Tanzania

Swahili and English are both official languages. Swahili is the language of daily life almost everywhere, while English is widely used in business, government, and tourism, so guides, hotel staff, and safari operators generally speak it well. In rural areas and local markets, a few Swahili words go a long way.

Prepaid SIM cards are cheap, but every one must be registered with your passport at the point of sale — the vendor will photograph your passport and take a fingerprint, so buy from an official Vodacom, Airtel, or Tigo shop rather than a street stall. Data bundles are inexpensive, and coverage is good in cities and around the main safari parks, though it thins out in more remote reserves.

Tap water is not safe to drink; stick to bottled or treated water, including for brushing your teeth in more remote areas. Pharmacies are easy to find in cities and larger towns, though it is worth bringing your own supply of any prescription medication.

Malaria is present across most of the country, including the safari parks and the coast, so talk to a doctor about antimalarial medication before you travel. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Sun protection matters on Zanzibar's beaches, and travelers climbing Kilimanjaro should plan for gradual altitude acclimatization.

Most visitors need a visa to enter Tanzania, either applied for online in advance through the official e-visa portal or, for many nationalities, issued on arrival at the airport or border. Citizens of East African Community countries and a number of other African and SADC nations enter visa-free, but this exemption does not extend to most Commonwealth countries — travelers from the UK, Canada, Australia, and India all need a visa. A standard tourist visa costs around USD 50 (USD 100 for US citizens) and is valid for up to 90 days; a small number of nationalities are not eligible for a visa on arrival and must apply ahead of time.

Zanzibar does not require a separate visa — a Tanzanian visa, or visa-free entry, covers the whole country, including the islands.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Zanzibar and the coastal towns are predominantly Muslim, so dress modestly away from your hotel or resort beach — covering shoulders and knees is appreciated, and swimwear belongs at the beach or pool only. Greetings matter: a brief exchange of pleasantries before getting to business is normal and appreciated, even in a shop or taxi.

Ask before photographing people, especially in Maasai communities, where a fee is often expected for photos at markets or bomas (villages) set up for visitors. Bargaining is expected in markets and for souvenirs and unmetered taxi fares, but not in shops with marked prices.

Public holidays can affect transport schedules and close government offices and some shops, especially in smaller towns — plan around them if your trip includes travel by bus or ferry.

Many shops and businesses close for a long lunch break, and Friday afternoon prayers can shorten opening hours in Zanzibar and other predominantly Muslim coastal areas.

• By air: Domestic flights connect Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar, and the safari airstrips, and are the fastest way to reach the northern parks or the Nyerere National Park area from the coast — worth it given the country's size.
• By train: The new standard-gauge railway links Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, cutting a long road journey to a few hours.
• By bus: Long-distance coaches connect major towns cheaply, including routes to and from Arusha for safari travelers. Book with an established company and travel by day, since roads can be rough after dark.
• By ferry: Fast catamarans run several times a day between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar City, the easiest way to reach the islands without flying.

Within cities, daladalas (shared minibuses) and three-wheeled Bajaj taxis are the everyday way to get around; ride-hailing apps also operate in Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

Breakfast is usually simple — chai (spiced tea) with mandazi or bread — while lunch and dinner center on a starch like ugali, rice, or plantain served with a stew of beans, fish, or meat. On the coast and in Zanzibar, Swahili cooking adds coconut milk, cardamom, cloves, and other spices carried by centuries of Indian Ocean trade.

Street food is easy to find in the evening: grilled meat skewers, chips mayai, and roasted maize are common snacks, and Zanzibar's night market at Forodhani Gardens is a good place to try a wide spread at once.

Most people eat at small local eateries or from street stalls rather than formal restaurants, though cities have a growing range of sit-down options. Local beer, spiced tea, and fresh tropical juices are the everyday drinks; alcohol is less visible in Zanzibar and other predominantly Muslim coastal areas.

Tanzania's big draws cluster in the north: Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area anchor the classic safari circuit, along with Tarangire National Park and Arusha, the usual base for organizing a trip into the parks. Kilimanjaro National Park rises nearby, drawing climbers to Africa's highest peak, with Moshi as its main gateway town.

In the south, Nyerere National Park offers a quieter, less-visited safari experience along the Rufiji River. Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city and main port, is most travelers' entry point to the coast, while Dodoma is the official capital, seat of government since the 1990s though still smaller than Dar es Salaam.

Offshore, Zanzibar City combines beach time with the winding lanes of Stone Town, home to the House of Wonders, the Sultan's Palace, and the Old Fort. Inland on Lake Victoria, Mwanza is a useful stop for onward travel to the Serengeti's western corridor or into Rwanda and Uganda.