Country guide

Tanzania

Protected land accounts for around 38 per cent of Tanzania's 947,303 km², held in 21 national parks and the reserves between them, so the country is planned as a set of distances rather than a set of towns. Kilimanjaro stands alone in the north at 5,895 m, the highest mountain in Africa. Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi each take a piece of the borders. Dodoma is the capital, but Dar es Salaam and its roughly 6.4 million people are the port and the commercial centre — and the crossing out of it reaches Zanzibar, semi-autonomous since the union of 26 April 1964.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Zanzibar City
Photograph · Paul Brockmeyer from Chicago, USA · CC BY 2.0

Zanzibar City 339 places

Practical information

Language spoken: Swahili and English; National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code: +255; International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS); Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number: 112; Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type: Type D and G · 230 V; Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water: Not recorded; No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

January: no seasonality data recorded
February: no seasonality data recorded
March: no seasonality data recorded
April: no seasonality data recorded
May: no seasonality data recorded
June: no seasonality data recorded
July: no seasonality data recorded
August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
September: no seasonality data recorded
October: no seasonality data recorded
November: no seasonality data recorded
December: no seasonality data recorded

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Common questions

How long should a first trip to Tanzania be?

Ten to fourteen days lets a first Tanzania itinerary combine one safari circuit with Zanzibar without turning every dawn into a transfer. Use Arusha for the northern parks or Dar es Salaam for the coast and southern routes; adding both safari circuits usually calls for a longer trip.

What entry documents are needed for Tanzania?

Tanzania Immigration, rather than a tour operator, should decide whether your passport needs an eVisa or another entry permission. Check the official portal for the permitted stay and required documents before buying inflexible flights, then recheck it before departure because nationality and purpose change the answer.

What is the best way to travel around Tanzania?

Long distances make transport choice part of the itinerary: scheduled or safari flights link remote park regions, road transfers join lodges within a circuit, and ferries serve Zanzibar. Confirm the named airstrip or port and its baggage rules, because a Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar connection is not interchangeable.

When is a practical time to visit Tanzania?

June through October suits many dry-season safari routes, while January and February can also work well in the north; Zanzibar and the southern parks follow their own rainfall patterns. Choose dates around the safari circuit or island stay that matters most instead of applying one weather label to the whole country.

What money and payment basics apply in Tanzania?

The Tanzanian shilling is the recorded currency. Cards may work at larger hotels, but park-route stops, small vendors and remote services can require cash; obtain it through a bank or authorised exchange and confirm whether lodge, transfer and conservation charges are quoted in TZS or another currency.

What practical safety details should I save for Tanzania?

Keep 112 saved for emergencies, and pack for Type D and G sockets at 230 V. This dataset has no verified nationwide tap-water statement, so water safety is Not recorded; ask the accommodation or responsible local authority at each stop, especially on safari and island legs.