Travel Info for Tanzania
Visas, vaccinations, currency, weather, and the practical logistics of getting here.
Travel Info for Tanzania
Visas, vaccinations, currency, weather, and the practical logistics of getting here.
Tanzania is a straightforward country to visit.
Visa-on-arrival for most nationalities, US dollars widely accepted, English is an official language, and the tourism infrastructure is mature. Here are the specifics.
Before You Fly
Visa, vaccinations, malaria, currency. Get these sorted 4–6 weeks out.
Most nationalities get visa on arrival at JRO airport. $50 USD cash, single entry, 90 days validity. e-Visa option at visa.immigration.go.tz for advance processing.
On arrival
Yellow Fever only if arriving from a yellow-fever zone. CDC recommends Hep A, Typhoid, Tetanus. Consult a travel clinic 4–6 weeks before travel.
Check with doctor
Present in all safari areas. Prophylaxis recommended (Malarone, doxycycline, Lariam). Use 30%+ DEET at dawn/dusk. Camps have mosquito nets.
Prophylaxis neededTanzanian Shilling (TZS) but USD widely accepted for safari-related payments. Bring post-2009 series USD bills only — older bills are not accepted.
Post-2009 USD onlyThe Airports
Three airports, one included transfer, and what to expect at each.
Main northern safari airport. KLM (Amsterdam), Qatar (Doha), Turkish, Ethiopian, Kenya Airways all fly direct. 45 minutes from Arusha.
Main safari airport
Main coastal airport. Most Zanzibar-bound travellers connect via JRO or DAR. Busy, hot, budget for 2 hours connection time.
Coast connectionZanzibar's own airport. Direct flights from JRO (90 min) and from a few European cities seasonally. Where bush-and-beach trips transition.
ZanzibarEvery Comeback Tanzania trip includes airport meet-and-assist. Your driver holds a sign with your name. Transfers to your first hotel included.
IncludedWhat to Bring
The four packing categories that actually matter. Everything else is negotiable.
Beige, olive, khaki. Avoid bright colours and avoid blue/black (attracts tsetse flies). Two safari outfits is enough — camps launder.
Essential
Mornings cold (5–10°C), midday hot (28–32°C). Fleece for game drives, T-shirts for camp. Light rain jacket in shoulder seasons.
Temperature varies
If you bring one thing, bring good binoculars. 8×42 is the sweet spot. Cheap optics ruin sightings — budget $200+ minimum.
Most importantDSLR or mirrorless with a 70–300mm zoom minimum. Phone cameras don't reach. Bring 2× the memory cards you think you'll need.
Photography