Tanzania Park Fees: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Manyara Costs Explained

Tanzania park fees for international visitors cost roughly US$53 to US$83 per adult per 24 hours in the northern safari parks, including 18% VAT (checked October 2026). The Serengeti costs US$82.60 in high season, Ngorongoro US$70.80 plus a US$295 crater fee per vehicle, and Tarangire and Lake Manyara US$59.

Tanzania park fees are one of the biggest fixed costs of any Tanzania safari, yet most quotes bundle them into one figure, so it is hard to tell whether a price is fair. This guide breaks down every fee you will meet on the northern circuit, explains seasons, concession charges and payment rules, and shows a worked example of what a week of fees really adds up to.

Photo by Dawn Westveld on Unsplash

How Much Are Tanzania Park Fees in Each Park?

Tanzania park fees depend on which authority runs the area and which tier the park sits in. Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) runs the Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha and Kilimanjaro, while the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority sets its own fees. Every rate is charged per person for each 24-hour period inside the park.

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The table below shows the non-resident Tanzania park fees most international travellers pay on a northern circuit safari. They have stayed on the schedule TANAPA introduced in July 2021, and TANAPA announced in March 2025 that entry fees would not rise for at least a year, but fees can change at short notice, so always check the official Tanzania National Parks website or ask us before you pay a deposit.

All these Tanzania park fees include 18% VAT and were checked in October 2026 against recently updated fee summaries. High season for TANAPA entry fees runs from 16 May to 14 March, and the cheaper low season covers 15 March to 15 May, the long rains. Ngorongoro uses one rate all year.

What Are the Serengeti Park Fees?

The Serengeti charges US$82.60 per adult per 24 hours from 16 May to 14 March and US$70.80 from 15 March to 15 May (checked October 2026). Children aged 5 to 15 pay US$23.60. With most visitors staying two to four nights, the Serengeti is usually the largest item among your Tanzania park fees.

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The Serengeti concession fee

If you sleep at a lodge or tented camp inside the Serengeti, you also pay a concession fee for every night. Under the 2021 schedule it is US$70.80 per adult per night from July to September and US$59 from October to June, with US$11.80 for children, including VAT. Campers pay a camping fee instead. Your lodge or operator normally collects it, so it may be hidden inside the room rate.

Staying just outside the park boundary avoids the concession fee, but you lose game-drive time driving in and out each day, and the Serengeti is huge. For most travellers the fee is worth paying for a camp close to the action, especially during the migration. Our guide to the best Serengeti camps by area and budget helps you choose where to base yourself.

How the 24-hour rule works

Serengeti fees are charged per 24-hour period from the time you enter, not per calendar day. Entering at 2pm and leaving before 2pm three days later counts as three periods. Good guides time gate arrivals and exits so you do not pay for an extra period you barely use, which is one of the quiet ways a well-planned itinerary saves money.

What Does the Ngorongoro Crater Cost to Visit?

Entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area costs US$70.80 per adult and US$23.60 per child aged 5 to 15 for each 24 hours, and driving down into the crater adds a crater service fee of US$295 per vehicle per descent (checked October 2026). Shared by four, that is under US$74 each.

Photo by Ben Preater on Unsplash

The crater service fee is charged per vehicle, not per person, which makes group or family travel noticeably better value: two travellers in a private vehicle each carry US$147.50 of it, while six share it at about US$49 each. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority sets these fees separately from TANAPA, and Ngorongoro permits are normally issued through a licensed safari operator rather than paid at the gate.

Paying Ngorongoro fees when you only pass through

The main road from Arusha and Karatu to the Serengeti runs through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so most northern circuit trips include it in their Tanzania park fees at least once, even without a crater visit. Itineraries that drive in and out of the Serengeti often pay it twice. Sleeping on the crater rim also falls inside the conservation area, so ask how many 24-hour periods your route includes. Our round-up of Ngorongoro Crater lodges covers rim and Karatu options.

Tarangire and Lake Manyara Park Fees

Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks cost US$59 per adult per 24 hours in high season and US$53.10 from 15 March to 15 May, with children aged 5 to 15 paying US$17.70 (checked October 2026). They carry the lowest Tanzania park fees of the big northern parks.

Photo by Jeff Lemond on Unsplash

Tarangire is known for big elephant herds and baobabs, especially from June to October when animals gather along the Tarangire River. Lake Manyara is smaller, with groundwater forest, a soda lake and good birdlife, and many trips cover it in half a day on the way to Karatu. Our guide to the best national parks in Tanzania explains which suits your interests.

