What You Need to Know: The 12-day Tanzania safari costs from US$6,820 per person for two travelers at mid-range lodges (US$5,070 budget, US$11,360 luxury). It includes airport pickup and drop-off at Kilimanjaro, a night in Arusha, ten safari nights at lodges and camps with meals, six of them in the Serengeti (three in the north from July to October, or at Ndutu from December to March, from US$6,810), all park fees, the crater fee and a private Land Cruiser with your own guide.
Who Is the 12-Day Tanzania Safari For?
It is for travelers who want depth rather than a checklist: photographers, keen wildlife watchers and anyone who has waited years for this trip. Three nights with the herds give you the best chance of a river crossing or a calving-season hunt, and six Serengeti nights leave room for slow mornings at a lion pride or a leopard's tree. The extra nights also mean shorter driving days.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want the most time with the migration | You'd like the same parks in nine days: the 9-day Tanzania safari |
| You enjoy slow game drives and photography | Photography is the main purpose: the 8-day migration photography safari |
| You want airport transfers and an arrival night included | You'd rather finish on a beach: our safaris from Zanzibar page |
Where Are the Herds During Your 12-Day Safari?
Three of the six Serengeti nights follow the migration:
| Travel month | Three nights at | From (2, mid-range) |
|---|---|---|
| July to October | Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River | US$6,820 |
| December to March | Ndutu and the southern plains | US$6,810 |
| April to June, November | The area where the herds are that month | In your quotation |
The pattern is explained month by month in the Great Migration by month.
12-Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary
Shown with the northern Serengeti; from December to March, days 6 to 8 are at Ndutu. Day by day:
-
Day 1: Arrival and a night in Arusha
We meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive about an hour to your Arusha hotel to rest after the flight.
Airport pickupArushaDinner, depending on your arrival -
Day 2: Tarangire
The drive to Tarangire and a full afternoon with its elephants, baobabs and the river, then a night in or beside the park.
ElephantsTarangireBreakfast, lunch box, dinner -
Day 3: Lake Manyara
A game drive in Lake Manyara's forest and along the lake shore, and a night in Mto wa Mbu.
Forest and lakeLake Manyara, Mto wa MbuBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 4: Into the Serengeti
Over the highlands and onto the plains to the central Serengeti, game-driving to camp.
PlainsCentral SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 5: The central Serengeti
A full day around the Seronera River and the kopjes for lions, leopards and cheetahs.
Big catsCentral SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 6: North to the herds
Through the Lobo hills to the northern Serengeti and your camp near the Mara River.
MigrationNorthern SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 7: The Mara River
A full day at the crossing points, waiting with the herds, with a picnic.
River crossingsMara RiverBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 8: A second day at the river
Another day following the crossings, or exploring the quieter northern plains and the Bologonja area.
River crossingsNorthern SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 9: Back to the central plains
A game drive south to the central Serengeti for a last night on the plains.
Game driveCentral SerengetiBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 10: Olduvai Gorge and the highlands
Out of the park, with an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge, and up to Karatu for two nights in the cool highlands.
HistoryOlduvai, KaratuBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 11: A day in the Ngorongoro Crater
A first-light descent and an unhurried game drive on the crater floor, with a picnic by the hippo pool, then back to Karatu for the evening.
Crater game driveNgorongoro CraterBreakfast, picnic lunch, dinner -
Day 12: Back to Kilimanjaro airport
A slow breakfast in the highlands, then the drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.
DepartureKaratu, Kilimanjaro airportBreakfast
Where You Stay on the 12-Day Safari
Night by night, at your chosen level, "or similar":
| Nights | Area | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arusha | Mvuli Hotel Arusha | Forest Hill Lodge, Greenside Hotel, The Safari House | Gran Meliá Arusha, Arusha Coffee Lodge by Elewana |
| 2 | Tarangire | Sangaiwe Tented Camp | Ang'ata Tarangire Kuro, Burunge Tented Lodge, Tarangire Katikati Camp | Elephant Springs by Karibu Camps, Maramboi Tented Lodge |
| 3 | Mto wa Mbu, Lake Manyara | Fig Tree Lodge, Nsya Lodge | Moonbow Lodge, Mawe Mawe Manyara, Suricata Boma Lodge | Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge |
| 4, 5 and 9 | Central Serengeti | Maboresho Tented Camp | Ang'ata Serengeti, Mawe Tented Camp, Serengeti Tortilis Camp | Serengeti Serena Lodge, Nyota Luxury Tented Camp |
| 6–8 | Northern Serengeti, near the Mara River | Serengeti Classic View Kogatende | GNU Migration Camp, Nyikani Migration Camp, Olmorijo Camp | Malaika Mara River Luxury Camp, Mara Mara Tented Lodge |
| 10–11 | Karatu, Ngorongoro highlands | Bougainvillea Lodge, Country Lodge Karatu | Africa Safari Karatu, Eileen's Tree Inn, Karatu Tented Lodge | Gibbs' Farm, Acacia Farm Lodge |
How Much Does the 12-Day Tanzania Safari Cost?
