What a Serengeti safari costs in 2026
There is no single price for a Serengeti safari. The total depends on whether you share a vehicle with others or travel privately, whether you sleep in tents or lodges, and whether you drive or fly in. Park fees, flights and extras can sit inside the package or outside it.
The three offers below are examples of what single operators publish. They show how the price moves with the style of trip. They are not an average or a market range.
A four-day package is not four days in the Serengeti. The joining example below spends time on the road and in other areas on the same trip. Read the day count as the length of the whole trip.
Example prices compared
Example offers, 2026. Prices are per person. The daily figure is the package price divided by the travel days, including arrival and departure days.
| Trip | Package per person | Per travel day |
|---|---|---|
| Joining safari, camping or lodges, northern Tanzania, 4 days | $800 to $1,390 | $200 to $347.50 |
| Private safari, midrange lodges, 4 days, 6 or 2 travellers | $1,350 to $1,795 | $337.50 to $448.75 |
| Private fly-in from Zanzibar, 4 days and 3 nights, 6 or 2 travellers | From $1,995 to $2,495 | From $498.75 to $623.75 |
The private prices fall as the group grows, because the cost of the vehicle is shared by more people. The fly-in price is a starting price, and season, flights and lodging can change the final total. The binding figure is the dated quote.
Our picks: what a safari includes
Camping, lodge and fly-in trips, with what is and is not in the price.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
2-day Serengeti fly-in safari from Zanzibar
Return flights Zanzibar to Seronera, park fees, a private guided safari and one night with full board. Visa, insurance and a nightly tourism levy are extra.
Check availability →
4-day camping safari: Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Three nights in tents with sleeping bags, entry fees, meals as per the itinerary and hotel pick-up in Arusha. Drinks and tips are extra.
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3-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater safari from Arusha
Park, transit, concession, camping and crater fees are included, plus full board and tent nights. Tips, insurance and airport transfers are extra; the balloon only if you choose that option.
Check availability →Serengeti safaris to compare
Group, private and fly-in Serengeti trips with live prices. Compare the days, the lodging type and what each price covers.
What the price usually covers
The three example offers include different things.
Joining safari
A shared vehicle and guide, route fees, the crater service fee, the meals listed and water. On a camping trip the equipment and a cook are included. Flights, visa, insurance, tips and lodging before or after the safari are not.
Private safari
A private vehicle, a guide, the listed park and conservation fees, confirmed lodging and meals. A bigger group spreads the vehicle cost over more people.
Fly-in safari
Scheduled flights between Zanzibar and the Serengeti and back, private game drives, park fees, lodging, the meals listed and airstrip transfers. Season, flights and lodging can change the final price.
Do not assume that park fees are inside every offer. Ask for the fees as a separate line, and compare them against the park fees page.
What moves the price
Five factors explain most of the gap between offers.
Shared or private
A joining trip splits the vehicle with other guests. A private trip is priced per group, so the per-person price depends on how many travel together.
Camping or lodges
The joining example comes in a camping and a lodging version, and the price range of $800 to $1,390 covers both.
Drive or fly
The fly-in example costs more per travel day than the road trips because of scheduled flights. Read the Arusha routes page for the options.
Lodging level
A mobile tented camp that follows the herds lists $1,080 per person and night from 1 July to 31 October 2026, and $780 from 1 to 14 November 2026. Check what the rate covers, such as fees and meals.
Where to stay →Season
The lodge concession fee is listed for July to September, and some camps close for part of the year. Dates change both the fees and the choice of camps.
Costs outside the safari package
Items to budget on top of the package.
Balloon flight
A shared balloon flight costs $599 per person in 2026, and park entry is not included.
Balloon safari →Visa
For German travellers, the German Federal Foreign Office recommends an e-visa and names a fee of $50, also for children, and a processing time of at least 10 working days. See the Tanzania visa guide for the entry steps.
Health insurance
Since 1 October 2026, mandatory insurance applies on the Tanzanian mainland as well. The German Federal Foreign Office names a fee of $44 for up to 92 days. Residents with a Tanzanian residence permit are exempt.
Travel tips →Flights, tips and extras
International flights, tips and travel insurance are separate from most packages. Ask each operator for a list of what is excluded.
Serengeti safari cost: frequently asked questions
How much does a Serengeti safari cost?
The three examples above run from $200 to $347.50 per travel day for a joining trip, $337.50 to $448.75 for a private midrange trip and from $498.75 for a private fly-in. They are examples, not a market average.
Are park fees included in the price?
That depends on the offer. The joining and private examples list park or route fees, and the fly-in example lists park fees. Do not assume it. Ask for the fees as a separate line.
Is a 4-day safari 4 days in the Serengeti?
No. The joining example drives from Arusha via Tarangire to the Serengeti, then to Ngorongoro and back. The four days cover the whole trip.
Is a private safari cheaper per person with more people?
Yes. The example private prices are lower for six travellers than for two, because the vehicle cost is shared.
What is not included in most packages?
Flights to Tanzania, visa, insurance, tips and lodging before or after the safari are usually extra. Check each offer.
What does a mobile camp cost per night?
A mobile tented camp lists $1,080 per person and night from 1 July to 31 October 2026. The rate for 1 to 14 November 2026 is $780. Check what the rate covers.