Tanzania

SAFETY & SECURITY

• Express kidnappings occur near hotels, ferry terminals, and transit hubs in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar — criminals force victims to ATM withdrawals, sometimes holding them overnight.

Prepare: Use only pre-booked, verified taxis or established ride-share apps; confirm the license plate matches the app before entering.

• Motorcycle and vehicle snatching is frequent — bags, jewelry, and electronics are prime targets; avoid cross-body bags on the street.

Prepare: Leave valuables in your accommodation safe; carry only what you need for that outing.

• Terrorism — Tanzania is vulnerable to spillover from regional extremist groups; crowded public areas, tourist sites, restaurants, and markets are potential targets.

Prepare: Identify exits when entering any venue; avoid lingering near large gatherings or during major political events.

• Southern Mtwara Region — armed groups with ties to Cabo Delgado, Mozambique are active; counterinsurgency operations ongoing, access points monitored.

Prepare: Do not travel within 10 km of the Mozambique border; consult your itinerary against the regional advisory map before booking southern Tanzania routes.

• Spiked food and drinks have been used to facilitate robbery and sexual assault.

Prepare: Never leave drinks unattended and decline food or beverages from strangers.

HEALTH

• Malaria is present throughout Tanzania, including Zanzibar — year-round risk, higher during and after rainy seasons.

Prepare: See a travel medicine clinic at least 4–6 weeks before departure to obtain prescription antimalarials and discuss your risk profile.

• Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from a yellow fever–endemic country; proof of vaccination (yellow card) will be checked at entry.

Prepare: Get the yellow fever vaccine and carry your International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) with your travel documents.

• Recommended vaccines typically include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies (if in remote areas or working with animals), and routine immunizations — confirm with a travel health clinic.

Prepare: Book a pre-travel health appointment to finalize your vaccination schedule.

• Mpox (monkeypox) — cases have been reported in East Africa; Tanzania borders affected countries including the DRC. Health Canada advises awareness of exposure risk.

Prepare: Review Public Health Agency of Canada guidance on mpox before departure; avoid contact with wild animals or individuals with unexplained rash.

• Tap water is not safe to drink; food hygiene standards are inconsistent.

Prepare: Drink only bottled or boiled water; avoid ice and raw foods from street vendors.

• Medical care is severely limited outside Dar es Salaam — rural and wilderness areas have essentially no emergency services.

Prepare: Purchase travel insurance that explicitly covers medical evacuation and helicopter rescue before booking.

VISA & ENTRY

• Most Canadians require a visa — Tanzania offers an e-visa obtained online before travel at evisa.immigration.go.tz; on-arrival visas are also available but the e-visa is more reliable.

Prepare: Apply for your e-visa at least 2 weeks before departure and print the approval to carry with your passport.

• Passport validity — your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date from Tanzania.

Prepare: Check your passport expiry now; renew immediately if it falls within 6 months of your travel window.

• Zanzibar is part of Tanzania but has its own immigration layer — your Tanzania visa covers entry, but you may face additional document checks on arrival.

Prepare: Carry printed copies of your visa, accommodation bookings, and return ticket for all checkpoints.

Verify all visa and entry requirements directly with the nearest embassy or consulate before travel. Requirements can change without notice.

LOCAL LAWS & CULTURE

• Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized — convictions carry sentences up to life imprisonment; arbitrary arrests and physical abuse by security forces have been reported against 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.

Prepare: 2SLGBTQI+ travelers should carefully assess personal risk before travel; avoid any public displays of affection.

• Plastic bags are banned in Tanzania — customs officers will confiscate them at entry.

Prepare: Remove all plastic bags from your luggage before departure and repack using fabric or paper alternatives.

• Photography of government buildings, military installations, airports, and border infrastructure is prohibited and can result in arrest.

Prepare: Ask before photographing any official structure; when in doubt, put the camera away.

• Drug offenses carry severe penalties; possession of even small amounts can result in lengthy imprisonment.

Prepare: Do not carry any controlled substances; be cautious about packages you're asked to carry for others.

PRACTICAL & CONNECTIVITY

• Currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS); USD is widely accepted in tourist areas — carry small denomination USD bills in good condition (post-2009 preferred).

