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Everything you need to know before you arrive in Tanzania
Overview
Tanzania is a well-established travel destination with good infrastructure for visitors, a stable political environment, and a tourism industry built over decades of welcoming international guests. That said, like any international journey — especially one that takes you into remote wilderness areas — it rewards preparation. This page covers the practical information most travelers need before arrival, from visas and vaccinations to money, safety, and what to expect on the ground.
Read it once before you book. Read it again before you pack. Reach out to us if it doesn’t cover anything.
Visas & Entry Requirements
Most international visitors require a visa to enter Tanzania. The process is straightforward and well-organized.
eVisa Tanzania operates an online visa application system at immigration.go.tz. Applications are submitted in advance, processed within a few business days, and the approved visa is presented digitally or printed on arrival. We strongly recommend applying online at least two weeks before travel.
Visa on Arrival Available at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam), and other major entry points. Processing times can be slower during busy periods. The eVisa is faster and more reliable.
East Africa Tourist Visa Tanzania participates in a joint tourist visa with Kenya and Uganda. If your itinerary includes more than one of these countries, the East Africa Tourist Visa ($100 USD at the time of writing) may offer better value than individual country visas.
Cost: Single-entry visa currently $50 USD for most nationalities. Fees are subject to change — confirm current rates at the official immigration portal before applying.
Passport Validity: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date from Tanzania. Most entry points also require at least one or two blank pages for stamps.
Zanzibar: No separate visa is required for Zanzibar. Your Tanzania visa covers both the mainland and the islands.
Note: Visa regulations change. Always verify current requirements for your specific nationality through your country’s foreign affairs ministry or Tanzania’s official immigration portal before travel.
Health & Vaccinations
Tanzania is a tropical country. A small amount of health preparation goes a long way toward keeping your trip comfortable and safe.
Consult a Travel Health Professional Visit a travel clinic or your doctor at least 6–8 weeks before departure. They will advise based on your personal health history, the specific regions you are visiting, and the latest health guidelines.
Commonly Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A and B
- Typhoid
- Yellow Fever (required if arriving from a yellow fever endemic country; strongly recommended regardless)
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Polio (ensure routine vaccinations are up to date)
- Rabies (recommended for longer trips or those involving significant wildlife or rural exposure)
- Meningitis (particularly for Kilimanjaro climbers and those traveling in the dry season)
Malaria Malaria is present in Tanzania, including in and around the national parks. Anti-malarial medication is strongly recommended for all travelers. Common options include Malarone (Atovaquone/Proguanil), Doxycycline, and Lariam (Mefloquine) — your doctor will advise the best option based on your health and itinerary. Use DEET-based insect repellent and wear long sleeves and trousers at dawn and dusk.
COVID-19 Entry requirements related to COVID-19 have been lifted at the time of writing. Confirm current status before travel.
Yellow Fever Certificate If you are arriving from a country on the World Health Organization’s list of yellow fever endemic countries, a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into Tanzania. Carry the original certificate — digital copies are not always accepted.
Water Do not drink tap water. Bottled water is widely available and provided by us throughout your safari and on the mountain. Use bottled or purified water for brushing teeth in remote areas.
Travel Health Kit We recommend packing: personal prescription medication (with enough supply for the full trip plus extra), broad-spectrum antibiotic (on doctor’s advice), antidiarrheal medication, antihistamine, blister plasters, antiseptic wipes, and any altitude medication for Kilimanjaro climbers.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not optional — it is essential.
Tanzania’s national parks are remote. Kilimanjaro is a high-altitude mountain. Emergency medical evacuation from either environment is expensive and logistically complex. A comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- Trip cancellation and curtailment
- Lost or delayed baggage
- Personal liability
…is the single most important practical step you can take before traveling to Tanzania. For Kilimanjaro climbers specifically, ensure your policy explicitly covers high-altitude trekking to 6,000 meters. Many standard policies do not — read the fine print.
Money & Payments
Currency The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). US Dollars are widely accepted for larger transactions — national park fees, lodge bills, safari packages, and most tourist services are priced and payable in USD. Euro and British Pounds are less universally accepted outside Arusha and Dar es Salaam.
Cash vs Card ATMs are available in Arusha, Moshi, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar’s Stone Town. They are largely absent inside the national parks. We recommend arriving with sufficient USD cash for tips, souvenirs, and incidentals. Notify your bank before travel to avoid cards being blocked for overseas transactions.