How Much Do Tanzania Park Fees Add to a Safari?

Tanzania park fees typically add around US$700 to US$850 per adult to a seven-day northern circuit safari covering Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, depending on season and group size. The worked example below shows where that money goes for two adults sharing a private vehicle and staying inside the Serengeti.

This is an illustrative estimate built from the Tanzania park fees above, not a Divulge package price. Vehicle entry fees, which depend on the vehicle and its registration, are added by your operator. Lodges inside the conservation area or parks can carry their own levies, so always ask for an itemised quote. For a whole-trip picture, our Tanzania northern circuit itinerary lays out a realistic day-by-day route.

How Do You Pay Tanzania Park Fees?

Tanzania park fees are paid electronically rather than in cash. Most travellers never handle them, because the safari operator pays TANAPA and the Ngorongoro authority in advance and includes the fees in the quote. Self-drivers usually pay at the gate by Visa or Mastercard, and Ngorongoro permits are normally issued through a licensed operator.

Who pays lower Tanzania park fees?

Tanzanian citizens and residents pay much lower rates in shillings, and citizens of East African Community countries are charged the same park fees as Tanzanians. Expatriates living in Tanzania with valid residence permits have their own resident rates. If you live in East Africa, carry proof of citizenship or residence and tell us early so we price your trip correctly.

What Tanzania park fees do not cover

Activities inside the parks, such as walking safaris, night drives where permitted and hot air balloon flights, carry separate fees. Your visa is separate too: our Tanzania visa guide explains the e-visa. Kilimanjaro climbers pay daily conservation, camping and rescue fees on top of their trekking package.

Ways to Keep Tanzania Park Fees Down

The best ways to reduce Tanzania park fees are to travel in the low season, share a vehicle, cut unnecessary 24-hour periods and choose your nights inside the Serengeti carefully. Tanzania park fees are fixed by the authorities, so savings come from smart planning rather than negotiation.

Photo by Mohamed Nanabhai on Unsplash

Pick the right months: the long rains from mid-March to mid-May bring the lowest entry fees, lower lodge rates and green landscapes, though some roads get muddy and a few camps close. Our guide to the best time of year to visit Tanzania weighs these trade-offs month by month.

Mix your parks: pairing the Serengeti with Tarangire or Lake Manyara rather than adding extra Serengeti nights keeps the daily fee lower without losing quality game viewing. For more budget tactics, read our Tanzania safari on a budget guide, which covers camping safaris and shared departures.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are Tanzania park fees per day?

Tanzania park fees for a non-resident adult run from about US$53 to US$83 per 24 hours in the northern parks, including VAT (checked October 2026). Tarangire and Lake Manyara cost US$59 in high season, the Serengeti US$82.60 and Ngorongoro US$70.80, plus a US$295 crater fee per vehicle.

Are park fees included in a Tanzania safari package?

Tanzania park fees are usually included in a quoted safari package, because the operator pays them at the gate on your behalf. Always check the inclusions list for conservation fees, concession fees, the Ngorongoro crater service fee and vehicle entry, since these can add US$700 or more per adult to a week-long northern circuit trip.

Do children pay park fees in Tanzania?

Children aged 5 to 15 pay reduced park fees in Tanzania, roughly US$17.70 to US$23.60 per 24 hours in the northern parks (checked October 2026), and children under 5 enter free. From 16 years old travellers pay the full adult rate, so a family with teenagers should budget adult fees for them.

Can I pay Tanzania park fees in cash?

Cash is generally not accepted for Tanzania park fees at national park gates. Fees are paid electronically, usually by Visa or Mastercard, or in advance by your safari operator, and Ngorongoro permits are normally issued through a licensed operator. If you are self-driving, carry a card that works abroad and confirm payment rules with the park authority first.

Why is the Serengeti more expensive than other parks?

The Serengeti is more expensive because TANAPA places it in its top fee tier alongside Kilimanjaro and Nyerere, reflecting demand and conservation costs. Visitors staying in lodges or camps inside the park also pay a nightly concession fee, which is why the Serengeti usually takes the biggest share of a northern circuit fee budget.

Final Thoughts

Tanzania park fees add up to roughly US$700 to US$850 per adult for a classic week on the northern circuit, with the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater taking the largest share. Knowing the rates lets you read any quote with confidence and spot real value.

If you want a safari where all your Tanzania park fees are clearly itemised and the route is timed to avoid wasted park days, our Nairobi team can build it around your dates and budget.