Tanzania Activities: Safari, Peaks and Coast

Travel advisory: The US State Department currently advises travellers to reconsider travel to Tanzania, and the UK advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Mozambique (Cabo Delgado) border. The safari parks, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar sit far from that strip. Check the US State Department and UK FCDO pages before you book.

Every Tanzania itinerary starts with the same question: which entry fee do you pay first? The answer shapes the whole trip, because park fees are billed in US dollars, charged per 24 hours and tiered by park.

Game drives on the northern circuit

Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti make up the classic loop out of Arusha. Fees differ sharply. Arusha, Tarangire and Manyara run about USD 59 per adult in peak season, while the Serengeti is USD 82.60 per adult per 24 hours including VAT at peak. Ngorongoro charges its own tariff of about USD 70.80 per adult, and descending into the crater adds a USD 295 service fee per vehicle, not per person, so a full car splits it.

Gates take cards or e-payment only, so cash is useless at the barrier. Operators normally prepay, which is the easiest route. Budget for the Tanzania National Parks tariff when you compare quotes, and keep game drives in open vehicles on the tracks: stay seated, keep arms inside and keep your voice low.

The Serengeti is a long way from anywhere. It takes about 8 to 9 hours by road from Arusha to Seronera, so it belongs in a stay of several nights, or a scheduled bush flight, never a same-day outing.

Mountains

Kilimanjaro needs a registered operator and a licensed guide by law, and solo climbs are turned away at the gate. Fees stack up per day and per night, which is why park fees alone come to roughly USD 880 for a six-day Machame climb and USD 1,020 for seven days. Longer routes give your body time to adapt and summit success rises with the extra days.

Mount Meru (4,562 m) is a three to four day trek inside Arusha National Park with an armed ranger escort. It also works as acclimatisation before Kilimanjaro.

Coast and islands

Zanzibar’s north coast has the easy water days. Dolphin and snorkel boats run from Nungwi and Kendwa to the Mnemba reef, where a marine conservation fee of about USD 20 per person is typically charged on top of the tour. Mnemba island itself is private, so the swimming happens on the reef beside it. Kite surfers head to Paje and Jambiani, and divers go to Mafia Island, where whale sharks appear between October and March but are never guaranteed.

Practical rules

  • Arrive with an e-visa, and carry the mandatory inbound travel insurance policy (USD 44, valid up to 92 days, one policy covering the mainland and Zanzibar). See the UK entry requirements .
  • Yellow fever paperwork applies only if you arrive from or transit a risk country.
  • Malaria is present below about 1,800 m, so ask a clinician about prophylaxis.
  • Plastic carrier bags are banned. A zip-lock toiletry bag for your own use is fine.
  • The currency is the Tanzanian shilling, and recent, undamaged US dollar notes are widely taken in tourist areas.

Where to start

First-timers get the best return from four nights on the northern circuit, then three on the coast. Compare departures through GetYourGuide’s Tanzania listings , and read the multi-day trips guide or the 3-day itinerary to see how the legs fit together.

Verdict: pay for the longer safari rather than the extra beach day, since the wildlife fees are the part you cannot stretch later.