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Serengeti Budget Safari Tours
Serengeti National Park is one of the best parks for wildlife anywhere in Africa. It’s the sort of place that becomes more crowded with wildebeest and zebra than it does with tourists. That’s because the Serengeti has such a rich collection of ecosystems spread across a wonderfully large area, with plenty of space for safari-goers and animals alike. The park is home to many of Africa’s most sought-after and interesting wildlife species. The landscapes here offer the classic views associated with East African safaris, with savannah grasslands, acacia trees and the rocky outcrops known as kopjes. One of the best things about the Serengeti is that those on a budget or cheap safari can enjoy it all just as much as those who pay a lot more.
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Best Seller
6-Day Private Wildlife & Cultural Safari
$1,595 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Mto wa Mbu (Town), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Wakanda Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 717 Reviews
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5-Day Camping to Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
$1,606 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Lekobe Adventures Safaris
4.9/5 – 67 Reviews
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4-Day Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Camping Tour
$704 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Bush and Forest Explorers
4.9/5 – 44 Reviews
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5-Day Budget Private Safari and Mount Kilimanjaro Hike
$1,599 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Arusha (End)
Kibo Mawenzi Safaris
5.0/5 – 20 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day The Best of Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti
$1,626 to $1,846 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Kilimanjaro Airport (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti NP, Arusha (End)
Ozon Light Tours
4.9/5 – 305 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
6-Day Private Serengeti Budget Camping Tanzania Safari
$1,815 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Western Serengeti NP, Southern Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 719 Reviews
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6-Day Lifetime Wildlife & Cultural Experience Safari
$2,266 to $2,332 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Amshar Serengeti Adventures
4.9/5 – 174 Reviews
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10-Day Ultimate Safari Explorer Tented Safari
$2,593 to $3,000 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, Southern Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Kikuletwa Hot Springs (Highlight), Arusha (End)
Shemeji Safari Tanzania
4.7/5 – 297 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Fly- in Serengeti Ngorongoro Tarangire, Waterfalls
$1,565 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire NP, Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Zanzibar (End)
Mountain Warriors Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 342 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
8-Day Safari with Game Drives and Cycling and Walking
$2,420 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Arusha (End)
Safari Soles
5.0/5 – 403 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day The Great Awaits in Serengeti National Park
$1,500 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Go Serengeti African Tours
4.9/5 – 377 Reviews
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6-Day Unforgettable Private Safari & Materuni Waterfalls
$1,770 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Go Makini Tanzania Expedition
4.8/5 – 106 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
6-Day Wonders of Tanzania Safari Experince
$1,749 to $1,859 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi, Arusha (End)
Colours Africa Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 232 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Safari - Scenic Serengeti - Camping
$1,760 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Benson Safaris Tanzania
5.0/5 – 260 Reviews
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4-Day Budget Safari Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti
$1,493 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Serengeti NP, Arusha (End)
Kima Safaris
4.9/5 – 106 Reviews
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6-Day Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Natron Tour
$2,784 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Natron, Arusha (End)
Karibu Portifolios and Adventure
4.6/5 – 34 Reviews
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6-Day Private Camping Safari to Northern Circuit Parks
$1,760 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Telly Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 164 Reviews
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6-Day Classic Wildlife Safari
$2,000 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Josh Dreamland Safari
4.9/5 – 61 Reviews
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3-Day Unforgetable Safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro
$1,046 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Tanzania Offroad Trips
4.9/5 – 25 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Budget Tour to Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
$1,602 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Smile
5.0/5 – 795 Reviews
6 Questions About Serengeti Budget Safaris

Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony has been writing about the Serengeti for nearly two decades, and it’s one of his favorite places. He has covered the park many times for Lonely Planet’s ‘Tanzania’ and ‘East Africa’ guides. He is also the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’, a narrative non-fiction book about Africa’s lions.› More about Anthony
6 Questions About Serengeti Budget Safaris

