TANZANIA TRAVEL INFORMATION
Everything you need to know before you go
Planning a trip to Tanzania comes with plenty of practical questions. Do you need a visa? How much cash should you bring? What should you wear on safari? Is it safe to eat local food? And what is it actually like to travel around the country?
We live in Tanzania and organise trips here every day, so this guide is based not only on official travel requirements, but also on what we have learned from travelling around the country ourselves and helping our guests do the same.
You don't need to prepare for every possible scenario. Tanzania is a very welcoming country and travelling here is often easier than people expect. A little preparation, however, can make your trip much smoother.
PASSPORT & VISA
Most international visitors need a visa to enter Tanzania.
A tourist visa can be obtained online in advance through the official Tanzania Immigration website. Many nationalities can also obtain a visa upon arrival at an international airport or other official entry point.
The standard tourist visa costs USD 50 for most nationalities, although different rules and fees apply to some passport holders. If applying online, we recommend doing this well before departure. A visa on arrival is generally straightforward for eligible travellers, but queues can sometimes be long.
Always check the latest passport and visa requirements before travelling, as immigration regulations can change.
MANDATORY TRAVEL INSURANCE
From 1 October 2026, eligible foreign visitors entering Tanzania are required to have mandatory inbound travel insurance.
Which policy you need depends on where you first enter Tanzania:
Mainland Tanzania first → NIC
Zanzibar first → ZIC
If your trip combines Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, you normally only need one mandatory policy, determined by your first point of entry.
We've written a separate guide explaining the new requirement, costs and official application websites.
HEALTH, VACCINATIONS & MEDICAL CARE
We recommend speaking to your doctor or a specialised travel clinic before travelling to Tanzania.
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They can give you personalised advice about recommended vaccinations, malaria prevention and any medication you may need. There is no single recommendation that is right for every traveller.
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A yellow fever vaccination certificate is only required in specific circumstances, particularly when arriving from or travelling through a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Check the current requirements for your individual itinerary before departure.
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Travel insurance
Even with Tanzania's mandatory inbound insurance, we strongly recommend having your own comprehensive travel and health insurance.
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Make sure it provides adequate medical cover as well as cover for cancellation, luggage and the activities included in your trip.
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Additional Flying Doctors evacuation cover can also be arranged for our guests. This provides emergency evacuation assistance from remote areas but does not replace comprehensive medical insurance.
MONEY, CASH & CARDS
Tanzania is still very much a cash-based country.
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You certainly don't need to carry your entire holiday budget in cash, but relying only on your credit card can be inconvenient, particularly once you leave the major cities.
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Which currency should I bring?
The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS), and it can be used everywhere in the country.
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For smaller everyday expenses, we recommend having Tanzanian Shillings with you. They are useful for local shops, drinks, small restaurants, markets and purchases along the road.
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Tourism businesses such as hotels and activity providers will often also accept US Dollars, and sometimes Euros. US Dollars generally receive a more favourable exchange rate than Euros.
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For larger cash payments, Dollars or Euros can therefore be much more practical than Tanzanian Shillings. The largest Tanzanian banknote is only TZS 10,000, so paying a large amount in local currency can quickly turn into a very large stack of notes.
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ATMs
ATMs are widely available in Dar es Salaam and other larger cities and towns. On Zanzibar, they are easiest to find around Stone Town, the airport and some of the larger beach destinations.
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Once you travel into more remote areas, don't assume there will be a working ATM nearby. We recommend withdrawing enough cash before heading to a national park or a more remote beach area.
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ATM withdrawals are generally limited to around TZS 400,000–600,000 per transaction, with a maximum of approximately TZS 1,000,000 per card per day. Multiple withdrawals therefore also mean multiple transaction fees.
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Visa and Mastercard are widely supported by ATMs. Maestro is less consistently accepted.
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Paying by card
Cards are commonly accepted at hotels and larger tourism businesses, although an additional card surcharge is common at accommodations.
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Regular shops and supermarkets that accept cards generally don't add this type of surcharge, although your own bank may charge foreign transaction fees.
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Smaller local businesses may only accept cash.
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Bringing Dollars or Euros
If bringing foreign currency, bring banknotes rather than coins. Foreign coins cannot normally be exchanged at Tanzanian banks.
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US Dollar notes should also be relatively recent and in good condition. Older notes may be refused.
