Before You Go: A Practical Guide to Tanzania
Thinking of getting those flights booked? Tanzania is getting closer!
Before you start thinking about beaches, food and what you’re wearing to the wedding, let’s get a few practical things sorted out.
Visa & Entry Requirements
Depending on your passport, you may need a visa to enter Tanzania.
For many, the easiest option is to apply for an eVisa online before travelling. Tanzania Immigration recommends using its official online system. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival, although we recommend arranging yours beforehand; it helps especially after a long flight.
For most, the ordinary single-entry visa currently costs US$50 and allows a stay of up to 90 days. US passport holders have different requirements so please check that.
Your passport should have at least six months' validity and one unused visa page, and you should be prepared to show a return or onward ticket when entering Tanzania.
Visa requirements vary by nationality, so please check the latest rules for your passport before travelling.
Official Tanzania eVisa website
Vaccinations & Health
It's worth speaking to your doctor or a travel vaccination clinic well before your trip, particularly if this is your first time travelling to East Africa.
What is recommended will depend on your health, where you're travelling before and after the wedding, and what else you plan to do while you're in Tanzania.
Two things to keep in mind:
A yellow fever certificate may be required if you are arriving from, or travelling through, a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. This is worth checking if you're adding another African country to your itinerary.
Malaria is also present in Tanzania, so speak to a healthcare professional about malaria prevention and whether antimalarial medication is appropriate for your trip.
And of course, pack mosquito repellent. Thanks us later!
Quick Pack list
July is generally one of the cooler and drier times of year in Dar es Salaam, although "cool" is relative. Think warm days, lighter clothing and something to throw over your shoulders in the evening.
Our quick suggestions:
Lightweight, breathable clothes
Comfortable shoes and/or sandals
A light layer for evenings and air-conditioned spaces
Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
Mosquito repellent
Any medication you regularly use
A power bank
Swimwear. You are coming to the coast, after all
Something a little more modest for markets, religious sites and exploring around town
And, of course, whatever you're planning to wear to the wedding.
Money!
The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS).
Cash is still very useful in Dar, particularly for smaller shops, markets, tips and everyday purchases. Cards are increasingly accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger businesses, but you don’t assume you'll be able to pay by card everywhere.
ATMs are readily available in Dar es Salaam, and many accept international debit and credit cards. ATMs located inside or directly beside banks are generally the better option.
In a pickle? US dollars are also commonly used in tourism, particularly for things such as safaris and some hotels.
For everyday life in Dar, however, Tanzanian shillings are what you'll want.
Our advice: have a combination of a card and some local cash on hand during your trip. Have $100 for any emergency.
SIM Cards & Internet
You shouldn't have much trouble staying connected.
Local SIM cards and mobile data are widely available, and getting a Tanzanian number can be very useful if you're staying for more than a few days. You will need to show your passport when registering for a sim.
Hotels, some Airbnbs, many cafés and restaurants also offer Wi-Fi.
Before travelling, check what your mobile provider charges for roaming in Tanzania. Depending on your plan, a local SIM or eSIM may be considerably cheaper options. On our last trip, we used Kolet e-sim. We were able to have mobile data to use many services (WhatsApp, Uber, Bolt) but proved difficult when we needed to be contacted by e.g. Uber drivers.
Our recommendation: Have an activated e-sim until you can get yourself a local sim that to use for calls.
Travel Insurance
Don’t forget travel insurance.
Hopefully you'll never need it, but good travel insurance can help with medical treatment, lost luggage, cancellations, missed connections and other unexpected situations.
Check that your policy covers Tanzania and everything you're planning to do while you're there, especially if you're adding activities such as a safari, hiking or diving.
If you're planning to visit Zanzibar, there is an additional requirement to be aware of: visitors to Zanzibar currently need mandatory inbound travel insurance issued through the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, even if they already have international travel insurance.
We'll cover Zanzibar separately for anyone thinking of adding a few island days before or after the wedding.
TLDR:
Don't leave everything until the week before you fly.
Check your passport, visa and vaccinations requirements early. Save digital copies of your important documents e.g. travel and medical insurance somewhere you can access them without your phone. Carry some USD on you until you can draw out TSH. Activate an e-sim until you can buy a local sim. And give yourself enough time to sort out anything unexpected.
Phew! Once those practical things are taken care of, you can focus on the more interesting question: What are you going to do when you get here?
Karibu Tanzania. We can't wait to have you!
