Data & sources
Every figure used by the calculator lives in one transparent file, data.json, with a source URL, status and last-verified date. Nothing is invented: where we could not verify a number it is labelled estimate.
Data status: Verified read in the official tariff of the body that sets the price · Sourced published by a lodge, operator or reseller (or a mirror of an official tariff) · Estimate our own assumption or an unconfirmed figure. Every figure has a source URL and last-verified date on the Data page.
Data last verified: 2026-10-16. Park-fee tariffs are usually fixed per fiscal/calendar year; lodging and vehicle prices change constantly.
Known limitations
- Component-based estimates exclude operator margin, domestic/bush flights, visas, travel insurance, vaccinations, drinks and optional activities, so quoted package prices are often higher.
- Park-fee tariffs are mostly published for 2026; the 2027 tariffs for Maasai Mara and Tanzania were not published/visible when verified, so 2026 figures are used as the best available proxy.
- Lodging ranges come from a small set of named sample properties (listed on the Data page). They are not market averages.
Generic assumptions
- Tips Sourced: Kenya-focused guidance used for all countries. SafariFind
- Children’s lodging Sourced: Mara Serena: ages 3-12 pay 50%, 13-17 pay 75% of the adult sharing rate. Ol Moran: 3-9 pay 50%.
- Solo supplement Sourced: A solo adult is charged about +50% (Angama 50%; Paraa ~50-60%). Applied when there is one adult and no children.
- Extras Estimate: Per person per day. Our own assumption; optional activity prices vary widely (e.g. a Mara Serena night game drive seat is USD 100; the Mara balloon is typically several hundred USD).
Flights
| Flying from | Return economy, per adult |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom Estimate | $650–$1,100 |
| United States Estimate | $900–$1,500 |
| India Estimate | $350–$750 |
| UAE (Dubai) Estimate | $350–$700 |
| Nairobi / elsewhere in Africa Estimate | $150–$500 |
| Other (Europe, Asia, Australia...) Estimate | $700–$1,700 |
Flight figures are rough estimates (search-summary fare ranges and our own assumptions), not live fares. Check Google Flights or an airline for real prices.
Kenya
Park fees verified from the Narok County (Maasai Mara) and Kenya Wildlife Service tariffs.
Park & permit fees
| Fee | Adult (non-resident) | Child | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve Calendar 2026 (USD 100 Jan-Jun, USD 200 Jul-Dec). 2027 not yet published when verified. | $100 (changes by month: $200 in Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec) per day (6am-6pm ticket) | $50 Ages 9-17 pay USD 50; 8 and under are free (we charge the child rate to every child, so this is slightly high for under-9s). | Verified Narok County Government masaimara.travel verified 2026-10-16 |
| Amboseli National Park KWS Conservation Fees, October 2025 schedule. | $90 per 24 hours | $45 KWS 'child/student' rate. | Verified Kenya Wildlife Service Kenya Wildlife Service verified 2026-10-16 |
| Lake Nakuru National Park KWS Conservation Fees, October 2025 schedule. | $90 per 24 hours | $45 KWS 'child/student' rate. | Verified Kenya Wildlife Service verified 2026-10-16 |
| Tsavo East / Tsavo West National Park KWS Conservation Fees, October 2025 schedule. | $80 per 24 hours | $40 KWS 'child/student' rate. | Verified Kenya Wildlife Service verified 2026-10-16 |
Lodging
| Tier | Per person / night (sharing) | Status & sample properties |
|---|---|---|
| Budget camping | Off-peak $40–$65 Peak $40–$65 | Sourced
Full-board camping/tented camp near the Mara gate (Kambu Campers). Single-property sample. Kambu Campers Masai Mara |
| Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Off-peak $120–$220 Peak $120–$410 | Sourced
Full-board tented camp to lodge, per person sharing (Ol Moran USD 120 pp all year; Mara Serena USD 200-220 pp, USD 410 pp mid-Jun to Sep). Ol Moran Tented CampMara Serena Safari Lodge 2026 rates |
| Luxury camp/lodge | Off-peak $625–$1,950 Peak $625–$2,950 | Estimate
Upper bound from Angama Mara's official all-inclusive rates (USD 1,850-2,950 pp); lower bound from a search-summary figure for Governors' Camp (~USD 623 pp) that we could not open, hence labelled estimate. Angama Mara ratesGovernors' Camp Collection 2026 recommended selling rates |
Vehicle & guide
Sourced Private 4x4: $200–$290 per vehicle/day; shared seat $29–$90 per person/day. Private 4x4 with driver-guide: USD 200 (fuel extra, short hire) to USD 290 (USD 260 fuel included + USD 30 driver night). Shared seat: low = USD 200 / 7 seats; high = USD 90 per seat (Mara Serena day game drive).
