TANAPA: Tanzania National Parks Authority - Fees, Permits & How to Pay

What Is TANAPA in Tanzania? (Tanzania National Parks Authority Explained)

Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) is the government body responsible for managing and conserving the 21 Tanzania national parks and wildlife ecosystems. TANAPA safeguards over 99,000 km² of wilderness, roughly 10-15% of the country’s land, while promoting conservation efforts and eco-tourism in Tanzania that directly funds conservation.

If you’re planning a safari in Tanzania and need to understand what TANAPA does, how to pay park fees, which parks it runs, or the difference between high and low season, this guide covers everything based on the latest official information.

Brief History of TANAPA

TANAPA started with just Serengeti National Park in 1959 under the Tanganyika National Parks Ordinance. Over the decades, it expanded to 21 national parks in Tanzania and is under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in Tanzania. Today, it follows the National Parks Act (Chapter 282 of 2002) and the Wildlife Conservation Act of 2009. All revenue is reinvested; no money leaves the organisation.

What Does TANAPA Actually Do? (Its 8 Core Functions & Responsibilities)

1. Wildlife & Habitat Conservation in Tanzania

TANAPA fights deforestation by encouraging surrounding villages to plant their own woodlots and nurseries. Every new lodge or road inside parks (including Ngorongoro-adjacent areas under related management) goes through strict environmental impact checks.

Every new lodge in Tanzania or road inside Tanzania parks (including Ngorongoro-adjacent areas under related management) is subject to strict management to ensure no negative environmental impacts. In semi-arid Tanzania safari parks like Ruaha, TANAPA maintains water retention systems so the Ruaha River keeps flowing even in the dry season.

2. Protection of Wildlife Corridors in Tanzania National Parks

Tanzania National Parks Authority safeguards key migration routes for wildlife in Tanzania such as the great migration routes from Serengeti to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Additionally, the western corridor in Serengeti is protected by TANAPA rangers so that these animals during the great migration have clear access to fresh pastures and reliable water sources while in Tanzania.

Secondly, the other route protected by this authority is the Northern corridor in Tanzania where elephants migrate from Tarangire National Park towards Lake Manyara National Park. So, this is done to avoid a human-wildlife conflicts.

Great-wildebeest-migration-Tanzania

3. Scientific Research & Conservation Studies

In partnership with UNESCO, TANAPA has established a research system in the Ngorongoro conservation area. So, this research program is focused on monitoring the social behaviors of lions. Hence, these research studies in Tanzania are very easy because of the little movement of lions in Ngorongoro since it has elevated steel walls that keep them inside.

Therefore, eases scientific and research studies to be carried out in Tanzania. In Tanzania National Parks like Udzugwa, there is collaboration with international scientific researchers like the Trento Science Museum to study the unique endemic species in this area, like the Harvey’s duiker. 

4. Tourism Management & Revenue Generation in Tanzania Parks

TANAPA is in charge for offering and licensing the entry permits for different national parks in Tanzania. So, the Tanzania National Park fees go to the government’s revenue for elevating the country’s GDP by construction of infrastructure around parks. Therefore, makes access to the main city centers in this country easy for business owners and vendors. Hence, bringing in more money and improving the standards of living for the people through employment opportunities.

bush dinners at Four seasons Safari lodge Serengeti Tanzania

A worker employed at Four seasons Safari lodge Serengeti Tanzania organising a bush dinner for tourists

5. For the proper protection and rehabilitation of the ancient sites in Tanzaia.

The ancient and archaeological sites are part of the main tourist attractions to visit in Tanzania for people from international countries. In the Ngorongoro, new infrastructure has been put in place by the TANAPA to protect the Laetoli footprints which carries historical significance.

Strict rules and regulations in Tanzania safari parks are also put up for the protection of this site by the TANAPA. For instance, tourists who go to Kandoa Rock sites for art are prohibited from touching it unless under the supervision of a professional guide.

6. Community Development & Benefits around Areas Mangaed by TANAPA

For the Maasai community in proximity with the Serengeti national Park, TANAPA offers children here educational benefits by construction of schools like Fort Ikoma secondary school. Also, this authority offers scholarships to some students who after studies they come back and also help their community through building health centers for their people.

So, this reduces on the death rates of people around areas managed by TANAPA. Hence positively impacting on this community and this is also common in Ngorongoro where reliable water supplies inform of boreholes have been built offer the local people here have free access to safe water.

