Migration & Wildlife Safaris
Tanzania Packages | Journeys
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Tanzania Safaris at a Glance
Tanzania rewards travellers who plan around the seasons and the fees, and who are willing to fly or accept long drives between parks.
Question | Short Answer |
Best known for | The Serengeti and the Great Migration, Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro |
Serengeti entry | About US$82.60 per adult per 24 hours including VAT (US$70 plus VAT), with a concession fee of about US$70.80 per night for those staying inside |
Ngorongoro | Conservation area entry about US$70.80 per adult, plus a crater service fee of US$295 per vehicle |
Daily budget per person | About US$250 to US$400 budget, US$400 to US$800 mid-range and US$850 to US$1,500 or more luxury |
Best months | June to October for dry-season wildlife; January to March for calving; July to October for river crossings |
Typical trip length | Six to ten days for the northern circuit |
Main entry point | Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha, or Dar es Salaam |
Main trade-off | High fees and long distances, balanced by famous wildlife |
Should You Go on a Tanzania Safari?
Tanzania suits first-time visitors, migration chasers, honeymooners, photographers and travellers who want to add a mountain or a beach. The northern circuit, with the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, delivers a remarkable range of wildlife and scenery in a week. For repeat visitors, the south and west offer quieter wilderness and rarer experiences such as chimpanzee trekking.
It is a weaker fit for travellers on a very tight budget, since park and concession fees are high, and for those who dislike long drives or small aircraft. If cost is the main concern, the green season and a camping or group safari are the best ways to save. If gorillas are your priority, Uganda and Rwanda are better choices.
Why Travellers Choose Tanzania
The combination of safari, mountain and island is what sets Tanzania apart for many travellers.
- The migration: more than a million wildebeest, with zebra and gazelle, in a year-round cycle through the Serengeti, with calving from January to March and Mara River crossings from July to October.
- Ngorongoro Crater: a collapsed volcano about 610 metres deep and more than 260 square kilometres wide, with excellent wildlife viewing.
- Variety: baobab landscapes at Tarangire, flamingos at Lake Manyara and wild southern parks.
- Primates: chimpanzee trekking at Gombe and Mahale, on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
- Mountain and sea: Kilimanjaro, and the beaches of Zanzibar, within a short flight.
- Quiet corners: Ruaha, Nyerere and Katavi for travellers who want fewer vehicles.
Where to Go: The Main Parks and Areas
Most first trips use the northern circuit. The south and west suit repeat visitors who want something quieter.
Place | Region | Best Known For | Best For |
Serengeti | North | The migration, big cats and vast plains | First-time visitors and migration seekers |
Ngorongoro Crater | North | Dense wildlife on a caldera floor | A short, rewarding stop |
Tarangire | North | Elephants and baobabs, best in the dry season | Elephants and photography |
Lake Manyara | North | Flamingos, forest and a quick stop | Birding |
Arusha National Park | North | Forest and mountain views near Mount Meru | A short trip from Arusha |
Ruaha and Nyerere (Selous) | South | Remote wilderness and river safaris, best from June to October | Quiet, wild safaris |
Gombe and Mahale | West | Chimpanzee trekking on Lake Tanganyika | Primate lovers |
Kilimanjaro | North-east | Africa’s highest mountain, at 5,895 metres | Climbers |
Zanzibar | Indian Ocean | Beaches, Stone Town and spice tours | A beach finish |
What to Do:
Choose two or three headline experiences. Our separate guides to the Serengeti’s months, Kilimanjaro costs and chimpanzee permits explain each.
