Male lion with a dark mane standing on a termite mound during a Tanzania safari
Private Tanzania safari tours

Tanzania Safari

Plan a private Tanzania safari with your own guide, comfortable lodges and routes timed to the Great Migration. First compare our safari tours and packages, from mid-range to luxury, then tell us your dates.

Private safari guides

Your own vehicle and guide, so you set the pace.

Every budget

Mid-range, semi-luxury and luxury stays on every route.

Timed to the season

Routes planned around the herds, especially in migration season.

Support while you travel

A local team on hand 24/7 while you travel.

Safari in Tanzania

Planning a Tanzania safari

Tanzania is Africa's great safari country. It has the endless plains of the Serengeti, the wildlife-filled Ngorongoro Crater and the baobab country of Tarangire. In addition, it hosts the Great Migration of more than a million wildebeest. A private Tanzania safari with Serengeti Prime lets you see it all at your own pace. Moreover, you choose the comfort level, from friendly mid-range lodges to luxury tented camps.

First, compare the regions and journeys below. Then check what is included and see the guide prices for each comfort level. When you are ready, tell us your dates and we will tailor the route, the lodges and the pace to you.

How it works

How we plan your Tanzania safari

Once you tell us about your trip, we design the route, check the camps and the season, and then send a clear proposal.

01

Tell us about the trip

Share your dates, who is travelling and your budget, as well as the wildlife moments you dream of.

02

We design the route

Next, we time the route to the season and the herds, and then pair each night with the right lodge or tented camp.

03

Review and confirm

Finally, you receive a day-by-day itinerary and an itemized quote with no hidden extras.

Where to go

The best places for a safari in Tanzania

Compare the setting, wildlife and style of stay in each region. Most of these parks are also managed by Tanzania National Parks.

Serengeti National Park

Endless plains, big cats and the Great Migration, with camps and lodges for every budget across the park.

Ngorongoro Crater

A collapsed volcano home to lion, elephant and endangered black rhino, and an easy day trip from nearby lodges.

Tarangire National Park

Ancient baobabs and large elephant herds, especially in the dry season. It is also quieter, so it suits walking safaris.

Lake Manyara

Groundwater forest, flamingos and tree-climbing lions make it a gentle first stop, especially before the Ngorongoro Crater.

Ruaha and Nyerere

Remote fly-in parks in the south, with boat and walking safaris and very few other vehicles.

Zanzibar

Turquoise water, beachfront villas and Stone Town are only a short flight away, so it is the perfect end to your journey.

What you'll see

Wildlife you can see on a Tanzania safari

From the Big Five to the Great Migration, Tanzania's parks are full of wildlife. Here is a little of what you could see on your safari.

Tanzania safari journeys

Tanzania safari tours and packages

Compare the length, route and guide price of our Tanzania safari tours and packages, from mid-range to luxury. Then scroll to see them all, and open a journey for the full day-by-day itinerary and inclusions.

Prices are a guide per person for two travellers sharing. However, we confirm them for your dates and party size before booking.

Planning your budget

How much does a Tanzania safari cost?

The comfort level changes the price more than anything else. For example, here is the same 10-day Tanzania safari and Zanzibar holiday at three levels, as well as our shortest safari. Each price is per person for two travellers sharing.

6-day safari, mid-range US$3,516 per person A short Northern Circuit safari, timed to the Great Migration.
10 days, mid-range US$4,254 per person Comfortable lodges and tented camps, then a few nights on Zanzibar.
10 days, semi-luxury US$4,596 per person Smaller camps in better locations, which suits most couples.
10 days, luxury US$7,935 per person The finest camps and lodges, then a beachfront resort on Zanzibar.

Prices also vary by season, group size and internal flights. However, every quote is itemized and confirmed in writing before you book.

When to go

The best time for a Tanzania safari

Tanzania rewards travellers in every month. However, the right time depends on the wildlife moments you dream of and on your budget.

Peak season

June – October

The dry season brings superb game viewing, while the migration reaches the northern Serengeti for dramatic Mara River crossings.

