Park fees are the one part of a Tanzania safari that is fixed by the government rather than the camp or the operator, and they are a bigger share of the budget than most travelers expect. Everything below is taken from the official tariffs published by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), converted to what a non-East African visitor actually pays with the 18% VAT added. In our journeys these fees are always included and itemized in the proposal; this page exists so you can see what they are. For Kenya’s equivalent schedule, see our Maasai Mara park fees guide.
National park entry (conservation) fees, per person per 24 hours
TANAPA charges a conservation fee per person for each 24-hour period inside a park; a sleep-over permit allows multiple entries within those 24 hours. Children under 5 are free. All TANAPA charges are quoted VAT-exclusive, so the right-hand columns show the figure with 18% VAT, which is what appears on an invoice.
| Park | Season | Adult (16+) | With VAT | Child 5–15 | With VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti | Peak, 16 May – 14 March | US$ 70 | US$ 82.60 | US$ 20 | US$ 23.60 |
| Serengeti | Low, 15 March – 15 May | US$ 60 | US$ 70.80 | US$ 20 | US$ 23.60 |
| Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha | Peak, 16 May – 14 March | US$ 50 | US$ 59.00 | US$ 15 | US$ 17.70 |
| Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha | Low, 15 March – 15 May | US$ 45 | US$ 53.10 | US$ 15 | US$ 17.70 |
| Nyerere (Selous) | Peak / low as Serengeti | US$ 70 / 60 | US$ 82.60 / 70.80 | US$ 20 | US$ 23.60 |
| Ruaha, Katavi, Mikumi, Saadani, Mkomazi | All year | US$ 30 | US$ 35.40 | US$ 10 | US$ 11.80 |
| Mahale Mountains (chimpanzees) | All year | US$ 80 | US$ 94.40 | US$ 30 | US$ 35.40 |
| Gombe (chimpanzees) | All year | US$ 100 | US$ 118.00 | US$ 20 | US$ 23.60 |
| Kilimanjaro (per day on the mountain) | All year | US$ 70 | US$ 82.60 | US$ 20 | US$ 23.60 |
Source: Tanzania National Parks Tariffs, TANAPA (tariff document covering 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024, which is the schedule TANAPA’s official tariff page displayed when we checked it on 5 October 2026). TANAPA revises tariffs on 1 July; we confirm the figures in force for your dates at booking.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area fees
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is run by a separate authority, the NCAA, which publishes its fees VAT-inclusive. The crater service fee is the one that surprises people: it is charged per vehicle for each descent into the crater, on top of the per-person entry fee, so a private vehicle for two costs more per person than a shared one.
| Fee | Non-East African visitor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit, adult (16+) | US$ 70.80 per person per 24 hours | VAT inclusive |
| Entry permit, child 5–15 | US$ 23.60 per person per 24 hours | Under 5 free |
| Crater service fee | US$ 295 per vehicle per descent | Charged each time a vehicle goes down into the crater |
| Vehicle permit, Tanzanian-registered 2,001–3,000 kg | TZS 41,300 per entry | The weight band of a typical safari Land Cruiser; paid by the operator |
| Vehicle permit, foreign-registered 2,001–3,000 kg | US$ 177 per entry | Self-drive visitors in foreign vehicles |
| Bush-lunch permit | US$ 23.60 per vehicle | For a hot lunch served inside the crater |
| Walking safari, 1–4 hours | US$ 23.60 per adult | Guided walks on the crater rim and highlands |
| Public / special campsite | US$ 35.40 / US$ 70.80 per adult per night |
Source: Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority tariffs, ncaa.go.tz, checked 5 October 2026.
Concession fees: the charge for sleeping inside a park
If your camp or lodge is inside a national park, TANAPA also charges a hotel concession fee per person per night. Camps collect it and it appears within your accommodation cost, but it explains part of the difference between a camp inside the Serengeti and one on the boundary.
| Park | Season | Adult per night | With VAT | Child 5–15 per night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti and Nyerere | Peak, July – September | US$ 60 | US$ 70.80 | US$ 10 (US$ 11.80 with VAT) |
| Serengeti and Nyerere | Low, October – June | US$ 50 | US$ 59.00 | US$ 10 (US$ 11.80 with VAT) |
| Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha, Kilimanjaro | All year | US$ 40 | US$ 47.20 | US$ 10 (US$ 11.80 with VAT) |
| Ruaha, Katavi, Mahale, Gombe and others | All year | US$ 30 | US$ 35.40 | US$ 10 (US$ 11.80 with VAT) |
Source: TANAPA tariffs, section 9, Hotel Concession Fees.
