Tanzania Safaris

Most travellers need a tourist visa to enter Tanzania, and you can apply online through the official eVisa portal before you travel. The standard single-entry tourist visa costs approx. USD 50 for most nationalities and USD 100 (multiple-entry) for US passport holders. Approval usually takes around 10 working days, so apply at least 3 weeks before departure.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, with at least two blank pages. Visa on arrival is available at major airports, but the eVisa route is faster and more reliable.

Please note: arranging visas is not our specialty, and regulations change regularly. Always check directly with the Tanzanian Embassy or the official eVisa portal for the latest information before you travel.

The Great Migration is in Tanzania year-round — the herds simply move through different parts of the Serengeti depending on the month.

The two highlight moments are the calving season in the southern Serengeti (late January to March) and the Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti (August to October).

Grumeti River crossings happen in the western corridor from June to July. This makes Tanzania a better year-round migration destination than Kenya, where the herds only pass through the Masai Mara from roughly July to October.

Tanzania uses the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). For tourism services — safari packages, park entry fees, lodge bookings, Kilimanjaro climbs, and tips — US Dollars are still widely accepted and often the preferred currency.

Since March 2025, new Foreign Exchange Regulations require everyday cash purchases inside Tanzania (restaurants outside lodges, taxis, local shops, markets) to be paid in Tanzanian Shillings. Exchange a small amount of USD into TZS on arrival for these incidentals.

Bring USD notes issued after 2009 — older or damaged notes are often refused. Credit cards work at most lodges and larger hotels (often with a 3–5% surcharge). ATMs are reliable in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar but scarce inside the parks.

Currency regulations in Tanzania have changed recently and may continue to evolve. Check with your tour consultant before travel for the latest guidance.

A Yellow Fever certificate is required if you’re arriving from (or transiting more than 12 hours through) a country with yellow fever risk — this includes Kenya, Uganda, and most of Central and West Africa. Malaria precautions are recommended for all safari areas and the coast.

Routine vaccinations should be up to date, and some travellers add Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Speak to a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure for personalised advice.

A budget group camping safari in Tanzania typically starts from around USD 200–300 per person per day. Mid-range accommodated safaris usually run USD 400–700 per day, and luxury lodge or private mobile camp safaris can climb to USD 1,000+ per day.

Tanzania’s high park fees (Serengeti and Ngorongoro alone add over USD 200 per person per day) make it more expensive than most African safari destinations. Going as a small group helps spread vehicle and guide costs, which is why our group tours often offer the best value.

Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives — avoid bright colours and pure white. Mornings and evenings on safari can be cold, especially in the Ngorongoro Highlands, so include a fleece or warm layer.

Essentials: wide-brim hat, high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent with DEET, binoculars, a good camera with zoom lens, refillable water bottle, and slip-on shoes. Most domestic flights have a 15kg soft-bag limit, so a duffel bag works better than a hard suitcase.

Tanzania is one of the safer countries in East Africa for tourism, with a stable political environment and a well-established safari industry. Standard precautions apply: avoid walking alone at night in cities, keep valuables out of sight, and use registered taxis or transfers arranged through your tour operator.

Safari camps and lodges have professional staff and security, and your guide handles all logistics on the ground. Zanzibar is generally relaxed but dress modestly in Stone Town and local villages out of respect for the predominantly Muslim culture.

Yes — combining a Serengeti safari with Zanzibar beach is one of the most popular Tanzania itineraries, and the logistics are simple. Short domestic flights connect Arusha (the safari hub) and the Serengeti directly to Zanzibar, usually in under two hours.

A typical 10–14 day trip includes 6–8 days on safari (Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti) followed by 4–6 days on Zanzibar. We can also extend with Mafia Island or Pemba for travellers wanting a quieter beach option.

Tanzania works well for families, especially with children aged 7 and up. The northern circuit (Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater) offers shorter game drives and varied scenery that keeps younger kids engaged. Many lodges welcome children and offer family rooms or interconnecting suites.

We recommend slightly slower itineraries with private vehicles where possible — it gives families flexibility on game drive times and breaks. Combining safari with a few days on Zanzibar makes for a well-rounded family trip.

Most Kilimanjaro climbs take 5 to 9 days, depending on the route. The 7-day Machame and 8-day Lemosho routes are the most popular, with summit success rates of around 85–90% thanks to better acclimatisation.

Shorter 5-day Marangu climbs have noticeably lower success rates because the body has less time to adjust to altitude. The best months to climb are January to early March and June to October — both dry windows with clearer summit views.

Absolutely. Combining Tanzania and Kenya gives you the full East Africa safari experience — the Masai Mara and Serengeti are part of the same ecosystem, and the migration moves between them depending on the month.

Most combined itineraries run 10–15 days and include Amboseli or the Masai Mara on the Kenya side, then cross into Tanzania via the Namanga border or fly into Kilimanjaro for Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti. We design these as one seamless trip rather than two separate bookings.

Tanzania has banned single-use plastic bags since June 2019. Do not pack plastic shopping bags in your luggage — they can be confiscated on arrival. Ziploc-style bags for toiletries are allowed but should be declared if asked.