Tanzania travel guide

Getting there

Most visitors fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha, or Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on Zanzibar. Land borders connect Tanzania with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, and ferries link Dar es Salaam with Zanzibar.

Best time to visit: Jun–Oct – dry season, best for safaris and climbing.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to Dodoma, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: April to May – the long rains make some roads muddy, close certain remote lodges and bring heavy downpours on the coast.

Weather by month in Dar es Salaam

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Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Africa/Dar_es_Salaam. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 174 of 198 other passports can enter Tanzania without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 24 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Tanzania (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-10-16). Read the advisory.

Stay

Most trips to Tanzania are based around Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area or Mount Kilimanjaro. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$40–70 for a backpacker and US$150–300 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: D, G. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +255.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• Serengeti National Park (North · wildlife safari): Endless golden plains hosting the Great Migration and some of Africa's best big-cat sightings.
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area (North · crater & culture): A wildlife-packed volcanic crater, plus Maasai grazing lands and the fossil site of Olduvai Gorge.
• Mount Kilimanjaro (North · trekking): Africa's highest peak, climbable without technical gear, with the town of Moshi as a lively base.
• Zanzibar (Unguja) (Indian Ocean · islands & heritage): A UNESCO-listed old town, white-sand beaches and a fascinating Swahili-Arab culture.
• Tarangire National Park (North · safari): Famous for big elephant herds and baobab-studded landscapes, especially busy with animals in the dry season.
• Arusha (North · gateway city): The jumping-off point for northern safaris, with coffee farms, markets and views of Mount Meru.
• Mafia Island (Indian Ocean · marine park): A quiet, laid-back island with superb diving, snorkelling and seasonal whale sharks.
• Ruaha National Park (South · remote safari): A wild, rugged park with few vehicles, large predator populations and a true sense of adventure.

Things to do

• Witness the Great Migration. Watch vast herds of wildebeest and zebra thunder across the Serengeti plains, chased by lions and crocodiles at the river crossings.
• Climb Kilimanjaro. Trek through rainforest, moorland and alpine desert to stand on the roof of Africa at sunrise.
• Descend into Ngorongoro Crater. Drive down into a vast collapsed volcano where lions, elephants and rare black rhino share one enormous natural arena.
• Get lost in Stone Town. Wander Zanzibar's maze of coral-stone alleys, carved wooden doors and rooftop cafés as the call to prayer drifts overhead.
• Take a spice tour. Smell, taste and touch cloves, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon on a farm in the lush Zanzibar countryside.
• Snorkel and dive the reefs. Drift over colourful coral gardens around Mafia and Pemba islands, where whale sharks visit in season.
• Track chimpanzees. Hike through the forests of Mahale or Gombe on the shores of Lake Tanganyika to sit quietly with wild chimpanzee families.
• Sail on a dhow at sunset. Glide along the Swahili coast on a traditional wooden sailing boat as the sky turns gold.

Eat and drink

• Ugali – stiff maize porridge with stews
• Nyama choma – grilled goat or chicken
• Zanzibar pizza – street snack of stuffed and fried dough
• Mishkaki – marinated meat skewers

Money and safety

Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Expected for safari guides, cooks and climbing crews; around 10% in restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 112.

• The currency is the Tanzanian shilling; US dollars are widely used for park fees and safaris, but bring newer, undamaged notes as older ones may be refused.
• ATMs are common in cities and Zanzibar's Stone Town, but scarce in rural areas, so carry enough cash before heading out on safari.
• Use licensed guides and registered safari operators, and never walk alone in parks or approach wild animals.
• Avoid walking alone after dark in city centres and beaches, and keep valuables out of sight in busy markets and bus stations.