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Practical tip: a combination usually works best. Bring some USD or EUR cash for larger expenses and tips, withdraw some Tanzanian Shillings for everyday spending, and keep a Visa or Mastercard as backup.
TIPPING
Tipping is never compulsory, but it is appreciated when you are happy with the service you have received.
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For a private safari guide, a commonly used guideline throughout Tanzania is approximately USD 10 per traveller per day.
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This is only a guideline. A tip should ultimately reflect how you feel about the service you received.
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For lodge staff, porters and other people helping you during your trip, there is no amount you have to give. Many lodges also have a communal tip box.
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Tips can be given in Tanzanian Shillings, US Dollars or Euros. If tipping in foreign currency, please use banknotes rather than coins.
GETTING AROUND
Tanzania is a large country. Distances that look manageable on Google Maps can take considerably longer in reality.
Google Maps is also not always reliable when it comes to roads, national park entrances and even accommodation locations in more remote areas.
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When we create an itinerary, we therefore use realistic travel times based on our own experience rather than simply following Google Maps.
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Even then, travel times are always estimates. Traffic, road conditions, accidents and unexpected events can cause delays. Dar es Salaam in particular can have very heavy traffic.
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Our guides know the routes well and will plan stops along the way.
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Travelling by road
Longer road journeys are part of many Tanzania itineraries and also give you an opportunity to see everyday life outside the tourism areas.
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There are places to stop for toilets and refreshments along most major routes. Facilities can be basic and squat toilets are common, although Western-style toilets can also be found.
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Depending on your itinerary, lunch may be a picnic along the way or a stop at a restaurant for a hot meal.
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SGR train
Tanzania's newer Standard Gauge Railway is a surprisingly comfortable way to cover certain routes.
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The trains and stations are modern, and even Economy Class is comfortable. Higher classes are available for travellers who prefer some additional comfort.
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Trains can sell out, so tickets should be arranged in advance.
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Outside food and drinks cannot simply be consumed on board; food and drinks available through the train service are provided according to its own rules.
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Delays can happen, but in our experience the SGR generally operates reasonably punctually.
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Ferry between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar
The fast ferry between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar takes around 1½ to 2 hours and is a comfortable way to travel between the mainland and the island.
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Economy Class is perfectly adequate for most travellers. Business and VIP classes provide additional comfort and access to a more comfortable air-conditioned waiting area.
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The actual boat journey is generally very comfortable. The terminals are another story... They can be busy, noisy and chaotic, particularly when everyone is boarding, collecting luggage or looking for transport at the same time. For some first-time visitors, this can be their first real culture shock in Tanzania. Don't worry. It may look chaotic, but the system works.
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If you are travelling from Zanzibar to the mainland for only a few days of safari and returning afterwards, we often recommend leaving your main luggage behind and taking only what you need.
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Ferries can sell out, so tickets should be booked in advance.
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Travellers prone to seasickness may want to take their usual medication before travelling. In our experience, the Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam direction can sometimes feel rougher than travelling from Dar to Zanzibar.
Domestic & bush flights
Flying into a national park is one of our favourite ways to travel in Tanzania.
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Bush planes are small, and the experience can feel quite different from a normal commercial flight. You fly relatively low over the landscape, the cockpit may be completely visible and, depending on the aircraft, you may even find yourself sitting next to the pilot.
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It's not just transportation. It can be part of the safari experience.
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Luggage allowances are usually around 15–20 kg per person, depending on the airline and route, and soft-sided luggage may be required.
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Bush flights don't always operate like conventional scheduled flights. Stops are often determined by the passengers booked that day. A flight may therefore operate directly one day and make several stops at other airstrips the next.
Schedules can also change.
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For routes between larger airports such as Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Kilimanjaro, there are many more services, including larger aircraft.
PHONE, SIM CARDS & INTERNET
Local SIM cards are inexpensive and easy to arrange after arrival.
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Registration requires your passport and needs to be completed locally. SIM cards can be purchased at airports and official mobile-provider outlets.
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An eSIM can be even easier and can usually be arranged online before or during your trip.
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Wi-Fi is available at many accommodations, although in safari lodges it may only be available around reception or communal areas rather than in your room.
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Mobile coverage becomes less reliable in remote areas and inside national parks.
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WhatsApp is widely used throughout Tanzania and is also an easy way to stay in contact with us during your trip.
ELECTRICITY & CHARGING
Tanzania uses Type G plugs and a 230V electricity supply.
