Tanzania is a vibrant culture home to vast, beautiful landscapes, soaring mountains, paradise islands and the famed Serengeti – one of the best national parks in the world. But that doesn’t mean that a holiday to Tanzania needs to break the bank. There is no one budget option to suit all – your holiday can cost as little or as much as you like. Are you happy to stay in cheap hostels, eat at local restaurants and travel long distances on buses? Or do you prefer private game drives, luxury glamping and dinners with a view? Or perhaps, something in between? Tanzania caters for all types of budget.
So, how much does the average holiday to Tanzania cost? If you’re on a strict budget, we suggest you take at least $50 (115,085 TZS) per day. This should cover budget accommodation, meals in a local restaurants and bus travel. Between $50-200 (115,085-460,340 TZS) per day would be enough for accommodation in a mid-range hotel, restaurant meals and car hire, and anything more would require at least $200 (460,340 TZS) a day. These costs, however, do not include safaris, which you would need to add on top. One of the biggest benefits of joining a group tour to Tanzania is that the total price includes all of your accommodation, transport and safaris!
The currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS).
While certain activities such as visiting remote parks and secluded, paradise islands are a high cost in Tanzania, you’ll be pleased to know that food is not among them. The average daily spend on food in Tanzania is $13 (30,500 TZS), but if you stick to local diners and delicious African street food you can easily pick up meals for just a couple of dollars. A three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant, however, will cost around $21 (50,000 TZS). A local beer costs around $1(2,500 TZS), and a 0.33-litre bottle of water costs about $0.29 (660 TZS).
The cheapest way to travel around Tanzania is by bus. Public mini-buses, also called dala-dalas, service almost everywhere you want to go which cost between 100 and 150 TZS for a journey. Coaches serve longer journeys and cost more for the added comfort. Taxis do not use meters in Tanzania, so make sure you agree a price before setting off, short trips start at 2000 TZS. A cheaper option is to travel small distances in a tuk-tuk. Our group tours to Tanzania have all your transport included. Depending on your chosen itinerary, our groups tours in Africa use a combination of private vehicles, flights and our own overland trucks. Our custom-built overland trucks were designed to enable you to travel in comfort, equipped with charger points, ample storage and large sliding windows to take in the stunning landscapes you pass by.
Chances are the admission fees for safaris and national parks will be the bulk of your costs to Tanzania. For example, entrance to the Serengeti National Park costs around $82, admission to Kilimanjaro National Park and private car entrance is around $10-20 per day. But unfortunately, the cost of a safari doesn’t stop there. On top of the entrance fee, you will also need to account for the costs of entrance for your vehicle, guide and accommodation, taking the total cost of safaris to anything between $200-600 per day, depending on the level of luxury you prefer. Safari costs will, of course, be included if you choose a group tour with Tucan Travel.
Wages in the service industry are generally low, so servers depend on tips to supplement their wages. It is always best to provide a tip in the local currency of the Tanzanian Shilling. Remember, adding a few shillings can go a long way.
In rural areas, most locals don’t offer a tip. That said, tourists always tend to add a little more. In mid-range restaurants, frequently visited by tourists, it is standard to leave a 10-15% tip. Top-end restaurants will generally add a service charge to the bill, in which case you will not need to provide a tip.
We always advise our passengers to tip your guides, no matter whereabouts in the world you are. Guides wages predominantly come from tips, so adding 10-20% can go a long way.
Taxis in Tanzania don’t run on a meter, so you will need to negotiate a fee beforehand, meaning you do not need to provide a tip. However, if your driver was particularly helpful providing information, directions and helping with your luggage, feel free to add a small tip of 100 TZS.
Like many places in Africa, bargaining for your purchases is part of the Tanzanian way of life. It is common to negotiate for taxi rides, products and souvenirs at markets and street stalls. If you are travelling outside of high season, then you can often negotiate the price of your accommodation too. Outside of this, most items will have a fixed rate. That said, whenever you’re bargaining for an item, be respectful and don’t push too low. Decide what you think is a fair price and be reasonable.
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