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Tanzania national parks: where to stay, what they cost and when to go
Tanzania holds the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Here is what each one costs, where to base yourself, and how the fees actually work.
Short answer
The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are Tanzania's two essential parks, and they are run by different authorities with separate fees. Base yourself in Arusha for the northern circuit, where hotels start around $18 a night, or Moshi for Kilimanjaro, from about $17.
Park fees are charged per person per 24 hours on top of everything else, and descending into the Ngorongoro crater carries an additional vehicle fee.
The parks worth your days
Ranking the best national parks in Tanzania depends on what you want to see, but the shortlist rarely changes. These are the parks that justify the fees.
| Park | Known for | Quick fact | Base yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti | The great migration, big cats, endless plains | About 14,750 square kilometres, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site | Inside the park or Arusha |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area | The crater, dense game in a contained caldera | The crater floor covers roughly 260 square kilometres, with walls about 600 metres high | Crater rim, or Karatu |
| Tarangire | Elephants and baobabs, quiet, good value | Elephants gather along the Tarangire River in the dry season | Arusha |
| Lake Manyara | Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, easy half day | Sits below the Rift Valley escarpment, so the scenery changes fast | Arusha or Karatu |
| Kilimanjaro | The climb, not a game park | Uhuru Peak stands at 5,895 metres, the highest point in Africa | Moshi |
| Nyerere and Ruaha | Southern circuit, far fewer visitors | Both cover more than 20,000 square kilometres, and Nyerere offers boat safaris on the Rufiji River | Dar es Salaam |
Park entry fees and how they are charged
Tanzania splits responsibility between two bodies, which is the single most common source of budgeting mistakes.
- National parks including the Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Kilimanjaro are managed by TANAPA. Entry is charged per person per 24 hours, with different rates for non-residents, residents and children, and camping or concession fees on top if you sleep inside the park.
- The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is not a national park. It is managed separately by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and charges its own entry fee. Descending into the crater itself carries an additional service fee levied per vehicle, not per person.
- Kilimanjaro climbs carry park fees, rescue fees and hut or camping fees for every day on the mountain, which is why a climb costs what it does before guides and porters are counted.
Both authorities revise their tariffs periodically and publish them on their own sites. Confirm the current figure there before you budget. A fee quoted in an old blog post is the most common reason a Tanzania budget comes up short.
When to go
The wildlife follows the rain, so the season you pick shapes both what you see and what you pay.
| Months | Conditions | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | Short dry spell, then the long rains begin | Calving season in the southern Serengeti around Ndutu, with large herds and plenty of predators |
| April to May | Long rains | Lowest prices and fewest visitors, though some roads and camps are hard going |
| June to October | Cool and dry | Peak season. River crossings in the northern Serengeti usually fall between July and October, and Tarangire is at its best |
| November to December | Short rains | Greener landscapes and lower rates, with prices rising toward the holidays |
Climbing Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world, and several routes lead to the summit. Longer routes cost more per person but give your body time to adjust, which improves your chances of reaching the top.
| Route | Typical length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marangu | 5 to 6 days | The only route with sleeping huts rather than tents |
| Machame | 6 to 7 days | Popular and scenic, with a steep climb and a long summit day |
| Rongai | 6 to 7 days | Approaches from the north and sees less rain |
| Lemosho | 7 to 8 days | Quieter start and a gentler gain in altitude |
Where to stay for the northern circuit
Distances from Arusha explain why most people split the northern circuit into two or three bases. Times below are approximate.
| From Arusha to | Approx. drive |
|---|---|
| Lake Manyara | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Tarangire | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Ngorongoro crater rim | 3 to 4 hours |
| Central Serengeti | 7 to 8 hours, which is why many travellers take a light aircraft |
| Moshi | About 2 hours |
Arusha
Arusha is the gateway to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Manyara, and almost every northern safari starts here. It has around 150 bookable properties with a median of about $63 a night, which makes it the cheapest sensible base in northern Tanzania.
