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

Should you visit Zanzibar or Serengeti National Park?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zanzibar and Serengeti National Park can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Zanzibar or Serengeti National Park?

Zanzibar

Just off the coast of Tanzania lies an entrancing archipelago known as Zanzibar. This gorgeous string of islands is the land of sultans, palaces beaches and spice-filled markets. Once an important trading center, many restorations have been done in recent years to restore Zanzibar to its ancient grandeur - earning its capital city UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.

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.

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, Serengeti National Park or Zanzibar?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $52, while the average daily cost in Serengeti National Park is $125. 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 Zanzibar and Serengeti National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zanzibar $25
    Serengeti National Park $57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zanzibar $50
    Serengeti National Park $114
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Serengeti National Park

Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Serengeti National Park? 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 Zanzibar


Hotels in Serengeti National Park


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: Zanzibar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zanzibar $12
    Serengeti National Park $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:

  • Airport - Hotels Transfer all over the Zanzibar Island: $60
  • Airport /Hotel Transfers: $25
  • Airport Pick-up Transfer To any Hotel In Zanzibar: $30
  • Airport Transfer in Zanzibar for Departures: $55
  • Airport Transfer to any hotel in Zanzibar: $55
  • Airport to Stown Town or Stown Town To Airport transfer: $20
  • Airport transfer to Nugwi, Paje and Kiwengwa Hotels : $45
  • Airport/Hotel Transfer: $25
  • Airport/port Transfer : $70
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Airport to Nungwi Beach Zanzibar: $40
  • Departure Private Transfer from Island to Zanzibar Airport ZNZ by Standard Van: $17
  • From Zanzibar Airport: Private Transfer to Beach Hotel: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Serengeti National Park?

Prices for flights to both Serengeti National Park and Zanzibar 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
    Zanzibar $17
    Serengeti National Park $39

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.

  • Half-Day Kuza Cave Swimming Adventure and Cooking Class: $13
  • Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
  • Zanzibar Cooking Class & Spice Tour : $59
  • Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
  • Spice Tour & Cooking Class in Zanzibar: $60
  • Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
  • Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $60
  • Stone Town Private Food Tour with a Guide: $65
  • Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $65
  • Traditional Zanzibar Cooking Class including Spice Tour: $68
  • Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
  • Cooking Class Tour: $77

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zanzibar $13
    Serengeti National Park $53

Tours and Activities in Zanzibar

Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Africa's Paradises Full Sightseeing Package Tours: $15
  • Zanzibar Stone Town Historical City Tour: $20
  • Stone Town Walking Tour: $23
  • Stone Town Tour in Zanzibar.: $23
  • Stone Town Tour without transport: $24
  • Stonetown City (Walking Tour): $25
  • Zanzibar Tours & Taxi Services : $25
  • Zanzibar Stone Town Walking Tour: $25
  • Private Stone Town City Tour Zanzibar : $25
  • The historic walking Tour - Stone Town Zanzibar : $25
  • Private Walking Tour in Stone Town: $25
  • Stone Town Tour: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zanzibar $7.00
    Serengeti National Park $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Zanzibar

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zanzibar:

  • Pub Crawl & Club Experience: $30


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Serengeti National Park, we can see that Serengeti National Park is more expensive. And not only is Zanzibar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zanzibar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zanzibar 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 Serengeti National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Serengeti National Park than you might in Zanzibar.

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