Nearly all visitors to Tanzania need to obtain a visa. Requirements do change from time to time, so please check the Tanzanian Government website to keep up-to-date.
A single-entry tourist visa currently costs $50 USD, or $100 USD for US Citizens.
It normally takes only 1(one) business day to process a Tanzanian Tourist Visa online. In certain cases, it can take up to 7 (seven) to receive the approved visa. Please apply as soon as you can, once you are absolutely sure of your travel dates.
For a single-entry tourist visa, you can stay a maximum of 90 (ninety) days consecutively. If you apply for and are granted a multiple-entry visa, then this is valid for 1 (one) year. However, you must leave Tanzania at least once every 90 days and then re-enter the country.
Obtaining a visa on arrival in Tanzania is still possible, but the process can result in lengthy delays because of the requirement to wait at the immigration checkpoint while the application is processed. Anyone choosing this option should be aware that the visa fee must be paid for in cash, specifically in $USD. No other currency is accepted. Online application is preferable – see below.
To apply online for a visa to enter either the Tanzanian mainland or Zanzibar, you need to complete an online form. To access this form, click here.
Below are the routes we recommend for getting to Tanzania from various parts of the world. There are of course other routes available, not necessarily recommended by Easy Travel, but do contact us should you require further assistance. Bear in mind that airline schedules change frequently, so do check carefully before making travel arrangements that depend on airline arrival and departure times.
Delta Airlines, through its partner KLM, operate direct daily flights from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Schiphol is a major international hub with services to and from several cities in the USA, Europe and elsewhere. Civilized departure times from Amsterdam (currently 10.00hrs local time) and arrival times in Kilimanjaro (currently 20.30hrs, local time) are a big advantage, as is the airline’s reputation for being professional, efficient and for taking good care of passengers’ luggage. Lost and delayed baggage is thankfully rare with KLM.
Dutch airline KLM operates direct daily flights from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Schiphol is a major international hub with services to and from many European cities, as well as several cities in the USA and elsewhere. Civilized departure times from Amsterdam (currently 10.00hrs local time) and arrival times in Kilimanjaro (currently 20.30hrs, local time) are a big advantage, as is the airline’s reputation for being professional, efficient and for taking good care of passengers’ luggage. Lost and delayed baggage is thankfully rare with KLM.
Qatar Airways flies from many Asian airports to its hub in Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DIA) and from there to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Nairobi, in Kenya. From Nairobi, you then take a flight with Precision Air to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). This flight departs Nairobi around 08:20hrs (local time) every day and arrives at Kilimanjaro International Airport around 09:20hrs (local time) on the same day.
The disadvantage with this option is that the layover time can be quite lengthy. On arrival from Doha at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), you currently have an 8 hour wait for your Precision Air flight to take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
You can book an Emirates Airways to fly from major cities in Australia to Dubai, from where you can connect to Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport). From Nairobi you can take the Precision Air flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). This flight departs Nairobi around 08:20hrs (local time) daily and arrives at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) around 09:20hrs (local time).
Please note that with flights from Australia with Emirates there may be long layovers at Dubai or Nairobi, or sometimes very short connection times at Nairobi which means you may not be able to make the same day flight with Precision Air to Kilimanjaro: this would then mean an overnight in Nairobi and rebooking your flight to Kilimanjaro the following day.
Tanzania has three international airports served by various airlines, including European ones. This makes Tanzania a very accessible country from many parts of the world. Choosing which Tanzanian airport is best suited for your arrival will depend on where you are coming from, which part or parts of Tanzania you are visiting and which type of tourism you are engaging in (safari, Kilimanjaro climb, Zanzibar beach holiday). Below are brief details of the three International Tanzanian Airports.
Serving Tanzania’s biggest city and named after Tanzania’s first president, this is the biggest airport in Tanzania and actually one of the largest in East Africa. More than 2.5 million passengers pass through here every year and for tourists, this is best suited to those who wish to visit Tanzania’s Southern Safari Circuit. That circuit includes parks such as Nyerere National Park (Formally Known as Selous Game Reserve), Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Ruaha and Mikumi National Park.
Sharing its name with Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro International Airport is very popular with visitors to Tanzania’s Northern Circuit of National Parks – iconic parks such as Serengeti, Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, as well as Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi and the famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is also the most convenient airport for climbers tackling the mountain itself. The airport is served by international airlines such as KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, and Qatar Airways.
