Tanzania
Phone Code
+255
Capital
Dodoma
Population
65 Million
Native Name
Tanzania
Region
Africa
Eastern Africa
Timezone
East Africa Time
UTC+03:00
On This Page
Tanzania is where Africa's greatest wildlife spectacle unfolds. The Serengeti — 30,000 km² of savannah — hosts the Great Migration: over two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle in a continuous cycle of birth, grazing and river crossing that has no beginning and no end. The Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera 20 km across, concentrates the Big Five in a natural amphitheatre unlike anything else on earth. Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) rises as Africa's highest peak — a free-standing volcanic massif you can summit without technical climbing. And Zanzibar — the Spice Island — delivers Stone Town's UNESCO-listed labyrinth of carved doors and coral walls, white sand beaches, clove plantations and centuries of Swahili trading history. Tanzania also holds Ruaha, Selous (now Nyerere), Tarangire and dozens of lesser-known parks that see a fraction of the Serengeti's visitors. Most visitors need a visa: the e-visa system costs USD 100 for a one-year multiple-entry visa applied online. Visa on arrival is also available at major airports. Passport must be valid 6 months with at least one blank page. Only M or F passport markers are accepted. Yellow fever certificate required from endemic countries. Zanzibar requires mandatory insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation.
Tanzania Visa & Entry System
Tanzania requires a visa for most international visitors. The e-visa (USD 100, one-year multiple-entry) is applied for online before travel at the official immigration portal — upon approval you receive a "grant notice" by email to present at arrival. Visa on arrival is also available at Julius Nyerere (Dar es Salaam), Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar airports for single entry, though the e-visa is recommended for smoother processing. It is no longer possible to obtain a visa from the Tanzanian High Commission in London. Passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond arrival with one blank page. Only passports with M or F sex marker are accepted. Return or onward ticket and proof of funds required. Yellow fever certificate mandatory if arriving from endemic countries. Volunteer work is prohibited on a tourist visa — volunteers must obtain a Class C Residence Permit arranged through the Prime Minister's Office. Overstaying results in arrest, detention, fines and deportation. Zanzibar requires mandatory travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) for stays up to 92 days — other policies are not accepted. Currency declaration required for amounts exceeding USD 10,000. Non-residents cannot import or export Tanzanian Shillings.
Common Visa Types
E-Visa (Tourist/Business)
For tourism, wildlife safaris, Kilimanjaro climbing, Zanzibar, cultural visits and business. Apply online at the official immigration portal — USD 100 for one-year multiple-entry. Receive "grant notice" by email. Present at immigration with passport and supporting documents. Processing typically several business days. Yellow fever certificate required from endemic countries.
Visa on Arrival
For travellers who did not obtain the e-visa in advance. Available at Julius Nyerere (Dar es Salaam), Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar airports. Single entry only — multiple-entry not available on arrival. Bring passport, return ticket, accommodation proof and visa fee. Queues can be long; e-visa recommended.
Class C Residence Permit (Work/Volunteer)
For employment, volunteer work, NGO positions and long-term assignments. Volunteer work is prohibited on a tourist visa. Arranged through the Tanzanian Prime Minister's Office. Requires employment contract or placement letter, qualifications, police clearance and medical examination.
Essential Information for Tanzania Travellers
Travel Guide
Tanzania delivers Africa's most complete safari experience. The Serengeti is the crown jewel — 30,000 km² of grassland and savannah hosting the Great Migration, a continuous movement of over two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle that follows the rains in a cycle through the Serengeti and into Kenya's Maasai Mara. The calving season (January-March) in the southern Serengeti sees hundreds of thousands of births in weeks; the river crossings (June-September) at the Mara and Grumeti rivers are the dramatic climax. The Ngorongoro Crater — a volcanic caldera 20 km across and 600 m deep — concentrates all of the Big Five in a self-contained ecosystem often called the Garden of Eden. Tarangire's ancient baobab forests host enormous elephant herds (dry season June-October). Ruaha is Tanzania's largest national park — vast, remote and uncrowded, with exceptional predator density. Nyerere (formerly Selous) is one of Africa's biggest protected areas, best explored by boat safari on the Rufiji River. Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) is the world's tallest free-standing mountain and Africa's highest peak — reachable by non-technical trekking routes over 5-9 days. And Zanzibar transforms the trip entirely: Stone Town's UNESCO-listed warren of carved doors, spice markets and rooftop restaurants; beaches along the east coast (Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje); and dolphin watching off the south coast. Tanzania is more expensive than Kenya for safari but often feels wilder and less crowded.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Serengeti (Great Migration, Big Five, vast grasslands), Ngorongoro Crater (volcanic caldera concentrating all Big Five), Tarangire (baobab forests, elephant herds), Ruaha (Tanzania's largest park, remote, excellent predators), Nyerere/Selous (boat safari on the Rufiji River). Tanzania is where the safari experience feels most raw and wild.
