What's Included in an Ultra-Luxury Safari

No Hidden Fees. No Surprise Add-Ons.

One of the most frustrating aspects of booking a Tanzania safari is the industry habit of quoting a low base price and adding park fees, camping fees, and transfer costs as you get deeper into the booking. We do not do this. Our price is the complete price for the services described.

Here is the complete, honest breakdown of what is included — and what is not — so you can budget accurately before you depart.

In Your Package

What Is Included

🏕️

Accommodation

✓All lodge, tented camp, or fly-camp accommodation as specified in your itinerary
✓All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner at camps and lodges
✓All soft drinks, house wines, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages at permanent camps and lodges
✓Laundry service at most permanent luxury camps (confirm before booking)
✓Evening campfire and pre-dinner drinks at fly-camps

🚙

Safari Logistics

✓Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-top roof — your group only
✓Private guide for the duration of your safari — the same person throughout
✓All park entry fees paid directly by us at the gate (no surprises)
✓Ngorongoro Crater service fees
✓All ground transportation between parks and accommodation
✓Airport transfers to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
✓Private Arusha rest-day logistics: airport pickup, hotel, vehicle, rest-day planning

📋

Planning & Support

✓Pre-departure planning consultation: timing, routing, camp selection
✓Detailed packing list, health advice, and reading guide
✓Detailed day-by-day itinerary with what to expect
✓48-hour emergency contact in Tanzania throughout your trip
✓Real-time itinerary adjustments if wildlife opportunities arise

✨

In-Camp Extras

✓Sundowner setup at scenic locations during afternoon game drives
✓Bush breakfast at remote locations during mobile safaris
✓All park camping fees for fly-camping portions
✓All camping equipment: four-season tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat
✓Quality camp beds and linens at fly-camps (not a thin roll mat)

Budget Separately

What Is Not Included

Flights & Visas

International flights to/from JRO or DAR

Book directly with Ethiopian Airways, KLM, Qatar, or Turkish Airlines — we do not mark up flights.

Tanzania tourist visa

$50–100 depending on nationality, obtainable on arrival or via online application.

Internal flights

Arusha to Serengeti flights if your itinerary uses them — quoted separately.

Travel Insurance

Tanzania inbound travel insurance (mandatory from 1 October 2026)

Every visitor must purchase the Tanzania Insurance Corporation inbound policy at inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz. It covers basic medical care and evacuation from Tanzania parks. It does not replace private comprehensive coverage — see below.

Private comprehensive travel insurance

Strongly recommended in addition to the mandatory inbound policy. Should cover trip cancellation, lost luggage, illness, and evacuation back to your home country.

Air ambulance evacuation for remote parks

Required for the southern and western parks. Verify your policy arranges (not just reimburses) helicopter or fixed-wing evacuation — costs can reach $30,000 or more.

Personal Expenses

Tips for guide, cook, camp staff

$150–300 per person for the full safari. See our tipping guide for full breakdown.

Alcoholic beverages at lodges

Fine wines, spirits, and champagne at permanent camps are not included in the package price.

Souvenirs and personal purchases

Spice market visits, Maasai market purchases, crafts — budget $50–200 depending on interest.

Travel medications

Malaria prophylaxis, vaccinations, and prescription medications are not included.

Optional Activities

Cultural village visits

$10–30 per person for community-run village experiences.

Hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti

$550–650 per person — booked separately, often the highlight of a trip.

Ngorongoro crater floor picnic lunch

$30–50 per person — an exceptional experience worth the additional cost.

Nature walks in designated areas

$20–40 per person — typically led by armed ranger, available at most camps.

Typical Additional Costs

International flights

$800–1,800 return

Safari tips

$150–300 per person

Tanzania visa

$50–100

Travel insurance

$50–200

Balloon safari

$550–650 per person

Alcoholic drinks

$50–200 per stay

Continue Planning

Money

Safari Cost Guide

Full cost breakdown: park fees, accommodation tiers, and a realistic total budget.

Tips

Tipping Guide

Exactly what to tip your guide, cook, and camp staff — with amounts in dollars.

Accommodation

Luxury Camps Guide

Our honest recommendations for the best luxury camps in Tanzania — not just our own.

4.8/5 from 154 TripAdvisor reviews

Magical Tanzania has been pricing safaris honestly since 1978. Ask us for a complete quote — no surprises after you book.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in a Magical Tanzania safari package?

All accommodation, all meals during the safari, private 4x4 vehicle with pop-top roof, private guide for your group, park fees paid on your behalf, crater service fees, airport transfers, and pre-trip planning consultation. We also include a detailed pre-departure document with what to pack, health advice, and a reading list.

Are park fees included in the safari price?

Yes — park fees are included in all Magical Tanzania safari packages. We pay park fees directly on your behalf at the park entry gates. This is not universal in the industry; some operators quote a lower base price and add park fees as an optional extra. Our price is the complete price.

Is international flights included?

No. International flights to and from Tanzania (Kilimanjaro International Airport — JRO, or Dar es Salaam — DAR) are not included. Flights within Tanzania — Arusha to the parks, or safari to Zanzibar — are included in combination itineraries.

Is tipping included?

Tips are not included — this is standard across all Tanzania safari operators. Our tipping guide explains the customary amounts for guides, cooks, and camp staff. Budget $150–300 per person for the full safari in tips, depending on group size and trip length.

What is not included in a Tanzania safari?

International flights, the mandatory Tanzania inbound travel insurance (required for every visitor from 1 October 2026 — purchase at inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz), a recommended private comprehensive policy, visa fees, optional activities not in your itinerary, personal purchases, alcoholic beverages at lodges (unless specified), tips, and travel medications such as malaria prophylaxis.

Do I need travel insurance for Tanzania safari?

Yes — and from 1 October 2026, three layers are in play, not one. (1) The mandatory Tanzania Insurance Corporation inbound policy, purchased through inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz, is required for every visitor and includes basic medical coverage and evacuation from Tanzania parks. (2) On top of that, we strongly recommend a private comprehensive policy from your home country — for trip cancellation, lost luggage, illness, and evacuation back to your home country, none of which the inbound policy covers. (3) For the more remote southern and western parks, verify that your private policy explicitly includes air ambulance (helicopter or fixed-wing) evacuation: a medevac flight from Katavi or the southern Selous to Nairobi or Johannesburg can run $30,000 or more, and you want a policy that arranges — not just reimburses — the evacuation. Standard travel insurance that only covers medical treatment is no longer enough on its own.

Can I add a Zanzibar extension to my safari package?

Yes — Zanzibar extensions are a natural complement to a Tanzania safari and we arrange them regularly. Beach accommodation, internal flights, and transfers are included in the Zanzibar package. Activities in Zanzibar (spice farm tours, Jozani Forest, snorkelling) are at additional cost.

Is the Serengeti hot air balloon safari included?

Balloon safaris are not included in standard packages — they are a separate booking at approximately $550–650 per person. They are, however, one of the most extraordinary experiences available in Tanzania and we strongly recommend adding one. We arrange the booking and logistics.

Peak season groups fill 6–8 weeks ahead — availability is limited

Start Planning Your Ultra-Luxury Safari

Personal itinerary, zero obligation — just ask Don.

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