Tanzania travel guide: safari, Zanzibar, itineraries and budget

A trip to Tanzania brings together several of East Africa’s great wildlife parks, Kilimanjaro, the continent’s highest peak, and the Zanzibar archipelago with its Indian Ocean beaches. Most trips combine a safari in the north of the country with a few days on the coast. This Tanzania travel guide brings together the essentials for planning your stay: what to see, which route to follow, budget and entry requirements.

To locate cities, regions, terrain, national parks and airports, see our map of Tanzania.

When to go to Tanzania

The best period is June to October, during the dry season: animals are easy to spot, tracks are passable and Zanzibar enjoys its driest months. January and February are a second good window, hot, usually coinciding with the wildebeest calving in the southern Serengeti. The long rains, from March to May, are the period to avoid, especially for Zanzibar in April and May. All the details, month by month and with official climate data, are in our article best time to visit Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Things to do in Tanzania: the highlights

Serengeti National Park

This is the country’s most famous park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its plains host the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras, as well as many lions, cheetahs and leopards. The center (Seronera area) is interesting all year; the south and north are visited according to where the herds are. Allow at least two or three nights there.

Ngorongoro Crater

This ancient caldera, also a World Heritage Site, concentrates very dense wildlife in a small area: buffalo, zebras, hippos, lions and a few black rhinos. Vehicles descend into the crater for a day. The conservation area is run by its own authority (NCAA), with its own entry fees.

Tarangire and Lake Manyara

Closer to Arusha, these two parks fit well at the start of a tour. Tarangire is known for its baobabs and large elephant herds, especially in the dry season. Lake Manyara National Park, smaller, alternates forest, lake and escarpment, and is often visited in half a day or a day.

Kilimanjaro and Moshi

Africa’s highest peak (5,895 m / 19,341 ft) can be climbed without mountaineering technique, but the ascent usually takes 6 to 8 days to acclimatize properly to the altitude. It must be done with a licensed guide. Moshi, at the foot of the mountain, is the usual starting point. Without climbing to the top, you can hike on the lower slopes. The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 20 October 2026) advises using only a reputable company, sticking to established routes and being equipped for low temperatures; both the UK and US sources warn about altitude sickness.

Zanzibar and Stone Town

Stone Town, Zanzibar’s old town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Swahili architecture, lanes and carved doors. The island also has white sand beaches in the north (Nungwi, Kendwa) and east (Paje, Jambiani), Jozani forest and its red colobus monkeys, spice plantations and boat trips around Mnemba Atoll. For details on the island, see our Zanzibar travel guide.

The southern parks: Nyerere and Ruaha

Less visited than the north, these parks suit a second trip or travelers looking for more peace and quiet. Nyerere National Park, created from part of the former Selous Game Reserve, offers boat safaris on the Rufiji River. Ruaha is known for its vast landscapes and large predator populations. They are usually reached by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. The UK FCDO notes that some parks are extremely remote, making emergency access and evacuation difficult.

Pemba and Mafia

These quieter Indian Ocean islands mainly attract divers. Accommodation is limited and connections less frequent than to Zanzibar: book ahead.

Itinerary ideas and tours in Tanzania

7 to 10 days: safari in the north

1. Day 1: arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport, night in Arusha
2. Day 2: Tarangire National Park
3. Day 3: Lake Manyara or the Karatu area
4. Days 4 to 6: Serengeti (center, or south or north depending on the Migration)
5. Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater, back toward Arusha
6. Days 8 to 10 (optional): fly to Zanzibar for a few days on the beach

2 weeks: safari and Zanzibar

1. Days 1 and 2: Arusha then Tarangire
2. Day 3: Lake Manyara
3. Days 4 to 7: Serengeti, following the herds
4. Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater
5. Day 9: fly to Zanzibar, night in Stone Town
6. Day 10: Stone Town, spice plantation or Jozani forest
7. Days 11 to 14: beaches in the north or east

To climb Kilimanjaro, add 6 to 8 days from Moshi before the safari.

