Hi there,
We’re planning a trip for 2 adults and 2 kids to Tanzania and Zanzibar. I’ve had a quick look, and the prices are starting to get pretty wild.
We’ve got a budget of 8,000 €, and I was thinking of doing three or four days of safari and three or four days in Zanzibar, but even that seems like it might be over budget. Have you got any thoughts? I was also considering heading straight to Zanzibar and doing a one- or two-day excursion by plane instead—maybe that’d be cheaper than staying in a lodge.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your experiences and any price tips, departing from Nice!
At the very beginning, I really wanted to do four or five days of safari and 4 days in Zanzibar, but in the end, they quoted me a price of 12,000 € for 4 people—I was pretty taken aback, as they say. So I thought that if I stayed in Zanzibar and just did a day trip by plane, it might cost me less since I wouldn’t have to pay for lodging in the lodges. But it’s clear I’d see fewer animals.
I’m just starting my research, and it’s already getting complicated for me.
Good evening,
There are indeed day safaris that leave from Zanzibar, but honestly, they're not great—it's really just so you can say you've done a safari. Vehicles follow one after another, you're usually pretty cramped in them, and since you have to move quickly, there's not much time to enjoy it. For the prices of these day safaris, it seems they stay quite expensive.
Going through an agency, yes, I don’t think it’ll be easy to find something within the budget you’re considering.
For the Zanzibar part, for 3 people and 1 week with 4 outings (Safari Blue, Mnemba, snorkeling on the reef with a fisherman, and Stone Town), including the hotel, we were at around 1600 euros total (excluding flights). We organized everything ourselves, of course (Booking, TripAdvisor, etc.).
For the safari part, likely around Arusha, if you target public campsites in the parks and hotels outside the parks (like a hotel in Mto Wa Mbu if you’ve been to Tarangire and are considering Manyara), it seems you could stay within your budget by trying to organize it yourself or by checking with a local agency that might have better rates. You could plan 3 days in Tarangire, for example, and maybe 1 day in Manyara. Or, alternatively, the entire Serengeti (though that’s more expensive). Don’t spread yourself too thin over such a short time. The key is to find a suitable vehicle rental and then calculate accordingly, adding park fees (check the TANAPA website) and the costs of the hotels or campsites you identify.
On Le Routard, a traveler had posted a detailed travel journal of their self-organized trip (without an agency) with minimal safari time, and the price was really competitive. They’d broken everything down well for travelers considering the same thing.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and especially for replying! I’ll go through all of this and check out the *Routard*—thanks so much for all the tips!
Why go to Zanzibar? Tanzania’s coast is so beautiful, and you’re not too far to go see the animals. To give you an idea, you can check out our trip on our website.
Did you check out Victoria Expeditions (https://victoriaexpeditions.com/safaris/)? Back in 2009, I did a 4-day safari with them for 440 € (or $440 USD—I can’t remember which).
I also know Corto Safaris. It’s a French-run agency, and I climbed Kilimanjaro with them. They’re really competent.
For Zanzibar, it depends on what you’re looking for. For accommodation, you can find good options starting at 10 € per person on Booking, for example.
Personally, in 2009, I spent around 3,500 € for 25 days: Kilimanjaro (which was the most expensive part), a 4-day safari, the bus from Arusha to Dar es Salaam, one night in Dar es Salaam, the ferry to Zanzibar, 10 days in Zanzibar, and the round-trip flights Paris/Tanzania with Ethiopian Airlines.
I’m positive. I paid 440 € (about $616) for 4 days back in 2009. At the time, 1 € was worth $1.40. I’d joined a group of four Germans.
On this site https://www.safaribookings.com/rates/t9206, they’re offering a 4-day safari for $704 (657 €). Over the last 15 years, inflation’s kicked in, and now 1 € = $1.07.
Even with inflation, I'm surprised by these prices.
I contacted quite a few companies, and the rate is more like $2000 for 4 days.
The rate includes:
* meals and full-board accommodation
* water during the day on safari (excluding drinks and water in the evening accommodations)
* services of a French-speaking driver-guide
* national park entry fees, unlimited mileage, and activities
Excluding international flights.
With 3 days in the Serengeti and 2 days in Tarangire.
The safari described is camping-based with other basic services and no French-speaking guide.
One night is outside the park, and drinks aren’t included.
There are 6 people in the 4x4, and no time to dawdle.
We actually have 2 nights inside the park for the Serengeti and one night at the entrance of Tarangire.
The accommodations are lodges,
and there are 4 of us in the 4x4.
Hi Amandine,
How old are your kids, and how long would your trip be?
We went to Tanzania in February 2024—two weeks in the northern region around Arusha and one week in Zanzibar.
We flew with Kenyan Airlines with a layover in Nairobi. We extended that layover to a full day and hired a guide for 8 hours to visit Nairobi National Park as a little preview.
I’m happy to share more details about our trip if you’d like.
Best,
Aline
Hi David,
We visited the parks in Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Natron, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Ndutu.
And in Zanzibar, we spent four days in Stone Town and four days in Jambiani.
I’m happy to help if you need anything else,
Best regards,
Aline
Too short. Either you do a safari for more than 3 days, or you'll spend all your time traveling. And 8,000 € is just way overpriced. If you decide to go on a safari, try to pay for it separately, then book your flights (France-Tanzania and, for example, Arusha-Zanzibar then Zanzibar-France) and your hotels separately. It’ll cost you a lot less than going through an agency. In Arusha, you have "Animaux Tanzania Safaris Ltd"—they organize trips, speak French, and have reasonable prices (ask for Cosmas).
