What You Need to Know: In 2026, a non-resident adult pays US$82.60 per 24 hours in the Serengeti, US$70.80 per 24 hours in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through it to the Serengeti) and about US$59 per 24 hours in Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Arusha National Park, all including 18% VAT. On top come a concession fee for each night inside a national park and a crater service fee of US$295 per vehicle for each descent into the Ngorongoro Crater. Every fee is included in our safari prices.
Northern Tanzania Park Fees per Person
The national parks are run by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area by its own authority. The 2026 rates for a non-resident adult, including VAT:
| Park or fee | Rate (incl. VAT) | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Serengeti National Park | US$82.60 | Per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area | US$70.80 | Per person per 24 hours, including when you drive through to the Serengeti |
| Ngorongoro crater service fee | US$295 | Per vehicle, per descent into the crater |
| Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha National Park | About US$59 | Per person per 24 hours |
| Concession fee | Varies by season | Per person per night when you sleep inside a national park |
Children aged 5 to 15 pay reduced fees, and children under 5 enter free. East African citizens and Tanzanian residents pay lower rates.
How Tanzania Park Fees Are Counted
A few rules make the totals less obvious than the rates:
- Fees run for 24 hours from the time you enter, not per calendar day, so a night inside a park and a morning drive the next day can fall within one fee.
- Driving through Ngorongoro costs a day's fee. The road from Arusha to the Serengeti crosses the Conservation Area, so you pay its fee each way even without stopping.
- The crater fee is per vehicle, not per person, so it weighs most on couples and least on groups of five or six sharing one vehicle.
- Sleeping inside a park adds a concession fee each night; lodges outside, such as those in Karatu or Mto wa Mbu, avoid it.
- Your operator pays the fees in advance, so you don't pay at the gate.
What Park Fees Add Up to on Real Safari Routes
Per non-resident adult, park and conservation fees only; concession fees and the crater fee per vehicle come on top:
| Safari | Parks | Park fees per adult | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-day Ngorongoro Crater day trip | Ngorongoro | US$70.80 | Crater fee per vehicle |
| 6-day Ndutu calving safari | Tarangire, Ndutu (Ngorongoro), Lake Manyara | About US$400 | Crater fee per vehicle |
| 7-day Mara River crossing safari | Tarangire, Serengeti (5 days), Ngorongoro transit | About US$615 | 5 nights' concession fees |
| 9-day Tanzania safari | Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti (5 days), Ngorongoro | About US$745 | Concession fees and crater fee |
| 12-day Tanzania safari | Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti (6 days), Ngorongoro | About US$825 | Concession fees and crater fee |
These are the parks' charges, not our prices; every safari price on our site already includes them. See how much a Tanzania safari costs for the whole budget.
Why the Serengeti Costs More per Day
The Serengeti has the highest daily fee in northern Tanzania, you pay the Ngorongoro fee to drive there and back, and most nights there are spent inside the park, which adds concession fees. That is why each extra Serengeti night adds more to a safari's price than a night in Karatu or near Tarangire. It is also worth every dollar: the Serengeti is where the migration and most of the big cats are.
How to Keep Park Fees Down Without Missing Anything
Park fees can't be negotiated, but a few choices change how much you pay in total:
- Travel as a group of four to six so the crater fee and vehicle are shared.
- Stay outside the parks where it doesn't cost you game time, such as Karatu before the crater or Mto wa Mbu after Lake Manyara.
- Match the Serengeti nights to your priorities: two or three nights see a lot; five suit the migration.
- Camp: our camping safaris pay the same park fees but cost less overall.
Will Tanzania Park Fees Change in 2027?
TANAPA and the Ngorongoro authority review their fees from time to time, usually announcing changes ahead of a season. Published figures also differ between sources, so we confirm the rates that apply to your dates in your quotation. If a park raises its fees before your safari, the new rate applies, and we tell you as soon as it is announced.
Other Government Costs on a Safari
Outside the parks, you also pay for a visa (US$50 for most nationalities, US$100 for US citizens) and Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, which we can help you buy. Optional extras such as a Serengeti balloon flight (US$490 per person) have their own fees. Tips for your guide are covered in how much to tip your safari guide.
Common Questions About Tanzania Park Fees
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
How much is the Serengeti park fee?
US$82.60 per non-resident adult per 24 hours in 2026, including VAT, plus a concession fee for each night inside the park.
How much does it cost to enter the Ngorongoro Crater?
US$70.80 per adult per 24 hours for the Conservation Area, plus a crater service fee of US$295 per vehicle for each descent.
Are park fees included in your safari prices?
Yes. Every park, conservation, concession and crater fee is included in our prices.
Do children pay park fees in Tanzania?
Children aged 5 to 15 pay reduced fees, and children under 5 enter free.
Why do I pay Ngorongoro fees if I'm only going to the Serengeti?
The road from Arusha to the Serengeti crosses the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so its fee is charged each time you drive through.
Bottom Line: How Much Are Tanzania Safari Park Fees?
From about US$59 a day in Tarangire and Lake Manyara to US$82.60 in the Serengeti, plus concession fees and US$295 per vehicle for the crater: about US$615 per adult for a 7-day migration safari before those extras. They are already in every price we quote; compare our Tanzania safaris or plan a route with our safari itinerary guide.