Activity | Where | Notes |
Game drives | Every park | Morning and afternoon drives in a 4×4 with a pop-up roof |
Migration viewing | Serengeti | Calving in the south from January to March, river crossings in the north from July to October |
Crater descent | Ngorongoro | A full-day game drive on the crater floor; US$295 per vehicle |
Walking and night drives | Selected parks and concessions | Night drives are available in several parks, including Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha and Nyerere, at about US$59 per person in one guide |
Chimpanzee trekking | Gombe and Mahale | About US$118 at Gombe and US$94.40 at Mahale in 2026 fee tables, with older pages quoting US$100 and US$150 |
Kilimanjaro climb | Kilimanjaro National Park | Park fees about US$968 for a seven-day Machame climb; all-in prices about US$2,900 to US$4,500 or more |
Beach holiday | Zanzibar | Ferries from about US$35 or flights from about US$40 to US$125 from Dar es Salaam |
What It Costs:
Daily costs add accommodation, vehicle and guide. Budget safaris run about US$250 to US$400 per person per day, mid-range about US$400 to US$800 and luxury about US$850 to US$1,500 or more, with seven-day totals of roughly US$1,260 to US$2,800 for budget and US$2,800 to US$5,600 for mid-range. Green-season discounts of 20 to 40 percent are common, and some lodges promote more. Our separate guides to national park fees, Ngorongoro fees and the cost of a trip explain the structure.
Item | Reported Amount (Non-Resident Adult) |
Serengeti entry, per 24 hours | About US$82.60 including VAT |
Serengeti concession fee, per night | About US$70.80, with some guides at US$59 |
Tarangire, Manyara and Arusha entry | About US$59, with a concession fee of about US$47.20 |
Standard parks such as Ruaha and Katavi | About US$35.40 |
Ngorongoro entry | About US$70.80, with a concession fee of about US$59 to US$71 |
Ngorongoro crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle per descent |
Gombe and Mahale | About US$118 and US$94.40 |
Child fees (5 to 15) | About US$23.60 in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro |
When to Go
The Serengeti is rewarding all year, but where you stay should match the month. Our separate guides to each month of the year and to the Great Migration explain where the herds are.
Period | Conditions | Best For |
June to October | The dry season, with peak crowds and prices | Dry-season wildlife, the Western Corridor and Mara River crossings |
January to March | Hot and mostly dry, green after the short rains | Calving in the south and Ndutu |
April and May | The long rains, with the lowest prices | Value and solitude, with some camps closed |
November and December | The short rains, then the festive peak | Birding and good value |
Where to Stay and How to Get Around
Our separate guides to getting around Tanzania, safari vehicles and paying for your safari explain the details.
- Choose lodging by region and season: Ndutu for calving, the Western Corridor for Grumeti crossings and Kogatende for the Mara River.
- Camps range from public campsites to ultra-luxury tented camps; staying inside the Serengeti adds concession fees to your bill.
- Bush flights between parks allow about 15 kilograms in soft bags, including carry-on.
- Arusha to the Serengeti takes 8 to 10 hours by road, or a flight of under two hours costing roughly US$250 to US$320.
- The Zanzibar ferry from Dar es Salaam takes about 1.5 to 2 hours; flights take 20 to 45 minutes.
- Pay a deposit of about 25 to 30 percent and the balance 45 to 60 days before travel, and verify your operator’s licence.
Sample Itineraries
A Kilimanjaro climb can be added before or after, with a rest day in between. A buffer day before an international flight is wise.
Itinerary | Shape | Length | Who It Suits |
Classic northern circuit | Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti | 6 to 8 days | First-time visitors |
Migration focus | The northern circuit with four nights in the north at Kogatende, July to October | 7 to 9 days | River-crossing seekers |
Safari and beach | The northern circuit followed by Zanzibar | 8 to 10 days | Couples and families |
Wild south and west | Ruaha or Nyerere, with chimpanzees at Gombe or Mahale | 8 to 12 days | Repeat visitors who want quiet |
Recommendations by Traveller Type
If you can only choose one park, choose the Serengeti. If you have a second week, add the south or the west.
If You Are | Consider | Why |
A first-time visitor | The northern circuit | The Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire in one week |
After the migration | The north in August and September, or the south in February | River crossings or calving |
A honeymooner | A small Serengeti camp and Zanzibar | Privacy and a beach finish |
A budget traveller | The green season or a camping safari | Lower prices and fewer vehicles |
A climber | Kilimanjaro with a safari after | A mountain and wildlife in one trip |
A repeat visitor | Ruaha, Nyerere or the chimpanzee parks | Quieter wilderness |