Tanzania can be a pretty expensive country for safaris! If you’re looking for budget-friendly safari ideas in Tanzania, then you’ve come to the right place! Tripindogo has put together a list of the 10 best budget safari experiences you can try in Safari! Now everyone can afford a safari to suit their pockets!
Hot Tip: The actual price of the Safaris will vary according to the season but remember as a rule of thumb that always go off-season if you want your safari to be cheap!
1. Serengeti National Park 2-Day Safari
A safari in the Serengeti National Park is a dream for many because it allows you to witness the magnificence of Africa's famous big 5(i.e. lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos and elephants)! Watch them in their natural habitats and soak up nature around you. To cut costs, you can camp here instead of booking a lodge!
Camping costs roughly $800 per person!
Serengeti National Park 2-Day Safari, Image Source: KiliVikings.Com
2. Ngorongoro Crater Day-Trip
Visit the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, found in Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The conservation area is also home to the big 5! Schedule this visit as a day trip and take your safari gear along.
The cost is around $600 per person. If you want to make it even more cost-effective, then it’s advised to get book accommodation in a lodge that’s not near the rim of the Crater! FYI: This trip is suitable for the whole family!
Ngorongoro Crater Day-Trip, Image Source: XCarRentals.Com
3. Day Trip to Tarangire National Park
Spending the Daty in Tarangire National Park will barely cost you anything! It’s one of the cheapest ways to spend your day while wandering around in East Africa and enjoying the presence of the wildlife around you. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs and elephants are some of the animals you’ll get to see here!
This day trip will cost you about $200 – $250 per person, with a professional driver as well as hotel pickup and drop-off to/from Arusha. This trip is ideal for families!
Day Trip to Tarangire National Park, Image Source: SiyaBona.Com
4. 7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek
If you’re a fan of trekking, then this 7-day trek will definitely interest you. It’s the tallest mountain in Africa so climbing it is a bit of a challenge but the views when you reach the top are definitely worth it! Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is an adventure of a lifetime. Watching the sun set from the top is an unforgettable experience.
The trek will cost you about $2200 per person because it’s a 7-day trek. This journey is not for the faint hearted, only healthy, strong individuals should go for this trek!
7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek, Image Source: News.Un.Org
5. Shark Safari around Mafia Island
Enjoy snorkelling in the ocean around Mafia Island, which is home to a number of interesting marine life including whale sharks, potato groupers, tabletop corals and coconut crabs! The island is also home to giant fruit bats an unusual creature worth going to seek out!!
You can book a full-day snorkelling tour in less than $100 per person! Anyone who knows how to swim can participate in this interesting safari!
Shark Safari around Mafia Island, Image Source: Aqua-Firma.Com
6. Lake Manyara National Park Day-Tour
Visit the Lake Manyara National Park, which is home to over 300 different bird species as well as interesting land animals like lions, buffaloes, hippos, giraffes, wildebeests and impalas!
The day-tour will cost around $300 per person, including pick-up and drop-off from/to Arusha as well as park fees. It’s a great place to spend the day with your family!
Lake Manyara National Park Day-Tour, Image Source: Viator.Com
7. 3-Day Safari in Mikumi National Park
The Mikumi National Park is part of the southern safari circuit of Tanzania. Therefore, it’s going to be a lot less populated than its northern counterparts! Enjoy watching zebras, elephants, black antelopes, impalas, baboons, buffaloes and wildebeests out in the wild! Not only this, but the Park is also home to over 300 species of birds!
A 3-day trip including accommodation as well as pickup and drop-off from/to Dar Es Salaam will cost about 900 dollars! It’s great for a family trip as long as your kids are above 10 years of age.
3-Day Safari in Mikumi National Park, Image Source: SimaSafari.Com
8. 3-Day Selous Game Reserve Safari
This 3-day safari to the Selous Game Reserve is all you need to get a natural detox! The Selous game reserve is the second largest in Africa and it’s an amazing place to visit! Experience nature in its true beauty as you see lions, buffaloes, wild dogs and zebras in their natural habitat.
A 3-day safari would cost about $2000-$3000 including accommodation and pick and drop from/to Dar es Salaam.
3-Day Selous Game Reserve Safari, Image Source: AndBeyond.Com
9. Arusha National Park Day Tour
Unlike the typical game reserve experience that you get in most other national parks of Tanzania, The Arusha National Park is different in the sense that there are no large predators here, which makes it a great place for families! Canoeing safaris are also available here and you get to see many giraffes!
It will cost you about $200 per person including pickup/drop-off from/to Arusha.
Arusha National Park Day Tour, Image Source: CampYordan.Com
10. 3-Day Safari to the Udzungwa National Park and Waterfalls!
Get this 2-in-1 experience of a National Park along with a waterfall in this safari! You’ll be able to sight giraffes, elephants and buffaloes at the Park! Refresh yourself at the waterfall and enjoy a riverside picnic. This Safari is pretty reasonable, at only $400 per person, allowing you to have a budget-friendly safari in Tanzania. It’s a great way to spend some time with your family.
3-Day Safari to the Udzungwa National Park and Waterfalls, Image Source: MoraniTours.Co.Tz