Budget for a trip to Tanzania

Tanzania is not a cheap destination as soon as a safari is involved: park fees, paid in dollars, amount to several tens of dollars per person per day, on top of the vehicle, guide and accommodation. Zanzibar on its own is much more affordable. Indicative amounts per person per day, excluding international flights (converted from our euro estimates at the ECB rate of 23 October 2026, €1 = US$1.12):

Item	Budget	Comfort
Safari (vehicle, guide, park fees, meals)	roughly US$170–280 camping	roughly US$335–670 in a lodge or tented camp
Accommodation in Zanzibar (based on a shared double room)	roughly US$17–45	roughly US$90–225
Meals outside the safari	roughly US$11–20	roughly US$35–65
Transport and excursions in Zanzibar	roughly US$11–30	roughly US$35–90

A shared small-group safari costs less than a private one. Also budget for tips for the guide and cook, which are customary.

Getting around Tanzania

• Organized safari: almost all safaris are done by 4×4 with a driver-guide, booked through a local agency or tour operator. The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 20 October 2026) advises using only reputable operators, never buying safaris from touts, and notes that the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) lists licensed companies.
• Plane: domestic flights and light aircraft link Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and park airstrips. Baggage is often limited to a soft bag of about 15 kg (33 lb) on small planes: check your airline’s rules. The UK FCDO advises checking the UK Air Safety List, which includes airlines certified in Tanzania.
• Ferry: fast ferries link Dar es Salaam to Stone Town in about 2 hours. Use the high-speed ferry and buy tickets inside the terminal or online (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated September 3, 2026); beware of aggressive touts, and do not board a ferry that looks overloaded (UK FCDO).
• Buses and local transport: both the UK and US sources advise caution with or avoidance of dala-dalas (local buses), bajajis (tuk-tuks) and boda-bodas (motorbike taxis), which are often poorly maintained and badly driven. Take taxis arranged through your hotel or a reputable operator.
• Driving: traffic drives on the left (U.S. Department of State). UK drivers can use their UK licence for up to 6 months (UK FCDO); US visitors staying under six months may use a US licence after validation by local traffic authorities, or an international licence (U.S. Department of State). In Zanzibar you also need a local driving permit, available through your car hire company (UK FCDO). Avoid driving outside towns at night.

Where to stay in Tanzania

During the safari, you sleep in lodges, tented camps or campsites, inside or on the edge of the parks. Camps in the Serengeti let you be on site at dawn; some are seasonal and move with the Migration. In Arusha and Moshi, one or two hotel nights are usually enough, before and after the safari or the climb.

In the north of the country, our page safari in the Serengeti explains the Migration and what to check before booking.

In Zanzibar, Stone Town is good for one or two nights of sightseeing. For the beach, choose the north (Nungwi, Kendwa) if you want to swim at any time of day, the east (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi) for a quieter atmosphere and kitesurfing, bearing in mind the big tides.

Entry requirements for Tanzania

US citizens

According to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated September 3, 2026), tourists must obtain a one-year multiple-entry visa for $100, applied for and paid online in advance (you present the emailed grant notice on arrival) or obtained on arrival. You need a passport with at least one blank page and six months’ validity, a round-trip ticket and proof of sufficient funds. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if you arrive from a country where the disease is endemic, including after an airport transit of 12 hours or more. Volunteer work is not allowed on a tourist visa.

UK citizens

According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK foreign travel advice, updated 20 October 2026), you must have a tourist or business visa: apply for an e-visa before you travel, or get a single-entry visa on arrival at the main ports of entry (multiple-entry visas are not available on arrival). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arrival, with at least one blank page, and you must show a return or onward ticket. A yellow fever certificate is required if you come from a country with a risk of transmission.

Mandatory insurance: according to the UK FCDO, all visitors to mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar must buy Tanzanian government-provided inbound travel insurance, even if they already have their own policy: from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) if Zanzibar is your first port of entry, or from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) if you arrive on the mainland, online or on arrival. It is valid for up to 92 days, and you may be refused entry without it. Keep your own travel insurance for medical care. For the online process and prices, see our guide Tanzania visa.

