A Travel Price Comparison for Tanzania Serengeti National Park vs. Dar es Salaam for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Serengeti National Park or Dar es Salaam?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Serengeti National Park or Dar es Salaam, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Serengeti National Park or Dar es Salaam?

Serengeti National Park

Sprawling across 5,700 square miles of northern Tanzania in East Africa, Serengeti National Park makes up one of the oldest ecosystems in the world-one whose climate, vegetation, and fauna has barely changed over the past million years.  Today the park is a major wildlife destination, especially during the Great Migration when over a million hoofed animals are on the move.

Dar es Salaam

Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Photography Tours in Tanzania, and The Best Camping Tours in Tanzania.


Which place is cheaper, Dar es Salaam or Serengeti National Park?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Serengeti National Park is $123, while the average daily cost in Dar es Salaam is $460. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Serengeti National Park and Dar es Salaam in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Serengeti National Park $56
    Dar es Salaam $434
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Serengeti National Park $112
    Dar es Salaam $868
Compare Hotels in Serengeti National Park and Dar es Salaam

Looking for a hotel in Serengeti National Park or Dar es Salaam? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Serengeti National Park


Hotels in Dar es Salaam


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dar es Salaam Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Serengeti National Park $21
    Dar es Salaam $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam

Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer from JNIA Airport to Hotels in Dar essalaam: $55
  • Dar Es Salaam City Tour.(private Guide And Transfer) 10 Hrs: $200
  • Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer: $75
  • Dar es salaam-Morogoro-Dar es salaam transfer by luxury car.: $200
  • Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
  • Luxury Coach - Dar Es Salaam Airport Transfer to the City Centre/Out ( 22 max): $113
  • Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $73
  • Private Transfer from Dar es Salaam Airport DAR to Dar es Salaam by Luxury Car: $167
  • Sunset Cruise - Magic of Zanzibar Sunset With Transfer - Zanzibar: $100

Is it cheaper to fly into Serengeti National Park or Dar es Salaam?

Prices for flights to both Dar es Salaam and Serengeti National Park change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Serengeti National Park $38
    Dar es Salaam $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dar es Salaam

For Dar es Salaam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Swahili Cooking Class: $115
  • Swahili food Cooking Experience: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Serengeti National Park $52
    Dar es Salaam -

Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.

  • Private Insightful City Tour of Dar es Salaam: $25
  • City Historical Walking Tour And Street Food.: $40
  • City Walking Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $40
  • Dar Es Salaam:Shore Excursion Tour And Street Food Tasting.: $46
  • Dar es salaam City Tour & Storytelling: $72
  • Spice tour & Stone Town Zanzibar secrets with Lunch - Zanzibar: $75
  • City Tour: $77
  • Dar es salaam full City tour , unforgettable memory: $77
  • Tanzania Private Swahili culture experience: $80
  • The Best/Top Rated Cultural City Tour in Dar es Salaam : $85
  • Dar es Salaam City Tour Tanzania : $89
  • Stone Town & Spice Tour: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Serengeti National Park $15
    Dar es Salaam $7.66


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Serengeti National Park and Dar es Salaam, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Serengeti National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Serengeti National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Serengeti National Park and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam than you might in Serengeti National Park.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Serengeti National Park Expensive? and Is Dar es Salaam Expensive?.