Tanzania is an ultimate adventure destination for many travelers across the globe. For many reasons including wildlife that’s beyond compare to any other country in the world, more and more tourists have been drawn to Tanzania. What sets other travelers back is the price. Yes, Tanzania safaris are generally pricey compared to other holiday destinations. The question is, why? To give you a clearer understanding of why Tanzania safari holidays aren’t cheap, here’s a quick rundown:
MOTHER NATURE IN HER BEST FORM Tanzania offers unique experiences unlike other countries in the world. Its perfectly mapped out, diverse landscapes make up some of the most glorifying sceneries on the planet; its mind-blowing wildlife is unparalleled and so exquisite — something you can never find elsewhere. Whether you visit its iconic parks like the Serengeti, explore its gorgeous white sand beaches in Zanzibar, discover best-kept secrets on off-the-beaten paths, or tour around the UNESCO sites, Tanzania will surely amaze you. Tanzania is also often called “the land that stayed on after God created the world.” Its natural beauty is so surreal and being able to see such iconic sights is just a once-in-a-lifetime experience. FLIGHTS EXCLUSIVITY PRICY PERMITS Permits to build structures in Tanzania, like lodges and tented camps, are expensive. Hence, this is passed on and reflected in the price usually ranging from 200 USD, more or less, per person per night. FULL BOARD Camps and lodges in Tanzania are usually full-board. This is because you usually have no access to restaurants outside the camp, which is very remote and exclusive. Since you have no other choice, you really have to go full-board. The advantage of this is that you won’t have to worry about food. Everything will be prepared and dietary restrictions may even be accommodated (just let the property management know before booking with them). PARK FEES AND REGULATIONS In Tanzania, park fees are generally steeper for Non-African residents. This price difference is dictated by the government as a tourism ** and as a privilege for the locals as well. In Serengeti, for example, tourist adults aged 16 years and above are priced $60 each while ex-pats/residents are priced 30 USD and East African residents only pay 10000 TZs (about 4.37 USD). For the Ngorongoro Conservation area, non-residents pay $50 for the entry permit while East African residents only pay TZs 1500 (about 0.65 USD). Complete NCAA (Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority) fees can be found here. If you want to learn more about park fees, here’s a complete list of TANAPA Tariffs from July 2017 to June 2018. There are also park regulations that could mp the cost of your safari. In Kilimanjaro, for example, trekkers are not allowed to hike the mountain without a guide, no matter how experienced he/she is. Guides and porters are a must for any Kilimanjaro trek and so, this entails additional costs although these expenses are already included in Kilimanjaro tour packages most of the time LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.