How Expensive is Serengeti?

How expensive is Serengeti? One of the many questions asked by travelers intending to visit Tanzania is the cost of a Serengeti safari tour. For any safari plan including the Serengeti National Park, be sure to have the price relatively higher than when excluded.

Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s premier safari park that attracts thousands of travelers every single year. Serengeti National Park is found in the northern part of Tanzania, making part of the northern safari circuits of Tanzania.

Apart from the usual Big Five animal sightings, it is the great wildebeest migration that attracts so many to the Serengeti plains to witness a world spectacle. The Serengeti migration is a yearly movement throughout the park as the herds make way north to the Masai Mara National Reserve via the Mara River. The iconic Mara River crossing is one spectacle that many travelers look to experience every single year.

The cost of a Serengeti National Park safari is dependent on so many factors. These include season of travel, accommodation type (budget, mid-range or luxury), activities included, and the length of stay. Number of persons is another cost determinant of how expensive Serengeti is. Serengeti Park fees also determine how expensive Serengeti is. How expensive is Serengeti? The below in details shade a light on expected Serengeti safari cost:

Season of Travel – Time of Year & Serengeti Safari Cost

When planning your Serengeti safari, the first thing to consider is the season. When is the best time to visit the Serengeti is among the many questions that pop up. The high season refers to a time when many tourists visit. This results in greater numbers due to demand, translating into reduced availability and higher prices.

The high season is the dry season in Tanzania, where game viewing is easy and at its best, and when the great wildebeest migration is at its peak. The high season runs from June to October, and Mid-December to February.

Hidden Costs of Your Serengeti Safari

Having booked your Serengeti safari tour, there are those hidden costs that are often times overlooked at the time of planning your safari. International flights and visas aside, hidden costs of souvenirs and curios, alcoholic drinks and beverages, laundry, and tips do accumulate and are to be planned for. All these put together contribute to how expensive Serengeti is.

Group Size

When planning your Serengeti wildlife safari, the group size plays a significant role in how expensive Serengeti is. Expenses that can be shared can be reduced by the number of people; the more people, the more the savings add up. Inviting your friends or family to share your safari is a great thing to consider. A solo Serengeti safari costs more, but if shared by, say, 2, the shared costs of car, fuel, and guide, as well as a shared room instead of a single, lower the price significantly.

Serengeti Accommodation Costs

Accommodation options and costs play a significant part in how expensive Serengeti becomes. Despite the availability of different accommodation varieties in Serengeti, prices are nonetheless still high compared to other parks, say in Kenya. Regardless, however, the Serengeti has different kinds of accommodation, catering for different kinds of travelers.

From permanent safari lodges and camps to tented camps or mobile camps following the migration, all are available in the Serengeti. The more popular and pricy accommodation is found in the migration areas, that is, Ndutu, the Northern Serengeti, and the central Seronera Area.

Mode of Transportation

Your choice of transportation affects the cost of your Serengeti safari. Flying to Serengeti is more expensive compared to transferring by road. If you can manage it, however, flying safaris are a great way to get to Serengeti.

Optional Extras

A Serengeti safari definitely includes game drives in the park, to explore the endless plains and spot wild game. Apart from game drives, optional extras do make your Serengeti safari expensive, to an extent. These include a flying safari, Maasai village visits, night game drives with select camps and lodges, guided walking safaris, and a hot air balloon ride, which alone is $599 per person. Apart from these, extras including airport transfers, bush meal experiences, also accumulate to your safari cost.

How to Save Costs – Tips to Save on a Serengeti Safari

The Serengeti National Park safaris indeed do not come cheap, at all, really. This does not, however, mean that you cannot try to find ways to lower the prices, even if just a little bit. The tips below guide you to save a penny, where possible:

Travel in the Low Season.

The low season of travel is in the months of April, May, and November. These are rainy season months that has rains falling every other time. While April and May see the long rains, November sees short rains. You are sure to see the different animals in Serengeti despite the season, with our expert safari guides.

The low season sees no crowds in the park, so you view the park not in a rush to leave others view a sighting as well. The low season in Serengeti also sees lower rates for accommodation, which brings your safari price relatively lower.

Combining Serengeti with Other Parks

Combining your Serengeti safari with other parks to reduce long stays in the park and long transfers cuts down on the price. Including Tarangire, Lake Manyara or Ngorongoro Crater cuts down on the drive times and fuel, as well as time spent in the Serengeti.

For example, if you wanted a 5 days safari in Tanzania, instead of spending all 5 days in the Serengeti alone, you can combine it with Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. This also diversifies your Tanzania safari experience.

Avoid Solo Travel

Solo travel has you taking on the burden of all costs, which could have otherwise been shared with other travelers, such as vehicle fees, guide, and fuel.

Serengeti National Park is a beautiful Tanzania safari destination that is open all year through. The cost of the Serengeti safari aside, get in touch with us to help craft a fitting Serengeti National Park, Serengeti migration safari, Serengeti balloon safari, Serengeti wildlife safari, and beyond.