Travel Information – Tanzania
What you need to know before your safari — from eVisa requirements and Zanzibar insurance to packing for the Serengeti.
Quick Snapshot
Entry Requirements
Use only official government portals for visa applications. Third-party or unofficial sites may charge inflated fees or be fraudulent.
Tanzania eVisa
Apply online before departure or collect a visa on arrival at international airports and major border crossings, including Namanga (Kenya–Tanzania).
Tanzania & the EATV
Tanzania is not part of the East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV). If you hold an EATV, it is invalidated the moment you enter Tanzania. A separate Tanzania visa is always required, regardless of what other visas you hold.
Yellow Fever
Zanzibar — Mandatory Travel Insurance (ZIC)
Required since 1 October 2024 for all foreign visitors to Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba islands). No other insurance is accepted.
Health & Safety
Malaria
High risk across Tanzania including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Zanzibar. Antimalarials and DEET-based repellent are essential. Consult a travel health clinic at least 4–6 weeks before departure.
Vaccines
Yellow fever (if from an endemic country), Hepatitis A & B, and typhoid recommended. Meningitis if travelling during dry season.
Water
Bottled water only. All reputable lodges and camps provide safe drinking water — do not drink from taps.
Kilimanjaro & Altitude
At 5,895m, Kilimanjaro carries a serious altitude sickness risk regardless of fitness. Do not rush the ascent. Seven to nine days allows proper acclimatisation and significantly improves summit success rate. Emergency evacuation insurance is non-negotiable for any mountain trekking.
Travel Insurance
The Zanzibar ZIC policy covers medical up to USD 50,000 and adventure sports on the islands. For mainland safaris, you need separate comprehensive cover including emergency medical evacuation (USD 50,000–150,000 without insurance), adventure activities, and trip cancellation.
Do not rely on standard travel insurance. Verify explicitly that your policy covers emergency aerial evacuation and safari activities before you travel.
Best Time to Visit
| Period | Conditions | Wildlife / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan – FebCalving | Dry, warm. Excellent visibility. | Millions of wildebeest calves born in southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro — predator action is intense and concentrated. |
| Mar – May | Long rains. Lusher landscape, fewer tourists, lower rates. Some roads become challenging. | Birdwatching excellent. Off-peak pricing. |
| Jun – OctPeak | Dry season. Peak safari time. Thin vegetation; animals concentrate around water. | River crossings in northern Serengeti (Mara River) typically July–September. |
| Nov – Dec | Short rains — brief, patchy. Wildlife viewing still good. | Transition period. Serengeti generally accessible. |
The Migration is continuous. 1.5 million wildebeest move constantly through the Serengeti ecosystem. Which part of the park you visit determines what you see. We plan Tanzania itineraries around where the herds actually are, not where they were last year.
Getting There & Around
International Airports
- Julius Nyerere International (DAR), Dar es Salaam — main international gateway; most long-haul flights arrive here.
- Kilimanjaro International (JRO) — nearest airport to Arusha; gateway to the northern circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire); direct international services.
- Zanzibar International (ZNZ) — direct flights from several European hubs and Dubai.
Airlines
- Emirates — Dubai direct to DAR, ZNZ, and JRO
- Qatar Airways — Doha to DAR and JRO (JRO service resumed May 2025)
- Turkish Airlines — Istanbul to JRO and ZNZ (twice daily)
- Air France — Paris CDG to JRO/ZNZ (seasonal direct, resumed 2025)
- KLM — Amsterdam–Dar es Salaam direct
- SWISS — Zurich–Dar es Salaam direct
- Kenya Airways — Nairobi–DAR connecting flight
Getting Around
- Domestic & bush flights — Precision Air, Coastal Aviation, and Auric Air connect DAR, Zanzibar, Arusha, and Serengeti airstrips (Seronera, Grumeti, Kogatende). Arusha to Seronera by road is 8+ hours; by air it's 45 minutes.
- Road transfers — Arusha is the base for the northern circuit. Arusha–Ngorongoro ~3 hours; Arusha–Serengeti gate ~8 hours (usually done with a game drive en route).
- Nairobi–Arusha — daily shuttle buses (Impala, Riverside) via the Namanga border — 5–6 hours. Popular for combining Kenya and Tanzania.
Luggage limit for bush flights: 15 kg soft bag only. Hard suitcases go into lodge storage in Arusha. Most camps have laundry. Pack light.
Safari Experience
Northern Circuit
The classic Tanzania safari — Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara. The Serengeti alone justifies an entire trip. Ngorongoro Crater delivers Big Five in a single afternoon. This is where most visitors start and often end.
Southern Circuit
Ruaha National Park, Nyerere (Selous). Fewer vehicles, more genuine wilderness, walking safaris available. Ruaha hosts an estimated 10% of the world's remaining wild lion population. Not the starter circuit — this is for travellers who want remote.
Game Drives
Two per day standard — early morning and late afternoon. Some Serengeti camps offer day-long drives to follow migration action across the plains.
Ngorongoro Crater
A 20 km-wide volcanic caldera with one of the highest densities of wildlife anywhere on earth. Day visits from a crater rim lodge. Descend at dawn, ascend by evening. It works like nowhere else.