I’m actually looking at options right now and I don’t know where to go :-( We wanted to do two places, Jambiani and Matemwe or Paje / Nungwi
David
Keep in mind that the north of Zanzibar is much livelier than the south. You could head to the east coast near Paje, it’s nice. It all depends on what you’re looking for.
Keep in mind that the north of Zanzibar is much livelier than the south. You could head to the east coast around Paje—it’s nice. It really depends on what you're looking for.
It’s hard to decide right now since my wife and I are older (50) and our kids are young (25).
So, a compromise.
I’m thinking we’ll split our time between Jambiani and Nungwi.
Hi everyone!
My friend and I are planning a trip to Paris, and we're looking for a cheap place to stay. If you have any recommendations for a budget-friendly accomodation, we'd really appreciate them.
Also if you know any reliable car rental companies that aren't too expensive, please share your suggestions in the comments.
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Hi there, I’m planning a 16-day itinerary: Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou, Skoura, Valley of the Roses, Dades Valley and Gorges, Todra Gorges, Tinghir, Erfoud, Rissani, Merzouga, Tamegroute, Draa Valley, Nkob, Djebel Saghro, Boulmane Dades, and back to Ouarzazate.
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Hi there,
we have a 4x4 vehicle traveling from Diego to Ankify on October 31st. If anyone needs a transfer on the same date, please contact us privately or via WhatsApp: +261333409778.
Thanks
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I’m heading back to India after more than 15 years and I’d love to know what the cost of living is like these days.
I’m planning a trip for just under a month—Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Kolkata—mostly by train and taking it slow.
We’re traveling as a couple, so we’ll be splitting accommodation costs.
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Small travel note: trip planned for early 2027.
Hello Voyage Forum members.
For my wife’s birthday and her 64th year, I’d love to plan a two-week road trip with her—using our own car—preferably avoiding overly touristy spots, so off the beaten path where possible. That said, we wouldn’t mind stopping at must-see places along the way. The trip would cover Emilia-Romagna and/or Tuscany if combining both regions is doable in that timeframe, with the option for some hikes during the period. We’re looking at late November 2026. I’d prioritize the most authentic accommodations, ideally with breakfast included, without exceeding 100 € per night if that’s possible. So, stays like private rooms in hostels or homestays would be perfect.
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Hello everyone,
This is my first time traveling to Italy
For a short cultural trip
From October 8th to 17th
Solo as a senior woman
I booked my one-way ticket with FlixBus
From Lille Europe
On October 8th at 11:55 PM
I arrive at Porte de Maillot (Paris Pershing)
At 3:05 AM
And I’d like to get to Palermo, Italy
Starting October 9th
I’ve checked tickets—prices are sky-high everywhere, and there are even scams
Can you advise me on how to get to this city
Affordably
By train, plane, or bus
I need to arrive by October 9th
For my hostel room
Which is located at
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And from Palermo, how do I get to the hostel where I’ve booked?
I’m counting on your support and understanding
To make things easier before I arrive
And to recommend the best ways to get there
Safely
Can I count on you?
Thanks for your trust.
Looking forward to your advice, best regards.
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Hello,
I’d like to travel from Lille in the North of France to Italy safely and on a budget.
Preferably by bus.
If you have other ideas, I’m all ears!
I’m interested in any suggestions.
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The most visited?
Is it safe, please?
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Best regards,
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As two senior French couples who are used to traveling independently all over the world, we’d like to visit Kenya next November.
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Hello! 👋
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Didier
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We’re a young couple planning to travel to South Africa after spending about three weeks in Namibia. We’ll arrive in Cape Town around mid-December, with no fixed travel duration (though our budget will eventually set a limit).
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Hi there,
After exploring southern Peru in 2024 with your help, we’d love to head north next. There’ll be 5 or 6 of us:
1. Arrive in Lima in the evening.
2. Visit Lima and take a flight at 6:35 PM to Tarapoto.
3, 4, 5. Spend a few days there to trek in a reserve (Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve) or somewhere else.
6. From Tarapoto to Chachapoyas—either by overnight bus, daytime bus, or private car.
7. In Chachapoyas: Gocta Waterfall, Sonche Canyon, and walk back to town.
8. Head to Kuelap citadel, Revash, and arrive in Leymebamba.
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10. Cajamarca hot springs, overnight bus to Trujillo or Chiclayo—or do both.
11, 12, 13. Visit and explore the area.
14. Overnight bus back to Lima.
15. Lima.
16. Depart at 8 PM for France.
What do you think of this itinerary? Looking forward to your advice.
Thanks
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• Any advice for managing the heat while traveling light?
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Hi everyone!
I’m planning my dream trip for next September, lasting about a month. Here’s my itinerary:
Amsterdam: 3 days (departing from Montreal)
Tanzania: 3-day safari
Zanzibar: 6 days
Istanbul: 7 days
Return to Montreal.
Since my budget is pretty tight, I’m looking for tips and advice to cut costs without sacrificing the experience. Here are my questions:
Multi-destination flights: What’s the best way to book these connections? Is it better to buy a one-way ticket from Montreal to Amsterdam, then a separate internal flight, or use comparison tools for a multi-destination ticket?
Budget safari: Do you have recommendations for local agencies or tips to do a 3-day safari (Serengeti/Ngorongoro) at an affordable price (e.g., camping/glamping instead of luxury lodges)?
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Hi,
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Hi,
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Thanks
