African Safari Cost per Person: East Africa Guide (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda)
Updated November 2026 · by Safari Broker, an independent safari research service
There is no single price for an African safari. Our one set of real quotes, five operators for a 7-day Tanzania trip, ran $1,890 to $2,861 per person excluding flights, and official headline fees run from $70 per person per day (Serengeti) to $1,500 per person per day (a Rwanda gorilla permit).
Headline official fees, side by side
- Tanzania: Serengeti, per adult per day$70
- Uganda: gorilla permit$800
- Rwanda: gorilla permit$1,500
Country by country
Tanzania
What drives cost: Park fees per day, lodge level, private vehicle, days in Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
Serengeti: $70 per adult per day (TANAPA tariff 2023/24, as of 13 Nov 2026).
Our 5 real Tanzania quotes: $1,890 to $2,861 per person, 7 days
Kenya
What drives cost: Masai Mara reserve fees and conservancy vs reserve camps, plus lodge level and vehicle.
Masai Mara reserve fee: not verified. Check the Narok County Government for the current figure.
Safari from Nairobi: options, drive vs fly, short-notice booking
Uganda
What drives cost: Permits dominate: gorilla and chimpanzee permits, plus park fees and transport between parks.
Gorilla permit: $800 per foreign non-resident (UWA tariff July 2024 - June 2026, as of 13 Nov 2026).
Rwanda
What drives cost: One permit drives the budget; the rest is lodging and transfers around Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla permit: $1,500 per person per day (Visit Rwanda, as of 13 Nov 2026).
East Africa only: we do not cover southern Africa.
How not to overpay
- Compare several operators. Same dates, group and comfort. Our five Tanzania quotes for one trip differed by 51%.
- Check what is included. Park fees, vehicle, guide, transfers, drinks, tips: line by line.
- Verify licence and membership. Ask for the national licence and association membership (for example TATO in Tanzania, KATO in Kenya) and check it with the association.
- Do not pay 100% upfront. Ask for a deposit and balance schedule plus written cancellation terms.
- Confirm fees at the source. Park tariffs change; use the official pages in Sources.
Choosing a company: how to choose a Tanzania safari operator.
Let us collect the quotes
We contact 3-10 vetted operators for your trip, compare inclusions and recommend three. Flat fee, no commissions, you book the operator directly.
See a finished report: example safari comparison.
FAQ
How much is a safari in Africa?
It depends on country, days, lodging and group size, so there is no single price. Our only real quote data: five quotes for one 7-day Tanzania trip came to $1,890 to $2,861 per person, excluding flights. Official headline fees range from $70 per person per day (Serengeti) to $1,500 per person per day (Rwanda gorilla permit).
How much does a safari cost per person?
For our one Tanzania example, $1,890 to $2,861 per person for 7 days with a private 4x4 and guide (6 travelers, flights not included). Your price changes with the factors above.
Do you cover South Africa, Botswana or Namibia?
No. Safari Broker covers East Africa only: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
How do I avoid overpaying for a safari?
Get several itemised quotes for identical dates and group, compare what is included, check the operator's licence and association membership, and avoid paying 100% upfront.
Get 3-10 competing quotes for your dates
Flat fee, no operator commissions. You book the operator directly.
Keep reading
- Tanzania safari costHow much is a safari in Tanzania? Five real operator quotes for the same 7-day trip, park fees from official tariffs, and what drives the price.
- Safari from NairobiAlready in Nairobi and want a safari? Options by trip length, drive vs fly-in, private vs shared, what to check in a quote, and short-notice booking.
- Gorilla trekking: Rwanda vs UgandaRwanda gorilla permit $1,500 vs Uganda $800: parks, rules, minimum age, habituation and how to book, from the official tariffs. Plus Kibale chimp tracking.
- Best safari operators in Tanzania: how to chooseHow to choose a Tanzania safari company: licence and association checks, red flags, questions to ask, and what five real quotes for one trip showed.
- Example safari comparison reportWhat you receive for the flat fee.
- Safari Broker pricing: $49 or $99Standard or express research.
Sources
- TANAPA - Tanzania National Parks Tariffs 2023/2024 (PDF)Serengeti conservation fee USD 70 per non-East-African adult per day (peak season). Edition valid 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024; it is the one the TANAPA tariff page links today. Accessed 13 Nov 2026.
- UWA - Conservation Tariff July 2024 - June 2026 (PDF linked from ugandawildlife.org)Gorilla permit USD 800 for foreign non-residents (Bwindi and Mgahinga), including guide fee, park entrance for the day and community contribution; Kibale chimpanzee tracking USD 250. The tariff period shown ends June 2026 and it was still the tariff linked on the UWA home page. Accessed 13 Nov 2026.
- Visit Rwanda - Gorilla trackingGorilla tracking permit: US $1500 per person per day. Accessed 13 Nov 2026.
- Narok County Government (Masai Mara reserve)Official county site. We found no fee schedule there today, so we state no Masai Mara fee. Accessed 13 Nov 2026.
- TATO - Tanzania Association of Tour OperatorsTanzania's tour operator association (official site). Accessed 13 Nov 2026.
- KATO - Kenya Association of Tour OperatorsKenya's tour operator association (official site). Accessed 13 Nov 2026.
- Safari Broker - Tanzania safari cost: 5 real quotesOur own anonymised quote data (n = 5, one trip, collected November 2026). Accessed 13 Nov 2026.