Tanzania Budget Guide: How Much Does a Safari & Zanzibar Trip Cost? (2025)

Planning a trip to Tanzania and wondering how much it’ll cost? I’ve got you covered with a complete budget breakdown based on our 10-day Tanzania adventure combining safari and Zanzibar.

This guide includes costs for the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Zanzibar beaches, and all the activities in between—from budget backpacker to mid-range comfort to luxury splurge.

Quick Summary:

• 💰 Budget: $1,500-2,200 per person (10 days)
• 🏨 Mid-Range: $2,500-3,800 per person (10 days)
• ✨ Luxury: $5,000-10,000+ per person (10 days)

All prices in USD. Last updated November 2025.

Flights to Tanzania

From Europe:

• Budget: $400-600 (with layovers)
• Mid-range: $600-900 (good airlines, shorter layovers)
• Premium: $1,200-2,000 (direct or premium airlines)

From USA:

• Budget: $800-1,200 (2+ layovers)
• Mid-range: $1,200-1,800 (1 layover)
• Premium: $2,500-4,000 (better airlines, shorter routes)

💡 Pro Tip: We flew Turkish Airlines with a layover in Istanbul and got a free city tour! Read about our Istanbul layover experience.

Domestic Flights:

• Arusha to Zanzibar: $80-150 one-way (AirTanzania, ZanAir)
• Flying into Serengeti airstrips: $200-400 one-way

Tanzania Safari Costs (4 Days)

The safari is your biggest expense, but it’s worth every penny! Prices vary significantly based on group size, accommodation type, and whether you go budget or luxury.

Budget Safari (4 Days/3 Nights)

What You Get:

• Group safari (6-8 people per jeep)
• Camping accommodation (tents provided)
• All meals included
• Park entrance fees
• Professional guide/driver
• Visits to: Serengeti (2 days), Ngorongoro Crater (1 day), Tarangire (1 day)

Cost: $800-1,200 per person

What We Paid: $600 per person with Mountain Warriors but this was low-season and we paid for all our accomodation and transfers pre-safari separately, which lowers the costs significantly.

Includes: ✅ All park fees (Serengeti $70/day, Ngorongoro $70/day, Tarangire $50/day) ✅ Camping gear and sleeping bags ✅ All meals (breakfast, packed lunch, dinner) ✅ Experienced guide ✅ 4x4 Safari vehicle with pop-up roof ✅ Drinking water

Not Included: ❌ Tips for guide/cook (recommended $20-30/day total) ❌ Drinks (sodas, alcohol) ❌ Personal expenses

💡 Our Experience: The budget camping safari was incredible! You’re literally sleeping in the middle of the Serengeti with wildlife sounds all around. The food was surprisingly good, and we met amazing fellow travelers.

Mid-Range Safari (4 Days/3 Nights)

What You Get:

• Smaller group (4-6 people) or private option
• Lodge/tented camp accommodation with en-suite bathrooms
• All meals included
• Park entrance fees
• Professional guide
• More flexible schedule

Cost: $1,500-2,500 per person

What’s Different from Budget:

• Hot showers and proper beds
• Private bathrooms
• Better food options
• Smaller groups = more personalized experience
• Can sometimes choose specific accommodations

Luxury Safari (4 Days/3 Nights)

What You Get:

• Private safari (just you and your group)
• Luxury lodges or high-end tented camps
• Gourmet meals
• Premium drinks included
• Expert guides
• Flexible itinerary

Cost: $3,500-6,000+ per person

Luxury Add-ons:

• Hot air balloon ride: $500-600 per person
• Private sundowner experiences
• Spa treatments at lodges
• Champagne breakfasts in the bush

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re on a budget but want one luxury experience, splurge on the hot air balloon ride over Serengeti at sunrise. We’re saving this for next time!