For those visiting Tanzania for a beach holiday in the Zanzibar archipelago, the Abeid Amani Karume airport is the gateway airport for international visitors. It is situated just to the south of the main island’s principal town, Stone Town, and within a short distance from the beautiful beaches which attract an increasing number of visitors. For those combining a safari holiday with some beach time, there are flights from the Tanzanian mainland.
Arusha Airport is located around 10km from the busy city of Arusha, but only handles domestic flights. These are mainly to Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, although the airport also handles charter flights to some of the country’s national parks.
For international flights, Easy Travel strongly recommends that you arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before your scheduled departure. This allows for any delays. Remember also that some destinations require you to complete and submit certain documentation in advance of your flight. It is your responsibility to comply with any regulations for your destination and to complete and submit any documentation required. We suggest that you should bring a copy of any documentation to the airport.
Easy Travel recommends that, wherever possible, you should check in advance, online. This avoids the possibility of potential delays at the departure airport.
As baggage allowances and restrictions vary by airline and are subject to alteration, we suggest that you contact your airline or check their website to get the latest information relevant to your flight.
To avoid some of the long road journeys by safari vehicle, some of our visitors prefer to take internal flights to visit national parks. These flights are at an extra cost. The information below is given to provide an idea of the internal flights currently available but is subject to change.
Flights departs from Arusha Airport at 08:00hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 09:30hrs, via Manyara Airstrip.
Flights departs from Arusha Airport at 10:00hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 12:30hrs, via Manyara Airstrip and Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 08:00hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 10:00hrs, via Manyara Airstrip.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 10:00hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 13:00hrs, via Kilimanjaro International Airport and Manyara Airstrip.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 08:00am, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 10:00am, via Manyara Airstrip.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 10:00am, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 13:00pm, via Kilimanjaro International Airport and Manyara Airstrip.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 10:15hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 12:20hrs, via Manyara Airstrip.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 13:45hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 17:30hrs, via Manyara Airstrip and Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 10:15hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 14:20hrs, via Manyara Airstrip and Arusha Airport.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 10:15hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 12:20hrs, via Manyara Airstrip and continue to Zanzibar.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 13:45hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 17:30hrs, via Manyara Airstrip and Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Flights departs Arusha Airport at 10:15hrs, and arrives Seronera Airstrip at 14:20hrs, via Manyara Airstrip and Arusha Airport.
For flights from Arusha to Zanzibar, we recommend booking with either Precision Air or Auric Air,
Precision Air offers two flights daily to Zanzibar, the first one departing from Kilimanjaro International Airport at 10:10hrs, arriving at 11:30hrs and the second flight departing from Arusha Airport at 15:15hrs and arriving in Zanzibar at 16:35hrs
Auric Air offers one flight daily, departing from Arusha Airport at 12:45hrs, arriving in Zanzibar at 13:50hrs
Our best advice is to carry as little luggage as is possible. For guidance, you should bring a small soft-sided bag with a maximum weight of 6kg and a main bag of no more than 15-20kg. You should avoid hard-shell bags or suitcases as these can be difficult to store.
As many of our visitors combine a safari holiday or Kilimanjaro climb with some beach time on Zanzibar, we can usually make arrangements for you to store any excess luggage at your arrival/departure hotel. It can then be collected, when required, for the next stage of your trip. Note this is only possible if your departure point from Tanzania is the same as your arrival point.
Please read our advice on money carefully. If you have any additional questions, do feel free to ask when you are making your booking.
The Tanzania Shilling is the country’s official currency.
Although Tanzania has its own currency, US Dollars are also widely accepted, and these are often more welcome than the Tanzanian Shilling. Note: dollar banknotes dated 2006 or before will not be accepted. Euros are also accepted in some places but are not as popular as US Dollars.
As is the case in many places in the world, travelers cheques are no longer acceptable in Tanzania. Please do not bring them! You should rely on a combination of credit cards and cash during your trip.
As long as you have your passport with you for identification, you will be able to change money at reasonable exchange rates in official Foreign Exchange offices in Tanzania. You should never change money in the streets, as moneychangers working on the streets are not reliable.
Visa cards are widely accepted for purchases and ATM withdrawals in Tanzania, Mastercard is also accepted, though not quite as widely. Some places – but not all – accept American Express, which can also be used in some ATMs.