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Many remote camps rely partly or entirely on solar power. High-energy appliances such as hairdryers may therefore not be permitted.
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Short power cuts also occur in Tanzania and Zanzibar. More remote locations can occasionally experience longer interruptions.
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Our safari vehicles have charging possibilities for phones and small electronics, but bringing a power bank is still useful.
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If you depend on an electrical medical device such as a CPAP machine, please tell us before travelling. We can check the arrangements with your accommodations in advance.
FOOD & DRINKING WATER
Don't drink untreated tap water in Tanzania. Bottled or properly treated drinking water is readily available, and drinking water is provided in our safari vehicles.
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But don't let fear of getting sick stop you from experiencing Tanzanian food. Local restaurants, fresh tropical fruit and street food are part of travelling here. Use normal common sense, but there is no need to avoid everything local. Ice served by established restaurants, hotels and tourism businesses is generally made using drinking-quality water.
Some travellers experience an upset stomach simply because their diet changes significantly while travelling.
Serious food poisoning is certainly possible anywhere in the world, but it is not something we regularly see among our guests.
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If you have food allergies or dietary requirements, tell us beforehand so we can inform your accommodations.
WHAT TO WEAR & PACK
Safari clothing has become an entire industry.
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You will see shops selling safari shirts, zip-off trousers, special hats and all kinds of equipment.
You don't need any of it. Just wear comfortable clothes that you already own.
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Lightweight natural fabrics such as cotton and linen are particularly comfortable in Tanzania's climate. Synthetic fabrics can feel much hotter and sweatier.
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A few practical things are worth considering:
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Bring a sweater or light jacket. Early mornings, evenings, mountains and some national parks can get surprisingly cool.
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Avoid black and very dark blue during safari where possible, as these colours can attract tsetse flies.
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Bring swimwear. Many accommodations have swimming pools.
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A binocular is nice if you already own one, but don't buy one especially for your trip. Many wildlife sightings are surprisingly close.
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Expect dust. Safari isn't the best place for clothes that need to remain perfectly white.
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Comfortable walking shoes are useful if your itinerary includes hiking or walking safaris.
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For regular game drives, you don't need hiking boots. Comfortable sandals or even flip-flops can be perfectly fine.
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Bush flights may require soft-sided luggage.
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Dressing respectfully
Tanzania is generally a modestly dressed society.
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At your hotel, beach or inside the safari vehicle, casual holiday clothing is perfectly fine.
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When walking through towns, villages and local communities, we recommend covering up a little more. Very short shorts and skirts, bare midriffs and very revealing tops are best kept for the beach or your accommodation.
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This isn't about needing to dress formally. It's simply a small way to respect the culture of the country you are visiting.
PLASTIC BAGS
Disposable plastic carrier bags are banned in Tanzania.
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Avoid bringing regular plastic shopping bags into the country. Certain plastics for medicines, hygiene products and other specific uses are exempt, and reusable toiletry bags are fine.
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Resealable bags used for liquids while travelling can be kept for personal use but should not be discarded in Tanzania.
WHAT IS A SAFARI ACTUALLY LIKE
A private safari is much more flexible than many first-time visitors expect.
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There isn't necessarily a fixed number of hours you must spend on a game drive. Your days can be discussed with your guide and adapted to what you want to do.
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Toilets
Yes, there are toilets in the national parks.
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There are toilet facilities at various points and picnic sites. Just don't wait until the very last minute to tell your guide that you need one. In a national park, the nearest toilet may still be some distance away.
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Lunch
Lunch is often provided as a packed lunch box, which you can eat at a designated picnic area.
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Or, if you happen to be watching something extraordinary, you may decide that your lunch can wait or simply eat it from the vehicle while watching the wildlife.
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Depending on the park and itinerary, a hot lunch may also be possible.
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Safari vehicles
Our standard safari vehicles are Toyota Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs.
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They give you the protection and comfort of an enclosed vehicle while travelling, while the raised roof provides excellent visibility during game drives.
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Open safari vehicles can also be arranged in certain parks, particularly for fly-in safaris. They cannot be used for normal long-distance road travel.
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We generally find enclosed Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs more comfortable and practical, particularly for families with young children.
WILDLIFE AT YOUR LODGE
If you stay inside a national park, remember that you are staying in the animals' home.
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Seeing elephants, antelope or other wildlife walking through camp is completely normal at some properties.
After dark, guests may therefore be escorted between their room and the restaurant or communal areas. Every lodge has its own system, which will be explained during your arrival briefing. Follow the lodge staff's instructions.