USD Note Quality Tanzanian businesses and money changers frequently refuse USD notes printed before 2009, or notes that are torn, written on, or heavily worn. Bring clean, recent-print bills. $100 notes typically receive better exchange rates than smaller denominations.
Tips and Gratuities Tipping is customary and genuinely appreciated across Tanzania’s tourism industry. Suggested guidelines:
| Role | Suggested Tip (USD per day) |
| Safari driver-guide | $15–25 per day |
| Camp cook | $5–10 per day |
| Kilimanjaro lead guide | $20–25 per day |
| Kilimanjaro assistant guide | $15 per day |
| Kilimanjaro porters | $8–10 per day each |
| Lodge/hotel staff | $1–5 per service |
These are guidelines, not obligations. Tip according to your experience and means. Tips are best given directly in cash — envelope systems at trip end are common on mountain climbs.
Bargaining Expected and appropriate at local markets and souvenir stalls. Fixed prices apply at lodges, restaurants, and tour operator offices. A good rule: bargain warmly and be willing to walk away, but pay a fair price — the difference between a fair price and rock-bottom often matters more to the seller than it does to you.
Getting to Tanzania
International Airports
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) — The primary gateway for northern safari circuit travelers. Situated between Arusha and Moshi, it is the most convenient arrival point for safaris and Kilimanjaro climbs.
- Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) — Dar es Salaam’s main airport, a hub for southern Tanzania and connecting flights.
- Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) — Zanzibar’s international airport, receiving direct flights from several African hubs and some European destinations.
Major Airlines Serving Tanzania Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, KLM, Condor, and others serve Tanzania via regional and international hubs. Connections through Nairobi (NBO), Addis Ababa (ADD), Doha (DOH), and Amsterdam (AMS) are most common for international travelers.
Domestic Flights A network of small scheduled aircraft connects Arusha and Kilimanjaro with the Serengeti, Zanzibar, Ruaha, Selous, and other destinations. Airlines include Coastal Aviation, Air Excel, Auric Air, and Precision Air. These flights are an efficient and scenic way to move between safari destinations and the coast.
Important note for domestic flights: Luggage on light aircraft is restricted to soft-sided bags of 15 kg or under. Hard suitcases are strongly discouraged. We recommend leaving large luggage in secure storage in Arusha and traveling with a soft duffel bag on safari.
Climate & Best Time to Visit
Tanzania straddles the equator and experiences two distinct rainy seasons rather than the traditional four-season calendar.
Dry Season — June to October The best overall window for wildlife viewing across the northern circuit. Vegetation is lower, animals concentrate around water sources, and days are clear and warm. Peak season for the Mara River crossings (July–September) and a strong window for Kilimanjaro (though cold at the summit).
Short Dry Season — December to February Excellent wildlife conditions in the Serengeti, including calving season (December–February) in the southern plains. Warm and largely dry. A popular period for beach travel to Zanzibar.
Long Rains — March to May The main rainy season. Parks are lush and green, prices drop, and crowds thin considerably. Some lodges close. Game viewing remains possible but tracking is harder in dense vegetation. Not recommended for Kilimanjaro.
Short Rains — November Brief rains, usually more intermittent than March–May. Most parks remain open and accessible.
Zanzibar Climate The island is warm year-round (25–33°C). The long rains (March–May) bring rougher seas and reduced visibility for snorkeling and diving. The best beach weather runs from June to February, with July–October being ideal for the reef.
Safety
Tanzania is one of Africa’s most politically stable and visitor-friendly countries, with a long record of welcoming international travelers. The risks that do exist are manageable with common sense and awareness.
General Safety Arusha, Moshi, and Zanzibar’s Stone Town are safe for visitors exercising normal urban precautions — awareness of your surroundings, not displaying expensive equipment openly, using reputable transport. Petty theft, while not widespread, occurs around busy markets and tourist areas.
Road Safety Road conditions outside major towns vary considerably, and night driving carries elevated risk. Our safari vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s, and our drivers are experienced on the roads they cover. We do not drive at night in the parks or on remote roads after dark.