It is better to withdraw sufficient cash from ATMs or use the Foreign Exchange offices when you are in the city or at airport, as ATMs are few and far between in rural areas. It is always good to have some cash with you at all times.
Where credit cards are accepted by hotels, restaurants and shops, additional charges of between 3 and 5 per cent are normally levied by way of surcharge. Please ask the vendor before making the transaction if these charges will be applied, as this will avoid any nasty shocks when you receive your credit card statement.
Many visitors want to bring home something to remind them of their time spent in Tanzania. A good authentic souvenir would be a wooden carving, with traditional masks and tribespeople figurines being the most popular items. Do make sure that what you are buying is genuinely Tanzanian, as woodcarvings from other African countries are also offered for sale. Other popular souvenirs are the colourful, traditional Maasai blankets. You may not want to actually wear these once you are back home, but these versatile, tartan-patterned garments also make excellent tablecloths, throws or picnic blankets. Some people do indeed wear them as shawls. Another popular purchase in Tanzania are soapstone sculptures, available in many outlets.
A particular specialty of our land is Tanzanite, which is a precious blue gemstone unique to the country with which it shares its name. This beautiful item is not inexpensive, so you should do some careful research before you buy, and even better try to use the knowledge and expertise of a guide you can trust. You want to make sure that what you buy is genuine.
Artwork is another popular gift or souvenir, particularly tinga-tinga, which genuinely originates in Tanzania and takes its name after its creator, Edward Tingatinga. It is charmingly simplistic, full of bright colours and often depicts wildlife or other African themes, making it the perfect souvenir.
For some visitors, agreeing a price for something they want to buy in Tanzania can be a difficult experience. Bargaining in Tanzania is the custom, and we understand that in your home country it most probably is not! Any visitor wanting to buy something here will be quoted a higher price than will be given to a local. You may feel that you are being ‘ripped off’ but consider the initial quoted price to be an opening offer. Just make a counteroffer (much lower, obviously!) which will almost certainly be rejected. This process of offer/counteroffer can go on for some time, but remember that the person selling the item has to feed his family, remember to keep a smile on your face, try to keep the conversation good-natured and remember that you can always walk away – still smiling – if you can’t reach agreement. Sometimes walking away can produce a further reduction in the price!
Getting to know and understand local customs is not only interesting, it is also a way of avoiding awkward and embarrassing situations when you are in another culture. Here we look at tipping, which is an integral part of life and business in Tanzania. Knowing who to tip on your trip is important, as many people are involved in a successful Tanzanian adventure. You will find more detail on our Easy Travel website.
Getting to know and understand local customs is not only interesting, it is also a way of avoiding awkward and embarrassing situations when you are in another culture. Here we look at tipping, which is an integral part of life and business in Tanzania. Knowing who to tip on your trip is important, as many people are involved in a successful Tanzanian adventure. You will find more detail on our Easy Travel website.
If you read the reviews given by previous visitors, you will quickly realise how important a good driver-guide is to an unforgettable safari. Driver, guide, entertainer and walking encyclopedia: this guy performs all of these roles and goes out of his way, above and beyond, to give you the best Tanzanian experience you could ever wish for. If you are happy with his services, then you should make a point of tipping him separately and generously: tips are an expected part of his remuneration package.
Those who climb Kilimanjaro will be blown away by the beauty of the mountain and the feeling of sheer exhilaration at reaching the summit. But as well as congratulating yourself, you will also want to make sure that the incredible mountain crew who helped get you there are rewarded, too. Part of the trip, towards the end, is the so-called ‘Tipping Ceremony,’ about which we provide full details to all those climbers taking the trip. The mountain crews certainly earn their tips, we are sure you will agree.
Those who choose a camping safari are often delighted by the quality of the food they receive out in the wilderness. After a hard day’s safari, you will expect a great meal, and the Safari Chef who works hard to satisfy you should be tipped separately.
Most of our Easy Travel visitors are delighted and surprised by the high-quality experience they encounter at their accommodations. Service levels are a particular positive! Just consider the amount of work that goes in to making your time memorable. If you wish to make sure that everyone involved is properly rewarded – including those behind the scenes, such as chefs etc – then look out for ‘staff tip box’ which can often be found in the accommodation’s reception area. This system ensures that any tips are equally divided between staff members.
