Most safari packages in Tanzania look alike on paper. Same parks, same photos, prices that swing by thousands of dollars. You are trying to work out what a fair price is, what it should include, and which route fits your dates.
Here is the short answer. Expect roughly $2,500 to $3,500 per person for mid-range and well above that for luxury for a private 7- to 10-day trip. Check that park fees, a dedicated guide, a 4x4 with a pop-up roof, and airport transfers are all included. Timing matters too. The Serengeti calving season runs roughly from January to March, and the dry months of June to October are best for general wildlife.
Below are seven itineraries we run at Passionate Guides Tanzania, from the 7-day classic to the 10-day Southern Circuit. Each one lists the route, the length, the type of lodging, and a starting price. I have guided across Tanzania since 2012, so I also point out what is worth the money and what is not.
1. Tanzania Classic Safari: 7 days
Itinerary highlights
This is the northern circuit in its simplest form, and the one I recommend to most first-timers. You see four very different landscapes in a week, with no long transfer days eating into game viewing.
Day 1: Arrive in Arusha and transfer to your lodge
Day 2: Tarangire, elephants and baobabs
Days 3 to 5: Serengeti, lions, cheetahs and plains game
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater, black rhino and big cats
Day 7: Drive back to Arusha for departure
What's included
Our Tanzania wildlife safari packages are private, so the guide and vehicle are yours alone. Here is what the price covers, and what it does not.
Included: private guide, 4x4 with pop-up roof, park and conservation fees, full-board lodging, airport transfers, drinking water
Not included: international flights, visas, tips, and the mandatory inbound travel insurance (USD 44)
Price range
Expect $2,500 to $3,300 per person for mid-range lodging, based on two people sharing one vehicle. The Tanzania safari packages price moves mostly with season and group size.
Season | Mid-range, per person |
|---|---|
Low (April, May, November) | $2,500 to $2,800 |
Peak (July to October, Christmas) | $3,000 to $3,300 |
A very cheap quote usually leaves out park fees, which are the largest single cost of a safari.
Best time to go
June to October is the safest window. Grass is short, animals gather near water, and Tarangire is at its best. January and February also work well, with green plains and young animals in the Serengeti.
Who it suits
First-timers, couples, and friends travelling together get the most from it. It balances variety and comfort without pushing you through endless drives.
Skip it if you have fewer than seven days or if your priority is gorillas or beaches. Those trips need a different route.
2. Serengeti Migration Safari: 8 days
Itinerary highlights
This route is built around calving season in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu, when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves arrive in a few weeks. Predators follow, so you see lions, cheetahs, and hyenas hunting at close range.
Day 1: Arrive in Arusha
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
Days 3 to 6: Ndutu and the southern Serengeti, staying at Kontiki Ndutu camp
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 8: Drive back to Arusha
What's included
Inclusions match the Classic Safari: a private guide, 4x4 with pop-up roof, park fees, full-board tented camp or lodge stays, and airport transfers. Flights, visas, tips, and the USD 44 insurance are extra.
Price range
Budget $3,000 to $3,900 per person for mid-range accommodation. Camps near the calving grounds are limited, so book six to nine months ahead for the best rooms.
Best time to go
Aim for late January to early March. The herds are on the short-grass plains then, and births peak in February.
The calving herds stay in the south only from roughly January to March, so timing decides this trip.
Outside those weeks, the animals move north and this itinerary loses its point.
Who it suits
Photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and anyone with a bucket-list migration trip in mind will love it. It also works for couples who want drama over variety.
If you can only travel in July to October, choose a different route. The Classic Safari fits that window better.
3. Kenya and Tanzania Safari: 8 days
Itinerary highlights
This route pairs Amboseli's elephants under Kilimanjaro with the northern Tanzania parks. You cross the Namanga border by road, so there is no extra flight.
Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi and drive to Amboseli
Day 2: Full day in Amboseli, big tuskers and Big Five viewing
Day 3: Cross into Tanzania and continue to Arusha
Day 4: Tarangire National Park
Days 5 and 6: Serengeti
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 8: Return to Arusha for departure
What's included
One operator runs both sides, which is what makes these Tanzania safari tour packages simple to book. Your price covers a private guide, 4x4 with pop-up roof, park fees in both countries, full-board lodging, and transfers.
One operator across both countries means one contract, one itinerary, and no gaps at the border.
Price range
Plan on $3,200 to $4,200 per person for mid-range lodging with two sharing. The extra cost over a Tanzania-only trip comes from Kenyan park fees and the cross-border logistics.
Best time to go
Aim for June to October, when game is easy to spot. January and February also work, with fewer vehicles and green scenery.
Who it suits
Travelers who want to compare two countries in one trip will enjoy it. It also fits repeat visitors who have seen the Tanzania circuit and want Amboseli's Kilimanjaro views.
It is a poor fit if you hate border formalities. Bring your Tanzania visa and Kenya eTA in advance.
4. Family Safari in Tanzania: 9 days
Itinerary highlights
Nine days gives children room to breathe. I keep game drives short and add a Maasai village visit so kids stay curious instead of restless.
Day 1: Arrive in Arusha and rest
Day 2: Tarangire, elephants and baobabs
Day 3: Lake Manyara and a Maasai village visit
Days 4 to 6: Serengeti
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 8: Relaxed drive to Arusha, pool afternoon
Day 9: Departure
Short drives and a pool afternoon do more for a family safari than any extra park.