Tanzania
Park fees from the TANAPA tariff (read via a mirror because tanzaniaparks.go.tz renders dynamically); lodging sampled from two properties.
Park & permit fees
| Fee | Adult (non-resident) | Child | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti National Park TANAPA tariff 1 Jul 2023-30 Jun 2026 (USD 70 peak, USD 60 for 15 Mar-15 May). TANAPA's 2026/27 database reportedly keeps ~USD 70 + VAT with no low-season rate; the low case uses USD 60 in Apr/May. | $70 (changes by month: $60 in Apr/May) + 18% VAT per 24 hours | $20 Ages 5-15 USD 20; under 5 free. Excl. 18% VAT, which we add. | Sourced TANAPA tariffs 1 July 2023 Serengeti National Park Fees 2025-2026 nationalparksatlas.com verified 2026-10-16 |
| Tarangire / Lake Manyara / Arusha National Parks TANAPA tariff 1 Jul 2023-30 Jun 2026 (USD 50, or USD 45 for 15 Mar-15 May). | $50 (changes by month: $45 in Apr/May) + 18% VAT per 24 hours | $15 Ages 5-15 USD 15; under 5 free. Excl. 18% VAT, which we add. | Sourced TANAPA tariffs 1 July 2023 Serengeti National Park Fees 2025-2026 verified 2026-10-16 |
Lodging
| Tier | Per person / night (sharing) | Status & sample properties |
|---|---|---|
| Budget camping | Off-peak $40–$65 Peak $40–$65 | Estimate
ESTIMATE: no Tanzanian camping-safari rate was verified, so Kenya's budget camp (full board USD 42-67 pp) is used as a proxy. TANAPA campsite fees are added separately. Kambu Campers Masai MaraOur own assumption |
| Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Off-peak $220–$300 Peak $420–$570 | Estimate
Single sample: Serengeti Serena from USD 990 per unit 1 Jun-31 Oct (USD 495 pp if a double) and USD 521 per unit 1 Nov-22 Dec (USD 260 pp). Because it is one property and 'unit' is assumed to be a double, a +/-15% band is added (estimate). Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge price listOur own assumption |
| Luxury camp/lodge | Off-peak $2,210–$2,795 Peak $3,220–$3,525 | Sourced
Ultra-luxury all-inclusive sample (Singita Serengeti: USD 2,210 pp Jan-mid-May & Nov-mid-Dec, USD 2,795 Oct, USD 3,220-3,525 mid-May-Sep). No mid-luxury Tanzanian sample was verified, so this tier is high-end only. Singita Serengeti rack rates 6 Jan 2026 |
Vehicle & guide
Estimate Private 4x4: $200–$290 per vehicle/day; shared seat $29–$90 per person/day. ESTIMATE: Kenyan Land Cruiser hire rates used as a proxy; no Tanzanian operator rate sheet was verified.
Uganda
Park fees and primate permits verified from official UWA documents (July 2024-June 2026 tariff plus the 26 Feb 2026 circular).
Park & permit fees
| Fee | Adult (non-resident) | Child | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murchison Falls National Park UWA Conservation Tariff Jul 2024-Jun 2026 (still published as the live tariff). | $45 per 24 hours | $25 Ages 5-15 USD 25; under 5 free. | Verified Uganda Wildlife Authority verified 2026-10-16 |
| Queen Elizabeth / Kidepo / Kibale / Lake Mburo / Bwindi (Category A) UWA Conservation Tariff Jul 2024-Jun 2026 (still published as the live tariff). | $40 per 24 hours | $20 Ages 5-15 USD 20; under 5 free. | Verified Uganda Wildlife Authority verified 2026-10-16 |
| Mountain gorilla tracking permit (Bwindi/Mgahinga), per adult USD 800 normally; USD 600 low-season permits in April, May and November (non-reschedulable). Includes that day's park entry. Minimum age 15. | $800 ($600 in Apr/May/Nov) per adult, includes park entry that day | – | Verified Uganda Wildlife Authority UWA circular 26 Feb 2026 verified 2026-10-16 |
| Chimpanzee tracking, Kibale National Park, per adult USD 250 now (incl. entry), USD 200 low-season, rising to USD 300 from 1 Jan 2027. Children are not charged in this calculator. | $250 ($200 in Apr/May/Nov) per adult, includes park entry that day | – | Verified Uganda Wildlife Authority UWA circular 26 Feb 2026 verified 2026-10-16 |
Lodging
| Tier | Per person / night (sharing) | Status & sample properties |
|---|---|---|
| Budget camping | Off-peak $25–$60 Peak $25–$60 | Sourced
Camping USD 8 pp up to a basic twin tent USD 35 per tent (Red Chilli Rest Camp, Murchison). Meals are not included in those rates, so an estimated USD 15-25 pp/day for meals is added. Red Chilli Rest Camp, Murchison FallsOur own assumption |
| Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Off-peak $200–$270 Peak $200–$420 | Sourced
Full board: Chobe Safari Lodge 'from USD 200'; Paraa Safari Lodge standard room USD 270 (low) to USD 420 (peak). Reseller guide. Paraa Safari Lodge Uganda prices 2026 |
| Luxury camp/lodge | Off-peak $380–$400 Peak $480–$580 | Sourced
Paraa Safari Lodge Safari/Honeymoon Suites (USD 380-580 pp). Only this top-of-market lodge sampled; ultra-luxury Uganda camps not sampled. Paraa Safari Lodge Uganda prices 2026 |
Vehicle & guide
Estimate Private 4x4: $200–$290 per vehicle/day; shared seat $29–$90 per person/day. ESTIMATE: Kenyan Land Cruiser hire rates used as a proxy. (A Ugandan-registered tour vehicle pays only about UGX 30,000 entry per day under the UWA tariff, which we ignore.)
