Tanzania Budget Safaris / Tanzania Low Cost
Tanzania Budget Safaris : Tanzania is a country famous for its wildlife, hiking, and cultural safaris. It is home to the world-famous Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Nyerere National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and many other national parks where visitors can enjoy and learn about African wildlife and biodiversity. However, the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, is another safari destination in Tanzania for hikers and visitors seeking for adventure, but also cultural trips, as the country is home to a wide number of tribes with diverse cultures, including the Maasai, Datoga, Hadzabe, and Chagga.
Tanzania is regarded as one of the most costly tourist destinations due to its natural beauty and numerous attractions. Nevertheless, Tanzania may also be reached via a cheap safari. Some of the reasons that can make your safari to Tanzania inexpensive or expensive are tourism seasonality, which is the most important aspect, hotels/accommodations, tourism activities, and the tour operator you have booked. The following are the things to consider when planning a budget safari in Tanzania.
Visit Tanzania during the low season.
Most visitors want to go on a safari in Tanzania during the dry season, which runs from May to October. However, Tanzania safaris are more expensive during this time because some accommodations charge higher rates, and entrance fees to national parks such as the Serengeti and Nyerere are also higher than during the low season. So, if you want to go on a budget safari to Tanzania, skip the high season and go during the low season.
Because there are fewer visitors during the low season, most lodgings offer discounts, and national parks charge lower fees than during the busy season. As a result, now is the best time to visit Tanzania on a budget. Most travelers avoid visiting Tanzania during these times. However, keep in mind that Tanzania is a year-round tourist destination. The Tanzania national park is more gratifying for nature enthusiasts during the low season/ rainy season since the park is more beautiful and evergreen. Animals may also be spotted, but in smaller numbers than during the peak season, and this is the best time for birding.
Accommodations
Forget about expensive safari lodges and luxury tent camps; when it comes to conserving money and sticking to a tight budget, nothing beats pitching a tent and camping. The rustic camping option, whether it’s a pop-up tent from your backpack or a rooftop tent on your self-drive safari vehicle, brings you closer to nature while stretching your budget. Self-catering, street food, eating in local eateries, and taking public transportation all help travelers keep costs down while also exposing them to Tanzania’s people and culture.
Tourism activities/things to do
Safari game drives are the ideal way to save money on a budget because, unlike other tourist activities, you only have to pay an admission charge and enjoy the wildlife viewing while riding in a safari vehicle. Other activities, such as a hot air balloon safari or a nature walk, require double payment (the entrance fees and the activity) since become more expensive compared to game drives. Game drives are a popular tourist activity, and seeing the game from a car is simply fantastic. You don’t have to complicate things or spend a lot of money to see the wildlife in the Tanzania national parks.
The number of days
Another element to consider when planning a Tanzania budget safari is the number of days at the destination. Remember that the more days you spend at the destination, the more money you pay, since the Tanzania national parks and hotels are priced per day. If you want a cheap safari in Tanzania, ask your tour company to plan a three-day or five-day safari for you. On which you will be able to enjoy a Tanzania safari in a short period of time and on a budget.
The national park
Serengeti National Park, Nyerere National Park, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area are the most expensive national parks in Tanzania, If you want to go on a budget safari in Tanzania and want to see animals and birds, you don’t have to go to the more expensive parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro; instead, you can go to Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Mikumi, Ruaha, Mkomazi national park, and others because they are less expensive and have a variety of wild animals to see.
IN SUMMARY,
The following are some of the highlights of a budget safari in Tanzania to help you plan your trip.
- For budget safari, Tanzania is best visited during the low season, when park fees are lower and accommodations are cheaper.
- Pay only for a few days in the park; remember that the longer you stay, the more money you’ll spend because lodges and national parks charge per day.
- When you’re in the national park, choose a low-cost tourist activity or things to do. Game drives, for example, are less expensive than nature walks or balloon safaris though both activities are intended in animal viewing.
- Visit a less expensive national park, as most of them offer the same tourist attractions as the more expensive ones. For example, instead of visiting the Serengeti National Park, you may visit Tarangire national park and see the same attractions as those present in the Serengeti.
- Because campgrounds are less expensive than lodges, you may prefer to spend the night inside the park in a tent rather than a lodge. The other alternative for a budget safari is to stay and spend the night in lodges outside of the national park, as lodges outside the park are less expensive than those inside.
- Choose a suitable low-cost tour operator because some tour companies are expensive and exclusively offer expensive packages, but others, such as Focus East Africa Tours, offer both budget and luxury packages.
Note: To make a budget safari, you can ask/contact your tour company (Focus East Africa Tours) to prepare a budget safari package for you based on your budget.
