Tanzania

Best months depend on what you want to see.

- Great Migration calving (southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains): about late January to March, peaking in February.
- Mara River crossings (northern Serengeti): about July to October, peaking August to September. Crossings are unpredictable, so no month is guaranteed.
- The herds head back south around October to November and reach the southern plains in December.
- Central Serengeti (Seronera): good resident wildlife all year.
- Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire: wildlife all year. Tanzania National Parks highlights the dry season for large herds at Tarangire.
- Southern circuit (Ruaha, Nyerere): best roughly June to October, when animals gather along the rivers. Boat safaris are possible at Nyerere.
- Kilimanjaro: best January to early March and June to October. Mid-March to May is the wettest time and most operators discourage climbing then.

Tanzania National Parks names January and February for calving and June to October for migration viewing. Exact migration timing comes from safari-industry sources and varies each year. July to September is the busiest season; mid-March to mid-May is quietest.

Most visitors need a visa for mainland Tanzania (checked 8 October 2026). Rules and fees can change, so confirm on the official eVisa portal before you travel.

- The official portal lists a single-entry Ordinary visa at USD 50 (valid up to 90 days) and a multiple-entry visa at USD 100 (valid up to 1 year, with stays of up to 90 days per visit).
- The portal says US passport holders visiting for tourism must apply for the USD 100 multiple-entry type.
- Apply online before you travel. The UK and US governments both say a single-entry tourist visa can also be issued on arrival at main entry points, but multiple-entry visas are not available on arrival. Applying online helps you avoid queues.
- You must show a return or onward ticket.
- The portal says applications are processed within ten days. Travellers from "referral" countries cannot get a visa on arrival unless approved and should apply at least two months ahead.
- The portal lists visa exemptions for East African Community and SADC member states (except Comoros) and for Commonwealth countries except the UK, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand. Check the current list for your nationality.
- A news report from July 2026 says 24 nationalities cannot get a visa on arrival and must apply in advance. We could not confirm this list on the official site, so check your own nationality with the Tanzania Immigration Services Department.

The East Africa Tourist Visa (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda) does not cover Tanzania. A visa does not guarantee entry; an immigration officer can refuse it.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the day you arrive in Tanzania, and have at least one blank page for the visa (official eVisa portal, UK and US governments) (checked 8 October 2026). The US government says one blank page is needed for each entry stamp.

Entry will be refused if your passport has been reported lost or stolen.

Carry copies of your passport photo page and your visa, kept separately from the originals. Keep your visa printout or approval with you when you arrive.

Yellow fever certificate (checked 8 October 2026). The Tanzania Ministry of Health (Mainland) says a certificate is mandatory if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, or if you have a connection of 12 hours or more in such a country. The vaccine must be given at least 10 days before you enter Tanzania. Without a valid certificate you may be refused entry, or vaccinated on arrival and kept under health observation for up to 10 days. If you have a medical exemption, carry written proof.

- The Ministry's list (a notice dated 31 July 2023, based on a January 2023 WHO list) includes Kenya and Uganda, which matters for cross-border trips. Rwanda is not on that printed list. Lists change, so confirm with your travel clinic or airline.
- You do not need a certificate if you fly in directly from the US, UK or Europe.
- The US CDC generally does not recommend the vaccine for travel to Tanzania itself.

Other vaccines the CDC recommends: routine vaccines up to date, measles (MMR), hepatitis A, hepatitis B (under 60), typhoid, rabies (discuss with a clinician) and COVID-19. Cholera may be considered. The CDC (notice dated 9 March 2026) says poliovirus was found in Tanzania in the past year and advises adults to have a polio booster.

See a doctor or travel clinic 6-8 weeks before you go (the UK government says at least 8 weeks). The UK government also notes mpox temperature screening at all entry points, and Ebola screening for arrivals from DR Congo. Check current health notices before you travel.

Malaria: the CDC says there is malaria risk in all areas below 1,800 m, which covers most safari areas. It recommends prescription anti-malaria tablets; some must be started days before you travel. Use repellent, cover up at dusk, and seek medical care quickly for any fever during your trip or up to a year after you return.

Altitude: the CDC warns that altitude sickness may occur on Kilimanjaro, and the UK government says it is a risk in parts of Tanzania. Ask your doctor about prevention. Ngorongoro is described by a travel website as mostly above 2,000 m, with chilly nights, but we have no official height figure.