Are there affordable budget trips available to Serengeti National Park?
“The Serengeti is an excellent place to visit on a cheap or affordable safari. There is such a wide range of accommodation options spread across the park that there really is something for everyone. But do note that this is a remote destination, so transport can push prices up. The logistics of running any accommodation, even camping sites, so far from the main roads and towns of Tanzania also mean that prices may be a little higher for a budget safari here than they are in many other places around Tanzania and further afield in Africa. Arusha, in particular, is filled with operators eager to take you to the Serengeti, and many of these aim their sales pitch at budget travelers. Be careful if prices seem too low, because it may be that the operator is cutting corners in order to keep costs down. But many operators also simply offer a wonderful experience for a budget price, so it’s just a matter of making sure that you know what you’re getting.”
1What is included in a safari package?
“Most budget safaris include camping-style accommodation, and this usually means that you’ll be helping to set up your tent. Food and drink will usually be included, but you may also be expected to share cooking and further responsibilities with other members of your group. Two game drives a day (one early in the morning, another in the mid- to late afternoon) should be included in the quoted price for your safari, but check what you are getting just to make sure before you hand over any money. Budget safaris should include all transport, but usually this means that your game-drive vehicle may be a little more crowded than is generally the case; it can also be an excellent way to share the safari experience with more people. Park fees will be one of your biggest costs. You’ll have to pay these fees either way, but always check with your tour operator whether they are included in the quoted price.”
2What type of accommodation can I expect?
“At the budget end of the scale, you can expect simple accommodation, which comes in many forms. In some cases, you’ll be spending your holiday camping in tents, especially in the Seronera area in the heart of the park. These are very basic tents with room for a camping mattress or camp bed, your backpack and very little else. Apart from the usual camping tents, there are also very simple safari tents (often known as Meru-style tents), which have proper beds and perhaps little else in a larger tent. In these tents, you may be able to walk around inside. Whatever kind of tent you sleep in, only canvas separates you from the night sounds of the Serengeti, and there’s nothing I like more than lying awake in my bed listening for lions. Also possible are simple lodge-style rooms with four walls that are part of a larger lodge complex that may have a restaurant or dining area as well.”
3How much will a budget Serengeti safari cost?
“Costs vary widely on Serengeti safaris, even within the cheaper or budget price category. For shorter safaris, prices can be as high as US$250 to US$300 per person per day, although the per-day cost almost always decreases the longer you spend on safari. That’s because on a 2- or 3-day safari, the costs of traveling to, and returning from, the Serengeti have to be absorbed into the daily costs quoted by operators. The major expenses on safari are usually accommodation and transport and these can vary considerably from one operator to the next. One thing that operators have no control over are national park fees, which range between US$60 and US$70 per adult per day, according to the season. These fees are a major reason why budget safaris in the Serengeti can seem so expensive. It’s worth remembering that these fees provide important revenue for the Tanzanian economy.”
4How many days are recommended for a budget trip to the Serengeti?
“To really get the most from your Serengeti safari holiday, I recommend 5 days as the best amount of time. With 5 days, you could probably explore two different regions of the park, allowing you to get a more complete picture of what the park has to offer. If 5 days is not possible, then 3 days would be the minimum I would suggest. In 3 days, you’re more likely to spend your time getting to know one area of the Serengeti really well. If your time is really tight, you could still enjoy the Serengeti in a couple of days, but it would only be enough time to get a taste that will leave you longing for more. If, on the other hand, you have unlimited time, 7 days would be an excellent way to really come to understand the park and its many different areas, each of which has its own charm and moods.”
5What kind of vehicle can I expect on a budget safari in Serengeti?
“You will spend most of your time getting to and around the Serengeti in a 4WD vehicle. These come in a range of shapes and sizes. For budget safaris, most operators try to use larger vehicles. This may make things a little more crowded. But because transport is one of the major costs of a Serengeti safari, the more people they can fit into one vehicle, the lower the per-person transportation costs. Sometimes these vehicles are large, bus-like vehicles that are quite high off the ground, which means you can see a long way from your seat. Others are more traditional 4WD vehicles in which every seat will be occupied. In rare cases for a budget safari, you might be in a covered, open-sided 4WD vehicle with tiered seats. These are usually too expensive for use on a budget safari, but you could be lucky (these vehicles are the best way to get around).”
6Serengeti Reviews

Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
A quintessential ecosystem of endless plains and spectacular rivers with awe-inspiring numbers of African animals
With its natural splendour and greatest concentration of game you are ever likely to see, the Serengeti is faultless as a safari destination. The vast ecosystem features rolling golden plains, intricate river systems, the Big Five, and the...

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.
In Northern Serengeti Only the Wildebeest Travel in Crowds
A lot has been said about the justifiably famous Serengeti ecosystem, home of the world’s greatest wildlife show. The great migration attracts hordes of wildlife-watchers that are topped in numbers only by the herds themselves. As with...

There are so many amazing animals to see in the Serengeti. We had considered a shorter safari that didn't go here and were glad we changed our minds and went. The Serengeti is renowned for good reason!

Least "corralled" of the parks we visited and we felt as if the animals really roamed the lands as they pleased. In some other parks, fences and natural barriers made some feel more like giant zoos; Serengeti does not have that feel

Despite we didn't go to the Mara River, but we still saw the migration of the buffalo they are rush to the river. Also we saw the great sunset which makes me image the beginning of the Film Lion King.

The Serengeti is a huge park, full of wildebeest (I was there during the Great Migration) and zebras. Every now and then, a rock formation stands out against the landscape, sheltering groups of lions or a cheetah. It takes several days to...