The Serengeti ecosystem is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a world-renowned natural area. The Great Migration, which includes wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson’s gazelles, is the world’s greatest ungulate migration in this park. The Serengeti is a spectacular natural area throughout Africa and the world, with resilient predator populations and iconic animals such as elephants, giraffes, and rhinos.
In your safari, consider this list of the best mid-range Serengeti Safari Lodges. A safari on the Serengeti is a once in a lifetime trip, where you can truly experience the awe-inspiring spectacle of Tanzania. You may witness the incredible onslaught of the Great Migration or get up close and personal with a lion or a giraffe.
However, you may be deterred from taking this adventure by budget concerns. Never fear! There are plenty of Serengeti safari lodges that offer comfort, majesty, and security of the best lodgings in this exalted location, without the exorbitant price tag.
Serengeti National Park, as one of the world’s most recognized national parks, has a reputation for being a luxurious and expensive destination, this is not the case; the Serengeti should be regarded as both a budget, mid-range, and luxury safari destination.
The Serengeti national park can be visited on a low-cost or budget safari as well as a high-cost or luxury safari, depending on the visitor’s budget and desire to visit the Serengeti. Keep in mind that you can go on a luxury or expensive Serengeti safari, but you can also go on a budget Serengeti safari. However, the two types of Serengeti safaris (luxury and budget) differ in their approach to discovering and enjoying the Serengeti national park. In this post, we will discuss how to develop and visit the Serengeti National Park on a shoestring budget.
A budget camping safari in the Serengeti would cost between 180 and 300 USD per day; these types of wildlife safaris are suitable for adventure travelers. Mid-range Serengeti safari trip rates range from 350 to 600 USD per day and are ideal for tourists looking for a little extra comfort on their Serengeti safari without breaking the bank.
The average price of a luxury Serengeti safari tour ranges from 700 USD per day to hover around 2000 USD per day, with a greater emphasis on comfort and design in this type of safari.
How to Creat a Budget/Affordable Safari in the Serengeti National Park?
Consider the following
Go/book a Serengeti national park safari during the low season.
This is the first point to consider when evaluating Serengeti on a budget. You can book during the low season, which begins in April and ends in May, or before the huge migration begins in January and February. When the dry and golden plains grasses turn lusher, this is known as the green season in the Serengeti. During this time, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful green nature of the Serengeti, but animal viewing is still best, though it cannot be compared to the dry season, which runs from June to October.
You can also visit the Serengeti during the months of January to March, when you will be able to see wildebeest giving birth in the Ndutu area near the Ngorongoro conservation area; keep in mind that this is still the low season, so you will get more enjoyment because there are also more predators in that area at a lower cost. The advantage of visiting the Serengeti during this season is that there are fewer safari vehicles in the park, allowing for more rewarding and comfortable wildlife viewing.
The entrance fees are only USD 60 during the low season and USD 70 during the peak season, so you can see how much money you have saved and still be able to enjoy your trip to the Serengeti for that low price thus Budget/Affordable/Cheap Serengeti Safari.
Accommodations (Go on a Serengeti budget lodge/ camping safari)
Without a doubt, the cheapest Serengeti safari is a budget camping safari; this is one of the best ways to have a full Serengeti safari vacation on a shoestring budget. This type of low-cost Serengeti camping safari appeals to adventurous travelers since it includes transporting all of your camping gear, a guide, and possibly a cook in your car. Your lodging during your Serengeti budget safari will be a dome tent with a mattress on the tent floor, a pillow, and a sleeping bag.
The Serengeti has designated public campsites with standard facilities such as kitchens, washrooms, dining, concrete trails, parking areas, and enough camping grounds. A good example of a campsite liked by most visitors and has all the required facilities is the Serengeti Ngiri camping, Diki diki campsite, and so on thus Budget/Affordable/Cheap Serengeti Safari.
However, if camping is not your thing, you may stay outside the national park and visit it every morning. There are more affordable lodges outside the park, and you will save more than half your money this way. Remember that lodges inside the national park charge a higher rate than lodges outside the park; in addition to the higher rate, you must also pay concession fees and government VAT. So, when planning an economical Serengeti safari, living outside the park in budgeted accommodation is more than a good way to save money.
If you want to stay at a lodge inside the park, look for low-cost Serengeti safari lodges and camps. However, if you’re wondering where to stay within the Serengeti national park during your visit and don’t know where to start, there are a number of affordable Serengeti lodges and camps of varying prices that offer lodging in this wild and scenic landscape where you can still enjoy your trip while saving money. Among the lodges are the following:
Kati Kati Tented Camp
Kati Kati is a mobile camp strategically situated in central Serengeti, ideal for exploring the extensive Serengeti plains. The camp offers comfortable accommodation together with the unique opportunity to enjoy a real safari experience on a camp. In its comfortable tents one will feel completely immersed in the surroundings and one can enjoy the rich animal life and vegetation of the area.