Zanzibar Extension
2–3 days post-safari — Stone Town, spice tours, world-class diving (Pemba, Mnemba Atoll), beaches. A natural finish to a Tanzania safari.
Accommodation
Tanzania has some of East Africa's most celebrated lodge and camp properties — from permanent luxury lodges to seasonal mobile camps that move with the migration. Full board is standard. Bush breakfasts, sundowners, and dinners under the stars are part of how Tanzania lodges operate.
Packing Guide
Safari Clothing
Neutral tones — khaki, olive, tan, sand. Layers essential; Serengeti mornings are cool even in July. For Zanzibar, pack lightweight linens, swimwear, and a modest cover-up for Stone Town.
Zanzibar Essentials
Reef-safe sunscreen only for marine park areas. Modest cover-up for Stone Town — shoulders and knees covered away from the beach. Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim — dress and behave accordingly.
Kilimanjaro Gear
Full mountain gear required — technical hiking boots, thermal base layers, waterproof shells, trekking poles, gaiters, warm hat and gloves. Your operator provides a detailed gear list.
Luggage
Soft bag, 15 kg limit for bush flights. Lodge storage in Arusha for anything you don't need on safari. Laundry service available at virtually all camps. No hard-shell suitcases.
Money & Tipping
Currency & Cards
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). USD is the effective currency for park fees, lodge payments, and permits. Bring clean, undamaged USD bills — torn notes or bills printed before 2009 are often refused. This is not a rumour; it's a practical reality.
Cards accepted in Dar es Salaam and Arusha hotels. Limited in remote safari areas. ATMs in Dar es Salaam and Arusha — draw cash before heading out.
USD bill condition matters. Carry new or near-new USD notes only. Pre-2009 bills and any torn or marked notes will be refused at lodges, parks, and money changers.
Tipping Guide (per day)
| Role | Amount |
|---|---|
| Safari guide | USD 15–20 per vehicle |
| Lodge staff | USD 5–10 per guest |
| Driver (if separate) | USD 10–15 |
| Kilimanjaro porters | USD 10–15 per porter |
Kilimanjaro porters earn primarily from tips. Tipping them properly — and promptly at the end of the trek — is expected and important.
Connectivity
SIM Card
Vodacom or Airtel Tanzania. Purchase at JRO or DAR airports. Coverage is good in Arusha and along main tourist routes.
Zanzibar
Better urban connectivity than the mainland parks. Stone Town and beach areas have reasonable coverage.
National Parks
Expect minimal to no data signal in the Serengeti and Ruaha. Some lodges have satellite Wi-Fi — becoming more common, but don't count on it for work calls.
Offline prep: Download Google Maps offline for Arusha, the Serengeti, and Stone Town. Save emergency contacts before you leave Arusha.
Cultural Etiquette & Park Rules
Etiquette
- Zanzibar: Predominantly Muslim island. Dress conservatively in Stone Town and non-beach areas — shoulders and knees covered. Ramadan is widely observed; respect prayer times.
- Mainland: Rural Tanzania is conservative in dress norms outside tourist facilities. General modesty is appreciated.
- Photography: Ask before photographing people, particularly Maasai communities around Ngorongoro. Payment may be requested — this is legitimate.
- Greetings: "Mambo" (casual) or "Habari" (formal) opens any interaction in Tanzania. A few words of Swahili are warmly received.
Park Rules
- Tanzania's national parks are managed by TANAPA with strict track rules and vehicle limits at sightings. Your guide handles compliance — follow their lead.
- Serengeti has designated off-road zones only — driving off-track is illegal and damages the plains ecosystem.
- Zanzibar's marine parks require reef-safe sunscreen only. No coral touching, no taking of any marine life or shells.
- A meaningful portion of Tanzania's park fees fund anti-poaching operations and wildlife conservation — not just administration.
- Mobile camps that move with the migration leave no permanent footprint — a feature of responsible Serengeti operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanzania safe for tourists?
Tanzania's safari and tourist areas are safe and well-managed. Zanzibar is peaceful. Standard urban precautions apply in Dar es Salaam. Check current advisories for the southern border areas near Mozambique. The northern circuit — Arusha, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Zanzibar — is the most visited and most straightforward for safety.
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
You need a single Tanzania visa that covers both the mainland and Zanzibar. But Zanzibar also requires the mandatory ZIC travel insurance (USD 44 per adult) — this is separate from your visa and non-negotiable. Buy it before you fly.
Can I combine Tanzania with Kenya?
Yes — the Nairobi–Arusha connection is a well-worn route: shuttle bus or charter flight, 45 minutes–6 hours depending on your choice. The Maasai Mara and Serengeti share the same ecosystem; combining them in one trip is one of East Africa's definitive safari experiences.
How long should I allow for Kilimanjaro?
Seven to nine days. Longer routes (Lemosho, Rongai) have significantly higher summit success rates than shorter ones (Marangu 5-day). Rushing altitude costs you the summit. We only recommend routes with proper acclimatisation built in.
What's the minimum itinerary for a Tanzania safari?
Five to six days gives you Ngorongoro Crater and the central Serengeti properly. Add two days for Zanzibar. Eight days total is a complete and satisfying Tanzania safari.