Africa's highest peak (5,895 m) and the world's tallest free-standing mountain. Non-technical summit via Marangu, Machame, Lemosho or Rongai routes over 5-9 days. Altitude is the challenge, not technical climbing. Licensed guides and porters mandatory. The Machame ("Whiskey") route is the most popular; Lemosho offers the best acclimatisation profile.
Stone Town (UNESCO, carved doors, spice markets, rooftop restaurants), east coast beaches (Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje for kitesurfing), spice plantation tours, dolphin watching, Jozani Forest (red colobus monkeys), and centuries of Swahili, Omani, Portuguese and British trading history layered into one island.
Maasai and Hadzabe cultural encounters (the Hadzabe are one of the last hunter-gatherer peoples on earth), Swahili coastal culture on Zanzibar and Bagamoyo, Tingatinga art, the Makonde carving tradition, and Dar es Salaam's music scene (bongo flava). Tanzania's cultural diversity spans over 120 ethnic groups.
Zanzibar's white sand beaches (Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje), Mafia Island (whale shark swimming June-October, uncrowded diving), Pemba Island (pristine coral reefs), and the mainland coast near Pangani and Saadani (the only national park where beach meets bush). Kitesurfing at Paje is world-class.
Ruaha and Katavi national parks (remote, uncrowded, raw wilderness), Lake Tanganyika's chimpanzee tracking at Gombe and Mahale, the Usambara Mountains (hiking, colonial-era hill stations), and the Kondoa rock art sites (UNESCO, 1,500+ ancient paintings). For travellers who want Africa without the crowds.
Money & Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Currency code: TZS
Practical Money Tips
USD Is the Safari Currency — Bring Clean Bills
Tanzania operates a dual-currency reality: the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) for everyday life and the US Dollar for the safari economy. National park fees, safari lodges, Kilimanjaro permits and many tourist services are priced and payable in USD. Bring clean, post-2006 US bills — older series and damaged notes are frequently refused by banks, exchange offices and park gates alike. Bring a mix of denominations: large bills (50s and 100s) get better exchange rates, but small bills (1s, 5s, 10s, 20s) are useful for tips and small payments.
Cards Work at Lodges — Cash Rules Everywhere Else
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at upmarket safari lodges, international hotels, and some restaurants in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work at a very limited number of modern terminals in Dar es Salaam — do not rely on them. Outside the tourist bubble — local restaurants, markets, public transport, smaller guesthouses, fuel stations and most of Zanzibar's Stone Town — cash is the only option. Always carry enough Shillings and USD for the day.
ATMs in Cities — Non-Existent in Safari Country
ATMs from CRDB, NMB, Stanbic and Standard Chartered are found in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi, Mwanza, Zanzibar Town and other urban centres. Most accept Visa and Mastercard. Withdrawal limits are typically TZS 400,000-1,000,000 per transaction. In safari areas, national parks, Kilimanjaro and rural regions there are no ATMs — withdraw or exchange before heading out. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and withdraw in TZS.
M-Pesa (Vodacom) Works in Tanzania Too
Like neighbouring Kenya, Tanzania has a thriving mobile money ecosystem. M-Pesa (via Vodacom Tanzania) and Tigo Pesa are widely used. Foreign visitors can set up M-Pesa with a Vodacom SIM card (available at the airport, passport required). It is useful for paying smaller vendors, local restaurants, and some transport services. However, safari operators and national parks generally do not accept mobile money — they require USD cash or card. M-Pesa is more a convenience for daily life than a safari payment solution.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Cities with missions
Where this country maintains embassies or consulates
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Embassies in Tanzania
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Accredited missions for Tanzania
Planning a trip to Tanzania? Whether you need an e-visa for safari, help with Kilimanjaro permits, or guidance on Zanzibar entry requirements — get step-by-step support for your visa application.
Apply for Tanzania Visa