Tortilis Tented Camp
The African bush provides some of the most photogenic scenes in the world. The allure of such natural beauty and uninterrupted wild game in vast landscapes devoid of fencing brings the best photographers of wildlife to our Tortilis Camps. The beauty of visiting the area is that you quickly become a part of this rich tapestry of life yourself. This is one the best Budget Accommodation in Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti sound of silence
Best Safari experiences are all about being and remaining connected to the nature around you. All day. And all night. Silence is to provides the best facilities and service with the perfect balance between comfort and keeping guests in touch with the raw nature of our location. Sound of Silence is extraordinary. It has set a new standard for comfort as well as dining at most affordable rates in the Serengeti.
Africa safari Maasai boma
Africa Safari Maasai Boma is a unique accommodation. Not only because of its ideal location, with Kenya's Maasai Mara in the background and situated between Lake Natron in the east, Serengeti National Park in the west and Ngorongoro in the south, making a roundtrip really a roundtrip, but also because of its construction. As the name suggests, the accommodation is inspired by a traditional Maasai boma.
Serengeti river camp
The River Camp is loved for its excellent location surrounded by Acacia trees and grasslands accommodating the residents around the area. It purposefully resides a few meters from the Mara River, where the picturesque River Crossing of the great migration occurs from June to October. Here, the fight for survival is eminent when you are caught off-guard with just how dramatic the crossing is, with hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle toss themselves into the river overcrowded by the Nile crocodile ready to attack and feast on them.
Seronera Wildlife Lodge
Seronera is one of the most important spots of Serengeti National Park, where you can witness an actual kill in the flesh. This area is in the heart of the Serengeti, where all game drives, balloon safaris, and catching planes take place. Seronera Wildlife Lodge is located on the migratory route, and it provides front-seat viewing of this extraordinary natural phenomenon. The vast and spectacular Serengeti is the epitome of most people's vision of wild Africa; its endless rolling plains perfectly define the meaning of its name in the Maasai language.
How much is a Serengeti on a budget safari tour?
Typically, a safari destination can cost around 280 USD per night for budget safaris. Meanwhile, mid-range safaris may cost around 350 USD each night, and 750 USD for luxury safaris, while top-end safaris can cost over 1,500 USD per night.
However, you can do a budget Serengeti safari by making a camping safari. You can check out our budget safari tours for more information.
Furthermore, you can also go on an affordable safari tour by joining a group safari to divide the cost.
Just choose a reliable safari company or local tour operator to get the best value for your money. You’ll also have a great time seeing the Great wildebeest migration, countless pink flamingos in Lake Manyara, and other wild animals on your safari tour.
What can you do in a Serengeti on a budget tour?
If you’re taking Serengeti on a budget, there are still many things that you can do. These include game drives with wildlife viewing, where you can witness the breath-taking beauty of lions and sites like the Olduvai Gorge—one of the most important paleoanthropological locations and of course get to know the Maasai at the Maasai village.
You can also try out different safaris —such as walking safaris and viewing wildlife on a horse. However, it’s best to note that this won’t be cheap.
But, if you want an unforgettable experience and to save money, you can opt directly for a hot air balloon flight and see the endless plains of the Serengeti, along with the various wildlife living in it.
What is the best way to visit Serengeti?
Choosing a reliable tour operator is the number one factor for a successful safari experience. However, if you are going on a private safari to public campsites, make sure to get all the necessary permits beforehand.
We recommend spending as many days in the Serengeti as possible. While there are many different accommodation options, the extra cost of staying for longer will be well worth it.
Additionally, make sure to come during the dry season to spot more animals, and be mindful of your travel dates.
Looking for help planning an affordable safari in Tanzania? Then contact us today.
When it comes to a lifetime experience in the Serengeti National park, Easy travel can make it happen for you. We can help craft your itinerary or make a customizable trip for you!
When is the right time to travel to the Serengeti?
You can visit the Serengeti at any time of year and have fantastic wildlife sightings. However, if you want to view the Wildebeest migration, it’ll be ideal to be there between July and October to witness this phenomenal event.
The rainy season is a good time to go for bird viewing. Meanwhile, wildebeest calving—which is a great spectacle to behold happens from January to March.
You can learn more about the best time to visit via our Annual Planner
How to reach Serengeti National Park?
Most safaris to the Serengeti start from the town of Arusha. The best option to get there is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) which is situated about 46km/29mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), just outside of Dar es Salaam, and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
There are regular flights from Arusha to several airstrips inside the park.
It’s also possible to drive; the trip is about 325km/202mi and will take about eight hours. It is a bumpy ride but it’s scenic and you’ll see some wildlife on the way.
As the trip takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation area, a popular option is to fly one way, and drive the other way taking in an overnight stop to visit the Ngorongoro Crater. Coming from the crater, the distance to the Seronera area in the Serengeti is about 140km/90mi, and the driving time is about three hours.
Serengeti national park distance from Arusha is around 419.2 Km if passing through B144 Tanzania. The drive takes 6 to 7 hours drive depending on the traffic flow on the highway, the driving is much controlled by the traffic police with more speed limits especially in certain points.
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