From US$6,820 per person for two travelers at mid-range lodges, July-to-October version, airport transfers included:
| Travelers | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$7,200 | US$9,220 | US$15,175 |
| 2 | US$5,070 | US$6,820 | US$11,360 |
| 3 | US$4,385 | US$6,070 | US$10,470 |
| 4 | US$4,295 | US$6,050 | US$10,585 |
| 5 | US$4,040 | US$5,750 | US$10,210 |
| 6 | US$4,040 | US$5,790 | US$10,330 |
From December to March, with three nights at Ndutu, it costs from US$6,810 per person for two at mid-range level (US$4,885 budget, US$10,800 luxury).
Park fees on the 12-Day Tanzania Safari
All included; 2026 rates:
| Fee | 2026 rate (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tarangire National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
| Lake Manyara National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
| Serengeti National Park | US$82.60 per person per 24 hours |
| Concession fee (nights inside the parks and on the crater rim) | Per person per night, by season |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through) | US$70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle per descent |
What the 12-Day Tanzania Safari Includes
Your price includes:
- Airport pickup and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport
- A night in Arusha and ten safari nights at lodges and tented camps at your chosen level
- All meals on safari, as listed in the itinerary
- The Ngorongoro crater service fee
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, a window seat for every guest (at most 6), charging points and a fridge for drinks, with your own driver-guide
- All park, conservation and concession fees
- AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation cover
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included in the 12-Day Tanzania Safari price
Not included:
- International flights and visas (US$100 for US citizens)
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult from October 1, 2026 (we can help you buy it)
- Travel insurance, including medical evacuation
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, except where a lodge includes them, and personal items
- A Serengeti balloon flight (US$490 per person)
One Guide for Twelve Days
Your driver-guide graduated from the College of African Wildlife Management at Mweka and has at least five years of safari guiding; guides speak English, and we can arrange French, Spanish, German or Chinese-speaking guides. On a trip this long, your guide becomes part of the experience: tell them on day one what you most want to see and they will plan around it.
How to Book the 12-Day Tanzania Safari
Send your travel dates, the number of travelers and your lodge level through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com. We reply from Moshi with a written quotation naming every lodge or campsite for your dates. A 30% deposit confirms the trip and the balance is paid on arrival, by Pesapal (card or mobile money) or bank transfer in US dollars; cancellations follow our booking terms.
Common Questions About the 12-Day Tanzania Safari
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
Is 12 days too long for a safari?
Not with this pace: shorter driving days, six Serengeti nights and a free-feeling crater day keep it relaxed. Most guests say the last days are the best.
How much is a 12-day Tanzania safari?
From US$6,820 per person for two travelers at mid-range lodges, US$5,070 at budget level and US$11,360 at luxury level, including airport transfers.
When is the best time for a 12-day safari?
July to October for the river crossings, or January to March for calving; the trip works all year, with the herds' area chosen for your month.
Can we mix lodge levels?
Yes. Many guests choose mid-range for most nights and a luxury camp in the north or at the crater; ask us to price it.
Can children join?
Yes. Children 5 and under travel free and ages 6 to 15 pay 30% of the adult price; see our family safaris for details.
Should You Book the 12-Day Tanzania Safari?
Book it if you want the most complete northern Tanzania safari we run: six Serengeti nights, three with the herds, and an unhurried crater day, from US$6,820 per person at mid-range level. If nine days suit you better, see the 9-day safari, or browse all our Tanzania safaris.