Let’s understand how we can book this travel journey—how to book a safari in the Serengeti at an affordable price.
Okay, first let me ask you something. When you were a kid, you learned A for Apple, B for Ball…
And like that, what was Z for? Zebra, right?
L for Lion was there too, right?
All this we learned during school time in India as children, and we used to dream that someday we’ll go to Africa.
These memories still come to me even now—like when I’m in some random corner of the world—and I remember how a teacher used to scare me in school by saying, “There’s a lion in this cupboard.” And we used to get scared.
But we used to forget the logic… that lions are in Africa!
Now if I come out of the memory—Serengeti is honestly an amazing place in Africa where you can go for safari holidays. Because in just a few hours you’ll be able to cover the safari.
This safari will take you on an adventure—it’ll be wild, it’ll be free—and you’ll observe what the animals are doing.
Now you’ll be able to spot them because they’re either running from one place to another, swimming in the river, or just sleeping in the heat.
That’s where I realized how long a giraffe’s neck really is.
And a hippo—looks like a cute animal, but it’s deadly, bro.
Speaking of leopards, they were just hanging out in the trees—either they were a bit sad or they just didn’t know about their own fame and popularity.
Good thing they were up in the tree—if they came down, it would’ve been tough for me.
One more thing—I saw Pumbaa! Like, the Pumbaa from The Lion King, Hakuna Matata.
Just don’t know what he was searching for in those bushes. These pig-like animals…
You thought that was the end? In the Serengeti there are literally 2 million wild beasts, over 900,000 Thomson’s gazelles, over 300,000 zebras.
That’s not from me—it’s according to a UNESCO report.
You thought Serengeti had just these animals? Not at all—it has many more herbivorous animals like:
- 7,000 elands
- 27,000 topis
- 18,000 hartebeests
- 70,000 buffaloes
- 4,000 giraffes
- 15,000 warthogs
- 3,000 waterbucks
- 2,700 elephants
- 5,000 hippos
- 200 black rhinos
- 10 species of antelope
- 10 species of primates
It just doesn’t end, right?
Don’t take it the wrong way—this isn’t the end!
Look, it’s really hard to put this into words—describing the Serengeti isn’t easy. And that’s exactly why you’re seeing me go back into an old backstory.
The region we now call Serengeti was long inhabited by the Maasai people, who referred to it as “Siringitu,” meaning “the place where the land moves on forever.”
When I talk about the size of the Serengeti area, I mean it literally stretches across 30,000 square kilometers. And this vast expanse includes the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maswa Game Reserve, Loliondo, Grumeti, Ikorongo Controlled Areas, and even the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which lies across the border in Kenya.
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How to Budget it
Now let’s talk about the budget — specifically for the part of the Serengeti National Park that I visited. That area includes conservation zones, and we actually stayed outside the park at Simba Serengeti Lodge.
And let me tell you, it was a tented lodge — and the view? On a whole other level.
Sundowner spot
In the Serengeti, you have two options — either spend a good amount of money and go on a proper safari, or the second option is to take a local bus and roam around the outside of the park. You don’t necessarily need to enter the actual park.
And yeah, there’s a third option too — the one I went for. Not too expensive, but still better than just a budget hack.
That’s why I chose the middle path. I mean, if we’re going all the way to the Serengeti and not experiencing a proper safari, then what’s the point of even going? The real experience only happens when you’re actually sitting inside a safari jeep, not standing outside, and you can see all the animals clearly through the pop-up roof. Plus, you’ve got a guide who points things out — like, “Look, there’s a lion!” or “See where that cheetah is running?”
It might feel scary, but it’s totally safe — as long as you follow what the instructors say.
The safari tent I had at Simba came with a proper roof, and above that — open sky! There was an outdoor shower with a bathtub and a stunning view of the Serengeti. Ahh, it was an absolute delight
For this safari, a few of us friends — all four — had come in our own car, self-driving. But for this adventure, we decided to leave our truck behind and go with the guide in his safari jeep.
The reason? The roads in the Serengeti are literally in terrible condition, and we didn’t want to take the risk of getting a flat tire.
Another important point is that having a trained guide on a safari is a real necessity — not just anyone, but someone who can easily spot animals in the wild.
And lastly, safari vehicles come with pop-up roofs, which allow you to stand and get a full 360-degree view of the surroundings — perfect for watching wildlife up close.
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What the safari vehicle looks like
Let me also tell you what the safari vehicle was like — because once you get there, you’ll notice something: there were hardly any self-drivers around. That’s when we felt reassured that we had made the right choice.
Most people there had booked full safari packages, including full-board stays at lodges for the night, safari vehicles with a driver, and even bush flights into the park — all to save time and make the most of the experience.
How to save money
Now let’s understand how you can actually save money here. I’ll break it down simply for you — there are two main areas: one is the national park itself where you go for the official safari, and the other is the conservation area, where you can stay.
The conservation area is a great option for those who want to enjoy the safari experience safely and still explore the Serengeti from the outskirts without entering the main national park.
Now talking about the park fees — they’re around $70 per person per day. But here’s the interesting part: animals don’t know where the park ends! So, even outside the park, in the conservation areas, you can spot just as many animals.
This was magical
Now let me talk about the lodge — like Simba Serengeti Lodge, which is located on the outskirts. You can stay there and watch animals right from your room. I even saw a giraffe from there!
You can also hang out by the pool after your morning safari — and the best part? You can enjoy all this without paying anything extra.
Loved chilling in here during the day
In the conservation areas, you can also drive around and explore from there itself because it’s safe. You can even do giraffe-spotting and other wildlife watching right from those areas.
In the conservation area, you can also get out of the vehicle (when it’s safe, of course), and do things like a bush breakfast.
Pretty cool having breakfast with zebras in the background
Now let’s talk about bookings — you can book during the low season, which is around the month of April, or even earlier like January or February.
This period is considered one of the best seasons in the Serengeti, when the weather is dry and the golden plains and grasslands start to look absolutely stunnin
Happy adventuring.