Safari Booking Tips

How to Save Money:

1. Book directly with local operators (we used SafariBookings.com to compare)
2. Travel in shoulder season (March-May, November)
3. Join a group tour instead of private
4. Choose camping over lodges
5. Do 3 days instead of 4 (we felt 3 would’ve been enough)

When to Pay More:

• Dry season (June-October) = more expensive but better wildlife viewing
• Private tours = more flexibility but 2-3x the cost
• Flying into Serengeti = saves driving time but adds $400+ per person

Pre-Safari Activities (Day 1)

Materuni Waterfalls + Coffee Plantation + Chemka Hot Springs

Full Day Tour Cost: $80-120 per person

What’s Included:

• Hotel pickup in Moshi/Arusha
• Guide
• Entrance fees
• Coffee plantation tour
• Traditional lunch
• Hot springs entrance
• All transportation

What We Paid: $95 per person (booked through Materuni.com)

Additional Costs:

• Tips for guide: $10-15
• Souvenirs at waterfall: $5-20 (optional)
• Drinks at hot springs: $2-5

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t visit Chemka Hot Springs on weekends—it gets crowded! Go midweek for a peaceful experience.

Alternative: Kilimanjaro Day Hike

Cost: $200-300 per person

• 1-day hike to first camp (Mandara Hut)
• All permits and guide included
• Packed lunch
• Not summit attempt (that’s 5-7 days!)

Transfers & Transportation

Airport Transfers

Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi/Arusha:

• Taxi: $40-60 (negotiate price)
• Pre-booked transfer: $30-50 (more reliable)
• Shared shuttle: $15-25 per person

What We Paid: $35 for private transfer (pre-arranged with accommodation)

Arusha to Zanzibar

Options:

1. Flight: $80-150 one-way (1 hour, most convenient)
2. Bus + Ferry: $40-60 (8-10 hours, budget option)
   • Bus to Dar es Salaam: $25-35
   • Ferry to Zanzibar: $35-40

What We Did: Flew with AirTanzania ($120 each)—totally worth it to save time!

Zanzibar Internal Transfers

Airport to Nungwi:

• Taxi: $50-70 (1 hour)
• Pre-booked: $30-40 (what we paid)
• Shared shuttle: $15-20 per person

Getting Around Zanzibar:

• Dalla-dalla (local bus): $0.50-1 per ride
• Taxi for day: $40-60
• Scooter rental: $15-25 per day
• Car rental: $50-80 per day

Zanzibar Accommodation (5 Nights)

Budget (Nungwi/Kendwa)

Per Night: $15-35 5 Nights Total: $75-175

What You Get:

• Hostel dorms or basic guesthouses
• Shared bathrooms
• Fan (sometimes A/C)
• Basic breakfast included
• Beach access

Recommended Areas: Nungwi, Paje (great for budget travelers)

Mid-Range (Our Choice)

Per Night: $60-120 5 Nights Total: $300-600

What We Paid: $400 total ($80/night) for a boutique hotel in Nungwi

What You Get:

• Private room with A/C
• En-suite bathroom
• Swimming pool
• Breakfast included
• Beachfront or walking distance to beach
• WiFi

💡 Our Experience: We stayed at a beautiful boutique hotel with a pool, amazing staff, and literally 2 minutes’ walk to the beach. Perfect after the dusty safari!

Where to Stay: Check out our complete Zanzibar accommodation guide for specific recommendations.

Luxury

Per Night: $200-800+ 5 Nights Total: $1,000-4,000+

What You Get:

• Beachfront villas or suites
• Private pools
• Spa services
• Gourmet restaurants
• Water sports included
• Butler service (top-end resorts)

Famous Luxury Resorts:

• Zuri Zanzibar
• The Residence Zanzibar
• Baraza Resort & Spa

Stone Town Accommodation (2 Nights)

Budget: $20-40 per night Mid-Range: $60-100 per night (what we recommend) Luxury: $150-400+ per night

Zanzibar Activities & Excursions

Mnemba Atoll Snorkeling + Dolphin Tour

Cost: $60-100 per person (full day)

What’s Included:

• Hotel pickup
• Boat transfer
• Snorkeling equipment
• Dolphin watching
• Seafood lunch
• Drinks and fruits

What We Paid: $75 per person (ethical tour operator)

💡 Pro Tip: Choose an ethical operator that doesn’t chase dolphins. We went with a company that stays behind other boats and lets dolphins approach naturally.

