Budget Tanzania Wildlife Safaris

Budget wildlife safari in Tanzania involves exploring the various destinations across the country which is home to a variety of wildlife species, unique attractions, diverse culture and so much more found in the north, west, central, south and coastal regions.

How to travel for a budget wildlife safari in Tanzania

• Joining a group

Group travel is among the well-known ways to travel for a budget wildlife safari in Tanzania.   Due to the shared expenses for transportation and lodging, group safaris are typically less expensive.  There are set dates for these group tours to Tanzania which are scheduled by the tour operators who organise the safaris. Travellers can also decide to book their safaris as a group and choose their own dates of travel for the budget wildlife safari.

• Travelling in the off peak season

You can also take a budget-friendly safari to other Tanzanian locations when visiting during the off-peak season. This is due to the reduced cost of flights, lodging, and occasionally transportation during the low season.  The low season is around March, April and May as well as in November when rain is received in Tanzania. Wildlife safaris in Tanzania can however also be carried out during the dry season in June to October and December to February. In the dry season prices are high as compared to the low season since it is a time when many tourists visit Tanzania for safaris. June to October and December to February is also considered the best time for wildlife viewing in safari destinations of Tanzania.

• Booking short safaris

Budget wildlife safaris in Tanzania can also be carried out by booking short safaris. This reduces the costs of travel which are incurred if more days are spent touring different destinations. These short safaris can be in a period of about 1 to 4 days when visiting Tanzania during budget wildlife safaris.

• Choosing a tour within your budget

Another way to successfully book a budget wildlife safari in Tanzania is by choosing a safari within your budget. Tour operators offer a number of safari packages to Tanzania in different price ranges and a traveller can pick a safari within their budget when planning their budget wildlife tour.

• Driving to the destination

Even with the different means of transport to use around Tanzania, the more affordable option for a budget wildlife safari is driving to the destination. Car hire services are available during tours in Tanzania and the type of vehicles used are 4×4 land cruisers with open roofs. Hiring a vehicle can be around 200 USD per day depending on the service provider. Spending more time driving can also expose the traveller to the unique way of life and beautiful landscapes in Tanzania. The transportation during the budget wildlife safari can also be part of the tour price. Apart from driving, other ways of getting around Tanzania include flights and some of the airline operators include Coastal Aviation, Flight link, Regional Air, Auric Air, Precision Air among others who offer domestic scheduled and charter flights around the country.  Using water transport is another way to get to the destinations around Tanzania during budget safaris. Boats and ferries can be used and its costs about 50 USD.

• Using public transport in Tanzania

Budget wildlife safaris in Tanzania can also be done through using public means of transport like dala dalas, buses and also taxis. These public cars however do not drive inside the national parks and can only go to the stops close to the destinations.

• Staying in budget accommodation

Staying in budget accommodations during budget wildlife safaris in Tanzania is another way of reducing costs while on tour. There are many budget lodges and hotels to stay at during tours in Tanzania with rooms as low as 30 USD a night. These rooms can be double rooms or single rooms or triple rooms. Staying in hostels is another cost friendly way to travel on budget in the country.

• Camping

Camping in the wilderness is another way to enjoy a budget wildlife safari in Tanzania. There are public and private campsites for tourists during their safaris. The equipment used for camping in Tanzania can be rented and this includes tents and sleeping bags, hiking equipment like trekking poles, hiking shoes, cooking equipment which can cost between 5 USD to 30 USD depending on the item used.  When camping within the national parks in Tanzania, there are camping fees which are paid as well as other charges such as park entrance fees, concession fees among others.

• Engaging in few activities

Taking part in few activities during budget wildlife safaris in Tanzania also reduces costs during tours. There are many activities to take part in during safaris in Tanzania and they include game drives, guided nature walks, hot air balloon safaris, bird watching tours, boat rides, canoeing, hiking, cycling, beach holidays, and cultural tours among others. Game drives can be done in the morning, afternoon and also in the night for some destinations. Wildlife species which can be seen around Tanzania include the big five (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos), giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, waterbucks, impalas, zebras, gazelles and many others. Guided nature walks involve engaging in a safari on foot in search of the wildlife and also to enjoy the beautiful views and natural surroundings at the destination. Beach holidays in Tanzania involve tours to Zanzibar island which has a number of white sand beaches where travellers can relax and these beaches include Nungwi beach, Kendwa beach, Bwejuu beach, Kizimkazi beach, Michamvi beach, Paje beach, Jambiani beach, Matemwe beach among others. Cultural tours in Tanzania involve interactions with the locals and getting to know their way of life and culture as well as enjoying a number of activities with the locals. Tribes like the Maasai are among those that tourists interact with during safaris. For the more adventurous tourists, hiking is also an activity that can be done in Tanzania and places for hikes include Mount Kilimanjaro which has about 6 hiking routes and is also the highest mountain in Africa at 5895 meters, Mount Meru which has 1 hiking route and takes about 4 days to get to the summit and descend. 

Destinations to visit during budget safaris in Tanzania

During budget wildlife safaris in Tanzania there are a number of places to go to. However for cost efficient experiences, it is recommended to visit at least only 1 destination for a short safari or combine 1 destination with an activity outside a national park since staying more days within the national parks increases costs. National parks in Tanzania which can be visited during budget wildlife safaris include Lake Manyara national park, Arusha national park and Tarangire national park, Serengeti national park, Ngorongoro conservation area, Ruaha national park, Selous game reserve (Nyerere national park), Gombe national park, Mikumi national park, Katavi national park, Mahale national park and many others. Apart from the national parks, other places to visit around Tanzania include Mount Kilimanjaro which is the highest mountain in Africa, Lake Duluti, Materuni waterfalls, Zanzibar island, Stone town, Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Ol duvai gorge, Mount Meru, towns like Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Moshi, Mwanza, Dodoma, Mafia island, Pemba island and many more.