馃 Tanzania

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 28% of US prices (World Bank, 2024). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Entry requirements vary by passport, so check the official site below. According to sources, tourists can obtain an e-Visa by applying through the official immigration portal. Many imitation sites charge extra, so rely only on the official portal, where the fee and rules should also be confirmed. An onward ticket and a passport with 6 months of validity are needed. Arrivals from a risk country need a yellow fever certificate. Seek a doctor's advice on malaria prevention.

Culture and practical - take note

Greetings are important: shake hands lightly and start with 'Jambo' or 'Habari'. In towns, dress modestly. Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim, which means shoulders and knees should be covered away from the beach at the hotel, and Ramadan should be respected. Permission should be sought before photographing people, as a small payment is requested by some. Government and military sites must never be photographed, and flying drones without permission is banned. Plastic carrier bags are banned, so keep them out of your luggage. During a safari, remain in the vehicle, do what the guide says and stay quiet around animals. A Kilimanjaro climb calls for a registered operator, a slow pace and listening to the guide on altitude sickness. Guides, drivers and porters should be tipped; the operator can say what is usual. In Zanzibar and coastal towns, halal food is easy to come by.

Emergency

112. Your safari operator or hotel can give you local police and ambulance numbers.

Good to know

US dollars, shillings and machines

UK advice says US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas but travellers' cheques are not. Major-city banks have cash machines that take foreign debit cards and give out Tanzanian shillings, though they sometimes break down or run out of cash, and it recommends machines inside banks. Canadian advice says credit cards are not widely accepted in rural areas and suggests carrying a small amount of US dollars for airports and borders.

Local laws and customs

Dress, plastic bags and photography

UK advice says to dress modestly throughout Tanzania, and that Zanzibar authorities can fine people for inappropriate clothing in public. Plastic bags are banned, and Canadian advice says offenders can face heavy fines, up to seven days in prison, or both. Some CBD products are illegal. Canadian advice says photographing military sites is banned and people have been detained for photographing public buildings such as bridges and airports. Both advisories say same-sex sexual activity is illegal.

Taxis and scams

Taxis and ride-share apps

A taxi should be arranged through a hotel or travel operator, says UK advice, which also says to ask to see the driver's ID and to refuse lifts from strangers or from anyone offering to find a taxi. Canadian advice is to choose licensed taxis, either ones picked by a reputable hotel or restaurant or ones at an official stand, to ask for the meter or agree the fare, and not to share one with strangers. It adds that rideshare services are available through trusted apps.

Who can help

ngo

Tanzania Red Cross Society

Helps with: Tanzania's national Red Cross society, with headquarters in Dar es Salaam. Its site lists a hotline, said to run 24 hours a day, and a separate counselling service line.

Who qualifies: People in Tanzania who need to reach the Red Cross, including its hotline or counselling line.

Phone: 0800 750 150

Email: [email protected]

Address: Mwai Kibaki Road, Plot No. 53, Block C, Mikocheni B, P.O. Box 1133, Dar es Salaam

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Tanzania

Helps with: The UN migration agency's country office in Dar es Salaam. Contact it about migration matters in Tanzania.

Who qualifies: Migrants and organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +255 689 103 096

Email: [email protected]

Address: Plot 17 Ruhinde Rd, Kinondoni, P.O. Box 9270, Dar es Salaam

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

embassy

Foreign embassies and high commissions in Tanzania (official list)

Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or high commission. The Tanzanian foreign ministry lists missions in Dar es Salaam with postal addresses, phones and emails.

Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or high commission.

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Emergency number 112 (police, ambulance and fire)

Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.

Phone: 112

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

City selection based on: Tour-operator safari itineraries and travel guides (no official site-level statistics found)

Festivals and events

nature

Calving season (southern Serengeti)

around Jan-Feb 2027 路 Serengeti

Births of wildebeest calves run into the thousands, and many predators are about.

culture

Sauti za Busara music festival

around Feb 2027 路 Zanzibar

Stone Town hosts a festival of African music.

nature

Great Migration (Serengeti)

around Jul-Oct 2027 路 Serengeti

Crossings of rivers happen in the north of the Serengeti.

nature

Calving season (southern Serengeti)

around Jan-Feb 2028 路 Serengeti

Births of wildebeest calves run into the thousands, and many predators are about.

culture

Sauti za Busara music festival

around Feb 2028 路 Zanzibar

Stone Town hosts a festival of African music.