Africa
Tanzania
The Serengeti, Kilimanjaro and the spice island of Zanzibar in one trip.
Tanzania is where safari dreams come from. Group camping safaris make the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater affordable, and the great migration crosses the plains from June to October.
Finish on Zanzibar, where Stone Town's alleys lead down to white beaches on the Indian Ocean.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT+3
- Plugs
- Types D and G, 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 112 or 999 for police, ambulance and fire
- Tap water
- Drink bottled or filtered
- Traffic drives on the
- Left
- Tipping
- Expected for safari guides, cooks and porters, usually $10–20 a day per group, and around 10% in tourist restaurants.
- SIM cards
- A Vodacom or Airtel SIM with 10 GB of data costs around 20,000–30,000 shillings; bring your passport to register it.
When to go to Tanzania
Best months to go: June to October. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Dry, clear and still excellent for wildlife. A good month on Kilimanjaro.
- Daytime high
- 25°C
- Rainfall
- 15 mm
- Crowds
- Busy
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C | 65 mm | Busy | No |
| February | 28°C | 80 mm | Busy | No |
| March | 27°C | 160 mm | Quiet | No |
| April | 25°C | 290 mm | Quiet | No |
| May | 23°C | 120 mm | Quiet | No |
| June | 22°C | 20 mm | Busy | Yes |
| July | 22°C | 10 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| August | 23°C | 10 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| September | 25°C | 15 mm | Busy | Yes |
| October | 27°C | 30 mm | Busy | Yes |
| November | 27°C | 100 mm | Quiet | No |
| December | 27°C | 90 mm | Peak season | No |
What Tanzania costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$784for 14 days, about $56 a day (TZS 2,040,000 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $15 | $210 | |
| Food and drink | $10 | $140 | |
| Getting around | $7 | $98 | |
| Things to do | $20 | $280 | |
| Everything else | $4 | $56 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Chipsi mayai from a street stallTZS 3,000, about $1.15
- Plate of rice and beansTZS 4,000, about $1.54
- Chai and a chapatiTZS 1,500, about $0.58
- Bottle of Kilimanjaro beerTZS 4,000, about $1.54
- Hostel dorm bed in ArushaTZS 35,000, about $13
- Dala dala ride across townTZS 700, about $0.27
- Bus, Arusha to Dar es SalaamTZS 45,000, about $17
Routes through Tanzania
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 7 stops
A group safari through the northern parks, then a short flight to Zanzibar for spice farms and beaches.
Arusha
2 nights
Sort out your safari and walk the markets before heading out.
Tarangire
1 night
Huge elephant herds among the baobab trees.
Serengeti
2 nights
Endless plains, big cats and, with luck, the migration.
Ngorongoro Crater
1 night
A collapsed volcano full of wildlife, including black rhino.
Stone Town
3 nights
Carved doors, spice tours and the night food market at Forodhani.
Nungwi
3 nights
Swim at any tide and watch dhows sail past at sunset.
Paje
2 nights
White sand, seaweed farms and kitesurfing on the east coast.
Getting around
Jeep / 4x4
$180–300 a day on a group camping safari
Park fees are high, so most people join a group safari from Arusha. The price covers the vehicle, guide, food and camping.
Bus
$15–25 for a long trip
Coaches link Arusha, Moshi and Dar es Salaam. Most run by day only, so expect early starts.
Ferry
$35–40 one way
Fast ferries run from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar in about two hours. Buy tickets at the official office, not from touts.
Minibus
Under $1 a ride
Dala dalas are crowded local minibuses that go almost everywhere. Hold on to your bag.
Flight
$80–150 one way
Small planes fly from Arusha to Zanzibar in about an hour and save a long day on the road.
What to eat and drink
Chipsi mayai
Chips cooked into an omelette, served with chilli and ketchup.
TZS 3,000, about $1.15
Nyama choma
Grilled goat or beef, eaten with your hands and a cold beer.
TZS 12,000, about $4.62
Ugali
A stiff maize porridge, rolled into balls and dipped in stew.
TZS 5,000, about $1.92
Mishkaki
Marinated beef skewers grilled over charcoal at night.
TZS 1,000, about $0.38
Zanzibar pizza
A folded, fried pancake stuffed with egg, meat or banana and chocolate.
TZS 5,000, about $1.92
Chai ya tangawizi
Sweet milky tea spiced with ginger, drunk at any time of day.
TZS 500, about $0.19
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello, how are you?
Habari?
Say it like: ha-bah-ree
Thank you very much
Asante sana
Say it like: ah-sahn-teh sah-nah
How much?
Bei gani?
Say it like: bay gah-nee
No problem
Hakuna matata
Say it like: ha-koo-na ma-ta-ta
Slowly, slowly
Pole pole
Say it like: poh-leh poh-leh
Let's go
Twende
Say it like: twen-deh
Water
Maji
Say it like: mah-jee
Cheers!
Afya!
Say it like: ahf-yah
Places to go in Tanzania
Serengeti
Endless plains in northern Tanzania, home to the great migration and more lions than anywhere else in Africa.
Comfortable
Questions travellers ask
How much does a safari cost?
A three-day group camping safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro starts at around $600–800 per person, mostly park fees. Compare a few operators in Arusha and read recent reviews.
Should I climb Kilimanjaro?
It is a hard trek but needs no technical skill. Pick a route of at least six nights to give yourself time to adjust to the altitude, and never choose an operator on price alone.
Do I need malaria tablets?
Yes, malaria is present across most of the country, including Zanzibar. Speak to a travel clinic before you go, and bring a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country with the disease.
Should I bring US dollars?
Yes. Safaris, climbs and visas are priced in dollars, and many places only take notes printed in 2009 or later. Use shillings for day-to-day spending.
What should I wear on Zanzibar?
Stone Town is mostly Muslim, so cover your shoulders and knees when you walk around. Swimwear is fine on the beach.