Knowing when to tip is also important. For accommodations, tipping at the end of your stay is the best policy, as by then you will know if you have enjoyed good service! And you don’t want to be constantly thinking about who to tip, and when, throughout your stay. For the safari driver-guides, Easy Travel suggests that you tip at the end of the trip, when the driver-guide drops you off at the airport and you say goodbye.
We at Easy Travel understand that the very act of tipping can be a little awkward for any visitor who comes from a culture where tipping is not an everyday activity. So, here’s some advice. We strongly recommend that you tip in cash, which can be in Tanzanian Shillings, although if you can tip in US dollars then that is even better.
One good bit of advice for anyone who gets a bit embarrassed by tipping is to bring some small, sealable envelopes with you. When you’re ready to tip someone, you can personalize your offering by writing the recipient’s name on the envelope and put the tip inside. This can avoid any awkwardness.
Another potentially difficult subject is, of course, how much to tip. We at Easy Travel offer some suggested amounts. below, based on our decades of experience, while recognizing that the amount is a matter of personal choice. Of course, the amounts we suggest assume that you are satisfied with the service you have received!
Driver-guide: $25 US per day / per couple (or per individual, if travelling solo)Airport Transfer Guide: $20 US per Transfer / per couple (or per individual, if travelling solo)
Mountain Guide: $25 per day / per group
Mountain Chef: $15 per day / per chef / per group
Mountain Porter: $8 per day / per porter / per group
Summit Porter: $15 per day / per summit porter / per group
Transfer Driver: $20 per transfer / per group
Tip Box: $20 per stay / per couple (or per individual, if travelling solo)
Packing is always a balance between bringing as little as possible and not forgetting anything vital. Follow our Easy Travel tips to achieve this important balance.
The clothing you need depends entirely on whether you are going on a safari trip, climbing a mountain or relaxing on a beach in Zanzibar. Of course, you might be doing more than one of these activities. Easy Travel’s destination experts have put together separate packing lists for each of these adventures and you can access these detailed lists here:
Actually, a good-quality duffel bag is better than either, for your main bag! Hard-shell suitcases are not suitable for Tanzania, simply because your luggage will need to ‘squash down’ in your safari vehicle and also in any of the small planes used for internal flights taken in Tanzania. Note the baggage allowance for domestic flights (usually 20 kg per person for your checked-in luggage, 6 kg per person for hand baggage) is less than is allowed for your international airline. So pack wisely and don’t bring more than the domestic flight limit. A small backpack is best for your hand luggage/cabin bag, as this can also be used as your daypack when out on safari (see below).
A small backpack is best for when you are walking, especially if you are on a walking safari. It needs to be just big enough to carry your camera or phone, a water bottle, sunscreen and insect repellent. The less you can carry, the better – keep the weight to a minimum, as it puts less strain on your back, knees etc.
If an internal flight is full, then bags need to be squeezed in- hence the need for soft bags, not hard-shell. Weight restrictions, rather than size restrictions, are applied but as a rough guide the dimensions of your luggage should not exceed 62cm x 30cm (24 x 12 inches).
Please note that both Precision Air and Auric Air impose a maximum weight allowance of 20kg (44lbs) per person including hand luggage. Luggage must be of the soft bag (i.e. duffel bag) type and its maximum dimensions should not exceed 24 inches (60cm) x 18 inches (45cm) x 13 inches (33cm).
Standard voltage in Tanzania is 230 – 240 volts. Electrical sockets usually require the 3 square-pin variety, as used in the United Kingdom. Easy Travel recommends that you should bring a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.
There is Wi-Fi available in all of Tanzania’s main cities, although connections are often slower and can be less secure than you might experience in your home country. Once you are in the National Parks you really are out in the wilderness and there is very rarely a Wi-Fi connection. Remember that you are here to immerse yourself in nature, so disconnect and relax!
No! Tanzania is at the forefront of the global movement against single-use plastic bags and since June 2019, plastic bags are no longer allowed in the country. As a result of the ban, visitors to Tanzania must avoid carrying or using plastic carrier bags in their luggage. One exception is that currently plastic ‘Ziplock’ bags (i.e. those specifically used to carry toiletries or medicines) will be permitted. It is expected that those types of bags will remain in the permanent possession of visitors and will not be disposed of in-country.
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