How much should I budget for my safari in Tanzania?
Money
Most restaurants and lodges in Arusha, Dar es Salaam and in the most popular tourist areas accept debit and credit cards. ATMs are widely available across the country in all bigger provincial towns. Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered, Barclays and CRDB are your most reliable banks, accepting Maestro, MasterCard and Visa. These banks are not widely available along the coast and the interior. We strongly recommend that you bring some additional Euros or US Dollars with you in cash for unforeseen things. Also, bring additional cards, as the daily uptake with a foreign card is limited at the ATMs. US Dollars (bills not older than 2006) and Euros can be changed to Tanzanian Shillings at any Forex Office in most provincial towns. NOTE: fuel can only be paid in cash in Tanzanian Shillings.
How much should I budget for my safari in Tanzania
Tanzania is not a cheap travel destination and the most expensive of all countries where we operate. The park entrance fees are quite steep, so going on safari is expensive, especially in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. However, it is definitely possible to enjoy Tanzania with a smaller budget. Camping is a great way to save on accommodation costs, renting a RAV4 is cheaper than a Landcruiser, the Usambara and Udzungwa Mountains are great low budget destinations, and travelling along the Tanzanian coastline is cheaper than staying in Zanzibar.
Going out for dinner is cheap in Tanzania. The average price of lunch or dinner at a restaurant or lodge is between US$ 5-US$ 10. When staying in an upmarket lodge inside a national park, this will typically be around $10 for a two set lunch course and between $ 15 -$ 20 for a three set dinner.
Accommodation standards are high. The price range for accommodation in / close to the most famous safari parks is listed below. Note prices for hotels in the rest of the country are much lower, where you have decent mid-range hotels for about $ 50 / double room.
- Budget: $150 - $250 – Double Room/B&B. Mobile camps inside the parks: $300 - $400
- Mid Range: $250 - $400 – Double Room/B&B. Inside the parks: $400-600
- Luxury: $400 - $600 – Double Room/B&B. Inside the parks: $600-800
A 10% tip is considered high but received with gratitude. If you're happy with the service, please be generous. Tips at most places are equally shared among all staff.