Other fees you may meet
| Item | Fee (before VAT unless stated) | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Safari vehicle entry, Tanzanian-registered 2,001–3,000 kg | TZS 50,000 per vehicle per 24 hours | Operator; built into your price |
| Safari vehicle entry, foreign-registered 2,001–3,000 kg | US$ 150 per vehicle per 24 hours | Self-drive visitors |
| Balloon operation fee, Serengeti | US$ 50 per person per flight | Added to the balloon operator’s own price |
| Walking safari, 1–4 hours / over 4 hours | US$ 20 / US$ 25 per adult | Usually included when a walk is in your itinerary |
| Guide or ranger service fee | US$ 20 per group per day | Included when an armed ranger accompanies a walk |
| Public campsite / special campsite (Serengeti) | US$ 30 / US$ 60 per adult per night | Mobile and fly-camping arrangements |
| Night game drive (Tarangire, Manyara and others) | Per TANAPA schedule, per person | Where the park permits night drives |
All TANAPA figures are VAT-exclusive; add 18%.
What park fees add to a ten-night northern-circuit safari
Take the itinerary we plan most often, in peak season, with camps inside the parks: two nights in Tarangire, two in the Ngorongoro highlands with one crater descent, and five in the Serengeti, with the first night near Arusha outside any park. Per adult, VAT included, the government fees come to roughly:
| Component | Working | Per adult |
|---|---|---|
| Tarangire entry | 2 × 24-hour permits × US$ 59.00 | US$ 118.00 |
| Tarangire concession | 2 nights × US$ 47.20 | US$ 94.40 |
| Ngorongoro entry | 2 × 24-hour permits × US$ 70.80 | US$ 141.60 |
| Serengeti entry | 5 × 24-hour permits × US$ 82.60 | US$ 413.00 |
| Serengeti concession (July–September) | 5 nights × US$ 70.80 | US$ 354.00 |
| Per-person total | about US$ 1,120 | |
| Crater service fee | US$ 295 per vehicle per descent | US$ 147.50 each for a couple in a private vehicle |
| Vehicle entry fees | TZS 50,000 / 41,300 per vehicle per day | A few dollars a day each; included by the operator |
Permit counts depend on gate times: a 24-hour permit that starts at 2 pm covers the next morning’s game drive, which is why a good operator times entries carefully. Low-season and shoulder dates reduce the Serengeti figures by US$ 11.80 per permit and US$ 11.80 per night.
In other words, park and crater fees alone are around US$ 1,250 per adult on a peak-season ten-night northern circuit, before a single night’s accommodation, guide or flight. They are fixed and non-negotiable, which is one reason a Tanzania safari costs what it does, and why a cheaper quotation often turns out to be one that spends fewer days inside the parks.
Tanzania park fee questions
Are Tanzania park fees included in a safari price?
With NndeeAfrika, yes: conservation fees, concession fees, the Ngorongoro crater service fee and vehicle fees are included and itemized in your proposal. Always check this line in any quotation, because a price that excludes park fees can look US$ 1,000 or more per person cheaper than it is.
How much is the Serengeti entry fee?
US$ 70 per adult per 24 hours in peak season (16 May to 14 March) and US$ 60 in the low season (15 March to 15 May), plus 18% VAT, so US$ 82.60 and US$ 70.80 as invoiced. Children aged 5 to 15 pay US$ 20 plus VAT; under-fives are free.
How much does it cost to enter the Ngorongoro Crater?
US$ 70.80 per adult per 24 hours for the Conservation Area, VAT inclusive, plus a crater service fee of US$ 295 per vehicle for each descent into the crater itself. The vehicle fee is shared between the people in the vehicle.
Do children pay park fees in Tanzania?
Children under 5 enter free. Children aged 5 to 15 pay a reduced fee: US$ 20 plus VAT in the Serengeti, US$ 15 plus VAT in Tarangire and Lake Manyara, and US$ 23.60 (VAT inclusive) in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
When do Tanzania park fees change?
TANAPA tariffs run on the Tanzanian financial year and are revised on 1 July. Because the schedule can change between the time you book and the time you travel, our proposals state which tariff they are based on and we confirm the figures before the balance is due.
Is VAT charged on Tanzania park fees?
Yes. TANAPA publishes its fees VAT-exclusive and 18% is added, while the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority publishes VAT-inclusive figures. This is why the same park is often quoted as both US$ 70 and US$ 82.60.
Sources: TANAPA Park Tariffs & Fees and the TANAPA tariff document; Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority Tariffs. Figures checked 5 October 2026. Related: Tanzania safari guide · What a Tanzania safari costs · Tanzania’s mandatory inbound insurance
Written and reviewed by Evance & Jennifer · Published 5 October 2026
