One of the major expenses of going on safari in Tanzania is the flights, which is why many travellers choose to add-on to their safaris and extend their trips. Favourite add-on activities include , Kenya safaris, Zanzibar Island holidays and climbing expeditions in Tanzania.
KENYA SAFARIS (TANZANIA & KENYA COMBINED)
Neighbouring Tanzania, Kenya is another of Africa’s most popular safari destinations. Travellers frequently ask us which is better for a safari, Kenya or Tanzania, or Serengeti vs Masai Mara. The simple answer is, both are exceptional African safari destinations thus the ideal is to go on safari in both Tanzania and Kenya.
There are different types of safaris that make a complete circuit of Kenya and Tanzania taking you to both Masai Mara and Serengeti on a variety of budgets. In terms of cost, one of the advantages of combining Kenya and Tanzania is that flights to Nairobi in Kenya are often cheaper than those to Dar es Salaam and smaller towns such as Arusha.
ZANZIBAR ISLAND HOLIDAY ADD-ONS:
Add Zanzibar to your Serengeti Safari and you get the ultimate beach and bush getaway. Tanzania is one of the best places in Africa to take a lazy beach holiday after your action-packed wildlife safari. Why? Zanzibar’s tropical white sand beaches, the warm Indian Ocean, excellent diving and snorkelling, dhow sailing trips and exotic spices, to name a few. Zanzibar holiday –
Accommodation at a 3-star Zanzibar Island resort costs from about $127 per person per night excluding flights, transfers, activities and meals. The easiest way to get to Zanzibar after a Northern Circuit Safari is to take a flight from Arusha. If your safari ends in Dar Es Salaam then you can take the ferry to Stone Town for about $70 (one way) or a short flight for about $160 (return).
CLIMBING KILIMANJARO & MOUNT MERU IN TANZANIA
Hiking enthusiasts and outdoor lovers often jump at the chance to climb Mount Kilimanjaro while in Tanzania. Trekking to the summit of Africa’s highest mountain is the perfect way for active travellers to topoff a Tanzania Safari. At 4900 metres from base to tip
(5895 metres above sea level) conquering Kilimanjaro, ‘The Roof of Africa’, is a must for fit adventure seekers!
Mount kilimanjaro tanzania –
Budget Kilimanjaro Trekking Tours starting and ending in Arusha / Moshi :
- 7 Day Machame Route ($ 2000 per person sharing)
- 6 Day Marangu Route ($1650 per person sharing )
- 8 Day Lemosho Route ($2100 per person sharing)
The price of these trekking tours includes:
Professional English speaking guide and mountain crew (cook & porters)
Kilimanjaro Trek and national park fees
Overnight stays in mountain huts/tents as per the itineraries
Two overnight stays at a lodge (including breakfast & dinner)
Meals and transfers as per the tour itineraries
Drinking water
Climbing Mount Meru is cheaper because it is far less famous, being the fifth highest mountain in Africa. A Mount Meru Trekking Tour costs from about $250 per day, including the same expenses as the Kilimanjaro Tours, as well as an English speaking park ranger.
4 Day Mount Meru Trek ($1000 per person sharing)
- SPECIAL INTEREST SAFARI COSTS :
Tanzania Walking Safaris
A Serengeti Walking Safari will cost from US$1650 per person for two guests for two nights /three days
(about $550 per person per day). A 7-day Serengeti Walking Safari which combines game drives in Ngorongoro and Serengeti with three days of walking in the Serengeti Ecosystem costs about US$4675 per person sharing for two guests (about $670 per person per day). As with other private safaris, the cost of a walking safari goes down when you book for more people ($3770 per person sharing for a group of four people).
Photographic Safaris in Tanzania
Tanzania Photographic Safaris cost about $700 to $1200 per person per day for a 9 to 17-day trip to Tanzanian or Tanzanian and Kenyan game parks. This includes a professional photographer as your guide, as well as most expenses and land travel costs.