- Tap water is not safe to drink; use bottled or treated water (US government).
- Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water because of the risk of bilharzia (CDC).
- Other risks include dengue, rabies (get care after any animal bite or scratch) and tick-bite fevers. Road accidents are a leading cause of death for travellers.
- Medical facilities are limited, especially outside Dar es Salaam. Hospitals often ask for payment upfront and ambulances can be unreliable. Medical evacuation insurance is strongly advised.
- To call an ambulance, the UK government says to dial 112.

Health notices can change quickly (checked 8 October 2026). Check the UK TravelHealthPro or CDC pages before you go.

NEW RULE (checked 8 October 2026): from 1 October 2026, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold inbound travel insurance under the Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026 (Government Notice No. 256 of 4 September 2026). The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) says it is the provider for mainland entry. The UK government says it is mandatory for all visitors except residents, covers up to 92 days from your first port of entry, and that you may be refused entry without it. One policy is reported to cover both mainland and Zanzibar; buy from the insurer linked to your first port of entry.

- Price: news and tourism websites report USD 44 per adult, USD 22 for children aged 3-17 and free for ages 0-2. The NIC page we read did not state the price, so confirm on the NIC platform.
- Exemptions: citizens or residents of East African Community and SADC states are reported to be exempt. Sources differ on citizenship versus residency, so confirm for your own situation.
- The cover is reported to apply even if you already have your own insurance.

You should still buy your own comprehensive travel insurance covering medical care, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and baggage. The CDC and US government both strongly advise medical evacuation cover. If you plan to climb Kilimanjaro, check the policy covers trekking to high altitude and helicopter evacuation, as standard plans often exclude this. Your insurance may be invalid if you travel against UK government advice.

The Tanzanian shilling (TZS) is the only legal tender. A Bank of Tanzania notice (20 June 2023) says goods and services should be priced in shillings, but tourists and non-residents may be quoted and pay in foreign currency for services such as accommodation, travel, airport and visa fees.

- US dollars are widely used in tourism. Safari operators advise carrying clean, recent notes; they say US notes printed before 2013 are often refused, though we found no official rule. Ask your bank or operator. Larger notes (USD 50 and 100) usually get a better exchange rate.
- Old shilling notes issued 1985-2003 (and a 2010 500-shilling note) reportedly lost legal-tender status in April 2025, so do not accept them.
- ATMs are in cities and towns but are scarce in remote areas. Visa cards are reported to work more widely than Mastercard, and American Express in only a few places. Surcharges of several percent are common. Many small camps and lodges have limited card facilities, so ask first.
- The US government lists USD 10,000 as the maximum cash you may bring in or take out.
- Safari operators advise that park gates take digital payment only and that operators usually pay park fees for you. Confirm this with your operator.

Swahili is the national language and is used in government, education and daily life across Tanzania. English is widely spoken, especially in tourism, secondary and higher education, and the higher courts, and is often described as a de facto official language.

Many travellers enjoy learning a few Swahili greetings. Local languages are also spoken in different regions.

The UK government says the rainy seasons generally run from the end of March to May and from October to mid-December. Heavy rain can cause floods and landslides, and park roads can become impassable, so a 4x4 may be essential. Other sources place the short rains from November.

- Typical pattern: long dry season June to October; short rains November to December; short dry spell January to February; long rains March to May, with April the wettest.
- Northern circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire): June to September is dry. Ngorongoro days seldom exceed 25 C and nights are often below 10 C, with morning mist. Serengeti daytime highs are roughly 25-29 C all year.
- Southern circuit (Ruaha, Nyerere): dry roughly June to October. Many camps close in April and May, and much of Nyerere is hard to reach from March to May.
- Kilimanjaro: drier January to early March and June to October. The summit is far colder than the lowlands.

Weather varies from year to year, so check the forecast close to your dates.

- Documents: passport, visa or eVisa printout, yellow fever certificate if relevant, insurance certificates (including the mainland inbound insurance certificate), and copies of your passport and visa.
- Clothing: neutral colours such as khaki, beige or olive (Tanzania National Parks recommends neutral-coloured clothing). Pack warm layers, a rain jacket, sun hat and sunglasses; Ngorongoro nights are often below 10 C and Kilimanjaro summit nights are far colder.
- Gear: binoculars, sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Health: prescription medicines in original packaging, anti-malaria tablets and a small first-aid kit.
- Dress modestly away from beach resorts.
- Plastic bags: plastic carrier bags are banned in mainland Tanzania and you must hand them over on arrival by air. Small clear zip-lock bags for toiletries are allowed. Bring cloth or stuff bags instead.
- Camouflage: safari operators advise leaving camouflage or military-style prints at home. We found no official rule, so treat this as strong advice.
- Small planes: safari operators advise soft bags. Domestic flights have tight baggage limits (one source says 15-20 kg including hand luggage), so check the limit with your operator or airline.

- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is between Arusha and Moshi, roughly 50 km (just over an hour) from Arusha and about 40 km from Moshi. It is the main gateway for the northern parks and Kilimanjaro. Tanzania National Parks lists JRO and Arusha Airport (ARK) as the nearest airports for the Serengeti and Tarangire.
- Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam (DAR), is the usual gateway for the southern parks (Ruaha, Nyerere).
- Arusha Airport (ARK) is mainly used by light aircraft and domestic flights to parks including the Serengeti.
- Domestic flights have strict baggage limits with fees for excess weight. Check the current limit with your operator or airline.
- At border control you must show a return or onward ticket (UK and US governments).
- Photographing airports is illegal (US government).

Journey times and airport roles above come from a travel article, not an official airport page. Confirm airport details, any departure charges and airstrip arrangements with your operator or airline before you travel.

National parks (including Serengeti, Tarangire, Ruaha and Nyerere) are run by TANAPA. Park fees are not listed here. Safari operators advise that fees are paid digitally rather than in cash and that licensed operators usually pay them for you; confirm this with your operator. Gates are reported to close at 6 PM.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is managed separately by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, not TANAPA. Safari operators advise that the crater descent is booked through your lodge or operator; confirm with them.

- Mara River crossings: TANAPA's guideline (June 2024) requires you to stay in the vehicle, park only at designated crossing points and not approach animals.
- Kilimanjaro: you must climb with a licensed guide working for a registered company. The operator arranges permits and park fees; independent unguided climbing is not allowed. Ask about guide certification, oxygen and evacuation plans, and book one to three months ahead.
- Kilimanjaro fire (checked 8 October 2026): the UK government (updated 6 October 2026) says the Rongai, Lemosho and Londorosi routes are closed. A 29 September 2026 press report says TANAPA suspended Lemosho and Londorosi, with Machame, Marangu and Rongai open. The sources disagree about Rongai, so confirm route status with your operator before booking and expect changes.
- Drones: you need an import permit, drone registration, operator registration and an operations permit from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. Apply at least a month ahead or the drone can be confiscated at entry.
- Collecting plants, animals, shells, coral or mpingo wood needs a government permit. Exporting wildlife items without a certified permit can lead to detention or fines.

- Ambulance: the UK government says to call 112. The CDC lists 112 or 999 as emergency numbers for Tanzania, and a university language guide lists 999 for police or fire. Confirm which number to use for your location once you arrive.
- If you are a victim of crime, the UK government advises contacting the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam. US citizens can enrol in the US embassy's STEP programme.
- Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) head office, Arusha: +255 (0)272 970 404, [email protected].
- Drone queries: Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, [email protected].

Save your embassy details and your insurer's emergency and evacuation helpline number in your phone and on paper, and keep them separate from your phone. Mobile coverage and internet can be limited in parks and during unrest.

Safety (checked 8 October 2026): the US government has a Level 3 "Reconsider travel" advisory for Tanzania (issued 31 October 2025, page updated 3 September 2026), citing crime, terrorism and unrest. The UK government reports serious unrest after the 29 October 2025 election, with deaths, limited internet access and temporary cash and fuel shortages, and advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Mozambique border (Cabo Delgado), which is not a safari area. Avoid demonstrations. Check the UK and US travel advice pages shortly before you travel.

- Violent crime, including carjacking and robbery, occurs. Home invasions have been reported in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, and the UK government warns of "express kidnapping" and ATM-related risks in Dar es Salaam.
- Driving is on the left. Avoid night driving outside towns and avoid dala-dalas, boda-bodas and bajajis. UK licences are valid up to 6 months; longer stays need an international driving permit.
- Do not photograph military sites, government buildings, bridges, airports or police. Photographing or sharing images of protests or violence is illegal.
- Dress modestly away from resorts, and respect local customs during Ramadan.
- Same-sex sexual conduct is illegal, and drug penalties are severe.
- Plastic carrier bags are banned; surrender any on arrival.
- Travel guides report that Tanzania is 3 hours ahead of GMT with no daylight saving, and uses 220-230 V with plug types D and G. Power cuts are frequent, so bring a universal adaptor and confirm details before you go.
- Use licensed operators and carry copies of your passport and visa.