What's included
These Tanzania safari holiday packages use the same private setup as our other trips. You get a private guide, a 4x4 with pop-up roof, park fees, full-board lodging, and airport transfers. Family rooms are booked where available. Flights, visas, tips, and the USD 44 insurance are extra.
Price range
Budget $2,900 to $3,800 per adult for mid-range lodging. Children pay reduced rates, mostly because park fees drop for younger travelers, so a family of four costs less than four adult fares.
Best time to go
Choose June to October for dry weather and easy wildlife viewing. July, August, and Christmas are school holidays, so book early. Avoid April and May, when rain makes roads muddy and drives slower.
Who it suits
Families with children about six and older get the most from it, along with grandparents traveling in a multigenerational group. Younger kids need a gentler pace, so tell us their ages when you enquire and we will adjust the route.
5. Best of Kenya and Tanzania mid-range safari: 10 days
Itinerary highlights
This is the most complete route in our range. I suggest it when you have ten days and want both countries without rushing. It stretches the 8-day route with a Lake Manyara day.
Days 1 and 2: Arrive in Nairobi, then Amboseli
Day 3: Cross at Namanga to Arusha
Day 4: Tarangire
Days 5 to 7: Serengeti
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 9: Lake Manyara
Day 10: Return to Arusha
What's included
Every night is in a mid-range lodge or tented camp, with a private guide throughout. Park fees for both countries, full board, a 4x4 with pop-up roof, and transfers are covered. Flights, visas, the Kenya eTA, tips, and the USD 44 insurance are extra.
Price range
Plan on $3,800 to $4,900 per person with two sharing. The top of that range applies to July to October and Christmas.
Mid-range should mean a private guide and comfortable lodges, not a cheaper shared van.
Best time to go
June to October gives the best game viewing in both countries. January and February are quieter and greener.
Skip April and May. Rain slows the drives on both sides of the border.
Who it suits
Of all our safari packages in Tanzania, this one suits couples and friends who want depth over speed. You get two ecosystems and a relaxed pace.
It is too long if you only have a week. Take the Classic Safari instead.
6. Tanzania Southern Circuit safari: 10 days
Itinerary highlights
The south is the quiet side of Tanzania. You cover Selous (now part of Nyerere National Park) and Ruaha, where you often share a sighting with one other vehicle at most.
Day 1: Arrive in Dar es Salaam and fly to Selous
Days 2 to 4: Boat safaris, walking safaris and game drives
Day 5: Fly to Ruaha
Days 6 to 9: Ruaha, lions, kudu and big elephant herds
Day 10: Fly back to Dar es Salaam for departure
What's included
Our Tanzania safari tour packages for the south cover a private guide, a 4x4 with pop-up roof, park fees, full-board lodging, light-aircraft flights between the parks, and transfers. International flights, visas, tips, and the USD 44 insurance are extra.
Price range
Budget $4,200 to $5,600 per person for mid-range lodging with two sharing. It costs more than the northern circuit because of the internal flights and remote camps.
In the south you pay extra for flights and solitude, not for more animals.
Best time to go
June to October is the dry season, when wildlife gathers along the rivers and the bush is thin. Avoid March to May, because many camps close and roads flood.
Who it suits
Repeat visitors and travelers who dislike crowds get the most from it. It also suits anyone who wants walking safaris and boat trips.
If this is your first trip and you want the Great Migration, pick the Classic or Serengeti Migration itinerary instead.
7. Luxury Tanzania safari with Zanzibar beach extension
Itinerary highlights
This trip pairs a luxury northern circuit with a beach finish on Zanzibar. You get about a week of game viewing, then trade dust for white sand.
Days 1 and 2: Arrive in Arusha, then Tarangire
Days 3 to 5: Serengeti, in a luxury tented camp
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 7: Fly from Arusha to Zanzibar
Days 8 to 10: Beach resort, Stone Town visit, departure
What's included
Your price covers a private guide, a 4x4 with pop-up roof, park fees, full-board lodging on safari, and bed and breakfast at the beach resort. The flight to Zanzibar and all transfers are included. International flights, visas, tips, and the USD 44 insurance are extra.
Price range
Budget $6,500 to $9,500 per person with two sharing. The spread depends on the camps you pick and whether your resort sits on the beach or has a private villa.
Luxury on safari buys space, service, and location, so spend it on the camps and not on extra days.
Best time to go
Choose June to October for both game viewing and dry, breezy beach weather. January and February also work, though Zanzibar is hotter and more humid. Avoid April and May, when the long rains hit the safari and the coast.
Who it suits
Honeymooners, anniversary couples, and anyone who wants a proper rest after early game drives will like it. These Tanzania safari vacation packages suit travelers who value comfort and privacy over covering more parks.
If you are watching your budget, the Classic Safari gives you the same wildlife for far less.
Choosing the right package for your trip
The best Tanzania safari packages are the ones that fit your dates and priorities, not the ones with the lowest price. Start with the month you can travel. If it is February, choose the Serengeti Migration. From June to October, the Classic Safari or the Kenya combinations work best.
Next, check the inclusions line by line. Park fees, a private guide, and a 4x4 with a pop-up roof should all be in the quote. Then match the pace to your group. Families suit the 9-day route, repeat visitors who dislike crowds suit the Southern Circuit, and honeymooners will enjoy the Zanzibar finish.
Still unsure which of these safari packages in Tanzania is right for you? Tell me your dates, budget, and who is traveling, and I will suggest a route and send a clear quote. You can start planning your private Tanzania safari with Passionate Guides by WhatsApp, email, or the enquiry form.
