East Africa safari prices per person per day, official park and permit fees in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, three worked budgets and what quotes leave out.
Published guides put a budget safari in East Africa at about US$150 to US$350 per person per day, mid-range at US$350 to US$700 and luxury at US$700 to US$1,500 or more, before international flights. Our own packages run from about US$350 to US$1,650 per person per day, and most fall between US$600 and US$950.
East Africa safari cost is a range, not one figure: the same week can cost three times as much depending on camps, season and how private your guiding is. Government fees sit under every trip and do not change between operators. Below are the published price bands, the official fees, our from-prices and three worked budgets.
All figures are US dollars per person, checked on 24 October 2026, and each fee names the official document it comes from.
The nearest thing to one comparable number is the cost per person per day. Published bands overlap, because lodges, vehicles and fees rise together.
| Style | Per person per day | Seven days | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (cheapest) | US$150–350 | US$1,050–2,450 | Group-joining or camping trips, simple lodges, a shared vehicle, usually one country. |
| Mid-range | US$350–700 | US$2,450–4,900 | Classic lodges and tented camps, private or small shared vehicle with a driver-guide, park fees and meals included. |
| Luxury | US$700–1,500+ | US$4,900–10,500+ | Small camps and private conservancies, private guiding, off-road driving where permitted, light-aircraft transfers. |
| Ultra-luxury | US$1,500+ | US$10,500+ | Exclusive-use camps and private-guide itineraries. |
Bands as published by Duma Explorer, SafariBookings and Africafreak on 23 October 2026. Each site draws its lines a little differently, so use them as ranges, not quotes. Seven-day totals are our arithmetic (daily band times seven). All figures exclude international flights.
Check the basis first: sites quote per day, per night or per trip, and these differ by a third. Our 7-day Classic Maasai Mara and Amboseli Safari shows it.
| Same safari, three ways to quote it | Figure | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Per trip | US$4,400 | Our from-price, per person |
| Per day | US$629 | Trip price divided by 7 days |
| Per night | US$733 | Trip price divided by 6 nights |
Across the 47 of our safaris that include lodging and guiding (beach-only stays left out), from-prices work out between US$350 and US$1,650 per person per day, and 38 of them sit between US$600 and US$950. The lowest is our 10 Days Best Of Uganda Safari at US$350 a day. That puts us in mid-range and above, not at the budget end.
Each country charges differently, so one regional figure can mislead.
The gorilla permit is Uganda’s biggest fee: US$800 for a foreign adult on the official tariff. It covers one mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale costs US$250, rising to US$300 from 1 January 2027. Our 10 Days Best Of Uganda Safari starts at US$3,500 and the 6-day Classic Gorilla Trekking Safari at US$3,800. Full figures: Uganda safari cost.
Rwanda is short and permit-heavy. The US$1,500 permit buys one mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, so even our 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Express starts at US$2,478, and the 7-Day Complete Rwanda Primates at US$4,692. Full figures: Rwanda safari cost.
The Maasai Mara (often spelled Masai Mara) drives Kenya’s price: Narok County’s 2025/26 fee sheet lists reserve entry at US$100 a day from January to June and US$200 from July to December, plus the flight or long drive from Nairobi. Our 7-day Maasai Mara and Amboseli safari starts at US$4,400. Full figures: Kenya safari cost.
Tanzania charges per 24 hours plus 18% VAT, so arrival date and nights in a park move the total. Our 7-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater safari starts at US$4,650. Full figures: Tanzania safari cost.
Planning a trip across several countries? The fixed fees (permits, park fees and visas) add up differently on a route that crosses borders. Our four country safari cost guide lists each fee and adds them up for six multi-country routes.
These fees appear in every estimate. Authorities set them, so they do not vary between operators; what varies is whether a quote includes them. Where an authority has announced a change that starts later, the table gives the date.
