Traveling to Tanzania

Overview

Planning a trip to Tanzania? Whether you're here for a safari in the Serengeti, a few days on the beaches of Zanzibar, or climbing Kilimanjaro, one of the first things to sort out is your visa. This page walks through what UK, EU, and US travellers need to know: passport rules, visa costs and applications, vaccinations, and practical tips for a smooth arrival.

The good news is that the process itself is straightforward. You can apply for an eVisa online before you travel, or get a visa on arrival at the main entry points.

Passport

Bring your passport, and make sure it clears two requirements before you travel: it needs to stay valid for at least six months after you leave Tanzania, and it needs at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

Visa

Tanzania offers a few different visa types depending on why you're visiting. A single-entry tourist visa covers up to 90 days and suits most leisure trips. A multiple-entry tourist visa is valid for up to 12 months, with stays of up to 90 days per visit, useful for frequent travellers. A transit visa covers up to 7 days for travellers passing through to another destination, and a business visa covers short-term business activity for up to 90 days.

The easiest way to apply is the eVisa portal on the official Tanzania Immigration Services website: fill in your details, upload a scanned passport bio page and a recent photo, and pay online. Approval usually arrives by email within 1 to 3 business days. You can also get a visa on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Julius Nyerere International Airport, though wait times tend to be longer, so applying online first is the better option.

Whichever route you choose, you'll need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, proof of onward or return travel, and a recent passport photo. Business visas may also need an invitation letter from a Tanzanian host.

For the full details, or to start your application, visit the official Tanzania Immigration Services website.

Vaccination Certificate

If you're arriving from a country with a yellow fever risk, you'll need to show proof of vaccination. It's also worth keeping other vaccinations current, such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus, though these aren't usually mandatory for entry.

Travel Insurance

Make sure your policy covers high-altitude trekking, medical emergencies, evacuation, and trip cancellation, all especially important if you're heading up Kilimanjaro. Not every travel insurance policy covers high-altitude rescue by default, so it's worth checking the fine print rather than assuming.

For a closer look at what to check for and how policies compare, see the Kilimanjaro travel insurance guide.

Flight Tickets

Most airlines issue electronic tickets now. Check your name carefully for spelling errors: it needs to match your passport exactly. If it doesn't, contact your airline as soon as possible to get it corrected, which may come with a fee.

You may also be asked to show a return or onward flight ticket when you enter the country, so keep a copy of your full itinerary handy alongside your other travel documents.

Arriving in Tanzania

At immigration, your passport and entry documents get checked, and in many cases you'll be asked for fingerprints and a photo for biometric records. You'll also fill in arrival and departure forms. Where the form asks for your address in Tanzania, use the name of the first hotel or lodge you're staying at.

After immigration and baggage claim, you'll pass through customs. If you have nothing to declare, take the "nothing to declare" lane; if you do, go through "declare" instead. It's your own responsibility to know what applies to your specific situation.

Once you're through into the arrivals hall, look for a guide or driver holding a Kibo Quest sign with your name on it, they'll get you safely to your hotel. If you can't find them, call the emergency number on your travel documents and our partner on the ground will help.

Hotel Check-in and Check-out

Standard check-in starts at 2pm, so don't count on getting your room earlier unless you've arranged an early check-in for a fee when booking. At check-in, reception will usually register your card and may hold a small amount, this isn't an extra charge, just a standard hold to cover any minibar use or similar, released automatically at check-out if unused. It's also normal for hotels to keep a copy of your passport, sometimes required by local authorities.

Check-out is normally by 10am. If you're not travelling until later in the day, your luggage can usually be stored until it's time to leave, or you can arrange a late check-out for a fee when booking.

Transport and Permits

Getting around is handled for you throughout the trip. On arrival, you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel by Jeep. For the trek itself, the group travels together in a spacious minibus to the mountain. After the climb, I arrange your return transfers back to the hotel and on to the airport.

Climbing permits are one thing you don't need to arrange yourself, I handle that for every Kilimanjaro climb I guide. If you're booking through a different operator, it's worth confirming directly with them that permits are included.

After the Tour

My reputation depends on happy climbers, so I genuinely want to hear how your trip went once you're home. Feedback, good or bad, helps me keep improving the experience for the next group.

Currency, Price Level and Tipping

The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). It can't be imported or exported, so exchange money at the airport or withdraw cash after you arrive rather than bringing shillings with you.

USD is also widely accepted. It's worth carrying a small amount in low denominations, 1 to 5 dollar bills, since these are the easiest to use at markets and for tips. Cash machines accept Visa and Mastercard, and card payment is available in some places too.

Food and Allergies

At almost every destination on the trip, allergies, allergens, and food preferences can be accommodated, but I need to know about them when you book, not on arrival.

Telephones, Wi-Fi and Electricity

Most hotels and lodges run on their own generators, which are usually switched off after midnight, so pack a small torch. The voltage is 240V, and plugs are the 3-pin type. Internet connections can also be unstable, so don't count on a fast, constant connection throughout the trip.

What to Pack

Keep everything essential and irreplaceable in your hand luggage: passport, visa, vaccination card, travel and insurance documents, credit cards, cash, electronics, and any vital medication.

Pack in soft bags rather than hard suitcases if you're heading on safari afterwards, they fit into the safari vehicles far more easily. Stick to light-coloured clothing where possible, and bring long trousers and long sleeves to protect against mosquitoes after sunset and sun during the day. Avoid bare feet and legs in the evening for the same reason, and pack a small torch with spare batteries in case of a power cut.

For the full gear list specific to the climb itself, see the Kilimanjaro preparation guide.