Planning guide · Updated 15 October 2026
What a Tanzania family safari really costs.
By Mohammed, a local Arusha guide · Arusha, Tanzania · Last updated 15 October 2026
The short answer
A Tanzania family safari costs less per child than most families expect, because children aged 5 to 15 pay sharply reduced park fees and children under 5 are generally exempt. Government fees for a family of four on a typical three night Ngorongoro and Serengeti core come to about $1,429. Family lodging and your private vehicle depend on the lodges and dates you choose: our trip builder shows the exact total for the lodges and dates you choose, with every line itemised.
The biggest driver of a family's cost is lodging, not park fees, and the fees that are fixed get cheaper per head for children. Below are the real 2026 child and adult rates we price with and a fully itemised family example of the government fees.
Child vs adult park fees in 2026
Children aged 5 to 15 pay a reduced rate at every park; children under 5 are generally exempt. Entry is charged per person per 24-hour day; concession is charged per person per night slept inside the park.
| Park | Adult entry (pp/day) | Child entry (5 to 15) | Adult concession (pp/night) | Child concession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti (all zones) | $70.80 low / $82.60 peak | $23.60 | $59.00 low / $70.80 peak | $11.80 |
| Ngorongoro Crater (NCAA) | $70.80 | $23.60 | $59.00 | $11.80 |
| Tarangire | $53.10 low / $59.00 peak | $17.70 | $47.20 | $11.80 |
| Lake Manyara | $53.10 low / $59.00 peak | $17.70 | $47.20 | $11.80 |
TANAPA and NCAA official tariffs, VAT inclusive. The Ngorongoro crater descent fee ($295.00) and the TANAPA vehicle fee ($16.16 per day) are charged per vehicle, so a family shares them. Full per-park list in our park fees guide.
Worked example: 2 adults, 2 children, one vehicle
A 3-night core in peak season: one Ngorongoro crater day with a rim night, then two nights in the central Serengeti. Two children aged 5 to 15, everyone in one private 4WD. Government fees only, whole family, from the live 2026 database.
| Fee line | Adults (x2) | Children (x2) | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ngorongoro entry, 1 day | $141.60 | $47.20 | $188.80 |
| Ngorongoro rim concession, 1 night | $118.00 | $23.60 | $141.60 |
| Ngorongoro vehicle permit, 1 day | n/a | n/a | $16.16 |
| Crater descent (per vehicle) | n/a | n/a | $295.00 |
| Serengeti entry, 2 days (peak) | $330.40 | $94.40 | $424.80 |
| Serengeti concession, 2 nights (peak) | $283.20 | $47.20 | $330.40 |
| Vehicle fee, Serengeti 2 days | n/a | n/a | $32.32 |
| Total government fees, family of four | ~$1,429 |
Government fees only, from the live 2026 database. A one-night stay spans two game-drive days, so the Serengeti leg carries two entry days. The two children together add only about $212 across this core, against roughly $873 for the two adults, a clear illustration of the child discount. Family lodging, your private vehicle and your guide come on top, and our trip builder shows the exact total for the lodges and dates you choose, with every line itemised. A green season departure would lower entry and concession rates further.
Lodging and transport for a family
Many lodges offer a family or interconnecting room and price children under 12 at a reduced rate or free when sharing with two adults, though a family of four often needs two rooms or a family suite, which is the single biggest swing in the total. Your family travels in a private 4WD with your own guide, which spreads the vehicle and crater descent fees across four. Rates vary by lodge, season and route, so we do not print typical figures here: our trip builder shows the exact total for the lodges and dates you choose, with every line itemised. International flights are excluded.
Family safari cost questions
How much does a Tanzania family safari cost in 2026?
Government park fees for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children aged 5 to 15) on a typical three night Ngorongoro and Serengeti core come to about $1,429, because children pay sharply reduced rates and the family travels in one private vehicle. Family lodging and transport depend on the lodges and dates you choose: our trip builder shows the exact total for the lodges and dates you choose, with every line itemised. Children under 5 are generally exempt from park fees.
Do children pay park fees on a Tanzania safari?
Yes, but at much lower rates than adults. Children aged 5 to 15 pay reduced entry and concession fees: for example $23.60 Serengeti child entry against $82.60 for an adult in peak season, and $11.80 child concession against $59.00 to $70.80 for an adult. Children under 5 are generally exempt from park fees entirely. The ages and rates are set by the authorities, not by us.
How much do children save on park fees?
A great deal. In the Serengeti a child's entry fee is $23.60 against an adult's $82.60 in peak season, roughly a 71 percent reduction, and a child's concession fee is $11.80 against $59.00 to $70.80. In Tarangire a child enters for $17.70 against $53.10 to $59.00. Over a week of park days those reductions add up to hundreds of dollars per child.
Does a family get its own vehicle on safari?
Yes. Every Savannah & Sands safari travels in a private 4WD with your own guide, which keeps everyone together and lets the guide adjust the pace to younger travellers. Because the vehicle fee and the $295 Ngorongoro crater descent fee are charged per vehicle rather than per person, a family of four spreads those fixed costs across four people.
What ages count as a child for park fees?
Children aged 5 to 15 pay the reduced child rate at TANAPA parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Children under 5 are generally exempt from park fees. From 16, travellers pay the full adult rate. Bring passports as proof of age, since the fee is set by date of birth at the gate.
Are family park fees included in a Savannah & Sands quote?
Yes. We apply the correct child and adult rate for each traveller by age and show every entry, concession and vehicle fee as a separate at-cost line on your quote. We do not mark them up or hide them inside a single 'from' price. What you see is the exact government rate for your family and dates.
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