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Last checked: October 2026.
How much does a safari cost is the right question asked a little too early. Two journeys of the same length in the same park can differ several times over in price, and both can be good value for the people taking them. The useful answer is to know which parts of the price are fixed, which ones move, and which ones you can trade without losing what matters to you.
This guide covers what drives the cost. How a Nobu quotation is put together, and what it includes, is explained on our page about how your quotation works.
The detail
The fixed part: park and permit fees. These are set by governments and park authorities, charged per person, and the same whoever you travel with. They are worth knowing because they explain price differences that otherwise look arbitrary. Figures are for non-resident adults, checked in October 2026.
| Park or permit | Fee | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve (Kenya) | USD 100 (1 January–30 June); USD 200 (1 July–31 December) | Per non-resident adult, 06:00–18:00 ticket. Published Triangle and Narok county sources; see the dated guide. |
| Mara conservancies (Kenya) | Their own nightly fees | Separate from the reserve fee; amounts vary by conservancy |
| Amboseli and Lake Nakuru (Kenya) | US$90 per day | Kenya Wildlife Service rates from October 2025; no seasonal split |
| Serengeti (Tanzania) | TZS 178,850 (Dated live entrance records; valid 2026-05-16–2027-03-14) | TANAPA’s dated amounts are in TZS. Its webpage says VAT is included where applicable, while the linked 2023/24 booklet says charges exclude 18% VAT. Tax treatment remains unresolved; confirm the payable amount before booking. |
| Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) | USD 60 (Safari Portal · confirmation required); USD 70.80 (Main tariff page · confirmation required) | NCAA’s undated official portal and main tariff page disagree. Neither explains the effective period or tax treatment. These are published references requiring confirmation, rather than a final payable total. Crater service is separate. |
| Mountain gorillas, Uganda (Bwindi, Mgahinga) | US$800; US$600 in April, May and November | Low-season permits cannot be rescheduled |
| Mountain gorillas, Rwanda (Volcanoes) | US$1,500 | 30% less from November to May if combined with two nights in Akagera and/or Nyungwe and a paid activity there |
| Chimpanzees, Uganda (Kibale) | US$250; US$300 from 1 January 2027 | Park entry in Uganda is US$40 a day, US$45 at Murchison Falls |
What that means in practice. Three days of game drives in the Mara reserve carry US$600 per adult in reserve fees in August and US$300 in March, before a single bed or vehicle is counted. Kenya's park fees are not generally lower than Tanzania's, as the Maasai Mara or Serengeti comparison shows; the Kenya or Tanzania comparison weighs the whole trip.
The KWS amounts are its published October 2025 schedule. Reconfirm the operative tariff and final payment amount for your travel dates before paying. The Mara sources are an undated Triangle schedule and Narok’s enacted 2023/2024 table, rather than a separately dated 2026 circular.
Where the fees go. The Mara conservancies are partnerships between Maasai landowners and the camps on their land, and each landowner receives a guaranteed lease fee under the agreement they sign, so part of what you pay a conservancy camp reaches the families who own the land. The Mara Conservancy, which manages the Mara Triangle, says its fees are distributed to support conservation and local communities. Gratuities are a separate line. Our guidance, which a travel designer will confirm for your trip, is to plan for them, because tips are a meaningful part of guides' and camp staff's income.
The parts that move. In rough order of how much they shift the total:
| Driver | What pushes the cost up | What brings it down |
|---|---|---|
| Where you stay, and for how long | Exclusive camps, private villas, more nights | A simpler tier, fewer nights in the costliest camp |
| Season | July–October, Christmas and New Year | The green months, when many camps lower their rates and the Mara fee halves |
| Vehicle and group | A private vehicle and guide for two | A shared or small-group vehicle; a larger family filling one vehicle |
| How you move between parks | Light aircraft between several regions | Road transfers on a compact route; fewer parks |
| Country and permits | Gorilla and chimp permits; Rwanda's premium | Uganda's April, May and November permit rate |
| Reach | Remote regions that need flights and private guiding | Classic parks with good road access |
Accommodation is usually the biggest lever. The gap between a simple stay and an exclusive camp is wider than any other single choice. Many travellers spend most where they spend most time, for example a stronger camp for four nights in one place and a simpler stay on a one-night transit.
Flying versus driving. A light aircraft from Nairobi's Wilson Airport reaches the Mara in about 45 minutes; the road takes five to six and a half hours, depending on the gate. Flying costs more but returns most of a day, and on a short trip that day is often worth more than the saving. Light aircraft also limit luggage, typically 15–20 kg per person in soft bags.
Costs outside the journey. International flights, visas (Tanzania charges US$50 for most nationalities and US$100 for US passports), Zanzibar's mandatory inbound insurance if you add the island, travel insurance and gratuities. Ask for them to be listed, so the comparison with another quote is like for like.
Where to spend and where to save. Spend on the right region for the right month, on enough nights to be patient, and on a good guide. Save on transit nights, on a second park that adds driving more than wildlife, and on peak weeks if your dates can move. The best time to go on safari shows what each season gives up in return.
Key facts
Six drivers: stays and nights · season · private or shared vehicle · flying or driving · park and permit fees · reach. Maasai Mara reserve: US$100 per adult per day January–June, US$200 July–December. Serengeti: use the dated TZS entry records and confirm overnight charges. Amboseli: US$90 per day. Ngorongoro Crater: confirm the conflicting official entry and crater-service references. Gorilla permits: Uganda US$800 (US$600 April, May, November); Rwanda US$1,500. Kenya vs Tanzania fees: similar overall; the Mara costs more per day in migration season. Biggest lever: accommodation tier.
Planning it with Nobu
Nobu does not publish a price per day, because the honest figure depends on choices you have not yet made. Tell a travel designer the range you have in mind and what matters most, and we will show you what it buys, where it stretches, and where a saving would cost you more than it is worth. Start with Plan your journey.
Is it right for you?
This approach suits you if you want to understand where your money goes before you commit, and you would rather trade season, tier, vehicle or route than chase a headline figure. It suits families who can fill a vehicle, couples weighing one exceptional camp against several good ones, and gorilla trekkers deciding between Uganda's and Rwanda's permits; the Uganda or Rwanda comparison covers the full trade.
It is not the right approach if you need a fixed, published price before you will talk to anyone. In that case, a scheduled small-group departure with a set itinerary may suit you better than a tailor-made journey.
Journeys to consider
- Small-group journeys — Join a few other travellers and share the vehicle, which lowers the cost per person. Small-group journeys
- Your own way through Kenya. — A ten-day self-drive with planned stays and guided highlights, for travellers who would rather drive than pay for a private guide every day. Your own way through Kenya.
- The Mara, unhurried. — Five days in one place, which keeps transfers to a minimum and puts the spend into time on the ground. The Mara, unhurried.
Check the individual park fees
Park fees and entry rules: visitor categories, child ages, ticket periods, additional charges and dated official sources. Use that reference for entry details and this guide for the wider journey budget.