Official tariff is read on the authority’s own published document, and each row names it. Our arithmetic is worked out from those figures. All fees were checked on 24 October 2026.
| Fee (foreign non-resident adult) | US$ | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla permit | 800 | Official tariff UWA notice TDO 93/04 of 26 February 2026 keeps US$800 from 1 January 2027, the same as the 2024 to 2026 tariff. |
| Gorilla permit, April, May and November | 600 | Official tariff Same notice, which lists these months. |
| Gorilla habituation experience | 1,800 from 1 January 2027 | Official tariff Same notice. It was US$1,500 on the 2024 to 2026 tariff. |
| Chimpanzee tracking, Kibale | 300 from 1 January 2027 | Official tariff Same notice. It was US$250 on the 2024 to 2026 tariff, with park entry included. |
| Chimpanzee tracking, April, May and November | 200 | Official tariff Same notice, which lists these months. |
| Park entry, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth | 45 and 40 a day | Official tariff Valid 24 hours. From the 2024 to 2026 tariff, which UWA still lists as its current tariff on 24 October 2026. |
Foreign visitors can only book permits through licensed operators, and UWA says fees can change without notice. Foreign residents pay US$700, other Africans US$500 and East Africans UGX 300,000 for the same permit. The minimum age is 15. See our permit cost comparison.
| Fee (foreign non-resident adult) | US$ | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla permit | 1,500 | Official tariff Visit Rwanda gorilla tracking page (RDB), read 24 October 2026. RDB announced the US$1,500 price on 6 May 2017. |
The minimum age is 15. See Rwanda safari cost.
| Fee (non-resident adult) | US$ | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara reserve entry, January to June | 100 a day | Official tariff Narok County fee sheet 2025/26, non-resident adult. |
| Maasai Mara reserve entry, July to December | 200 a day | Official tariff Same sheet, the newest the county lists on its downloads page on 24 October 2026. |
| Kenya eTA, standard | from 30 | Official tariff Official eTA site: about three working days; expedited processing adds 100. |
The Mara figures come from Narok County’s own 2025/26 fee sheet. Amboseli National Park entry is priced on your written quote. Check our dated entry-rules table and the Kenya eTA guide. More in Kenya safari cost.
| Fee (non-resident, per 24 hours unless stated) | US$ | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Serengeti entry, adult: peak (16 May to 14 March) / low (15 March to 15 May) | 70 + VAT = 82.60 / 60 + VAT = 70.80 | Official tariff OFFICIAL TARIFF, TANAPA 2023/24: the latest schedule published as of 24 October 2026. It states its charges before 18% VAT. Our arithmetic |
| Tarangire, Manyara and Arusha entry, adult: peak / low | 50 + VAT = 59.00 / 45 + VAT = 53.10 | Official tariff Same schedule. |
| Concession fee per night inside the Serengeti, adult | 60 + VAT (July to September); 50 + VAT (October to June) | Official tariff Same schedule. |
| Ngorongoro Crater service fee, per vehicle | 295 | Official tariff Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority tariff page, read 24 October 2026, rate for non-East African citizens. |
These are official TANAPA 2023/24 figures (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), the latest schedule TANAPA has published as of 24 October 2026. The schedule states its charges before 18% VAT, so the table shows both. Children aged 5 to 15 pay US$20 plus VAT, which is US$23.60, in the Serengeti, and under-fives are free. See Tanzania safari cost.
The crater fee is charged per vehicle, so group size changes your share: about US$147.50 each for two guests, US$73.75 for four and US$49.17 for six (our arithmetic on the official US$295).
Lowest starting prices per person from our price lists on 24 October 2026. They are not quotes. The last column divides the from-price by the days.
| Package | Days | From, per person | Per person per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uganda and Rwanda | |||
| 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Express | 3 | US$2,478 | US$826 |
| Classic Gorilla Trekking Safari, Uganda | 6 | US$3,800 | US$633 |
| 10 Days Best Of Uganda Safari | 10 | US$3,500 | US$350 |
| Kenya and Tanzania | |||
| Classic Maasai Mara & Amboseli Safari | 7 | US$4,400 | US$629 |
| Classic Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari | 7 | US$4,650 | US$664 |
| Tanzania Grand Migration Explorer | 10 | US$7,200 | US$720 |
| Kenya & Tanzania Luxury Private-Guide Safari | 13 | US$15,600 | US$1,200 |
| Three or four countries | |||
| Explorer’s East Africa Safari (four countries) | 12 | US$7,450 | US$621 |
| Small-Group Discovery: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar | 14 | US$8,900 | US$636 |
| Uganda Kenya Tanzania Safari with Zanzibar Finale | 16 | US$12,100 | US$756 |
| The Complete East Africa Safari & Zanzibar | 18 | US$13,400 | US$744 |
Per-day figures run higher on short gorilla trips, where the permit is one day’s fee. Browse all safari packages, or those in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. For the top end see our luxury East Africa safari page, and for an overview East Africa safaris.
