Passport and visa
- A passport with at least six months of validity from the date of entry and two blank pages.
- Tanzania has an e-visa, applied for online before you travel on the official immigration portal.
- Apply several weeks ahead: it is usually resolved in a few days, but it can take longer.
- A visa on arrival at the airport also exists, though it means queuing and not every nationality can use it.
Vaccinations for Tanzania
Only one vaccination can be required to enter Tanzania, yellow fever, and that depends on your route. The rest are recommended: nobody checks them at the border, but your doctor will advise them.
| Vaccine | Required? | Who for |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow fever | Only from a risk country, or after 12+ hours in transit in one | From one year of age. The certificate is valid for life |
| Hepatitis A | No | Recommended for most travellers |
| Typhoid | No | Recommended, especially if you eat outside the lodges |
| Tetanus-diphtheria and MMR | No | Keep them up to date, as for any trip |
| Rabies | No | Depending on the trip: contact with animals or long stretches far from a hospital |
Layovers cause the most confusion. Kenya and Ethiopia are on the list of countries with yellow fever risk, and many flights connect through Nairobi or Addis Ababa. A short connection without leaving the airport does not require the vaccine, but not every border officer reads the rule the same way: if your flight goes through either, the calm option is to carry the certificate. Connecting in Doha, Dubai, Istanbul or a European hub, it is not needed.
Malaria is present in almost the whole country. Prophylaxis is taken in tablet form, starts before you leave and continues after you get back, and the course has to be prescribed by a doctor for your case. Beyond that, repellent and long sleeves at dusk.
Travel insurance
In practice it is not optional. The parks are hours from a hospital and a medical evacuation from the Serengeti costs a great deal of money.
- It should cover medical evacuation and repatriation, not just assistance.
- It should cover the activities you plan to do. The balloon flight is excluded from some policies.
- It should cover cancellation, because the safari is paid for in advance.
Money, plugs and connectivity
- The currency is the Tanzanian shilling, but dollars are accepted anywhere touristic. Bring notes issued after 2009: older ones are not accepted.
- There are cash machines in Arusha and in the towns, not inside the parks.
- Type G plug, the British three flat pins, at 230 V.
- A local SIM is cheap and works surprisingly well outside the parks. Inside the Serengeti coverage is patchy.
Official sources
- CDC — Travelers’ health: Tanzania — Recommended vaccines and entry requirements, including the transit rule.
- Official Tanzania e-visa portal — The only official place to apply for the visa online.
- UK FCDO travel advice — Tanzania — Entry requirements and health advice for British travellers.
- US State Department — Tanzania — The equivalent for US passport holders.
