Private Safari in Tanzania
On a private safari in Tanzania the vehicle, the driver-guide and the schedule belong to you and your travel companions alone. You decide how long to stay with a lion pride, when to leave for the next camp and how early to start the morning game drive. Nobody else is in the car.
On a private safari in Tanzania the vehicle, the driver-guide and the schedule belong to you and your travel companions alone. You decide how long to stay with a lion pride, when to leave for the next camp and how early to start the morning game drive. Nobody else is in the car.
Every safari we sell by default is private. Prices start from USD 1,800 per person for two travellers sharing, and you can tailor any itinerary below to your dates, budget and interests.
What is different about a private safari
On a shared safari the route, the stops and the pace are set by the group. In a private vehicle you control all three. You can spend a whole morning at a single river crossing, skip a lodge breakfast to be on the plains at dawn, or stop for photographs without apologising to anyone. Families with children and photographers in particular get far more out of a private vehicle.
The vehicle is a 4x4 safari cruiser with a pop-up roof, so every guest has a window seat and can stand for a clear view and photographs. A binocular for each guest and drinking water are standard.
Your guide makes the safari
A private safari lives or dies by its driver-guide. Ours are Tanzanian professionals who have trained in wildlife, first aid and guest service, and who know where the animals are by the season and by the time of day. They stay with you for the whole trip, so by day two they know whether you prefer birds or big cats, and plan accordingly.
How a private safari is priced
The vehicle and guide cost the same whether two or six people ride in them, so the more guests share the car, the lower the price per person. A couple pays the most per person and a family of four or five the least. Our packages show price tiers by group size, and a single traveller can ask us for a joining departure to lower the cost.
Tailor-made itineraries
Every package on this page is a starting point. Tell us you want more time in the Serengeti, a night at the Ngorongoro Crater rim, a cultural visit to a Maasai boma or a Zanzibar beach at the end, and we will rebuild the itinerary around it and price it before you commit.
A day in your own vehicle
Imagine a morning in the Serengeti. You leave camp at first light, and your guide hears on the radio that a leopard has been seen in the rocks. You are the only vehicle there for the first twenty minutes. On a shared safari the group may have wanted breakfast first. On a private safari you decide, and you often reach the sighting before the crowd.
The same flexibility helps at the end of the day. If you are tired, you return to camp early. If a pride of lions starts to hunt, you stay. Photographers and families with children in particular value this freedom.
Private safari for a solo traveller
A private vehicle for one person is an expensive way to travel, because you pay for the vehicle and the guide alone, plus a single supplement at the lodges. Many solo travellers choose a joining safari for the first days and then add a private day for the places they care about most. We will tell you honestly which is better value for your dates.
Private safari for families and groups
For a family of four to six, a private vehicle is often the best value. You choose the pace, the lunch stops and the lodge for the children, and nobody is stuck with strangers on a long drive. For groups of more than six we use two vehicles and set up the itinerary so that both groups can meet at camp.
Specialist private safaris
A private vehicle makes it possible to arrange trips built around a particular interest:
- Photography safaris with extra time at each sighting and a guide who understands light and position
- Bird watching safaris with a guide who knows the calls and the habitats
- Walking and cultural safaris, combined with visits to the Hadzabe and the Maasai
- Mountain and safari combinations, with Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru
- Accessible safaris for guests with limited mobility, using adapted vehicles and lodges
Private safari packages
- 7 Day Northern Tanzania Midrange Safari (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 2,800 per person) The classic Northern Circuit in 7 days: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, staying in mid range lodges and tented c
- 7 Day Northern Circuit Luxury Tanzania Safari: Drive to Serengeti & Fly Out (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,300 per person) A private 7 day luxury Northern Circuit safari: drive through Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro to the Serengeti, then fly out from Seronera Airstrip.
- 6 Day Northern Tanzania Midrange Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 2,300 per person) A private 6 day midrange safari through Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in a 4×4 jeep with pop-up roof.
- 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.
- 10 Day Great Wildebeest Migration, Cultural & Soda Lake Safari (10 Days / 9 Nights, from USD 3,750 per person) A private 10 day lodge safari: Lake Natron, Northern and Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi cultures and the Kilimanjaro foothills.
- 5 Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Classic Mid Range Safari (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 1,950 per person) A private 5 day mid range safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, with a chance to witness the Great Migration in season.
- 4 Day Luxury Tanzania Safari (4 Days / 3 Nights, from USD 3,000 per person) A 4 Day luxury northern-circuit safari: Arusha, a full day in Tarangire, the Serengeti, and a scenic flight back to Arusha, USD 3,000 per person.
- 5 Day Luxury Wildebeest Migration Safari (Serengeti Focus) (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 4,500 per person) A 5 Day luxury migration safari from Kilimanjaro Airport: Tarangire, three Serengeti nights, and Ngorongoro Crater, USD 4,500 per person.
- 7 Day Luxury Big Five & Wildebeest Migration Safari (From Arusha) (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,900 per person) A 7 Day luxury safari from Arusha: Tarangire, three Serengeti nights, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, USD 5,900 per person.
Frequently asked questions
How much more does a private safari cost than a group safari?
A private safari costs more per person than a joining safari because you pay for the whole vehicle, but the difference narrows quickly as the group grows. For three or four people it is often only modestly more.
Can I get a private safari for just one person?
Yes. A solo traveller pays a single supplement for lodges and the full vehicle cost, so a joining safari is often better value. Tell us your dates and we will advise.
How many people fit in the vehicle?
Our 4x4 safari cruisers carry up to six guests with window seats. For larger groups we use two vehicles.
Can the itinerary change during the trip?
Yes. Within lodge bookings, your guide can change the order of game drives, the length of stops and the timing to suit you.
Can I choose my own driver-guide?
You can ask for a guide who speaks your language or has a special interest, and we will match you to the best person we have available for your dates.
Is the private vehicle air-conditioned?
Our safari vehicles are 4x4 cruisers with a pop-up roof for viewing and photography, and they have fans and good ventilation. Air-conditioning is not used on game drives because the roof is open.