4 Best Safari Packages in Tanzania: Prices and Itineraries
The best safari packages in Tanzania fit your number of days, the parks you want to see and your budget per person. For a first trip, a 7-day Northern Circuit safari covers the classics. Couples who want bush and beach suit the 8-day Serengeti and Zanzibar combination at about $4,303 per person. Repeat visitors and travelers who want fewer vehicles suit the 8-day Southern Tanzania trip at about $2,315 per person. Families, honeymooners and photographers do best with a custom private safari.
Comparing Tanzania safari tour packages is hard because operators bundle different things. One price includes park fees and a private vehicle, another leaves out internal flights, and "per person" can hide a wide gap in lodge standards. This article sets four packages side by side, then shows how to compare price, length and inclusions on any quote you receive.
We wrote it at Bushline Tanzania Safaris, a Tanzania-based operator founded by safari guide William Kipera, who has more than nine years of guiding experience. All four picks are trips we plan ourselves, so the routes and prices come from our own itineraries.
1. 7-day Northern Circuit safari
A 7-day Northern Circuit safari is the best starting point for a first visit. It begins with arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha, then covers Tarangire and the Serengeti.
What you get
You land at the airport, transfer to Arusha, and head into two very different parks. Tarangire is known for large elephant herds and baobab trees. The Serengeti gives you open plains, big cats and, depending on the month, huge herds of wildebeest and zebra.
- Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha
- Game drives in Tarangire
- Game drives in the Serengeti
- Accommodation at your chosen level, from budget to luxury plus
A week is enough for a first Northern Circuit safari if the Serengeti gets at least two nights.
Who it suits and what it costs
This trip suits first-time safari travelers, couples and families with older children who want classic Tanzania in one week. If you want to add Ngorongoro Crater, we can build it into your itinerary on request.
We price this safari after you send an enquiry, because accommodation level, dates and group size change the total. Ask how many nights are in the Serengeti, and whether park fees and airport transfers are in the quote.
2. 8-day Serengeti and Zanzibar safari
The 8-day Serengeti and Zanzibar safari is the strongest bush-and-beach package, at about $4,303 per person. It follows Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with Stone Town and Kendwa Beach.
What you get
You spend the first days on game drives across three of the northern parks, including the crater floor at Ngorongoro, which is dense with wildlife. Then you move to Zanzibar for a look at Stone Town’s old streets and a rest on the sand at Kendwa Beach.
- Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
- Stone Town on Zanzibar
- Kendwa Beach stay
- Price: about $4,303 per person
Eight days only works as a combined trip if you accept a fast pace, so confirm the nights on safari versus the beach.
Who it suits and what it costs
Honeymooners and couples who want wildlife first and relaxation second get the most from it. A couple pays about $8,606 in total at $4,303 each. Ask whether the transfer to Zanzibar is included, because that is the item that most often shifts the final price.
3. 8-day Southern Tanzania safari
The 8-day Southern Tanzania safari is the lowest-cost package here, at about $2,315 per person, and it avoids the busiest circuit. It covers Nyerere, Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha.
What you get
You get game drives in each park, plus a boat safari on the Rufiji River, where you see hippos, crocodiles and birds from the water. Ruaha is known for lions and elephants. Searches for a "jungle safari" usually mean this kind of bush trip, and Udzungwa’s forested mountains are the closest thing to jungle on the list.
- Nyerere, Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha
- Game drives and a Rufiji River boat safari
- Price: about $2,315 per person
Southern parks trade the famous names for quieter roads and a lower price.
Who it suits and what it costs
It suits repeat visitors, birders and travelers who dislike crowds. A couple pays about $4,630 in total, roughly $3,976 less than the Serengeti and Zanzibar trip for two. Check how you travel between parks, since distances are long and road or flight transfers affect both the price and your comfort.
4. Custom private safari
A custom private safari is the right package when none of the fixed itineraries fits your dates, group or budget. It is our main offer: a trip designed around you.
What you get
You describe your trip through our enquiry form, and our team builds the itinerary. The form asks about the following:
- Travel dates and how flexible they are
- Number of adults and children
- Duration: 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 or 10+ days
- Preferred parks, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the southern parks and Zanzibar
- Accommodation level: budget, mid-range, luxury or luxury plus
- Safari type: private, group, family, honeymoon or photography
The more precisely you state dates and budget, the more accurate your quote will be.
Who it suits and what it costs
It suits families, honeymooners and photographers, and anyone planning around a Great Migration window. Budgets on the form run from below $1,500 to above $8,000 per person. Your quote shows the deposit amount, payment deadlines and balance due date, and we strongly recommend travel insurance.
Safari package prices, inclusions and timing
Most Tanzania safari packages we see land between $2,000 and $5,000 per person, and the price follows trip length, park choice and lodge level.
Prices side by side
| Package | Length | Parks and extras | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Circuit | 7 days | Tarangire, Serengeti | Quoted on enquiry |
| Serengeti and Zanzibar | 8 days | Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Stone Town, Kendwa Beach | About $4,303 |
| Southern Tanzania | 8 days | Nyerere, Mikumi, Udzungwa, Ruaha | About $2,315 |
| Custom private safari | Your choice | Any northern or southern park, Zanzibar | Budget bands from under $1,500 to over $8,000 |
For context, published group-trip prices from other operators run from about $2,300 for nine days to above $12,000 for a 13-day small-group migration trip. Always compare the lodge level before you compare totals.
What to confirm is included
Ask every operator the same questions. A package should state whether park and conservation fees are in the price, plus the vehicle type, driver-guide, meals, airport transfers and any domestic or Zanzibar flights. International flights, visas, tips and travel insurance are normally extra.
When to go
Tanzania’s dry season, roughly June to October, offers the easiest wildlife viewing in both the north and the south. The calving season on the southern Serengeti plains falls around January and February. The long rains, roughly March to May, bring lower rates and fewer visitors.
Compare quotes line by line for fees, flights and lodge level, and the real price difference shows.
Choosing your Tanzania safari
Pick the package that fits your days and your travel style. The 7-day Northern Circuit is the safest first trip, the Serengeti and Zanzibar combination handles bush and beach, the Southern route gives quiet parks at a lower price, and a custom private safari fits everything else. Whichever you choose, check what is included before you compare totals.
If you want a quote built around your dates, group and budget, request a tailored safari quote from Bushline Tanzania Safaris and our team will plan the trip with you.