Rwanda
Partial coverage: the gorilla permit price is verified from RDB; Akagera/Nyungwe fees are not yet included and all lodging figures are estimates.
Park & permit fees
| Fee | Adult (non-resident) | Child | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain gorilla tracking permit (Volcanoes NP), per adult (age 15+) USD 1,500 for foreign tourists. Promotional rates for residents/Africans do not apply to foreign tourists. | $1500 per adult, includes park entry that day | – | Verified Rwanda Development Board verified 2026-10-16 |
Lodging
| Tier | Per person / night (sharing) | Status & sample properties |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Off-peak $170–$425 Peak $170–$425 | Estimate
ESTIMATE from rates seen in search summaries only: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge ~USD 170 pp, Five Volcanoes USD 260-425 pp. Rwanda lodge rates seen in search summaries |
| Luxury camp/lodge | Off-peak $1,690–$3,795 Peak $1,690–$3,795 | Estimate
ESTIMATE from search summaries only: Wilderness Sabyinyo ~USD 1,689-2,235 pp, Bisate ~USD 3,795 pp (all-inclusive). Rwanda lodge rates seen in search summaries |
Vehicle & guide
Estimate Private 4x4: $200–$290 per vehicle/day; shared seat $29–$90 per person/day. ESTIMATE: Kenyan Land Cruiser hire rates used as a proxy.
Countries not yet covered
Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia: not yet verified, so intentionally excluded.
All source documents
| Source | Type | Retrieved |
|---|---|---|
| Narok County Government - Masaai Mara National Reserve 2025/26 Park Fees & Charges (PDF) Non-resident adult USD 100 (Jan-Jun) / USD 200 (Jul-Dec); child 9-17 USD 50; 8 and under free. | official | 2026-10-16 |
| masaimara.travel - Park entry fees (cross-check of 2026 calendar-year fees) Confirms the Narok fees apply 1 Jan-31 Dec 2026; 12-hour ticket (6am-6pm). | secondary | 2026-10-16 |
| Kenya Wildlife Service - Conservation Fees (October 2025) (PDF) The kws.go.ke file could not be downloaded from our server; the full table was read from an identical copy at https://amboseli.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/KWS-Conservation-Fee-October-2025-4.pdf and the official PDF's text was seen in search results. Amboseli figures were also read directly on kws.go.ke (next source). | official | 2026-10-16 |
| Kenya Wildlife Service - Amboseli National Park rates page Non-resident adult USD 90, child USD 45. | official | 2026-10-16 |
| TANAPA tariffs 1 July 2023 - 30 June 2026 (PDF copy hosted on tanzanianationalparks.com, a tour-operator site) Copy of the official TANAPA tariff. The official page https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/tourism/visitor-information/tariff loads its tables dynamically and could not be read by our tools, so Tanzania park fees are labelled 'sourced', not 'verified'. TANAPA's 2026/27 amounts (in TZS, incl. VAT) were seen only via a third-party site. | secondary | 2026-10-16 |
| Serengeti National Park Fees 2025-2026 (VAT note and worked example) States 18% VAT applies to non-resident park and concession fees; example USD 70 + USD 60 + 18% = USD 153.40. | secondary | 2026-10-16 |
| nationalparksatlas.com - Serengeti 2026/27 fees (reads TANAPA tariff database) Reports TANAPA 2026/27: TZS 178,850 per adult/24h incl. 18% VAT (= USD 70 + VAT at ~TZS 2,165/USD) and no separate low-season adult rate. Not independently confirmed. | secondary | 2026-10-16 |
| Uganda Wildlife Authority - Conservation Tariff July 2024 - June 2026 (PDF) Park entrance (foreign non-resident): Murchison Falls USD 45 adult / 25 child; Category A parks (Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo, Bwindi, Kibale, Lake Mburo) USD 40 / 20. Gorilla permit USD 800 incl. that day's entry. The UWA page still serves this as the live tariff although its stated term ended June 2026. | official | 2026-10-16 |
| UWA circular 26 Feb 2026 - low-season permit rates and revised tariff from 1 Jan 2027 (PDF) Low-season (April, May, November) foreign non-resident gorilla permit USD 600, chimp tracking USD 200. From 1 Jan 2027: gorilla USD 800 (unchanged), Kibale chimp tracking USD 300, habituation USD 1,800. | official | 2026-10-16 |
