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Serengeti National Park charges a USD 83 entry fee per 24 hours for non-resident adults, plus a USD 60 concession fee if you sleep inside the park. Main access gates open strictly from 06:00 to 18:00.
Serengeti National Park gates open daily from 06:00 to 18:00 year-round. All driving inside the park is strictly limited to these daylight hours. Arrive at your entry gate no later than 15:00 to guarantee enough time to reach your camp before dark.
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| Day | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Sunday | 06:00–18:00 | Gates close and driving is prohibited after 18:00; arrive by 15:00. |
The park remains open 365 days a year, with no closures for national or religious holidays. There are no seasonal shutdowns either. However, the March to May long rains bring heavy downpours that turn dirt tracks to mud, making some areas difficult to access.
Foreign adults pay USD 83 per 24 hours to enter the Serengeti, plus an 18% VAT. If you sleep inside the park, expect an additional USD 60 daily concession fee. You pay these charges at the gate using a card or cash, with lower rates available for children and East African citizens.
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| Category | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Adult (Non-resident) | USD 83 | Per 24 hours; subject to 18% VAT |
| Foreign Child (Ages 5-15) | USD 24 | Per 24 hours; subject to 18% VAT |
| Child (Under 5) | Free | Applies to all nationalities |
| East African Citizen (Adult) | Tsh 10,000 | Per day |
| Overnight Concession Fee (Adult) | USD 60 | Required per 24 hours for lodge or camp stays; subject to 18% VAT |
| Vehicle Entry (Small) | Tsh 20,000 | Required for self-driving visitors |
There are no regular free entry days or discount passes, though children under five always enter for free.
Planning your visit to Serengeti National Park? Find tours with free cancellation and skip-the-line options.
View All ToursLate June to October is the best time to visit the Serengeti. Wildlife gathers around the remaining water sources, and the Great Migration herds cross the Mara River up north. Temperatures hover comfortably between 15 and 27 degrees Celsius, but June through August brings the heaviest crowds and peak prices.
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| Period | Crowd Level | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning (06:00–08:30) | Moderate | Gates open at 6am, making this the window for sunrise hot-air balloon flights and catching predators on the move before the heat sets in. |
| Mid-morning (08:30–12:00) | High | Most safari vehicles are out on the dirt tracks, so expect company at major sightings like the Simba Kopjes. |
| Afternoon (12:00–15:00) | Low | Many visitors retreat to their lodges for lunch, leaving the roads quieter for those willing to endure the midday sun. |
| Late afternoon (15:00–18:00) | High | Vehicles head back out for evening drives, and new arrivals should clear the gates by 3pm to reach camp before the strict 6pm driving curfew. |
Plan for two to four days inside the park. Your total time depends on whether you book a guided tour or self-drive, and which sectors you cover. Sticking to the central Seronera valley takes less time than a full multi-park route spanning the Western Corridor and northern Mara River, which pushes the trip to five to eight days.
Reserve your accommodation 8 to 12 months in advance for a standard trip. If you plan to visit during Christmas, Easter, or the June to October dry season, book 12 to 18 months out. Many camps have few rooms and sell out completely.
Pack khaki, olive, or brown clothing with long sleeves. Dark blue and black shirts attract biting tsetse flies, particularly near the Grumeti River and Western Corridor woodlands. Repellents only partially deter them, so light colors offer the best physical defense.
Main access points like Naabi Hill and Ndabaka close exactly at 18:00. You need to reach your gate by 15:00 to ensure enough time to drive to your lodge before dark. Driving inside the park is illegal outside of daylight hours.
Self-drive visitors do not need to pre-book park entry permits. You pay the USD 83 daily adult fee, plus an 18 percent VAT, directly at the gate using cash, Visa, or Mastercard. Overnight stays require an extra USD 60 daily concession fee.
Target the northern Kogatende area between July and October to watch wildebeest cross the Mara River. For the calving season, head to the short-grass southern plains around Ndutu and Naabi Hill from December to March. This period draws heavy concentrations of lions and cheetahs hunting newborns.
Non-resident adults pay USD 83 per 24 hours, and children aged 5 to 15 cost USD 24. Kids under 5 enter free. These 2026 rates apply year-round and require an additional 18% VAT. You can pay with cash or a credit card directly at the gate.
Yes, anyone staying overnight at a lodge, camp, or hotel inside the park boundaries must pay a concession fee. This costs USD 60 per adult and USD 12 per child per 24 hours, plus the 18% VAT. Public campsites charge a separate USD 60 fee.
The main access gates open at 06:00 and close at 18:00. Driving inside the park is strictly limited to these hours. Rangers advise arriving at any gate by 15:00 so you have enough daylight to reach your camp.
No, self-drive visitors don't need to pre-book TANAPA entry permits. You buy them at the gate using Visa, Mastercard, or cash in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings. Overnight concession fees are also paid at the gate or handled through your lodge.
Drones are strictly prohibited everywhere inside the park. This TANAPA regulation applies regardless of the drone's size or whether you hold a Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority permit. Commercial filming requires a specific, separate authorization arranged well in advance.
The speed limit is 25 km per hour and vehicles must stay on authorized tracks. Drivers must keep at least 200 meters away from general wildlife. For big cats like lions and cheetahs, the absolute minimum approach distance is 25 meters.
March through May brings the heaviest rainfall and the lowest overall prices. While the USD 83 daily park entry fee stays the same year-round, lodges and camps heavily discount their rates during these wet months. Expect muddier roads and fewer crowds.
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