Budgeting for Extras on a Tanzania Safari

You have paid for your safari, packed your bags and you are ready to go. But even the most inclusive package leaves some costs to cover on the ground. Planning for them in advance means you can relax and enjoy the trip.

Here is a practical checklist of the extras our guests most often budget for, from paperwork before you fly to the souvenirs you take home.

Before you travel

Some costs arrive before you even leave home. Visas are required for many nationalities; apply only through the official Tanzania e-visa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz and check the current rules for your nationality. Beware of unofficial websites that charge extra.

Also budget for travel insurance with medical evacuation cover, travel clinic appointments and vaccinations, antimalarial medication if prescribed, and any gear you need, such as binoculars, a good hat or neutral-colored clothing.

If you are visiting Zanzibar, factor in its mandatory inbound travel insurance for international visitors, introduced in October 2024, and check the current requirement before you go.

Tips for your safari team

Tips are usually the biggest extra on a safari. Your driver-guide, any cook on a camping safari and lodge staff are commonly tipped at the end of their time with you. Kilimanjaro climbs involve a larger crew, so tipping is a bigger budget item.

Tipping is personal, and suggested amounts change over time, so we share our current guidance with guests when they book. Bring enough small notes in shillings or clean US dollars to make tipping easy.

Drinks, laundry and Wi-Fi

Drinks policies vary. Some lodges include soft drinks and house wine, while others charge for everything except water. Laundry may be free, limited or charged per item, and some remote camps cannot wash underwear for cultural reasons, so pack a small amount of travel wash.

Wi-Fi is usually free where available but can be slow. A local SIM card with data is inexpensive and useful in towns.

Charging is usually free in lodges, but bring a universal adapter. Tanzania mainly uses type G, UK-style three-pin plugs, and some camps only charge devices in the main area or during set hours.

Optional activities

Popular add-ons can be among the best moments of a trip, so it is worth budgeting for any that appeal:

• A hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti at sunrise.
• A visit to a Maasai village or other cultural experience.
• Guided walks, canoeing or night drives where permitted.
• Coffee farm tours or waterfall hikes near Arusha and Moshi.
• Spice tours, Stone Town walks and boat trips on Zanzibar.

Souvenirs and personal spending

Leave room for crafts, coffee, spices, textiles and art. Bargaining is normal at markets, but fixed-price shops and cooperatives are good for quality pieces. Budget too for meals and drinks outside your package, such as hotel nights before and after the safari, airport snacks and any extra transfers.

Card surcharges, ATM fees and exchange margins add up quietly, so include a small buffer for these. A sensible contingency, kept in a separate place, also covers the unexpected.

Remember domestic flights and light aircraft often have strict luggage limits, so excess baggage charges or shipping costs may apply if you buy large souvenirs.