| Rwanda Development Board - Mountain gorilla tracking permit fees Foreign tourist permit USD 1,500; minimum age 15; promotional rates for residents/Africans not applicable June-October 2026. | official | 2026-10-16 |
| Kambu Campers Masai Mara - budget camp rates Full board: campsite USD 41.75 pp; Classic tent USD 113.50 for 2 (USD 56.75 pp); Comfort tent USD 133.50 for 2 (USD 66.75 pp). No seasonal variation shown. | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| Ol Moran Tented Camp (rates via African Spice Safaris) Non-resident full board 2 Jan 2026 - 1 Jan 2027: USD 240 per double room (USD 120 pp), USD 170 single. Park fees excluded. | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| Mara Serena Safari Lodge 2026 rates (via African Spice Safaris) Full board double room per night: USD 400-440 (USD 200-220 pp) most of year; USD 820 (USD 410 pp) 16 Jun-30 Sep 2026. Day game drive seat USD 90 pp. Children 3-12 pay 50%, 13-17 pay 75%. Park fees excluded. | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| Angama Mara rates (official) All-inclusive per person per night: USD 1,850 (standard) / 2,750 (peak) in 2026; USD 1,950 / 2,450 / 2,950 in 2027. Park fees and USD 20 foundation contribution extra. 50% single supplement. | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| Governors' Camp Collection 2026 recommended selling rates (PDF) - seen only in a search summary, not opened A search summary quoted about USD 623 pp sharing for a Luxury Tent. We could not open the PDF, so this is treated as an estimate. | secondary | 2026-10-16 |
| Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge price list (reseller, 'from' rates per unit) Full board from USD 990 per unit 1 Jun-31 Oct 2026; USD 521 per unit 1 Nov-22 Dec 2026. 'Unit' assumed to be a double room (USD 495 / 260 pp). | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| Singita Serengeti rack rates 6 Jan 2026 - 5 Jan 2027 (PDF) All-inclusive per adult per night: Faru Faru USD 2,210 (to 15 May) / 3,220 (16 May-30 Sep) / 2,795 (Oct); Sasakwa USD 2,550-3,525. Excludes a separate USD 177 per adult per night wildlife fee. | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| Red Chilli Rest Camp, Murchison Falls (rates) Camping USD 8 pp; basic twin safari tent USD 35; basic banda USD 40; en-suite banda USD 55-95. Meals not included. | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| Paraa Safari Lodge Uganda prices 2026 (Valiant Safaris guide, June 2026) Per person per night full board: Standard USD 270 (low: Apr-May, Nov) / 340 (high) / 420 (peak); Safari Suite USD 380 / 480 / 560. Chobe Safari Lodge 'from USD 200'. Single supplement ~50-60%. Reseller guide; exact rates must be confirmed. | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| Rwanda lodge rates seen in search summaries (Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Five Volcanoes, Wilderness Sabyinyo, Bisate) - pages not opened Mountain Gorilla View Lodge ~USD 340/room double (USD 170 pp); Five Volcanoes USD 520-850/room; Wilderness Sabyinyo ~USD 1,689-2,235 pp; Bisate ~USD 3,795 pp. Not opened or confirmed, so all Rwanda lodging is an estimate. | secondary | 2026-10-16 |
| Authentic Adventures - Land Cruiser hire Kenya 2026 rates Land Cruiser with driver-guide, per vehicle per day: USD 170-200 fuel extra; USD 225-260 fuel included; driver meals/bed ~USD 30/night on vehicle-only hire; up to 6 passengers. | operator | 2026-10-16 |
| SafariFind - Kenya Safari Tipping Guide 2026 (summarises several operator guides) Group driver-guide USD 10-20 pp/day; private vehicle USD 40-50 per vehicle/day (another guide: USD 20-30 pp/day for a private Mara guide); lodge staff USD 5-15 pp/night. | secondary | 2026-10-16 |
| Indicative fares seen in search summaries (The Kenya Guide, Google Flights, Kenya Airways pages) - not opened Search summaries quoted typical economy returns of about: London-Nairobi USD 650-900, New York-Nairobi USD 900-1,400, Mumbai-Nairobi USD 315-740, Dubai-Nairobi USD 350-600. Fares vary hugely by date; all flight figures are estimates. | secondary | 2026-10-16 |