Wildlife Safety Wildlife is wild. Our guides are trained in safe animal behavior and will brief you on protocols in the parks and at campsites. Follow your guide’s instructions at all times. Do not exit the vehicle in open game areas without explicit permission. At camping sites, remain in your tent after dark unless accompanied.
Kilimanjaro Safety Altitude sickness is the primary safety risk on the mountain. Our guides carry supplemental oxygen and a Gamow (altitude) bag on all climbs and are trained in recognizing and responding to AMS symptoms. No guide will pressure a client to continue climbing against medical judgment.
Water Safety Do not swim in freshwater lakes or rivers in Tanzania — bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present in many inland water bodies. Ocean and pool swimming in Zanzibar is safe.
Communications & Connectivity
Mobile Networks Tanzania has reasonable mobile coverage in towns and along main highways. Coverage is limited to absent in the national parks and on Kilimanjaro. The main providers are Vodacom, Airtel, and Tigo(Yas). A local SIM card is inexpensive and easy to obtain in Arusha or at the airport — bring an unlocked phone.
Wi-Fi Available in most hotels, lodges, and restaurants in Arusha, Moshi, and Zanzibar. Speeds vary. In remote camps and lodges inside the parks, connectivity is limited or satellite-based. This is, genuinely, one of the best things about being in the bush.
Electricity Tanzania uses Type G plugs (the same as the UK — three rectangular pins) and operates on 230V/50Hz. Bring a universal adapter. Power cuts (load shedding) occur occasionally in towns; lodges and camps typically have generator or solar backup.
Emergency Numbers
- Police: 112 or 999
- Ambulance: 114
- AMREF Flying Doctors Emergency: +254 20 6992000
- Tanzania Tourist Board Emergency Helpline: +255 22 2134090
Save these numbers and your travel insurance emergency line before departure.
Culture & Etiquette
Language Swahili (Kiswahili) is the national language and is widely spoken across Tanzania. English is the second official language and is used in business, tourism, and higher education. A few words of Swahili go a long way — Tanzanians respond warmly to visitors who make the effort.
A few useful phrases:
- Jambo / Habari — Hello / How are you?
- Asante (sana) — Thank you (very much)
- Karibu — Welcome / You’re welcome
- Pole pole — Slowly, slowly (also the Kilimanjaro mantra)
- Hakuna matata — No problem (yes, it’s real, and yes, people actually say it)
Religion Tanzania has a roughly equal Muslim and Christian population, with significant regional variation — Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, while the mainland is more mixed. Both faiths are practiced openly and with great warmth. Visitors are expected to be respectful of religious practices and dress codes, particularly when visiting mosques, churches, and local communities.
Dress Casual, comfortable clothing is appropriate in most tourist contexts. Modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is expected in Stone Town and rural villages on Zanzibar, around mosques, and in traditional communities across the mainland. Swimwear is appropriate at the beach and pool — nowhere else.
Photography Always ask permission before photographing individuals. Many Tanzanians are happy to be photographed; some are not, and their preference should be respected. In local markets and Maasai communities, a small tip in exchange for a portrait is customary. Never photograph military installations, airports, or government buildings.
Environmental Respect Tanzania’s parks and wilderness areas are protected environments. Do not litter, pick plants, feed wildlife, or leave the designated tracks without guide authorization. Kilimanjaro’s mountain ecosystem is fragile — all waste is carried out by your porter team.
Responsible Tourism
Tanzania’s wildlife and wild places are finite. The tourism industry that depends on them has a responsibility to protect what it profits from — and so do travelers.
We operate with the following commitments:
- Fair wages and working conditions for all our staff and porters
- Preference for locally owned and operated accommodation partners
- No off-road driving in sensitive park ecosystems
- Waste management protocols on all camping safaris and mountain climbs
- Community respect on all village and cultural visits
- Honest pricing — we do not engage in price gouging, hidden fees, or commission-driven recommendations
We encourage travelers to extend these values to their own choices: buy local crafts directly from artisans where possible, choose locally-owned restaurants when in town, and tip generously — the tourism workforce is skilled, hardworking, and paid wages that reflect how much your experience matters to them.
Still Have Questions?
This page covers the essentials, but every traveler’s situation is different. Reach out to us directly — we answer every inquiry personally and are happy to go through anything from visa specifics to packing questions to health concerns before you commit to booking.
Manyanga Tours — Setting the rhythm for your Tanzania journey.
