Budget Safari in Tanzania
You do not need a large budget to see the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. A budget safari in Tanzania uses simple lodges or camping, shares the vehicle with other guests or keeps the route tight, and still includes park fees, a professional guide and full board.
You do not need a large budget to see the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. A budget safari in Tanzania uses simple lodges or camping, shares the vehicle with other guests or keeps the route tight, and still includes park fees, a professional guide and full board.
Our budget safaris start from USD 250 per person. Here is how they work, what to expect and how to avoid the cheap safari traps that spoil trips.
Three ways to do a Tanzania safari on a budget
Joining safaris
On a joining safari you share the vehicle, the guide and the cost with a small group of other travellers on a fixed departure date. It is the cheapest way to see the Serengeti and the crater and is ideal for solo travellers, who avoid the single supplement on the vehicle.
Camping safaris
Public campsites inside the Serengeti and on the crater rim cost far less than lodges, and you sleep in a tent with the sounds of the savannah around you. A cook travels with you and prepares hot meals. It is simple and memorable, though you need to be happy with basic facilities.
Budget lodges
Simple lodges outside the park gates, for example near Karatu and Mto wa Mbu, give you a proper bed and a hot shower for a fraction of the price of a lodge inside the park. The compromise is a longer drive into the park each morning.
What is included and what is not
Even our cheapest safaris include the guide, the vehicle, park and crater fees, full board and the pick-up in Arusha. What changes is the standard of the accommodation and the number of people sharing the vehicle. We list exclusions plainly on every package: international flights, visas, insurance, drinks and tips.
How to avoid a bad cheap safari
The cheapest quote is rarely the best value. Watch for these warning signs when comparing:
- Prices far below the park fees for the number of days: the fees must be paid somewhere
- Operators without a licence, a registered office or independent reviews
- Vehicles with no roof hatch, more passengers than window seats or poorly kept cars
- Itineraries that spend most of the day driving, with little time in the park
- Drivers who are not trained guides, or a "guide" who is also the cook
Best time for a budget safari
Travel in the green season from March to May, or in November, when lodge rates fall and the parks are quiet. Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater are excellent in these months, and the southern Serengeti is rich with wildlife. The tradeoff is rain, which usually falls in the afternoon, and thicker vegetation.
What a camping safari is like
On a camping safari you travel in a shared 4x4 with a driver-guide and a cook. Camps are public campsites inside the parks, with basic washing facilities and shared toilets. Tents, sleeping mats and a dining tent are provided, and you bring a sleeping bag if you prefer your own. Meals are simple and hot, prepared by the cook on a gas stove. It is not luxury, but you wake up with the animals around the camp, and many guests remember these trips best of all.
What to bring on a budget safari
A few items make a basic safari much more comfortable:
- A warm layer and a jacket, as nights at the crater rim are cold
- A sleeping bag liner or a small pillow
- A torch or headlamp and spare batteries
- Wet wipes, a quick-dry towel and a small toiletry bag
- Snacks and a reusable water bottle
Budget safari for solo travellers
Solo travellers benefit most from joining safaris, because the vehicle cost is shared and there is no single supplement for a tent. You also meet other travellers, many of whom become friends on the road. If you prefer your own room at a lodge, ask us for a joining safari with lodge accommodation, which costs a little more.
Budget and joining safari packages
- 5 Day Shared Group Camping Safari (5 Days, from USD 1,250 per person) Five days on the Northern Circuit with public-campsite nights: Tarangire, two nights in the Serengeti, a crater-rim night at Simba, then Ngorongoro Crater befor
- 3 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Joining Safari (3 Days, from USD 750 per person) A short joining safari for travellers who want Serengeti and Ngorongoro without a private vehicle. Two nights in the Serengeti, a full day on the plains, then t
- 2 Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Joining Safari (2 Days, from USD 500 per person) Two days from Arusha for travellers with limited time: a full day in Tarangire, one lodge night, then Ngorongoro Crater before the evening drop-off in town.
- Ngorongoro Day Trip Joining Safari (1 Days, from USD 250 per person) A one day joining safari from Arusha into Ngorongoro Crater. Shared 4x4, professional English-speaking guide, picnic lunch, and evening drop off in town, no ove
- 1 Day Tarangire National Park Joining Safari from Arusha (1 Day, from USD 250 per person) A budget-friendly shared day safari to Tarangire National Park from Arusha: elephants, baobabs and a picnic lunch.
- 6 Day Tanzania Budget Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 2,800 per person) A 6 day budget camping safari to Tarangire, two days in the Serengeti and a Ngorongoro Crater game drive.
- 3 Day Affordable Joining Safari (3 Days, from USD 800 per person) A three-day shared safari from Arusha covering Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. You travel in a shared 4x4 with a professional English-speaking g
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest safari in Tanzania?
A one-day trip to Tarangire or the Ngorongoro Crater from Arusha, or a two to three day joining safari. Our shortest packages start from USD 250 per person.
Are camping safaris safe?
Yes. Public campsites in the Serengeti and on the crater rim are used by safari companies every day, and rangers patrol the areas. Always follow your guide's advice and keep food out of the tent.
Is a joining safari private?
No. It is a small group of travellers sharing a vehicle and a guide. If you prefer a private vehicle, see our private safari packages.
Can I upgrade a budget safari?
Yes. You can mix camping with a lodge night, or upgrade the last night at the crater rim, at a modest extra cost.
How big are the groups on a joining safari?
Groups are small, usually up to six guests per vehicle, and every guest has a window seat.
Do I need to bring a tent?
No. Tents, mats and cooking equipment are provided on camping safaris. You only bring your personal items and, if you wish, a sleeping bag.