A Great Migration safari in Tanzania cost depends on four things: the time of year, where you sleep, how many days you travel and whether you drive or fly between parks. The park and concession fees are the part you cannot negotiate, and secondary sources put the Serengeti entry fee at about US$70 to US$84 per adult per day including VAT, with a concession fee of roughly US$60 to US$71 per person per night if you sleep inside the park, and the Ngorongoro crater service fee at around US$295 per vehicle. The rest, lodging, vehicle and guide, makes the price range from a few thousand dollars per person for a mid-range week to many times that for luxury camps.
This guide explains each part, how the season moves the price, and a simple way to budget. Fees change, so confirm them with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, or through your operator. We checked the details in October 2026. For the migration timing itself, read the Great Migration in Tanzania, month by month.
What Makes Up the Cost of a Migration Safari?
| Cost | What to know |
|---|---|
| Park entry | Reported at about US$70 to US$84 per adult per day in the Serengeti, including VAT |
| Concession fee | A per-night charge when you sleep in the park; reported at about US$60 to US$71 per person |
| Ngorongoro crater | A per-vehicle crater service fee reported near US$295, plus conservation area entry per person |
| Lodging | The biggest variable: eco-lodges, mobile migration camps or luxury camps |
| Vehicle and guide | A 4x4 with a pop-up roof and a driver-guide, usually charged per day and shared by the group |
| Flights | Internal flights between airstrips save time and cost more |
| Extras | Balloon flights, cultural visits, tips and drinks |
Sources disagree on exact rates and on whether VAT is included, so ask your operator which version they use.
How Does the Season Change the Price?
The high season runs from about late June to October, when the herds are in the north of the Serengeti and at the Mara River. Lodges charge their highest rates then, and rooms in the north sell out early. January to March, when the herds calve on the southern plains, is also popular and also pricey. The shoulder months of April, May and November are cheaper, but you may miss the crossings. Match the date to what you want to see: calving in February or crossings from July to October. Read Tanzania or Kenya for the Great Migration for more.
How Many Days Do You Need, and How Does That Affect Cost?
Seven days is the minimum that gives you time to cross the Serengeti. Nine to fourteen days let you reach the northern Serengeti for the Mara River and add the Ngorongoro Crater. Each extra day adds a lodge night, a park fee and a vehicle day, but it also adds game drives, so the price per game drive often falls with more days. Our migration itineraries include:
What Do Our Itineraries Include?
Our Tanzania migration packages list the park and conservation area fees, a professional driver-guide, a private safari vehicle, airport transfers, full board accommodation in eco-lodges and refillable water. The 14-day route uses three- to four-star eco-lodges. We do not publish package prices online, so ask for a quote for your dates and group. Because park fees and the vehicle are shared, a group of four costs much less per person than a solo traveller.
How Do You Compare Quotes Fairly?
- Check whether park fees are included, and whether VAT is included.
- Check the lodge category and whether the lodge is in the area the herds will be in on your dates.
- Check the number of game-drive days and the length of the transfers.
- Check whether the vehicle is private and has a pop-up roof.
- Ask what is excluded: international flights, visas, tips, balloon flights and drinks.
A cheap quote that places you far from the herds is not a bargain.
How Can You Reduce the Cost?
- Travel in a small private group to share the vehicle.
- Choose the shoulder months, or choose calving rather than crossings.
- Drive between parks rather than flying.
- Choose eco-lodges rather than luxury camps.
- Book early, since lodges in the north fill first.
What Does Each Month Cost You in Terms of Wildlife?
January to March puts you in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu for the calving season, when tens of thousands of calves are born and predators gather. June and July can include the Grumeti River crossings in the west, and from about July to October the herds are in the north for the Mara River crossings. April and May are the long rains, when the herds move north through the central plains, and November and December are the short rains, when they head south. Prices follow the same pattern: the most popular months cost the most, and the quieter months cost less but have less certainty about where the herds will be.
How Many Game Drives Does Each Price Buy?
A useful way to compare is to count the game drives. A seven-day trip with two days of travel and one rest day gives you four or five game drive days. A nine-day trip that includes two full days at the Mara River and the Ngorongoro Crater gives you six or seven. A fourteen-day trip that adds the western Serengeti gives you ten. Dividing the price by the number of drive days shows that longer trips often cost less per game drive, and it also shows how little you gain from a short, rushed route with long transfers.
What Is the Cheapest Way to See the Migration?
Travel in a small group or a shared departure in the shoulder months, use a mid-range eco-lodge rather than a luxury camp, and choose the area where the herds are in your month rather than trying to cover every region. For many travellers, the best value is February in the southern Serengeti, where the herds and the calves are close to the lodges and the transfers are short. Our 10-day February Great Migration safari is built on this idea.
What Should You Ask Before You Pay?
- Where will the herds most likely be on my dates, and where is the lodge in relation to them?
- How many full days will I spend in the area with the herds?
- Is the vehicle private, and is the guide experienced with the migration?
- Which fees, taxes and meals are included?
- What is the policy if the herds are not where expected? The answer should be honest: no one can promise a crossing.
Ideal para
- Wildlife lovers who want to see the herds in motion
- Photographers, couples and families with older children
Puede no ser ideal para
- Travellers who want guaranteed crossings; no operator can promise them
- Those on a very tight budget with only a few days
¿Qué errores cometen los viajeros?
- Booking the wrong region for the month. The herds move.
- Underestimating drive times. The Serengeti is huge.
- Comparing quotes without checking inclusions.
- Booking late. The best camps sell out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Great Migration Safari Costs
How much does a Great Migration safari cost?
It depends on season, lodge and days. Ask for a quote for your dates.
Is it cheaper to see the migration in Kenya?
Not necessarily. Read Tanzania or Kenya for the Great Migration.
When is the cheapest time?
April, May and November, though you may miss the main events.
Are park fees included in your tours?
Yes, in our migration itineraries. Always confirm in your quote.
Should I confirm the price and the herd position before I book?
Yes. Prices and fees change, and the herds follow the rain, so ask your operator for the latest position and a written quote close to your dates.
Is it cheaper to go in the low season?
Usually, but the herds may be in a different place and some camps close. Match the month to what you want to see.
¿Planificando tu viaje?
Tell us your dates and what you want to see, and we will send a quote. Talk to Our Tour Specialist. See also the cost of a luxury safari in Tanzania.
Source: Tanzania National Parks Authority.
