Tanzania on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Tanzania on a budget is possible but safari days are never cheap: about US$200 per person per day averaged over safari and Zanzibar, with group camping safaris as the cheapest way into the parks. Zanzibar days alone can cost much less.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | US$50 | US$170 | US$600 |
| Food & drink | US$20 | US$40 | US$100 |
| Sights & tickets | US$60 | US$90 | US$150 |
| Local transport | US$70 | US$130 | US$250 |
| Per person, per day | US$200 | US$430 | US$1,100 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Tanzania day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the lanes of Stone Town and its carved wooden doors
- Visit Forodhani Gardens at sunset for the night food market
- Browse Darajani Market for spices and fish
- Watch the sunset from the beach at Nungwi or Kendwa
- See Mount Kilimanjaro from around Arusha and Moshi on a clear morning
- Walk the tidal flats on Zanzibar's east coast at low tide
Cheap eats
- Zanzibar pizza at Forodhani Gardens, about US$2-3
- Chipsi mayai (chips omelette) from a street stall, about US$1-2
- Pilau or biryani in a local café, about US$3-5
- Mishkaki (grilled meat skewers), about US$1-3
- Fresh fruit and coconut from street sellers, under US$1
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers join group camping safaris with tents and a cook, and on Zanzibar stay in Stone Town guesthouses, at about US$40-100 a double. Simple beach hotels in Nungwi and Kendwa are a step up.
Getting around cheaply
Group safaris are the cheapest way into the parks. In towns, dala-dala minibuses cost a few hundred shillings. On Zanzibar, dala-dalas link Stone Town with the beaches cheaply; shared taxis are easier with luggage. Ferries from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar are cheaper than flights.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Stone Town walk and the Old Fort, free
- Lunch: pilau in a local café, about US$4
- Afternoon: Anglican Cathedral and slave market memorial, about US$10
- Evening: Forodhani Gardens food market, about US$8
- Total: about US$200 per person averaged with safari days (a Zanzibar-only day can be much less)
More ways to save
- Ask operators for a budget camping itinerary with Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
- Carry small Tanzanian shilling notes for markets and dala-dalas.
- Plan tips into your budget, about US$15-25 per person per day for safari crews.
- Skip the balloon flight unless it is your highlight; it costs about US$550-650.
- Take the ferry to Zanzibar instead of flying from Dar es Salaam.
- Book Zanzibar beach stays on the north coast, where swimming works at most tides.
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Common questions
Can you do a safari in Tanzania on a budget?
Yes, with a group camping safari, though park fees mean even budget days cost about US$200 per person.
Is Zanzibar cheap?
Much cheaper than a safari: street food costs a few dollars and Stone Town guesthouses are affordable.
Which currency should I bring to Tanzania?
US dollars printed after 2009 for safaris, parks and hotels, and Tanzanian shillings for small purchases.