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The Nobu field notes / East Africa

Park fees for family safaris: ages, permits and the total

A family park-fee budget depends on each child’s age, visitor category and the entry period. Start with a specific party and park, then add the transport, accommodation and activities your journey actually needs.

In this story
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Two adults and two children aged 10

These examples use non-resident visitors and one published entry period. They cover admission only; accommodation, transport, vehicle entry and activities are separate. The children are both 10 on the visit date.

Park and seasonCalculationEntry-only subtotalPeriod and official source
Maasai Mara — January to JuneUSD 100 × 2 adults + USD 50 × 2 children aged 10USD 300Per person, 06:00–18:00 ticket; adult band 18 years and above, child band 9–17 years; 1 January–30 June; tax treatment unconfirmed. Mara Conservancy Conservation Fees — Undated live schedule; fee-image filename refers to 2024
Maasai Mara — July to DecemberUSD 200 × 2 adults + USD 50 × 2 children aged 10USD 500Per person, 06:00–18:00 ticket; adult band 18 years and above, child band 9–17 years; 1 July–31 December; tax treatment unconfirmed. Mara Conservancy Conservation Fees — Undated live schedule; fee-image filename refers to 2024
Serengeti — overlapping adult/child validityTZS 178,850 × 2 adults + TZS 51,100 × 2 children aged 10TZS 459,900Per person; current page states 24 hours; adult band 16 years and above, child band 5–15 years; Dated live entrance records; adult 16 May 2026 to 14 Mar 2027; child 1 Jul 2026 to 30 Jun 2027; tax treatment unconfirmed. TANAPA live dated tariff records — Each record has its own dates: seasonal adult entry records generally 16 May 2026–14 March 2027; annual records generally 1 July 2026–30 June 2027. Check the individual category and product.

For Serengeti, both the adult and child records must cover your visit date. Its displayed TZS subtotal does not settle the tax-inclusive payable amount. Read Serengeti National Park fee guide and Maasai Mara National Reserve fee guide for the full entry conditions.

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A child entry rate does not grant every activity

ExperienceMinimum ageWhere to check
Uganda gorilla tracking15 yearsBwindi Impenetrable National Park fee guide; UWA conservation tariff — July 2024–December 2026 according to the current UWA page; PDF cover retains June 2026
Kibale chimpanzee tracking12 yearsKibale National Park fee guide; UWA conservation tariff — July 2024–December 2026 according to the current UWA page; PDF cover retains June 2026
Nyungwe chimpanzee tracking and habituation15 yearsNyungwe National Park fee guide; Nyungwe manager frequently asked questions — Undated FAQ currently linked by the manager; June 2024 upload path

Nyungwe charges adult entry from age 13, but chimpanzee experiences still require age 15. A hotel’s child rate or a park’s ordinary admission band cannot override an activity minimum. Arrange and price a suitable alternative for anyone who cannot join.

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Count the vehicle once

A Mara Triangle vehicle with fewer than six seats has a separate published KES 1,000 charge, per vehicle per day. That is one vehicle charge, rather than four charges for this family. Keep the KES vehicle line separate from the USD entry subtotal; these examples apply no exchange rate. Mara Conservancy Conservation Fees — Undated live schedule; fee-image filename refers to 2024

For an overnight itinerary, ask which entry periods the stay requires and which charges the camp already includes. A campsite or conservancy charge can sit outside ordinary admission.

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Give Nobu the details that change the price

  • Travel dates and each child’s age on the relevant activity date.
  • Citizenship or residency category and the supporting documents requested by the authority.
  • Named parks, number of entry periods, camps and chosen activities.
  • Vehicle arrangement, room arrangement and any alternative activity for younger children.

Then use the quotation comparison to check that every option covers the same family journey.

Bring it into the conversation

Bring your dates, route and travellers. We will help you understand the complete journey cost.

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A few things worth knowing

Good questions.
Straight answers.

The details matter. Bring anything else into your planning conversation.

Are these totals the price of a family safari?

They cover entry for the stated family and one entry period only. Vehicle charges, accommodation, transport and activities need separate confirmed inclusions.

Can a 13-year-old join Nyungwe chimpanzee tracking because they pay adult entry?

No. Chimpanzee tracking and habituation require age 15, even though adult entry starts at 13.

Can I use the hotel’s child band for the park?

Use the park authority’s admission band and the activity’s own minimum age. The hotel sets a separate accommodation policy.