Tanzania Reseguide
Viktig reseinformation — nödnummer, säkerhet, valuta, visum, seder och att ta sig runt.
Tanzania is one of East Africa's more stable and welcoming destinations, and the vast majority of visits to the safari parks, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar are trouble-free. The main risks are petty crime (pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and theft from vehicles) in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Stone Town, road safety on long-distance journeys, and malaria. Exercise normal-to-increased caution: stay alert in crowds and after dark, avoid displaying valuables, and use reputable operators and transport.
Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
Type D and Type G, 230V, 50Hz
Tipping is widely expected in the tourism sector. On safari, budget roughly USD 15-25 per guide per day and a separate pooled tip for camp/lodge staff; on a Kilimanjaro climb, tipping the guide, cook, and porter team is a significant, expected cost (often USD 200-300+ per climber split among the crew). In restaurants, rounding up or about 10% is appreciated where service isn't already added. Small tips for hotel porters and helpful drivers are customary.
Buy a local SIM from Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo (Yas), or Halotel; registration is mandatory, so bring your passport. SIMs and data bundles are cheap and sold at official shops, airports, and kiosks; Vodacom and Airtel have the broadest coverage including near the national parks, though signal is patchy deep in the bush. eSIMs (e.g. Airalo) are a convenient alternative for short stays.
Most visitors need a visa, obtainable in advance via Tanzania's official e-visa portal or on arrival at major airports and borders for many nationalities. A single-entry tourist visa is commonly USD 50, while US citizens are charged USD 100 for a multiple-entry visa. Passports must be valid at least six months with blank pages. Note Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar are one country but Zanzibar runs separate immigration checks, and proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Always confirm current rules on the official immigration site before travel.
Left
Within cities, shared minibuses called 'daladala' are cheap, crowded, and follow set routes; in Dar es Salaam the DART bus rapid transit ('Mwendokasi') runs dedicated red articulated buses along main corridors. Motorcycle taxis ('bodaboda') and three-wheeled 'bajaji' (tuk-tuks) fill the gaps but carry higher accident risk; insist on a helmet on a bodaboda. Agree fares before riding in anything without a meter.
Uber (Dar es Salaam), Bolt (Dar es Salaam and some other cities), Little
Long-distance buses (coaches) link major towns; reputable companies on the Dar es Salaam-Arusha-Moshi route are more reliable, though road accidents are a real risk and overnight buses are best avoided. The TAZARA railway runs toward Zambia and a modern Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) now connects Dar es Salaam to Dodoma and beyond. Domestic flights (Precision Air, Auric/Coastal, Air Tanzania, Regional) are the practical way to reach safari hubs and Zanzibar, saving long drives. Ferries (notably Azam Marine/Zan Fast) run frequently between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar; use the official scheduled ferries.
- • Greetings are essential and never rushed. A common exchange is 'Habari?' (how are you?) or the respectful 'Shikamoo' said by younger people to elders, who reply 'Marahaba'. Skipping greetings to get straight to business is considered rude.
- • Use your right hand for eating, giving, and receiving. The left hand is traditionally regarded as unclean. Receiving a gift or money with both hands, or the right hand touching the left forearm, shows added respect.
- • Tanzania is roughly a third Muslim (and the majority on Zanzibar), so modest dress is appreciated, especially away from beach resorts. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and on Zanzibar covering shoulders and knees in towns is expected.
- • Remove your shoes before entering someone's home or a mosque. It is polite to accept at least a little of any food or chai offered to you, as hospitality is a point of pride.
- • Pole pole ('slowly slowly') captures the relaxed pace of life. Patience is valued; visible impatience, raising your voice, or public anger cause loss of face for everyone involved.
- • Always ask before photographing people, particularly Maasai and other rural communities; many will expect a small fee, and some object on religious grounds. Photographing government buildings, airports, and military sites is prohibited.
Lightweight, breathable clothing in neutral tones for safari (avoid blue and black, which attract tsetse flies; bright white shows dust). Bring a warm layer for chilly early-morning game drives and for the Ngorongoro/Kilimanjaro highlands. In towns and especially on Zanzibar and other Muslim areas, dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, and women may carry a scarf. Beachwear is fine at resorts and on the beach but not in town streets or villages.
Tanzania is religiously mixed: mainland is roughly split between Christians and Muslims, while Zanzibar is overwhelmingly Muslim. Dress modestly near mosques and in conservative areas, and remove shoes before entering a mosque (non-Muslims generally may not enter the prayer hall itself). During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight on Zanzibar and in Muslim communities out of respect. Ask permission before photographing worshippers, and keep beachwear strictly to the beach and resorts.
Football (soccer) — Football is the national obsession, with Dar es Salaam giants Simba SC and Young Africans (Yanga) dominating the Premier League and igniting fierce, city-wide rivalries on derby days. Many Tanzanians also passionately follow the English Premier League. Beyond football, Tanzania has a proud distance-running tradition (Filbert Bayi's famous 1500m world record and Olympic marathon medals), and the outdoor 'sports' that draw visitors are world-class: climbing Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, plus diving, snorkelling, and kitesurfing off Zanzibar's reefs.
April 26
Union Day (Muungano)
National holiday marking the 1964 union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania, with parades and official ceremonies.
Early-mid February (annual, ~4 days)
Sauti za Busara
Zanzibar's flagship music festival in Stone Town, celebrating East African and pan-African music with live performances in the Old Fort and a colourful street carnival.
December 9
Independence Day (Uhuru Day)
Commemorates Tanganyika's independence from Britain in 1961, celebrated nationwide with parades, music, and official events.
July (annual)
Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF)
East Africa's largest film and arts festival, held in Stone Town with screenings, music, and cultural performances drawing filmmakers across the continent.