Tanzania

National parks: The endless plains of the Serengeti are what to see first, above all for the Great Migration. Entry runs 82 dollars a day and you want at least three days in the field. Enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra are everywhere, especially in the south early in the year.

Ngorongoro Crater: Worth a trip to see black rhino and lion inside a natural bowl. Taking a vehicle down costs 300 dollars, so find people in Arusha to share it with. Nowhere else has this density of animals per square kilometre.

Kilimanjaro: Climbing the roof of Africa is a lifetime ambition for many, but it is expensive and takes a week minimum. Choose the Machame route for better acclimatisation if you are set on Uhuru Peak. You will not be allowed onto the mountain without an official guide and support team.

Beaches: On Zanzibar, Nungwi and Kendwa are the places to go if you do not want your swimming dictated by the tide. White sand and turquoise water look exactly like the brochure. The infrastructure is the best on the island, and so are the crowds.

Tarangire: Frequently overlooked, which is a mistake given the concentration of elephants among the giant baobabs. You can do it in a day if you leave Arusha at dawn in a hired 4x4. It is at its best in the dry season when animals come down to the river.

Spices and history: The clove plantation tour on Zanzibar is genuinely interesting even if it feels packaged. Afterwards head back to Stone Town for Prison Island with its giant tortoises. Getting lost in the old town for a couple of hours is time well spent.

Currency: The local money is the Tanzanian shilling, but the tourist economy runs largely on US dollars. In 2026 the rate sits around 2600 shillings to the dollar. Shillings work for markets, dollars for park fees and accommodation.

Exchange: Change money only at official bureaus or banks such as CRDB and NMB. Do not deal with street changers in the cities, which almost always ends badly. Rates for small denomination notes are worse than for fifties and hundreds.

Cards: Visa and Mastercard work in Arusha, Dar and the bigger Zanzibar hotels, but not much beyond that, and Amex is rare. ATMs are reliable in the cities, though daily limits are low, so keep a good cash reserve.

Tipping: This is built into how the country works. Safari guides expect 15 to 20 dollars a day from the group and hotel porters a dollar or two. In restaurants around ten percent is normal.

Cash notes: Always keep small bills for minibuses and fruit. Bring US dollars in perfect condition, with no writing, stains or creases. Notes printed before 2006 get a terrible rate or are refused outright.

Item	Price (USD)
Visa on arrival	50
Compulsory Zanzibar insurance	44
Serengeti, per day	82
Ferry to Zanzibar	35
Lunch at a local cafe	5
Litre of petrol	1.3
Bottle of beer	2
Seafood dinner	18
Motorbike taxi in town	2
Water 1.5 l	0.5
SIM card with data	10
Scooter hire per day	15
Hotel levy per night	4
Spice farm tour	20

Getting there: Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro airports take flights via Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Addis Ababa and Amsterdam. KLM flies direct from Europe to both, and from North America you connect through Amsterdam or a Gulf hub. Book Kilimanjaro rather than Dar if your trip is safari-focused.

Long-distance buses: Services like Kilimanjaro Express are the economical way between the main hubs. Buy at the official counter in the bus station a day ahead. Dar es Salaam to Arusha takes about ten hours.

Dala-dala: The city minibuses are always overloaded and cost almost nothing. It is the best way to feel the place if you do not mind being squeezed. Route names are written on the windscreen, but ask the conductor anyway.

Ferries: Azam Marine runs between the mainland and Zanzibar four times a day. The 40-dollar business class is worth it for air conditioning and a proper seat. The crossing takes a little under two hours in calm weather.

Boda-boda: Motorbike taxis save you in traffic but carry real risk. Always wear a helmet and fix the price firmly before you set off. After dark, switch to a proper car.

Ride hailing: Uber and Bolt operate in the big cities and remove the haggling entirely. They are safer and more transparent, especially for an airport run with luggage.

Domestic flights: Light aircraft connect every significant tourist point. Arusha to Zanzibar saves an enormous amount of time, but book ahead and mind the strict baggage weight limits.

In town: Arusha and Moshi are full of budget guesthouses at 15 to 30 dollars. Look for a mosquito net over the bed and check the hot water actually works. For an independent traveller this is the honest, affordable option.

Zanzibar levy: On the island a compulsory accommodation tax is added to the room rate. In three-star hotels it is 4 dollars per person per night and paid in cash. Ask whether it is included when you book online.

Long stays: If you plan to spend a season here, Zanzibar rentals start around 500 dollars a month. Owner taxes on tourist lettings are high, which is why nothing is truly cheap. Negotiating directly with a guesthouse owner is often better value.

Safari camping: Independent travellers often use the public campsites inside the national parks. These run 20 to 50 dollars and you sleep in your own or a rented tent, with a cook who travels with your group.

Booking: Use the standard platforms but always confirm by message with the owner. Overbooking does happen, and a direct contact saves the argument at check-in. Good places in high season are gone months ahead.

Security: In cheaper hotels do not leave valuables in sight even behind a locked door. Use the reception safe, or carry your passport and main cash reserve with you.

Ugali: Maize flour porridge is what people here eat almost daily. You roll it into a firm ball and dip it into sauce or stew. It fills you up completely, though it can taste unnervingly plain at first.

Nyama choma: Grilled meat over coals is the great social dish. Be wary of unusually cheap portions at roadside stalls unless you want to spend the day near a bathroom. Choose places where they grill a fresh cut in front of you.

Chipsi mayai: A chip omelette cooked on every corner for a couple of dollars. It is the fastest, most straightforward snack for an independent traveller, usually served with chilli sauce and a bit of salad.