7. Marine Conservation Efforts by the Tanzania Natonal Parks Authority (TANAPA)

see sharks in the Indian Ocean

Since Tanzania is in proximity with the Indian Ocean, some of its areas like Zanzibar directly touch the coastline or are islands. Therefore, these island places of Tanzannia harbor marine species like the dolphins and the sea turtles. The TANAPA has implemented projects where habitats for marine species like the seagrass has been put in place.

Also, the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) put restrictive fishing measures whereby it is prohibited in some of the areas of the coastal regions to protect the marine life mostly dolphins. So, to regulate this, this authority has involved the community in other activities like beekeeping and more. Note: Conservation of marine life in Tanzania includes restricting fishing and protecting dolphins and sea turtles.

8. Anti-Poaching & Wildlife Protection by TANAPA

In Tanzania parks like Tarangire, poaching had become a daily activity, so the government put strict measures to curb this vice. First, TANAPA put GPS monitors on the elephants and also by using rangers to protect these animals from illegal hunters. Secondly, there are also strict measures put in place at all the Tanzania National Parks gates where arm detectors are established to detect weapons like spears and even guns.

Also, the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) improvised by putting the rangers under special training so that they are ready to face the poachers. So, these game rangers in Tanzania keep a 24-hour surveillance a day in different shifts.

TANAPA Fees and Permits Explained (2026 Guide)

What Are TANAPA Fees?

TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority)fees include:

The concession fees in Tanzania Parks.

Concession fees are a tax paid by an individual that would like to stay in the accommodation facility within the national park in Tanzania. This fee payment is done through electronic payments like use of the visa and payments are for one individual per night.

The concession payments help in generating of revenue needed to rehabilitate the ecosystem in Tanzania safari parks that one has come to visit through construction of new roads. Secondly concession fees in Tanzania cater for conservation efforts through payment of workers like the Rangers, that highly contribute to protection of the national parks.

How to Pay TANAPA Fees: Step-by-Step (Cashless Only)

  1. The easiest way to pay for the TANAPA fees is through accessing their website online. So, generate a control number to use via their bank services or mobile money services to pay. The Tanzania National Parks Authority fees are paid in order to obtain a permit to enter the specific Tanzanian national park.
  2. The other way is to pay at the Tanzania park gate where one has to present their identification card or the passport. Next, pay the Tanzania Park entry fees still through a cashless system either mobile money, credit card or use of bank deposit. Them, receive your issued permit for your entry.
  3. Lastly the tour operator that one is using can also help with payment of the park entry fees for permit processing. Our trusted tour operators who provide fast Tanzania parks permit processing include, Tanzania National Parks, Serengeti Masai Mara Experts and Goar Africa Safari Tours.

TANAPA payments and booking process explained.

  1. The booking for the Tanzania park permits is advised to be done as early as possible So, this is to plan for your activities to do in Tanzania like chimpanzee trekking in Mahale national park or a hot air balloon safari in Serengeti.
  2. Secondly, the crucial thing needed for the payment of the TANAPA fees is one’s National ID or passport. So, without these documents, payments for the fees are not allowed by the Tanzania National Parks authority (TANAPA).
  3. Payment can be done at the park’s entrance. However, sometimes because of poor network connectivity, it can delay so it’s best one pays or books for their Tanzania National Parks permits in advance.

All the 21 National Parks Managed by TANAPA

Where are TANAPA Offices located?

  1. The headquarters of the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) are found around the Burka estate at the Mwalimu J.K Nyerere conservation centre. Additionally, this is situated opposite the Aim mall and is approximately 4.7km and a 20 minutes’ drive from Arusha.
  2. In Dar- es- Salaam, the TANAPA offices are located around Laibon road within the Msasani peninsula. So, this is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from Dar-el- Salaam covering an estimated 10km.
  3. There’s also an office of the Tanzania National Parks Authority in the Mount Kilimanjaro region located at Londorossi gate which is approximately a 3 hours’ drive from Moshi covering over 120 km.

How to access TANAPA services and park information.

The TANAPA has introduced a digital system that can be downloaded via the Apple app store or google play store. Download the app called the TANAPA go app where the different information for the distinct parks is laid out, how to access them and the payment procedures.