Tanzania Adventure Tours For The Budget-Conscious

Tanzania may not be the cheapest place to go on safari, but it is arguably one of the best safari destinations in East Africa! Tanzania safari prices start around $200 a day per person for a budget safari or $400 a day per person for a mid-range experience. Luxury safaris are also available, but they can range in price from $600 to $1,500 a day per person.

What makes so many people so eager to reserve a spot with one of the many Tanzania adventure tours that the country’s tour operators have to offer? Here are a handful of reasons why you should make Tanzania your next safari destination!

• Tanzania has 21 national parks within its borders, including the Serengeti National Park. This gives visitors the opportunity to create and customize the safari of their dreams! As an added bonus, many of the parks are relatively close to each other, so it is possible to visit several during your trip.
• Tanzania has an incredible diversity of wildlife for you to see on your safari! The country is home to Africa’s “Big 5,” too. That means you’ll be able to see lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and African buffalo – as well as all the other amazing creatures that call Tanzania home!
• The tourism industry has been well-established in Tanzania for decades. There are a variety of Tanzania adventure tours for you to choose from, and even operators that are willing to customize a tour to cater to your interests.
• Tanzania is considered a safe country to visit and the visa process for entry is relatively easy when compared to other countries!
• In addition to its national parks, Tanzania has several other places of interest to visit, including Mt. Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Many tour operators factor in a stop at one (or both) of these locations when setting their Tanzania safari prices.

Planning A Budget Safari Adventure

At its core, a safari involves exploring scenic places and seeing wildlife in its native habitat. Many safaris also include visiting historical attractions, sightseeing, and exploring local cultures. The difference between a budget safari and a more upscale experience simply involves your mode of transportation and accommodations. Here are some things you can expect if you book a budget safari:

• The cost of a budget safari is brought down by using tents (vs. lodges) as a sleeping accommodation and having the tents set up outside of the national parks.
• A budget safari may include visits only to national parks with lower entrance fees, or use less-experienced guides/drivers to keep the cost low.
• The vehicle used to transport you may be older, but you will still have a guide and driver for your trip. You will most likely travel between parks by car, as flights within the country are expensive.

If you want to reduce the cost of Tanzania adventure tours even further, consider a shared safari package. You can save approximately 5-10 percent of the package cost if you share the truck with another group! Just don’t cut costs by cutting the driver – Tanzania’s roads are difficult to navigate and the cost you save would probably not offset the headaches you will have driving yourself!

Can I Scale Up My Safari Experience?

If you have a bit more leeway in your budget, consider opting for a mid-range safari. This type of safari is a great value for the money and gives travelers a very comfortable experience without the price tag of a luxury safari. Here are a few extras you can expect on a mid-range safari:

• A mid-range safari includes overnights in comfortable lodges and permanent camps inside the national parks that include showers and traditional beds!
• You will visit the country’s bigger parks, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Your trip may also include an add-in like Zanzibar.
• Your truck will be newer, with tech options like phone chargers. You may also be placed with a more experienced guide for your tour.

Like the budget tour mentioned above, you can save money on a mid-range tour if you choose a safari package where you share the truck and driver with another group of people.

A Popular Spot To Visit On Safari

With so many parks in Tanzania, it’s difficult to know where to begin Tanzania adventure tours! One of the best places to visit is Ngorongoro Crater, for a Ngorongoro safari. Ngorongoro has been nicknamed “Africa’s Garden of Eden,” and for good reason. The crater, an inactive volcanic caldera, has created a unique mini-ecosystem of its down and is home to almost 25,000 animals. The crater forms a natural enclosure for the animals that live there and at times feels like a natural zoo. It is one of the best places to spot critically endangered animals like black rhinos, golden cats, and wild hunting dogs.

Ngorongoro Crater is home to:

• 7,000 wildebeest
• 6,000 black spotted hyena
• 4,000 zebra
• 3,000 elands
• 3,000 gazelles
• 300 elephants
• 55 lions
• 30 black rhinos
• Kobe, antelope, jackals, hippos, and more

Bird lovers will also enjoy a Ngorongoro safari. The crater is home to a bevy of feathered friends, including ostriches, open-billed storks, flamingos, the Secretary bird, bastard kori, the great white pelican, the augur buzzard, starling, hamerkop, kingfisher, and Fisher’s lovebird.

While the Ngorongoro Crater can be explored in one full day, but you may want to consider spending three or more days in one or various lodges and camps in the Serengeti to fully explore this amazing location!

When Is The Best Time To Visit Ngorongoro?

April and May are generally considered the best months to visit the Ngorongoro Crater. Although these months fall during the rainy season and roads around the crater can get muddy, the crater is lush and green and the animals are very active during this time. Additionally, fewer tourists schedule visits during these two months, so you can avoid the crowds and enjoy the crater without worrying about bumping into other safari groups.

Tanzania adventure tours offer something for everyone! They can be as budget-friendly as you’d like or can offer a luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime experience in the bush. But no matter the accommodations or mode of transportation, you are sure to have a memorable time on safari in Tanzania.