Prepare: Obtain USD cash before departure; ATM availability is limited outside Dar es Salaam, and card fraud is common.

• ATM fraud is reported; use machines inside banks or established businesses only; cover your PIN.

Prepare: Set a daily ATM withdrawal limit with your bank before travel and enable transaction alerts on your phone.

• Power outlets are Type G (British 3-pin), 230V/50Hz — same as UK.

Prepare: Purchase a Type G adapter before departure; most Canadian electronics handle 110–240V automatically but verify your devices.

• SIM cards are available locally from operators including Vodacom and Airtel; eSIM access is possible but obtain a local physical SIM as a backup given potential internet disruptions during unrest.

Prepare: Unlock your phone before departure and research local SIM purchase at the airport on arrival.

• Road travel is high-risk — fatalities are common; avoid driving after dark outside urban areas; rural emergency services are essentially absent.

Prepare: Where possible, travel by day only and use well-reviewed ground transport operators or reputable internal flights.

CLIMATE & TIMING

• Long rains: March to May — roads can become impassable; near-zero visibility driving conditions possible; some parks restrict access.
• Short rains: November to December — similar driving hazards on a shorter scale.
• Dry seasons (June–October and January–February) are best for road travel, safari, and Kilimanjaro climbing.

Prepare: If traveling during rainy season, confirm road passability with local authorities before departing on any overland route.

• Coastal areas including Zanzibar are hot and humid year-round; heat-related illness is a risk for active travelers.

Prepare: Plan strenuous activity (hiking, climbing) for early morning; carry oral rehydration salts.

TOP SIGHTS

• Serengeti National Park — largest wildlife reserve in Tanzania; annual wildebeest migration is the primary draw, peaking June–September.
• Ngorongoro Crater — intact volcanic caldera with one of Africa's densest concentrations of large mammals year-round.
• Mount Kilimanjaro — Africa's highest peak; technical summit attempt requires fitness, acclimatization time, and a licensed guide. People are seriously injured or killed annually and evacuation is severely limited.

Prepare: Purchase travel insurance explicitly covering helicopter rescue and medical evacuation before booking a Kilimanjaro climb.

• Zanzibar Stone Town — UNESCO-listed historic trading port with Swahili, Arab, and colonial architecture; exercise increased caution around Stone Town for petty crime.
• Tarangire National Park — high concentration of elephants in the dry season; less visited than Serengeti, with comparable wildlife density during July–October.

WHERE TO STAY

Dar es Salaam

• Masaki — established expatriate and diplomatic enclave on the Msasani Peninsula; higher density of vetted hotels and restaurants, though the advisory flags Toure Drive specifically for elevated caution.
• Oyster Bay — adjacent to Masaki, similarly used by diplomats and business travelers; good security infrastructure but maintain the same street-level vigilance.
• Mikocheni — quieter residential area inland from the peninsula; used by long-stay travelers; lower profile than Masaki, moderate amenities.

Zanzibar (Unguja Island)

• Nungwi — northern tip of the island; concentration of established hotels and dive operators; better lighting and security than isolated beach areas; exercise increased caution at night.
• Kendwa — adjacent to Nungwi; smaller, slightly quieter; reputable resort cluster; same caution applies after dark.
• Paje — east coast; popular with water sports travelers; more spread out, so choose accommodation with on-site security; seek local advice before walking isolated beach stretches.

Arusha

• Arusha City Centre / Haile Selassie Road corridor — main hub for safari departures; established mid-range and upscale hotels are concentrated here; standard urban caution applies, especially around bus terminals and markets.
• Njiro — quieter residential and commercial area; some travelers prefer it for lower foot-traffic crime exposure; farther from the city core.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Canadian High Commission, Dar es Salaam: +255 22 216 3300
• Government of Canada Emergency Watch and Response Centre (Ottawa, 24/7): 1-800-387-3124 (toll-free from Canada) or +1-613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted)
• Tanzania Police: 112 or 999
• Ambulance (Tanzania): 114
• Save all numbers offline — internet access may be disrupted during civil unrest.