Budget Safari in Tanzania?
Posted by myronical@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 4 comments
We are two budget travelers living on Zanzibar for another two weeks. Looking to do a little safari trip before leaving Tanzania but tour operator prices online seem quite high. Is it possible or recommended to simply show up to Arusha or Dar es Salaam in person and shop around for last minute tours? Also, which parks offer the best bang for the buck? Looking for either one or two nights, with budget around $300 per person. Thanks!
flatpackbill@reddit
I'd not leave it to the last minute because there are a lot of moving parts, and doing it in a rush increases the chance of something going wrong. Like hotels overbooking, or not being booked at all, drivers being late etc..
Also, the guys scrapping for last minute bookings are not always the most reliable drivers - best to go with an established company, and they tend not to have spots for last minute inclusions.
The best anybody looking for a cheaper safari can do is:
Go off-peak: Either early March or May time, or November/ early December. Sign up to a newsletter and the drivers call out when they need the work.
Book in a big group: the bigger the group you book with, the cheaper you all can make it. The driver and car costs are the same for one or 10 people.
As a local friend to book with you, or book with a company that opperates as an advice service (you can take advantage of 1. and 2. at the same time)
If you're are lucky enough to have a friend in TZ/ you've gotten to know a local, who can negotiate a price as a local, then you're likely to get it way cheaper. It's a common thing in TZ that you should know the price of things when buying, otherwise, you're likely to pay a higher price (the fish market is all about the haggle).
There is an unspoken tax if you just don't know the price of things.
justswallowhard@reddit
I think this is what I paid 2 years ago in Tanzania, 2 nights for 300usd
miizayesu@reddit
With what company?
Kabiragorillasafaris@reddit
In Tanzania, you can nearly always find a safari. In the second-largest nation in East Africa, it has long been a way of life. The variety of wildlife and sceneries in Tanzania is unmatched by many other places in Africa. A Tanzania safari offers an incredible variety of experiences, from the typical savannah locations of the Serengeti, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro Crater to the beaches and coral reefs of Zanzibar. And that’s before you learn about the hidden treasures like chimpanzee trekking in the pristine rainforests of Mahale and Rubondo, or wildlife viewing without the crowds in the stunningly wild and distinctive landscapes of Nyerere (formerly Selous) and Ruaha.
Learn More About Budget Tanzania Safaris