Serengeti outpaces Maasai Mara in tourist arrivals for 3rd consecutive year

ARUSHA: TANZANIA’S Serengeti National Park has continued to outperform Kenya’s Maasai Mara in tourist arrivals for the third consecutive year, underlining a growing shift in East Africa’s safari tourism industry.

The latest figures indicate that while visitor numbers to Kenya’s iconic Maasai Mara have steadily declined, Tanzania’s Serengeti and the broader northern tourism circuit are experiencing sustained growth driven by competitive pricing, diversified tourism packages and strong conservation management.

According to the Economic Survey 2026 released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), tourist arrivals to Maasai Mara declined from 420,000 visitors in 2023 to 343,000 in 2024 before dropping further to 213,000 in 2025.

In contrast, statistics from Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) show that Serengeti National Park received approximately 388,865 international tourists in 2023.

The figure increased to 430,124 visitors in 2024 and further rose to 491,398 tourists in 2025. Tourism stakeholders attribute the changing trend partly to rising entry fees in Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s ability to offer visitors integrated multi-destination safari experiences.

In January 2024, Narok County in Kenya increased park entry fees significantly.

International tourists are now charged between 100 US dollars (about 259,472/-) during low season and 200 US dollars (about 518,944/- ) during peak migration months, up from a previous flat rate of 80 US dollars (about 207,577/-). For East African citizens, fees also increased sharply.

Industry analysts say the pricing changes have altered travel decisions for many international tourists.

“The pricing gap has fundamentally changed itinerary decisions,” said a Nairobi-based safari consultant.

“When a family of four compares 200 dollars per person in the Mara with roughly 83 dollars in the Serengeti, Tanzania suddenly becomes the more logical choice.”

Tour operators note that Tanzania has gained additional advantage through its diversified northern tourism circuit.

Visitors touring Serengeti National Park can also easily access Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Arusha and Mount Kilimanjaro National Park within a single travel itinerary.

This enables tourists to spend more days in Tanzania while enjoying a wider variety of wildlife, scenery and cultural experiences.

By comparison, many tourists visiting Maasai Mara often return to Nairobi immediately after game drives, limiting the diversity and duration of the tourism experience.

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According to TANAPA Conservation Commissioner, Mr Musa Kuji, Tanzania’s tourism growth reflects deliberate efforts to strengthen conservation and diversify tourism products.

“The increase in Serengeti tourist arrivals demonstrates growing confidence among international visitors in Tanzania’s tourism product and conservation approach,” said Mr Kuji.

“Our strategy has been to preserve ecosystems while offering tourists a complete northern circuit experience combining wildlife, landscapes, culture and adventure.”

Conservation issues have also emerged as an important factor affecting Maasai Mara’s competitiveness.

Wildlife experts report that migration within parts of the Maasai Mara ecosystem has declined by nearly 90 per cent over recent decades due to fencing, land subdivision and expanding human settlements around wildlife corridors.

The fencing practices have disrupted traditional migration routes and reduced open grazing areas for wildlife.

In contrast, Tanzania’s Serengeti ecosystem remains largely intact, allowing uninterrupted wildlife movement across one of Africa’s largest protected ecosystems.

Tourism analysts further credit President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s international tourism promotion campaign for increasing Tanzania’s visibility in global tourism markets.

The launch of The Royal Tour documentary in 2022 helped market Tanzania as a comprehensive tourism destination by showcasing Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Ngorongoro Crater.

According to data from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), international tourist arrivals increased by 9.02 per cent in 2025 to reach 2.09 million visitors, while tourism earnings rose to a record 4.2 billion US dollars (about 10.9tri/).

Analysts say Tanzania is increasingly benefiting from a combination of competitive park fees, strong conservation policies and integrated safari packages that appeal to modern international travelers seeking longer and more diverse tourism experiences.

While Kenya continues to face pressure from rising operational costs and conservation challenges, Tanzania appears to be consolidating its position as East Africa’s leading safari destination.