wall, with forest, flamingos and hippo pools.
See how they fit together in our guide to northern circuit safaris.
When is the best time for a Tanzania safari?
June to October is the most reliable time. The grass is short, animals gather around water and the skies are clear. January to March brings calving on the southern plains, with lots of predator action. April and May are the wettest months, when some roads get difficult and some camps close, but prices can be lower and the land is green. See our month-by-month guide.
Which style of Tanzania safari suits you?
The same parks can feel very different, depending on how you travel.
- Private safaris: your own vehicle, guide and schedule.
- Mid-range safaris: comfortable camps and lodges, and our standard level.
- Budget safaris: simpler lodging at a lower price.
- Luxury safaris: top camps and lodges.
- Family safaris: shorter drives and child-friendly lodges.
- Honeymoon safaris: romantic camps, often with Zanzibar.
- Shared safaris: for solo travelers who would like to share costs.
How much does a Tanzania safari cost?
Our safaris start from $1,295 per person for two days and $4,230 for seven days, at mid-range level with two people sharing. Your costs depend mostly on how long you stay, the lodging level and your group size, since the vehicle cost is shared. Our safari cost guide explains where the money goes and what to budget on top.
What a day on safari in Tanzania is really like
Most days begin early, with a hot drink before dawn and a drive at first light, when predators are active and the light is beautiful. You may return to camp for breakfast or take a picnic. Midday is hot and quiet, so most people rest. The late-afternoon drive lasts until parks close around sunset. Evenings mean dinner, stories and an early night. It is simple, unhurried and hard to leave behind.
Why book your Tanzania safari with Kijaniwazi Tours?
We are based in Tanzania
Our office is on the 3rd floor of the WMA building on Mawenzi Road in Moshi. We hold TALA Licence No. 545789 and are registered with BRELA under No. 715317. We are a new company with an experienced team.
Trained guides
Your driver-guide is with you from the first morning to the last drive, and much of what you see depends on them. Our guides have worked on Tanzania tours for 7 years. They are graduates of the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, and the National College of Tourism, and they hold certification from those institutions.
Private trips with clear prices
We run private safaris, so you choose your dates and share the vehicle only with your own group. If you are traveling alone and would like company to share the cost, ask us and we will check whether a suitable shared departure is available with a trusted partner company. Every quote is in writing, and it shows what is and is not included.
Combining your safari with Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar
Moshi sits at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, so a climb and a safari fit together naturally. If you would rather finish on a beach, our 8-day and 10-day trips fly you on to Zanzibar.
Your first Tanzania safari: what most people get wrong
Most first-time travelers try to see too much. It is tempting to add one more park, but every extra stop means more time on the road and less time watching animals. The people who come home happiest usually stayed longer in fewer places. They also chose their month first, because the season decides where the wildlife is, rather than choosing a park and hoping for the best.
The second common mistake is comparing prices without comparing what is included. One quote may include all park fees, a private vehicle and lodging inside the parks, while a cheaper one may have none of these. Ask for the details in writing, and compare like with like.
How to book a Tanzania safari, step by step
- Decide your dates and length. Allow for long flights, and at least a night to recover.
- Choose your season. Use our month-by-month guide.
- Set your budget and level. Our cost guide shows what to expect.
- Ask for a written quote. Tell us your group size and any special interests.
- Review and confirm. Check the itinerary, the lodging and what is included, then pay your deposit. See our booking terms.
- Prepare to travel. Arrange your visa and insurance, visit a travel clinic and use our packing list.
Is a Tanzania safari safe, and what should you know before you go?
Safaris are generally safe when you follow your guide's instructions. Stay in the vehicle unless told it is safe to get out, keep your voice down around animals, and do not walk around unfenced camps alone after dark. Staff will usually escort you to your room at night.
Health is the other main concern. Malaria is present in the safari parks, so talk to a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you leave, and pack repellent. Check entry rules for your nationality too, including your visa and any yellow fever certificate that may be needed if you travel through certain countries. Good travel insurance with medical and evacuation cover is strongly recommended.
Tanzania safaris: your questions answered
How many days do you need in Tanzania for a safari?
Five to seven days is ideal for a first safari. Four is the minimum if you want to include the Serengeti by road.
Is a Tanzania safari safe?
Yes, when you follow your guide's instructions. Stay in the vehicle unless told otherwise, and see a travel clinic before you go.
What is the difference between the northern and southern circuits?
The northern circuit includes the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, and it is the classic first safari. Our safaris focus on the north.
Where does a Tanzania safari start?
Our safaris start and finish in Moshi. Tell us if you would prefer to start in Arusha.
Will I see the Big Five?
You have a good chance on a longer northern circuit trip, especially in Ngorongoro Crater, but wildlife cannot be guaranteed.
The clearest takeaway before you book your safari
Start with how many days you have, then choose your season, then choose your parks and lodging level. Do not try to fit in too much, because time spent watching animals is what you will remember. Send us your dates, and we will suggest the right safari.
Ready to plan your Tanzania safari?
Tell us your dates, group size and budget, and we will send a written quote from Moshi.