All travelers must also complete a health surveillance form, and Ebola and mpox screening is in place at points of entry (UK FCDO). Plastic bags are banned and confiscated on arrival by air. Entry requirements checked on 24 October 2026.

Health and safety

• Health: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 20 October 2026), health risks include dengue, malaria, cholera and mpox; check vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks before your trip and see a doctor about malaria prevention. In many areas tap water is not drinkable (U.S. Department of State). Medical facilities are limited, especially outside Dar es Salaam: insurance covering medical evacuation is strongly recommended.
• Safety: the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 20 km (12 mi) of the border with Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, and reports armed robberies and vehicle hijackings near the Burundi border and in the Kigoma region (drive only in daylight). There is a risk of armed crime throughout the country; in Dar es Salaam, tourists have been targeted in the city center, the Masaki and Oysterbay peninsula (particularly Coco Beach) and along Toure Drive, and in Zanzibar incidents have occurred in Stone Town, at hotels and on beaches. Avoid walking alone at night.
• Political situation: protests after the 29 October 2025 election led to deaths and injuries. Stay away from demonstrations, and do not photograph or share images of protests: this is illegal, and security services may check your phone (UK FCDO).
• Laws: same-sex sexual activity is illegal, including in Zanzibar, with sentences of up to 30 years according to the U.S. Department of State. Some CBD products are illegal, and drug penalties are severe (UK FCDO). Exporting horns, seashells or other wildlife items without a permit is illegal.
• In the parks: stay in the vehicle except in authorized places and follow the guide’s and wardens’ instructions.
• Emergencies: 112 (ambulance, fire, police); response times can be slow.

Practical tips for Tanzania

• Money: US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, and most banks in major cities have ATMs that accept foreign debit cards, though they sometimes break down or run out of cash; use ATMs inside banks to reduce the risk of card cloning (UK FCDO). Our currency converter helps you estimate your spending.
• Internet: a local SIM card or an eSIM is handy for staying reachable. The authorities have restricted internet access during past protests: note important phone numbers.
• Dress: dress modestly throughout Tanzania. In Zanzibar and Pemba, women wearing shorts or sleeveless tops away from resorts, particularly in Stone Town, may cause offense, and the Zanzibari authorities can fine you US$700 or more for clothing they consider inappropriate (UK FCDO). On safari, wear neutral colors and bring a fleece for cool mornings.
• Photos: always ask before photographing someone, including the Maasai. Photographing military installations is forbidden, and people have been detained for photographing hospitals, schools, bridges and airports (U.S. Department of State).
• ID: carry copies of your passport photo page and visa, and leave the original in a safe place (UK FCDO).
• A few words of Swahili: « jambo » (hello), « asante » (thank you), « pole pole » (slowly) are always appreciated.

Who is Tanzania for?

Our verdicts by traveler profile, based on the information in this guide (places, budget, seasons).

Profile	Our verdict	Why
Couples	Very well suited	A safari in the Serengeti, then the beaches of Zanzibar.
Families	With reservations	Safaris are expensive per person; visas and mandatory local insurance to budget for.
Budget travelers	With reservations	Camping safaris from roughly US$170–280 per day; Zanzibar alone is much cheaper.
Safari and nature	Very well suited	Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Nyerere and Ruaha.
Adventure	Very well suited	Climbing Kilimanjaro in 6 to 8 days, without mountaineering technique.
Beach	Very well suited	The north and east of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia for diving.

Frequently asked questions

Read more: the Great Migration moves through the months: read the best time to visit Tanzania. For the beach part, see our Zanzibar guide and the best time to visit Zanzibar. For another East African safari, see our guide to Kenya.

Our sources

• Entry, health and safety information read on 24 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Tanzania country information (travel.state.gov, last updated September 3, 2026), and UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Tanzania (GOV.UK, updated 20 October 2026)
• World Meteorological Organization, 1991–2020 climate normals (NOAA archive)
• European Central Bank, euro reference exchange rates of 23 October 2026 (budget conversion)
• Our methodology

Updated October 2026.

To compare with other safari countries in East Africa, see also our Kenya travel guide, as well as Rwanda and Uganda for gorillas. Discover our other destinations in Africa.