Jozani Forest (Red Colobus Monkeys)

Cost: $15-25 per person

What’s Included:

• Entrance fee: $10
• Guided tour (1.5 hours)
• Mangrove boardwalk
• Monkey viewing

What We Did: Added it as a stop during our transfer from Nungwi to Stone Town (+$10 for the detour)

Spice Farm Tour

Cost: $25-40 per person

What’s Included:

• Farm entrance
• Guided tour (2-3 hours)
• Spice tasting
• Traditional lunch
• Fresh fruit tasting

💡 Note: We skipped this due to time, but it’s highly recommended if you’re interested in learning about Zanzibar’s spice history!

Prison Island

Cost: $30-50 per person

What’s Included:

• Boat transfer from Stone Town
• Island entrance
• Giant tortoise sanctuary visit
• Snorkeling opportunity
• 3-4 hours tour

Stone Town Walking Tour

Cost: $10-25 per person (2-3 hours)

What’s Included:

• Licensed guide
• Historical sites
• Market visits
• Door tours (famous carved doors)
• Local tips and insights

💡 Pro Tip: You can also explore Stone Town on your own for free! Just wander the narrow streets.

Food & Drinks Budget

Daily Food Costs (Per Person)

Budget:

• Breakfast: $2-5 (local cafes, chapati, mandazi)
• Lunch: $3-7 (street food, local restaurants)
• Dinner: $5-10 (simple restaurants)
• Daily Total: $10-20
• 5 Days in Zanzibar: $50-100

Mid-Range:

• Breakfast: $5-10 (hotel or nice cafes)
• Lunch: $8-15 (tourist restaurants)
• Dinner: $12-25 (beachfront restaurants, seafood)
• Daily Total: $25-50
• 5 Days in Zanzibar: $125-250

Luxury:

• Breakfast: Included at resort
• Lunch: $20-40 (resort or premium restaurants)
• Dinner: $40-80 (fine dining, wine included)
• Daily Total: $60-120
• 5 Days in Zanzibar: $300-600

Drinks

Beer (Safari, Kilimanjaro, Tusker): $2-4 Cocktails: $5-10 at beach bars Fresh coconut: $1-2 Water (1.5L): $0.50-1 Coffee/tea: $1-3

💡 Pro Tip: Restaurants in Nungwi are tourist-priced but worth it for the ambiance. Check out our Zanzibar food guide for best value spots!

Arusha Accommodation (Pre/Post Safari)

Budget:

• Hostel dorms: $10-20 per night
• Basic guesthouses: $20-35 per night

Mid-Range:

• Nice guesthouses: $40-70 per night
• 3-star hotels: $60-90 per night

What We Did: Stayed at Arusha Backpackers Hostel ($25/night) - clean, social, and safari operators pick up from there!

Complete 10-Day Tanzania Budget Breakdown

Budget Backpacker ($1,500-2,200)

Item	Cost
Flights (Europe)	$500
Safari (4 days, camping)	$950
Day 1 Activities (Materuni)	$95
Arusha (2 nights)	$50
Transfer to Zanzibar	$120
Zanzibar accommodation (5 nights)	$100
Zanzibar transfers	$50
Mnemba snorkeling tour	$75
Jozani Forest	$20
Food & drinks (6 days)	$120
Tips & miscellaneous	$100
TOTAL	$2,180

Mid-Range Comfort ($2,500-3,800)

Item	Cost
Flights (Europe)	$700
Safari (4 days, mixed camp/lodge)	$1,500
Day 1 Activities (Materuni)	$95
Arusha (2 nights)	$120
Transfer to Zanzibar	$120
Zanzibar accommodation (5 nights)	$400
Zanzibar transfers	$80
Mnemba snorkeling tour	$75
Jozani Forest	$25
Spice tour	$35
Food & drinks (6 days)	$300
Tips & miscellaneous	$150
TOTAL	$3,600