Island food: On Zanzibar you have to try the local pizza, a thin stuffed pancake. The best place for it is the Forodhani evening market in Stone Town, which also does fresh octopus and crab on skewers.

Seafood: Lobster and tuna on the beaches at Nungwi cost sensible money. Look for places that lay the catch out on ice so you can pick your own, and take it grilled.

Drinks: Tanzanian coffee from the Kilimanjaro region is superb and best drunk freshly brewed. Kilimanjaro and Safari are the popular local lagers, and mango and papaya juice costs almost nothing anywhere.

Street crime: In Dar es Salaam do not flash expensive phones or cameras in crowds. Pickpockets here are highly skilled, especially in markets. Carry bags in front of you and keep nothing in a back pocket.

After dark: Take a taxi in the cities once the sun goes down, even for short distances. Side streets can be unsafe and street lighting is poor across the country.

Health: Malaria is a serious threat, so use repellent and sleep under a net. At the first sign of fever, get a test at the nearest hospital, because early diagnosis makes all the difference.

Wildlife: On safari never leave the vehicle without your guide's say-so. This is not a theme park, and even herbivores can turn aggressive. Follow the driver's instructions and never feed monkeys.

The sea: On Zanzibar's beaches watch for sea urchins, which are everywhere at low tide. Buy reef shoes for swimming, and take the strong currents on the east coast seriously.

Water: Drink sealed bottled water only, and brush your teeth with it too. Avoid ice in dubious bars, since it may well be tap water. Read your own government's travel advisory before booking.

Dress: Zanzibar is a Muslim island, so cover shoulders and knees away from beach hotels. Respect local feeling, especially during Ramadan, and modest clothing will spare you disapproving looks.

Greetings: Tanzanians do not go straight to business; you exchange pleasantries first. A simple "jambo" opens doors and makes every interaction easier. Calm and a smile count for far more than efficiency here.

Photography: Always ask before pointing a camera at someone. Maasai will usually want a small fee, and photographing military or government buildings is prohibited outright.

The left hand: Never pass things or eat with the left hand, which is considered unclean. It is a small rule, but observing it changes how people read you.

Pole pole: The country's guiding principle means "slowly, slowly". Do not expect quick service in a cafe or punctuality from a minibus. Accept the rhythm or the waiting will spoil your trip.

The Maasai: The people in the red shukas belong to a proud culture with ancient customs. Village visits often become a performance, but that is a legitimate way for them to earn. Be tactful and do not treat them as an attraction.

SIM cards: Vodacom and Airtel are the main operators and sell everywhere. Registration requires your passport and a fingerprint scan. Ten gigabytes of data costs around 10 dollars and works almost everywhere.

eSIM: If your phone supports it, loading a data package before departure gets you online at the airport without the registration queue. It costs more than a local SIM but saves an hour.

Coverage: Signal in the national parks is weak, so download offline maps in advance. Budget guesthouse wifi often works only in the common area and only intermittently.

Language: Everyone in the tourist trade speaks English, and menus and signs in tourist areas are in English. Outside the cities, basic Swahili becomes genuinely important, and even ten phrases visibly changes how people treat you.

Messaging: Use WhatsApp for guides and property owners. It is the fastest free way to book a transfer or confirm details, and locals run all their business through it.

Apps and post: Install Google Translate with the offline Swahili pack for markets, plus Uber and Bolt for Dar es Salaam. If you want to send a postcard, the central post offices still work, though delivery can take six weeks.

English	Swahili	Pronunciation
Hello	Jambo	JAM-bo
How are you?	Habari?	ha-BA-ree
Good	Nzuri	n-ZOO-ree
Thank you very much	Asante sana	a-SAN-teh SA-na
Please	Tafadhali	ta-fa-DHA-lee
Yes	Ndio	n-DEE-o
No	Hapana	ha-PA-na
How much is it?	Bei gani?	bay GA-nee
Expensive	Ghali	GHA-lee
Water	Maji	MA-jee
Food	Chakula	cha-KOO-la
The bill, please	Bill, tafadhali	bill ta-fa-DHA-lee
Slowly	Pole pole	PO-leh PO-leh
No worries	Hakuna matata	ha-KOO-na ma-TA-ta
Mate, bro (slang)	Mshikaji	m-shee-KA-jee
Foreigner, westerner	Mzungu	m-ZOON-goo
Let's go! (slang)	Twende!	TWEN-deh
Sorry	Pole	PO-leh
Goodbye	Kwaheri	kwa-HEH-ree
Help	Saidia	sa-ee-DEE-a

Consular help: Most countries with a mission keep it in Dar es Salaam, and others cover Tanzania from Nairobi. Note the number down before you travel in case you lose your passport.

Sockets: Tanzania uses British Type G plugs with three flat pins. Adapters cost a couple of dollars in any shop, though bringing your own is easier. Voltage is standard but surges and cuts are frequent.

Plastic bags: Plastic carrier bags are banned outright and you can be fined for carrying them. Use cloth bags or a rucksack. The rule is enforced seriously at airports and park gates.

Medical kit: Pack rehydration salts, broad-spectrum antibiotics and plasters. Quality medicine is hard to find in remote areas and prices are inflated. Bring high-factor sunscreen too.

Flights: Local carriers are frequently delayed with no explanation. Never plan a connection under three hours, and remember the baggage limit on Zanzibar hops is often just 15 kg.

What you cannot take home: Shells, coral and anything made from ivory are strictly prohibited for export. Customs check bags thoroughly and the fines are severe. Stick to coffee, spices and Maasai fabric.