See Arusha hotels and live rates.
Moshi, for Kilimanjaro
Moshi sits at the foot of the mountain and is where climbs are organised and where you spend the night before and the night after. Around 66 properties, from about $17 a night, with a median near $86.
Inside the Serengeti and on the Ngorongoro rim
Sleeping inside the parks saves hours of driving and costs a great deal more. Serengeti properties run from about $53 for a gateway hotel to well over $4,000 for the top camps, and Ngorongoro has only a handful of properties bookable at any time, from around $194 to $1,750. Book the Ngorongoro leg first, because it is the constraint.
Serengeti stays and Ngorongoro stays.
Compare Tanzania hotels
From $17 guest houses in Moshi to camps on the Serengeti plains, priced inclusive of taxes and fees.
Search Tanzania hotelsBeyond the northern circuit
Zanzibar
The island is the standard second half of a Tanzania trip and by far the cheaper half. There are over 400 properties from about $25 a night. Stone Town, the old quarter, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while the best beaches are on the north and east coasts around Nungwi, Kendwa and Paje.
Dar es Salaam
The commercial capital and the gateway to the southern parks and the ferry to Zanzibar, which takes about two hours on the fast boats. Around 133 properties with a median near $70 and rooms from about $24. Dodoma is the official capital, but Dar es Salaam is where most visitors arrive.
Mwanza
On the southern shore of Lake Victoria and the back door to the western Serengeti. Inventory here is thin, with only around a dozen bookable properties, so book early if this is part of your route.
Backpacking Tanzania
It is very doable. Arusha, Moshi and Stone Town all have rooms under $30, buses connect the main towns cheaply, and the real expense is the park fees rather than the beds. Join a group safari to split the vehicle, travel in April, May or November, and put more of the trip on Zanzibar, where a day costs a fraction of a day in the Serengeti.
Tanzania at a glance
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Dodoma (Dar es Salaam is the largest city and main arrival point) |
| Languages | Swahili and English |
| Currency | Tanzanian shilling (TZS), with US dollars widely quoted for park fees and tours |
| Time zone | East Africa Time (UTC+3), with no daylight saving |
| Electricity | 230V, with Type D and Type G sockets |
| Entry | Most visitors need a visa, which can be applied for online before travel. Tanzania is not part of the joint East Africa Tourist Visa. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. |
Planning
Most first trips run ten to fourteen days: a northern circuit safari of four or five days from Arusha, then a week on Zanzibar. Tanzania also pairs well with Kenya, and our guide to hotels in Kenya covers the other half of a classic East Africa itinerary. For more trip ideas, browse our blog and travel guides.
Common questions
What are the best national parks in Tanzania?
The Serengeti for the migration and big cats, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for the crater, Tarangire for elephants and baobabs, and Lake Manyara as an easy half day. Nyerere and Ruaha in the south are excellent and far quieter.
How much is the Serengeti entry fee?
It is charged per person for each 24 hours in the park and varies by season and residency, with camping and concession fees added if you sleep inside. TANAPA publishes the current tariff, and it should be confirmed there before you budget.
Are Ngorongoro fees separate from the national parks?
Yes. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is managed by its own authority, not by TANAPA, so it charges a separate entry fee. Descending into the crater carries an extra service fee charged per vehicle.
When is the best time to visit Tanzania's national parks?
June to October is the dry season and the most popular time, with river crossings in the northern Serengeti usually between July and October. January to March suits the calving season in the southern Serengeti. April and May are the wettest and cheapest months.
Where should I stay for a Kilimanjaro climb?
Moshi, at the foot of the mountain, where rooms start around $17 a night. Almost all climbs begin and end there, with a night either side of the trek.
Is Tanzania good for backpackers?
Yes for accommodation and transport, where rooms under $30 and cheap buses are easy to find. The park fees are the expensive part and they do not vary by how you travel, so join a group safari to share the vehicle and spend more of the trip on Zanzibar.