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Even accommodations outside national parks can receive wildlife visitors. Monkeys in particular are very clever opportunists. Don't leave food visible in an unattended vehicle and close the windows when you leave.
And yes, insects exist in Tanzania. You're in nature. If something finds its way into your room and you don't feel comfortable dealing with it, call the lodge staff. They deal with these situations all the time.
STAYING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL PARK
This is one of the most common questions we receive. Neither option is automatically better.
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Staying inside
Sleeping inside the park can give you a more immersive safari experience. You wake up surrounded by nature and can often start your game drive without first travelling to the park entrance.
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Because park and concession fees apply to overnight stays, accommodation inside the park is generally more expensive.
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It can also make it easier to split your safari into shorter morning and afternoon game drives, which can be particularly pleasant for families.
Staying outside
Accommodation outside the park is often more affordable and there may be a wider selection of lodges with facilities such as swimming pools.
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Depending on the park and location of your lodge, you may need to drive to the entrance before beginning your game drive.
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Park entry rules also mean that it can make more sense to spend one longer continuous day inside the park rather than repeatedly entering and leaving as your park pass expires as soon as you exit the park.
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We consider the location, budget and overall itinerary when advising which option makes the most sense.
TANZANIA WITH CHILDREN
We have been taking our own children on safari since they were babies, so this is a subject especially close to us.
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Children don't need to be a certain age to enjoy safari.
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Young children often love it. A game drive is essentially one big treasure hunt: who can spot the first elephant, giraffe or lion?
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Tanzania is also an incredibly welcoming place to travel with children. Children are very much part of everyday life here, and our guides and lodge staff are usually fantastic with them.
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With younger children, we pay particular attention to the rhythm of the itinerary. Staying inside a park can make it easier to divide the day into shorter game drives, while a lodge with a swimming pool can make a huge difference between safari activities.
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Private safaris also allow much more flexibility than shared group tours. If the children have had enough for the day, there is no need to keep driving simply because somebody else's schedule says so.
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Every family is different. Tell us the ages and interests of your children and we'll help you plan accordingly.
SAFETY IN TANZANIA
Tanzania is generally a welcoming destination for international travellers, and most of our guests tell us they feel much more at ease here than they expected before arriving.​ Use the same common-sense precautions you would use when travelling elsewhere.
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Keep an eye on your belongings in busy places, don't display large amounts of cash and be sensible when using an expensive phone in crowded areas.
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In Dar es Salaam in particular, don't hold your phone out of an open car window. Opportunistic theft by someone passing on a motorcycle can happen.
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Getting around cities
Cars, taxis, Uber, Bolt and bajajis are commonly used.
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One thing we strongly discourage is using motorcycle taxis. Road traffic can be unpredictable and we don't consider them worth the risk.
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Traffic itself deserves attention too. Crossing busy roads in Dar es Salaam can require considerably more care than many visitors are used to.
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Your guide will give you practical advice when necessary.
A LITTLE ABOUT TANZANIAN CULTURE
Tanzania is an incredibly hospitable country.
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A smile goes a long way. Greetings matter, people take time for each other, and interactions don't always need to be rushed.
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Try a few words of Swahili. Eat somewhere local. Ask questions. Talk to people.
You don't need to approach every interaction suspiciously simply because you're somewhere unfamiliar.
Bargaining
Bargaining is common in markets and souvenir shops, but that doesn't mean you have to negotiate every price down as far as physically possible.
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Our approach is simple: think about what something is worth to you.
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A difference of a few dollars may have very little impact on your holiday budget while making a meaningful difference to the person selling something.
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Negotiate if you want to, but keep it friendly and fair.
ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania are part of the same country, but travelling between them can feel like arriving somewhere completely different.
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The landscape, atmosphere, culture and rhythm are different enough that we consider Zanzibar a destination in its own right.
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It is generally very easy to travel around, but the island has its own practical considerations, from mandatory insurance to local transport and cultural etiquette.
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Rather than squeezing all of that onto this page, we have included more detailed practical information in our Zanzibar destination guide.
USEFUL SWAHILI
You don't need to speak Swahili to travel in Tanzania, but even a few words can completely change an interaction.
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Habari? – How are you?
Nzuri! - Good!
Asante (sana) – Thank you (so much)
Karibu – Welcome
Pole pole – Slowly / take it easy
Hamna shida – No problem​