COVID 19 (Corona virus) entry requirements
When traveling to Tanzania, it's essential to be updated with the latest COVID-19 protocols. As of 12 January 2023, all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, are exempt from any RT-PCR or vaccine proof requirements at Tanzanian ports. Occasionally, port officials may conduct a free COVID-19 Rapid Test for surveillance purposes. For those coming from or transiting in a Yellow Fever endemic country for over 12 hours, a vaccination proof is necessary. Check out our detailed article on the latest COVID-19 guidelines for Tanzania here.
Visa
A valid visa is a must for most passengers entering the United Republic of Tanzania. Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or use the e-visa system. Before traveling to Tanzania, it's advisable to review the latest visa guidelines and requirements here.
Vaccinations
While preparing for traveling to Tanzania, vaccinations play an important role. The country may require a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate for travelers aged 1 year and above from certain countries. While other vaccines aren't mandatory for entry, consulting with your doctor for additional vaccinations is advisable. Learn more about the detailed vaccination requirements for Tanzania here.
Cash and finances
When traveling to Tanzania, understanding the currency norms is vital.
- United States Dollars (USD $) bank notes must be printed in 2007 or later as notes printed before this year are not accepted anywhere in Tanzania and not legal tender. You should only pay for up to $49 in small notes ($1, $2, $5, $10, $20) and all larger amounts should be paid using $50 or $100 bank notes.
- Euros (EUR €) or Pounds (GBP £) bank notes can be accepted by Shah Tours and Travels for payments when arranged in advance, however not all suppliers (e.g., your hotels, curio shops etc.) will accept these.
- Tanzanian Shillings (TZS /=) is the national currency however most tourists will use United States Dollars (USD $) which are widely accepted throughout Tanzania for tourist services as the preferred currency for payments. You may also receive change for USD payments in Tanzanian Shillings where USD notes are not available.
- Visa and Mastercard – You may be able to make card payments using VISA or MASTERCARD to various suppliers or your hotels however this method generally incurs up to 5% in payment processing surcharges. Card payment providers may not be 100% reliable or always available and we can never guarantee these services and highly recommend keeping cash (USD $) for emergencies or payments.
- American Express and other payment processors - Although other payment processing services may be available, they also sometimes are not accepted and Visa / Mastercard are the most widely used options throughout Tanzania.
ATMs and withdrawing cash – You can only withdraw Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) from local ATM’s and cannot withdraw USD or any other currency. If you are planning on paying for services in cash it is best to bring this with you. - FOREX – You can only convert many major foreign currencies at banks subject to their opening hours. When paying for a tour in a foreign currency (including TZS) you will be subject to an exchange rate against USD $.
- Travellers’ cheques – Are not accepted in Tanzania
Your Kilimanjaro mountain crew will generally prefer tips paid in cash USD ($, only bank notes printed after 2007) where possible directly to each crew member or to the head guide. Bringing smaller bank notes may help a lot with the distribution.
Plastic Bags
A significant thing to note when traveling to Tanzania is the ban on disposable / single use plastic bags since 01 June 2019. Ensure you don't carry any disposable plastic bags, as fines could be imposed on arrival.
Zip-loc and reusable bags are permitted to be brought to Tanzania, but they should be taken back with you.