Tanzania Birding Safaris
A Tanzania Birding Safari costs from about $485 to $570 per person per day, depending on the group size, season and level of accommodation. Tanzania is a birding hotspot with over 1100 bird species, including 800 resident species and 200 regular migrant species. Home to 22 endemic and 43 near-endemic bird species Tanzania offers unique birding experiences across a wide range of habitats, from savannahs and wetlands to highland forests and scrublands. Tanzania’s top birding destinations are Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire Park, Lake Manyara, Serengeti Park, Ruaha, Lake Victoria, Mount Kilimanjaro, Pemba Island and the Usambara Mountains.
Tanzania Festivals
In early to mid-February Zanzibar hosts the Sauti za Busara Festival, one of the biggest music festivals in East Africa. This well-established festival celebrates African music across genres, from jazz, bongo flava and pop to fusion and taarab. A four-day pass for Sauti za Busara costs $150 for international visitors and $80 for African passport holders . They offer early bird specials so book in advance to save on tickets. Tickets cost extra when paying at the door (on arrival) so buy them beforehand.
The Mwaka Kogwa Festival is held on Zanzibar Island in July to celebrate the Shirazi New Year. This four-day festival kicks off with banana leaf/stalk fights between the men as a way to resolve arguments. Then the banana leaves are set on fire on the beach to symbolise the start of a fresh new year accompanied by music and dancing.
At the Bagamoyo Arts Festival (September/October) in Bagamoyo (near Dar es Salaam) you can join in and watch both traditional and contemporary song and dance performances. Shows include acrobatics, art exhibitions, poetry and drama performances showcasing East African arts and culture.
Other events and festivals in Tanzania include the annual Kilimanjaro Marathon, Kiliman Adventure Challenge, Zanzibar International Film Festival, the Nyama Choma (meat/food) Festival, Serengeti Cultural Festival and the Goat Races in Dar es Salaam
8. Often over-looked Travel Costs
The often forgotten costs on safari can add up so let’s unpack them here.
Optional Activities in Tanzania:
Hot Air Balloon Trips over the Serengeti
Plains (cost about US$850) – an incredible way to take in the open savannahs and wildlife from above.
Masai Village Tours (cost about US$100 to US$80) – experience the traditional culture of the local Maasai, Africa’s most famous warrior tribe.
Tipping on Safari:
It is customary to tip tour drivers, guides, porters and others who have provided you with services on safari in Tanzania, although it is up to you. But, who do you tip and when, and how much?
For starters, it is common practice to tip in restaurants in major towns and cities of Tanzania, but not at the local eateries in rural villages. Taxi drivers usually only expect tips for trips of a day or longer and you can leave a tip of about US$5 per day for hotel staff. When trekking in Tanzania a tip of about $20 per hiking group is the standard for a Kilimanjaro guide.
Pre- and Post-Safari Accommodation
Accommodation at mid-range hotels or backpackers costs about $90 per night (two people sharing a twin room) with safari lodges at Tanzania’s top destinations charging more. In Arusha, you can find good quality lodge accommodation for between $40 to $150 per person sharing (double room) including breakfast. For a single room prices range between $65 and $180 depending on the level of comfort and style.
Airport Transfers
A one-way transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha costs about $50 to $70 per person minibus taxi (Toyota Noah) and some airlines and lodges provide free shuttle services.
From the Dar es Salaam airport (Julius Nyerere
International Airport) to the city a taxi should cost between $25 to $55 (at most), although some say as little as $13 is possible.
On Zanzibar Island transfers from the airport cost about $25 per person (1-6 people) to Stone Town and between $70 and $80 per person to the north or south of the main island.
Drinks & Meal Costs in Tanzania
Meals will cost you about $10 to $15 per day, excluding alcoholic beverages. A budget of about $6 should cover water and a few alcoholic beverages. These prices will vary depending on where you eat out and have drinks – prepare to pay more at upmarket establishments.
Travel Insurance Costs for Tanzania:
Travel insurance is essential for any African safari. For a two-week Tanzania Safari, the cost of standard travel insurance is from US$80 (based on two weeks of travel for a 30-year-old from the United States).
Single Supplement Costs in Tanzania
Expect to pay between $60 to $590 extra as a single traveller if you do not want to share a tent or twin room on safari in Tanzania. Single supplements can be hefty on private camping and lodge safaris so consider sharing with a solo traveller of the same gender if you are on a tight budget. When comparing Tanzania safari prices keep an eye out for single supplement charges as they vary!