Camping & the Standard tier
Budget Safaris
The wildlife does not know what you paid for your bed. Our Standard tier and camping itineraries put you in the same parks with the same guides — the saving comes from where you sleep.
- Camping itineraries available
- Same parks, same guides
- Park fees included in every quote
Overview
Where the Saving Comes From
Budget Tanzania safaris — camping itineraries and our Standard tier. The same parks, the same guides and the same 4x4, with simpler places to sleep.
Camping, not compromise
Serviced camping in the public campsites inside the parks — tents, bedding and a safari cook are part of the trip.
The game drives are identical
Same vehicle, same guide, same hours in the park as every other tier. Only the accommodation changes.
Simple lodges where you prefer
Not keen on camping? The Standard tier uses simple lodges, usually just outside the park gates.
No hidden park fees
Tanzania's park fees are a large part of any safari cost, and they are included in what we quote.
1 itinerary
Camping & Standard-Tier Safaris
Start with one of these, or tell us what you have in mind and we will build the route from scratch.
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Tell us your budget
Give us a realistic per-person figure and your dates. We will tell you honestly what it buys in Tanzania — and say so if it does not stretch far enough.
or call us on +255 755 625 994
“We had an amazing 7-day safari visiting Tarangire National Park, the Ndutu region of southern Serengeti, Central Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. Bef…”
At a glance
How the Three Tiers Compare
Every itinerary on this site is quoted at all three levels.
| Tier | Where you stay | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Camping or simple lodges outside the parks | The lowest cost per day in the park |
| Mid-Range | Comfortable lodges and tented camps | Comfort without the premium |
| Luxury | Premium camps and lodges inside the parks | Space, position and service |
Being straight
What Budget Really Means in Tanzania
Park fees set the floor
Tanzania is not a cheap safari destination, and the reason is structural rather than commercial. Park and conservation fees are a large, fixed, per-person, per-day cost that no operator can discount. They are the same whether you sleep in a tent or a suite.
That is why there is a floor below which a Tanzanian safari cannot honestly go. If a quote comes in far under everyone else's, the usual explanations are that park fees have been left out, that the itinerary spends less time inside the parks than it appears to, or that costs are being cut somewhere that should not be cut.
Where a real saving comes from
The genuine savings are accommodation, group size and season. Camping instead of lodging is the biggest single lever. Joining a scheduled departure rather than travelling privately is the second. Travelling in the long rains is the third, and it brings green landscapes and far fewer vehicles with it.
What we will not cut
Time inside the parks, the condition of the vehicle, and the guide. A cheap safari that spends its days driving between distant budget lodges is not a saving — it is the same money for less safari.
Camping safaris
What Serviced Camping Involves
Camping in Tanzania is not backpacking. On a serviced camping safari the crew travels with you and the work is done for you.
- Tents pitched for you The crew sets up and strikes camp; you arrive to a standing tent with a mattress and bedding.
- A safari cook Hot meals cooked in camp — cooked breakfast, packed lunch on drive days, a proper dinner at night.
- Public campsites inside the parks Which means you are already in the park at dawn, one of the underrated advantages of camping here.
- Shared washing facilities Campsite ablution blocks with showers and toilets. Basic, and cleaner at some sites than others.
- The same vehicle and guide Nothing about the game-driving changes at this tier.
Questions
Budget Safari Questions
How cheap can a Tanzania safari honestly be?
Is camping safe?
Is it very cold at night?
Can we do a mix of camping and lodges?
Is joining a group the cheapest option?
philo04
Wonderful Safari experience with Myk as our guide
We did a custom made safari tour for seven nights in Tanzania using the guide Myk Walcott from this company. It was an amazing experience. Myk is a fantastic guide, he is calm, supportive, knowledgeable, is a very safe driver, and is an excellent game driver, he tended to our every need. We stayed in four different hotels and all were excellent, the good was excellent, every detail was well organized. We had fantastic packed lunches on the go, we always had cold bottled water at our disposal. We felt very safe and like we were in good hands. We highly recommend this safari company and especially Myk as your guide. He went above and beyond for us, taking us to a local market in Arusha per our request and we even stopped at a local orphange to drop off supplies near the Tarangire National Park which was a wonderful experience. We only wish we could have stayed for longer and we hope to return in the future. Highly recommended
Robin / Jun 2026
A breathtaking, memorable voyage of dreams
This long-awaited trip required last-minute schedule changes mid-way due to illness and unavoidable flight disruptions, yet the Lappet Faced…
Amanda A
7 day awesome safari
We had the best time ever on the 7 day safari (Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro). Eric organized everything perfectly and was always available when needed. You can trust him on organizing your safari with your eyes closed!Our guide Noeli was amazing, he has a lot of experience as a safari guide and has vast knowledge on animals, plants, ecosystems, the culture.. He was able to answer our questions. He spotted so many animals and birds for us, and was very patient while we photographed everything. We even got to see the honey badger!! We really recommend going with Noeli, thanks a lot again for taking us to those beautiful places.I really recommend this tour company and would definitely do it again!
Celene / Jun 2026
Professional in planning a safari tour, perfect guide, excellent service
They will provide clear breakdown for you to know all the costs. Smooth communication with Ding and Francisco, and they respond so quickly! Our…
Nonlone
Very Wonderful Safari Trip
Lappet Faced Safari left a very good impression on me about Safari. When discussing the itinerary, Francisco responded very promptly and provided a lot of useful suggestions; during the entire trip, there were no extra costs or extra services. During this trip, we are very grateful to our guide Mike, who worked tirelessly to help us find animals and introduced various animal knowledge, making us have a very enjoyable trip; we also booked a ride from Arusha to Kilimanjaro For the airport shuttle bus, thank you to Noel for his superb driving skills; and thank you to Francisco for helping us book a fruit lunchbox in advance so that we did not go hungry. We were very satisfied with this trip.
George / Apr 2026
Abundant wildlife, excellent guides, a perfect trip
Overall, it was a perfect trip. First, the vehicle was in excellent condition, better than any other vehicles we saw along the way. Second, our…
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