Calving season

January – March

Thousands of wildebeest calves are born around Ndutu, so big cats follow and the action is spectacular.

Short rains

November – December

Fresh green landscapes and fewer vehicles arrive as the herds move south, so it is also a beautiful time to add Zanzibar.

Green season

April – May

The long rains bring the year's best rates. Moreover, the camps that stay open feel almost private.

Beachfront resort in Zanzibar at the end of a Tanzania safari
Safari and beach

Combine your safari with Zanzibar

After your safari, a short flight from the Serengeti takes you to the white sand and turquoise water of Zanzibar. For example, add three or four nights at a beachfront resort to unwind after your game drives. You can also explore Stone Town and the spice farms, or simply rest by the Indian Ocean.

Explore Zanzibar →
What you pay for

What's included in a Tanzania safari

Inclusions vary by journey, so each itinerary lists exactly what is included and every quote also shows any additional costs.

Typically included

✓ All accommodation in your chosen lodges and camps, as well as all transfers

✓ Private safari vehicle and professional guide

✓ All activities, unless marked as optional

✓ Meals as listed in the day-by-day itinerary

✓ National park and conservation fees

✓ Taxes and VAT

✓ Airport meet-and-greet when you arrive in Tanzania

Not usually included

– International flights

– Extra nights before or after your journey

– Travel insurance, visa fees and personal items

– Tips for guides and camp staff (typically US$15–25 per person per day)

Need a hand with flights or extra nights in Arusha or Zanzibar? We can also arrange them for you.

Where you'll stay

Lodges and tented camps for every budget

Browse the mid-range, semi-luxury and luxury properties we recommend, then ask us to check availability for your dates.

Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge in the central Serengeti, a Tanzania safari lodge 6 photos
Serengeti

Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge

Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge is a stylish luxury tented lodge located in the heart of Central Serengeti, near the Seronera area and surrounded by the spectacular plains and wildlife of Tanzania’s most famous safari destination.

Good to know

Tanzania safari questions

If you have a question we haven't covered, our Tanzania-based team is happy to help, so just ask.

How much does a Tanzania safari cost?

Our private Tanzania safaris start from about US$3,500 per person for 6 days at mid-range lodges, while a 10-day luxury safari with Zanzibar is around US$7,900. In addition, the price depends on the season, internal flights and group size. So tell us your dates and we will send a clear, itemized quote.

How many days do I need for a Tanzania safari?

We recommend at least 6 to 7 days, so you can see Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti without rushing. With 10 days or more, you can also add a balloon safari, a southern park or a Zanzibar beach stay.

Is Tanzania or Kenya better for a safari?

Both are wonderful. However, Tanzania offers vast, uncrowded parks, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Great Migration for most of the year. As a result, many first-time visitors choose a Tanzania safari.

Can I see the Big Five on a Tanzania safari?

Yes, because lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are seen regularly across the Northern Circuit. In addition, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of East Africa's best places to see black rhino.

Which comfort level should I choose?

Mid-range lodges are comfortable and good value, while semi-luxury camps are smaller and often closer to the wildlife. Luxury camps then add more space, service and seclusion. Either way, you get the same private vehicle and guide.

Can I combine my safari with Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar?

Yes, many guests climb Mount Kilimanjaro before their safari, or fly straight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar afterwards. Either way, we also arrange the entire journey.

How do I plan and book a Tanzania safari?

Start with when you want to travel, how many days you have and your comfort level. Then send us your dates through our safari planner. A specialist will suggest a route and lodges, and once you are happy we confirm everything in writing.

Which airport do I fly into for a Tanzania safari?

Most northern safaris start at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about an hour from Arusha. For the southern parks or Zanzibar, you can also fly into Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, and we arrange the internal flights between them.

Tanzania safari planning

Plan your Tanzania safari

Share your dates, budget and who is travelling. A Serengeti Prime specialist will then reply to discuss the route and send your private itinerary and quote.