Luxury Experience ($5,000-10,000+)

Item	Cost
Flights (Premium)	$1,500
Safari (4 days, luxury lodges)	$4,500
Hot air balloon ride	$550
Day 1 Activities (Private tour)	$200
Arusha (2 nights, luxury)	$300
Flight to Zanzibar	$150
Zanzibar resort (5 nights)	$2,000
Private transfers	$200
Private snorkeling tour	$150
All excursions (private)	$300
Fine dining & drinks	$800
Spa & extras	$400
Tips & miscellaneous	$300
TOTAL	$11,350

Money-Saving Tips

1. Travel in Shoulder Season

• March-May or November = lower prices
• Still good weather, fewer tourists

2. Book Safari Locally

• Don’t book from home—compare options in Arusha
• Or use SafariBookings.com to compare beforehand

3. Share Costs

• Private transfers become cheap when split
• Group tours are much cheaper than private

4. Skip Unnecessary Luxuries

• Hot air balloon is amazing but $550—save it for next time if budget is tight
• 3 safari days instead of 4
• Camping vs lodges saves $500-1,000

5. Eat at Local Places

• Tourist restaurants in Nungwi are 2-3x more expensive
• Walk 10 minutes inland for local prices

6. Bring Cash (USD)

• Bring clean, newer USD bills (2013 or later)
• Cards have fees and not accepted everywhere
• ATMs in Tanzania charge high fees

What We Actually Spent (Mid-Range)

Our Total: $3,400 per person (10 days)

Breakdown:

• Flights: $700 (Turkish Airlines from Europe)
• Safari: $950 (budget camping)
• Day 1 tour: $95
• Accommodation (7 nights total): $520
• Internal transfers: $200
• Activities: $100
• Food & drinks: $600
• Tips & misc: $235

💡 Why We Chose This Mix:

• Budget safari (camping) for authentic experience
• Mid-range accommodation in Zanzibar for comfort
• Splurged on good food—totally worth it!

Money Matters: ATMs, Cards & Currency

Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)

• $1 USD = ~2,500 TZS (approximate)

Best to Use:

• USD cash for safari and large expenses
• TZS for small purchases, street food, tips

ATMs:

• Available in Arusha, Stone Town
• High fees ($5-8 per withdrawal)
• Not always reliable—bring USD backup

Credit Cards:

• Accepted at hotels, some restaurants
• 3-5% foreign transaction fee
• Not widely accepted

Final Tips

What to Bring:

• USD cash in good condition (post-2013 bills)
• Small bills ($1, $5, $10) for tips
• Emergency card as backup
• Sunscreen (expensive in Tanzania)
• Basic medications

When to Go:

• Best wildlife: June-October (dry season)
• Best prices: March-May, November
• Great Migration: July-August

How Long to Stay:

• Minimum: 7 days (3-day safari + 3 days Zanzibar)
• Recommended: 10-12 days
• Ideal: 14 days (add Kilimanjaro trek or more safari)

Is Tanzania Worth the Cost?

Absolutely! Tanzania offers incredible value, especially considering:

• World-class safari experiences
• Paradise beaches in Zanzibar
• Rich cultural experiences
• Friendly people
• Safe for tourists

The safari might seem expensive, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that includes everything—accommodation, food, transport, and park fees.

💡 Our Verdict: Even on a budget, Tanzania is doable and completely worth it. We’d do it all again in a heartbeat!

Related Articles

• Tanzania 10-Day Itinerary: Safari & Zanzibar
• Where to Stay in Tanzania: Best Hotels & Accommodations
• Where to Eat in Tanzania: Restaurant & Food Guide

Planning your Tanzania trip? Drop any questions in the comments, and I’ll help you plan the perfect adventure! 🦁🌴✨