In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Tanzania - any experiences?
Worked remotely in Arusha for six weeks this spring. I rented a private room ($300/month), ate local food and occasional Western-style cafes, used Boda Bodas and dala dala, and took weekend safaris. My total came to about $70/day, including park day permits and occasional coworking spaces. That adds up to $2,100, which gives you a comfortable balance of local living and adventure.
I backpacked through Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania on roughly $35/day, staying in hostels, using dala dala and cooking myself at local markets. My main splurge was a day at Safari Blue (~$50). Road transfers between towns cost $20-30 each. All in, I managed the month on $1,000, though that left little flexibility for extra tours or unexpected travel.
Traveled last autumn around Moshi and spent about $60 removed link My stay included budget hotels ($25/night), national park fees for day walks, a few safaris, and meals at local cafes. I tipped guides around 10%, so that bumped the cost. For a mix of culture, beach, and safari, budgeting $1,800-2,000 for a month gives you enough for comfortable mid-range travel.
I spent four weeks between Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Arusha this past May. My daily spend averaged around $45-50/day, covering hostel dorms ($10-15), daladala (local minibuses) and ferry rides ($1-2), and tasty street food like vitumbua and mishkaki for under $3-5. Midday lodge meals and a couple of guided hikes added to my total, so about $1,400 for a month felt right.