Every estimate is built from seven blocks: lodging, meals, vehicle and guide, park fees, internal flights, special permits, and the operator’s planning and support. Six things move them most.
The camp is the biggest swing: a classic tented camp and a private-conservancy camp can differ by several hundred dollars a night for the same animals. The top end buys space, privacy and fewer vehicles.
Peak lodge rates run July to October in Kenya and northern Tanzania and at Christmas; April, May and November cost less.
A private vehicle and guide cost more per person for a couple than a shared one, while small-group departures spread the cost. See private vs group safari and fly-in vs road safari.
Each added country adds a regional flight, an internal flight, fees and often a visa, and a three-country route can involve seven flights. See our flight logistics guide and the Uganda Kenya Tanzania route guide.
Rooms are priced for two, so solo travellers often pay a single supplement (see solo travel on safari). Children pay less in Tanzania, and gorilla trekking has a minimum age of 15.
A longer stay does not steadily lower the daily price in our packages; lodge level, permits and flights matter more. Extras add more: see hot air balloon safari cost.
These add the costs outside a package to three of our from-prices, with tips from our tipping guide. They are worked examples at 24 October 2026 prices, not quotes, and leave out flights and travel insurance.
| Line, per person | Low (US$) | High (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| Package: Classic Gorilla Trekking Safari, 6 days | 3,800 | 3,800 |
| Uganda e-visa | 50 | 50 |
| Tips, driver-guide (6 days at 10 to 20) | 60 | 120 |
| Tips, camp staff (5 nights at 5 to 15) | 25 | 75 |
| Total before flights and insurance | 3,935 | 4,045 |
| Per person per day, all-in | 656 | 674 |
| Line, per person | Low (US$) | High (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| Package: Classic Maasai Mara & Amboseli Safari, 7 days | 4,400 | 4,400 |
| Kenya eTA | 30 | 30 |
| Tips, driver-guide (7 days at 10 to 20) | 70 | 140 |
| Tips, camp staff (6 nights at 5 to 15) | 30 | 90 |
| Total before flights and insurance | 4,530 | 4,660 |
| Per person per day, all-in | 647 | 666 |
| Line, per person | Low (US$) | High (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| Package: Explorer’s East Africa Safari, 12 days | 7,450 | 7,450 |
| Uganda e-visa | 50 | 50 |
| Kenya eTA | 30 | 30 |
| Tips, driver-guide (12 days at 10 to 20) | 120 | 240 |
| Tips, camp staff (11 nights at 5 to 15) | 55 | 165 |
| Tanzania e-visa and visitor travel insurance | on your written quote, not in this total | |
| Total before flights, the Tanzania visa and insurance | 7,705 | 7,935 |
| Per person per day, all-in | 642 | 661 |
For two travellers, double every line. Example 3 prices the Uganda and Kenya visas separately, because the East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda but not Tanzania.
A fair quote lists what is in and out, in writing. If a price looks unusually low, permits, internal flights or park fees are usually what is missing.
These sit outside almost every package, so budget for them from the start. Visa fees change, so check the official portal before you apply.
| Item | Typical cost (US$) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda e-visa | 50 | Official tariff Uganda Immigration tourist visa page: single entry, approval valid 90 days. See our visa guide. |
| Kenya eTA | from 30 | Official tariff Official eTA site. |
| East Africa Tourist Visa | 100 | Official tariff Uganda Immigration: covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, multiple entry, valid 90 days, not Tanzania. See the EATV guide. |
| Tanzania e-visa and visitor travel insurance | on quote | Priced on your written quote. |
| Evacuation insurance | varies | See our insurance guide. |
| Tips | 10–20 a day; 5–15 a night | Guide, then camp staff. See our tipping guide. |
The visas priced above and tips add roughly US$130 to US$485 per person on the three examples above.
