How to travel in Tanzania on a low budget?

What is the cost of living in Tanzania?

 

For having spent three months there, know that the cost of living in Tanzania is not expensive. Indeed, whether it is transport, food or accommodation, it is possible to find very affordable prices. Which is perfect for travelers on a budget.

However, locals will always tend to charge you a "muzungu" price (which means "white" or improperly translated "tourist").

When you walk around town, do not hesitate to negotiate a little bit (within reason of course). To facilitate your contact and exchanges with the locals, I advise you learn some notions and basics of Swahili. This is highly appreciated by Tanzanians and you will have a better chance of benefiting from lower prices as a result.

Catering in Tanzania on a low budget

 

He's very easy to find food in Tanzania when you are on a budget.

You should know that the Tanzanians can be eaten for the day for less than 5 Tsh, which is about $ 2.

You will easily find small street restaurants who will offer you dishes for around 2000/3000 Tsh. 

Anything that is local and not imported will not be expensive. However, depending on the region, you can sometimes find for example fresh coconuts for 1000 Tsh on Zanzibar for example, but they will cost you 3000 Tsh instead in Arusha.

Also, the more touristy the place, the higher the prices will be. 

Fruits will generally not cost you much.

Here are some examples :

• A large bottle of water usually costs 1000 Tsh.
• Fresh fruit juices are between Tsh 500 and Tsh 1000. 
• Coconut: 1000 Tsh
• Small homemade cakes / small sachets of peanuts: 500Tsh
• Zanzibar pizza: 1500Tsh
• Count 2000/3000 Tsh for street food

obviously, these prices are only valid in small villages or in sheltered and less touristy areas. Regarding the prices of tourist restaurants or meals in hotels or youth hostels, the budget will be larger. 

Count around 5 / 10E the dish in a hostel. In hotels, prices approach European prices.

Accommodation in Tanzania on a low budget 

Le budget for accommodation in Tanzania can be quite large, especially if you go through intermediaries who offer comfortable and luxurious accommodation. 

However, even going through these intermediary sites you have the possibility of finding relatively accessible housing. I therefore advise you to opt for the many youth hostels that can be found in this country. You will find it in Tanzania as well as Zanzibar. 

Depending on the season, you will have the possibility of finding beds in dormitories at $ 8 / $ 15. Regarding private rooms, you can find some for around $ 30 / night.

If this price is too expensive for you, know that you also have the possibility of opting for  kinds of guesthouses or the prices could be 10000 Tsh / night. However, you will not find this type of establishment everywhere. They are generally inland and not very well known to tourists. You will need to inquire about trying to find this kind of accommodation.

Getting around Tanzania on a low budget

 

Depending on the time and budget you have in Tanzania, several means of transport available to you.

Obviously, the way more economical to travel in Tanzania is the bus. Bus networks are fairly well developed and you can easily get around the country with the buses. 

Be aware, however, that distances can be long between different cities, you risk spending a certain number of hours on the bus. To choose this means of transport, it is better to have time.

To give you an idea, the journey between Dar es Salaam and Arusha takes about 12 hours (it depends on the bus because my bus took 16h ...) and will cost you about $ 15 / $ 35. 

If you opt for aircraft, it will cost you 100/200 $ and will take you maximum 2 hours of your time. 

When traveling by bus, you do not have no need to plan your trip too far in advance. You just need to take your tickets the day before to leave the next day. Be careful when choosing your bus company, some are to be favored while others are better to avoid.

For my part I traveled by bus to Tanzania and it went very well. I simply advise you to be very careful with your belongings when you arrive in the bus stations of the big cities (Dar es Salaam or Arusha) because there are a lot of people.

Go on a Tanzania Safari on a Budget 

 

Tanzania is not the cheapest destination for a safari. On the contrary, it is one of the most expensive destinations. However, the landscapes and abundant wildlife that can be found there are definitely worth it.

Generally, count around $ 150 to $ 250 per day for a northern park safari. This price applies to camping accommodation. If you want to go on a more luxurious safari, sometimes the price will be much more expensive. 

If you want lower your safari budget as much as possible, I advise you to take a shared car. We usually find ourselves at 6 people in this kind of car which is very correct and allows you to make the most of this extraordinary experience. 

Si $ 150 / day is still too much for you, I advise you toopt for a safari in the parks of southern or western Tanzania. The prices will be more affordable and you will find fewer tourists there.

Once again here, in order to benefit from the best prices, it is better to leave during the rainy season between March and June.

For my part I am gone on a safari in the northern parks for 5 days and it cost me $ 850.

If you want more information or have contacts with local guides, do not hesitate to contact me at this address: [email protected]

Visit Zanzibar on a budget

 

At first glance, Zanzibar is still a very expensive and luxurious destination. However, you can easily spend a few days there without having to spend too much. 

Here are some tips to help you reduce your budget on site as much as possible:

• Catering : Avoid eating in hotels and inns and try to eat in small local "restaurants" in the surrounding villages. This will save you a lot of money and then it's always interesting to taste the local food.
• Transport : On the Zanzibar archipelago it is quite possible to travel at low cost in dala-dala. These are local buses. You will have for less than 10000 tsh to cross the island. The price of a trip depends on the length but as a general rule for 2000/3000 Tsh you can easily reach Stone Town at a beach. However, you should know that the dala-dala leave when they want. There is no timetable and the driver usually starts when the bus is full. 
• Hotels : you will find youth hostels or small hotels where the night will cost you between $ 10 and $ 30.
• Activities on Zanzibar : your budget can easily be exceeded depending on the activities you want to do. Here is an idea on the price of activities on the island of Zanzibar (without taking into account transport):
  • Jozani forest : 10 $
  • Spice Tour : 10 $
  • Swim with dolphins : 40 $
  • Snorkeling trip : 35 $

Note that prices vary depending on the season of course.

To conclude, it is quite possible to go to Tanzania on a small budget. However, keep in mind that Tanzania is a expensive destination depending on the activities you want to do. It is important to be aware of this before leaving. 

However, when it comes to the expenses of everyday life like food, transportation, accommodation, you can get by very well.