Tanzania Safari Packages
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Tanzania Visa & Entry Requirements
Visas, vaccinations, insurance and practical arrival details for Tanzania and Zanzibar — checked and explained in plain language.
Entry requirements
Visas, passports and what is checked on arrival
Most visitors need a visa to enter Tanzania. The ordinary single-entry tourist visa costs USD 50, or USD 100 for United States passport holders, and is valid for stays of up to 90 days. You can apply online in advance through the Tanzanian immigration e-visa portal, or obtain a visa on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume airport.
We recommend the e-visa. Approval usually takes a few working days to two weeks, and arriving with a printed approval letter turns the airport queue into a formality. Whichever you choose, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry with two blank pages.
Checklist
What to have ready at immigration
- Passport valid 6+ months with two blank pages
- E-visa approval printout or USD 50/100 in cash for visa on arrival
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Proof of accommodation — your Ruta Legacy itinerary letter is accepted
- Yellow-fever certificate if arriving from or transiting an endemic country
- Travel insurance details (not always checked, but required by us)
Health
Vaccinations and malaria
No vaccination is universally compulsory for Tanzania except yellow fever for travellers arriving from endemic countries. Travel clinics commonly recommend being up to date on routine vaccinations plus hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus, and malaria prophylaxis for safari and coastal areas. Kilimanjaro's higher camps are above the mosquito line, but Arusha, Moshi, the parks and Zanzibar are not.
- Yellow fever — required if arriving via an endemic country
- Malaria prophylaxis — recommended; discuss options with a travel clinic
- Hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus — commonly advised
- Insect repellent with DEET, long sleeves at dusk, treated bed nets in the parks
Practical
Money, phones and getting around
- Currency — Tanzanian shilling; USD notes dated 2009 or later accepted for fees and tips
- Cards — accepted in larger hotels and lodges; carry cash for markets and tips
- SIM cards — Vodacom, Airtel and Halotel sell tourist data bundles cheaply; bring your passport to register
- Power — 230 V, UK-style Type G plugs
- Airports — JRO for Kilimanjaro and Arusha, ARK for domestic Arusha flights, ZNZ for Zanzibar
- Plastic bags — single-use plastic bags are banned in Tanzania; do not pack them
- Language — Swahili and English; a few Swahili greetings go a very long way
Questions
Related questions
Can I get a Tanzanian visa on arrival?
Yes, at the main international airports and land borders for most nationalities, paying USD 50 (USD 100 for US passports) in cash. The e-visa is still the smoother option, especially on busy peak-season flights.
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
No. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania and your Tanzanian visa covers it. You will pass through a local immigration desk on arrival, and a mandatory Zanzibar visitor insurance fee of USD 44 per person applies to arrivals — we include it in Zanzibar quotes.
How long does the e-visa take?
Usually a few working days, occasionally up to two or three weeks in busy periods. Apply at least a month before travel.
Is travel insurance really required?
Yes, we require it on all bookings. For Kilimanjaro it must include emergency evacuation and medical cover valid above 6,000 metres.
Enquiry
Ready to turn this into a trip?
Send us your dates and we will build an itinerary around everything you have just read.
- Reply within 24 hours from our Arusha office
- Itineraries built around your dates, pace and budget
- Free quote, no deposit and no obligation
Email info@rutalegacysafaris.com
WhatsApp / Call +255 670 912 578 (0670 912 578 in Tanzania)
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