If you can choose your dates, the season is the best lever on price that does not reduce quality. It moves official fees as well as lodge rates. We give no percentage per month, because no authority publishes one.
| What changes | Season | When, and what it does to the price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara entry | High (peak) | July to December: US$200 a day | Official tariff Narok County 2025/26 |
| Maasai Mara entry | Low | January to June: US$100 a day | Official tariff Narok County 2025/26 |
| Serengeti entry | High (peak) | 16 May to 14 March: US$70 net | Official tariff TANAPA 2023/24, latest published |
| Serengeti entry | Low (green) | 15 March to 15 May: US$60 net | Official tariff TANAPA 2023/24, latest published |
| Uganda gorilla permit | Low (green) | April, May and November: US$600 instead of US$800 | Official tariff UWA notice of 26 February 2026 |
| Lodges and camps | High (peak) | July to October and at Christmas: the highest rates | Each camp sets its dates. |
| Lodges and camps | Shoulder | The weeks either side of peak: often priced between the two | Each camp sets its dates. |
| Lodges and camps | Low (green) | April, May and November: lower rates | Each camp sets its dates. |
In high season, also called peak season, park fees and camp rates are at their highest and the best camps sell out first. The shoulder season, the weeks either side, often means fewer vehicles at a sighting and lower camp rates. Low season and the green season (April, May and November at many camps) bring fewer vehicles and lush landscapes, though some camps close and roads are slower. Read our green-season guide and East Africa safari weather, or the best time pages for Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Many travellers search for a cheap or affordable East Africa safari, and there are real ways to spend less. Authority fees stay fixed, so savings come from how and when you travel.
The cheapest safaris are camping or group-joining trips with a local operator, for travellers who accept shared vehicles and simpler camps. Ask any operator for a written list of what is covered.
A safari costs more per day than most holidays, so the fair question is what the money buys. Part of it pays for things you cannot arrange yourself: a trained driver-guide who finds the animals, a well-kept 4x4, fuel across rough roads, and small camps with few rooms. Another part is government fees, such as a US$800 gorilla permit in Uganda or Serengeti entry, which fund conservation and the communities around the parks. Those fees are the same whoever you book with, so a much lower quote usually means less is included.
Whether it is worth it depends on what you want from a vacation. Mountain gorillas live in only a few forests, and the Great Migration crosses rivers only in the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, so the price reflects access to something rare, not only comfort. If you mostly want rest and a beach, a shorter safari followed by a beach stay may suit you better. Set a budget from the per-day figures above, then compare quotes line by line.
Give us your dates, group, countries, lodging style and whether you want a private vehicle, and we can return a specific price quickly. Whoever quotes you, check these points before comparing totals.
Choosing a destination? Read where to go first and the first-time safari planning guide. See how we protect your trip, and our notes on booking from the USA and from the UK.
Get a line-by-line quote for your dates
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see. We reply with a priced itinerary that lists every fee on its own line.
Start planningEvery fee in the tables comes from the authority’s own published document, read on 24 October 2026. We correct this page when an authority issues a new tariff.
Amboseli National Park entry, Nyungwe chimpanzee tracking, Rwanda’s low-season gorilla discount, the Tanzania e-visa and Tanzania travel insurance are not listed above: each appears with its current figure on your written quote. Spotted a changed figure? Tell us.
For how East Africa compares with the south, read East Africa vs Southern Africa.
To compare these costs with driving yourself, see our self drive safari guide.
For the Uganda gorilla permit saving, see our Uganda gorilla permit discount guide.
Related guides in this cluster
Best Time for a Four Country Safari 2027 in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania
Late July to September is the best time for a four country safari across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. See the month by month table, the second window and the 2026/27 rain caveat.
Read the guide →Combine Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Trekking With Two Permits and One Route for 2027
Trek gorillas in both countries on one trip: what two permits cost, which Bwindi sector links to Rwanda, which direction to travel and how to protect a rest day between treks.
Read the guide →East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV): Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda Covered, Tanzania Not
The East Africa tourist visa covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda for USD 100 and 90 days, but not Tanzania. Fees, first-entry rule, Kenya eTA question and the Tanzania eVisa, dated.
Read the guide →Four Country Safari Cost: The Fixed Fees, Route by Route
The fixed part of a four country safari cost: permits, park fees, visas and Tanzania insurance, added up for six routes, plus the ten lines to compare in any quote.
Read the guide →Gorillas First or Last on Safari? A Decision Guide for Long Trips
Should gorilla trekking come at the start or end of a long safari? Both sides, the tie-breakers, buffer nights and what to do if a trek is cancelled, with a five-step method to choose.
Read the guide →Gorillas and Migration Safari: How to Combine Both in One Trip
How to combine gorillas and the Great Migration in one trip: the months that overlap, Uganda or Rwanda, the Mara or Serengeti, and the nine nights you need.
Read the guide →How Many Days for a Four Country Safari in 2027: Nights, Transfers and Pace
Work out how many days a Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania safari needs: a nights-per-stop ledger, the transfer days you cannot skip, and what 10 to 21 days really give you.
Read the guide →Kenya eTA for Safari Travellers: Fee, Steps and Who Is Exempt
The Kenya eTA for safari guests: official USD 30 fee, about three working days to process, 90 days validity, who is exempt, transit rules and the open question for regional visa holders.
Read the guide →Rwanda Kenya Tanzania Safari Route Guide for 2027 Starting in Kigali
A planner's guide to a Rwanda Kenya Tanzania safari that starts in Kigali: route order, flights, the Mara to Serengeti link, entry rules and the gorilla permit.
Read the guide →Rwanda and Kenya Safari Route Guide 2027: Kigali, One Gorilla Trek and the Mara
A planner's guide to a Rwanda and Kenya safari: start in Kigali, trek once, fly to Nairobi, then the Mara. Flights, how to split your days and the entry rules for both countries.
Read the guide →Rwanda and Tanzania Safari Route Guide for 2027 From Kigali to the Serengeti
A planner's guide to a Rwanda and Tanzania safari: one gorilla trek, RwandAir's three-day-a-week flight, the Serengeti by air or road, and Tanzania's eVisa and insurance rules.
Read the guide →Safari Flight Logistics Between East African Countries: A Planner's Guide
How flights really work between safari countries: international routes, bush flights, the 15 kg baggage limit, the Mara to Serengeti link, overland times and a realistic transit day.
Read the guide →Safari Luggage Weight Limits for East Africa Bush Flights, Carrier by Carrier
Safari luggage weight limits by carrier: the 15 kg soft bag rule, who allows 20 kg, excess and freight seat prices, storing luggage at the gateway and packing for the multi-country trap.
Read the guide →Tanzania Mandatory Travel Insurance From 1 October 2026: What Visitors Must Buy
Tanzania now requires foreign visitors to hold government inbound travel insurance. See what is verified, reported and unknown: cost, exemptions, Zanzibar, buying and enforcement.
Read the guide →Uganda Kenya Tanzania Safari 2027: The Complete Route Guide
The route we recommend for a Uganda Kenya Tanzania safari: the best order, how many days it needs, the best months, how you move between countries and what to check before you book.
Read the guide →Uganda Rwanda Border Crossing at Katuna, Gatuna and Cyanika (Kyanika)
Two land posts link Rwanda and Uganda for gorilla trips. Learn which suits your sector, what to carry, how long to allow and why hours differ, checked 11 October 2026.
Read the guide →Uganda Rwanda Kenya Safari on One Visa for Three Countries: Route Guide 2027
A Uganda Rwanda Kenya safari on one East Africa Tourist Visa: the order of the three countries, the Nairobi flights, the Mara, yellow fever rules and the open Kenya eTA question.
Read the guide →Uganda Rwanda Kenya Tanzania Safari Route Guide 2027: Order, Flights and Entry Rules
How to plan a Uganda Rwanda Kenya Tanzania safari: the four route directions compared, the flight chain, how the East Africa Tourist Visa interacts with the order, and what to check.
Read the guide →Uganda Rwanda Tanzania Safari Route Guide 2027 for Gorillas First, Tanzania Last
A planner's guide to a Uganda Rwanda Tanzania safari: Entebbe or Kigali start, the border or flight between the forests, Kilimanjaro flights, visas and Tanzania's insurance.
Read the guide →Visa Requirements for Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Seychelles
Visa rules for Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zanzibar and the Seychelles change often. Here is how to check them properly and what to prepare before you travel.
Read the guide →Which of the Five Destinations Should You Visit First? A Decision Guide
Not sure where to start? Choose by what matters most: the migration, gorillas, a beach, budget or a first African trip. Here is how.
Read the guide →Yellow Fever Certificate East Africa: Uganda Dropped the Requirement, Neighbours Still Ask
Uganda dropped its yellow fever entry certificate on 2 October 2026, but Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania still ask. Journey table, 12 hour transit rule and border outcomes, dated.
Read the guide →Ready to see it for yourself?
Tell us your dates and interests — a destination specialist replies within 24 hours.
Start Planning