Tanzania Travel Blog

If you're looking for information and travel reports about Tanzania and Zanzibar, you're in the right place. We will share our travel experiences and tips with you so you can make the most out of your trip.

Are you in search of a comprehensive travel blog that will assist, entertain, and inform you while preparing for your trip to Tanzania with a detour to Zanzibar?

Then you are exactly where you need to be! In this blog post, you'll find everything travelers need to know before embarking on their journey to Tanzania - from must-dos to some of our personal favorites.

Whether you're visiting Tanzania for the first time, planning to climb Kilimanjaro, want to explore Tanzania's fascinating wildlife, or relax on the beaches of Zanzibar, we are sure you will find something in these articles that makes planning your adventure easier than ever.

So grab a cup of tea and get ready to explore one of Africa's most captivating destinations!

Both Tanzania and Zanzibar offer spectacular landscapes, unique highlights, and interesting cultures. They are known for their rugged mountain ranges, beautiful coasts, fascinating national parks and wildlife reserves, extraordinary safaris, vibrant markets, and ancient historical sites.

Not to forget in northeastern Tanzania, the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) and UNESCO World Heritage Site, which attracts adventurers from all over the world.

The most famous national park is probably the Serengeti, widely known through the wildlife filmmaker and zoo director Dr. Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael. Their films "Serengeti Shall Not Die" and "No Place for Wild Animals" are classics among nature films and are well-known worldwide.

But Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area are also exceptionally beautiful and offer great sightings of large herds of animals.

Tanzania and its national parks are a must. In this post, I'll present my personal favorites, which parks I still want to visit, and give you practical tips for your travel planning.

Tanzania is a sovereign state in East Africa, and Zanzibar is an autonomous region within Tanzania. The two regions united in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

Tanzania and Zanzibar are located in East Africa, south of the equator. Tanzania borders Kenya to the north, Uganda and Rwanda to the west, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mozambique to the south. Zanzibar is a part of Tanzania but has its own government. It consists of two islands: Unguja (also known as Zanzibar Island) and Pemba, which are located in the Indian Ocean about 40 km off the Tanzanian mainland.

Tanzania and Zanzibar are both incredibly diverse countries with a variety of religions represented throughout the region. Christianity is by far the most popular religion in Tanzania, especially in the north. It is followed by Islam, which seems to become increasingly common towards the south and in Dar es Salaam, along with other traditional African beliefs.

In Zanzibar, Islam is the predominant religion. Approximately 80% are Muslims, so we advise you to wear appropriate clothing away from the beaches and avoid tight tops or shorts. However, there are also many Christians, Hindus, and people practicing various indigenous religions.

Research before your trip whether you should wear appropriate clothing at your destination. For us, this is part of respecting other cultures.

Since we gathered the best information on Kilimanjaro from the tour operator and various blogs online, the Lonely Planet for Tanzania was only used to look up useful facts. For that purpose, this guide was ideal.

For Zanzibar, I purchased the eBook Zanzibar: Pemba, Mafia (Bradt Travel Guide). It contained far more useful information than we could possibly need. Great work and a tip for anyone who doesn't mind an English-speaking guide.

Do you want a guide to identify animals? I own special books that I purchased as part of my EcoQuest in the Maasai Mara. I only have English-language guides for this. Why? Simply put: animal names are communicated only in English (ideally). This way, you always know what your guide is seeing or vice versa. I often have to think about how an animal is called in German. Sometimes I don't even know and have to consult the internet myself.

The tropical climate makes this region an ideal destination for tourists seeking sun-kissed beaches and lush landscapes with rich wildlife.

However, when seeking the best travel time, it depends on what you want to do in Tanzania. The country can generally be visited year-round, although climbing Kilimanjaro or driving safaris are not always possible during the heavy rainy season (March to May) or may present greater challenges.

-> Here you can find a detailed report on the best time to visit Tanzania and Zanzibar, safari and Kilimanjaro.

The tropical climate in Tanzania provides consistently high temperatures around 28 degrees, regardless of the season. As the country is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are different from ours (summer and winter are reversed).

Contrary to Europe, only the rainy season and dry season are distinguished here. The rainy season lasts from late March to May and then again in November to December, with a dry season that encompasses all other months outside of the aforementioned times.

However, even the winter months of July and August should not be underestimated. Daytime temperatures are not as hot as in January or February, especially after sunset. It can get quite cool, and fleece jackets are advisable.

During the dry season, it's easier for newcomers to find animals as they gather around waterholes and the grass is relatively short. The Great Migration also takes place during these months. Starting in July, huge herds of zebras and wildebeests migrate from the Serengeti across the border into Kenya, the Maasai Mara. They return to the Serengeti starting in December. I was in the Maasai Mara in July (when the migration started) and in the Serengeti in December, when the first rains fell and large herds of gazelles, zebras, and wildebeests began to migrate back. January in the Serengeti is likely ideal for this.

At these times of the year (August-September and January - February), the respective "hot spots" for observation (e.g., Mara Triangle) are more expensive and often crowded.

We undertook the Kilimanjaro climb in early December, went on safari for 10 days, to spend a few days in Zanzibar just before Christmas. Everything was ideal, and even on Kilimanjaro, we had much less rain than expected. The rain showers were brief and not too heavy.

Here you can read our travel report for 3 weeks in Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Here you will find some of the most important travel tips for Tanzania at a glance. Planning a trip to Tanzania (especially a Kilimanjaro climb) can seem overwhelming, but with the right preparation, it can become an unforgettable experience. To ensure your holiday goes as smoothly and pleasantly as possible, there are a few things you should know when planning your trip. From budgeting to vaccinations and visa requirements - we have all the information you need before plunging into your Tanzanian adventure!

For entry into Tanzania, you need a visa, which you can obtain online in advance or directly upon arrival at any airport. The fees are always 50 US dollars. We applied for the visa online in advance, allowing you to go directly to immigration with the printout (important, otherwise you will have to fill out an entry document) without having to queue for a visa on arrival.

With the visa, you can stay in the country for up to 90 days. Therefore, check the date on your passport stamp to ensure it's correct.

Apply for your electronic visa online here in advance

Upon entering Zanzibar, we had to fill out an entry card in addition to the visa. However, this was only collected and not checked. Upon departure, we had to fill out an exit card with all information (duration of stay, hotel, flight number, places visited, etc.). Have a pen ready.

Ideally, you should have at least 14 days to explore the highlights in Tanzania. You can then visit the most important national parks, spend a few days in Zanzibar, or climb Kilimanjaro like we did. Either independently or better: with a good provider. On our first trip to Tanzania, we were on the road for 3 weeks. We booked everything with Diamir, a specialist in adventure trips that works locally with local providers. We were very satisfied.

Just for Kilimanjaro (after all, the highest mountain in Africa), you need to plan at least 7 days. One day before the ascent to pack all the equipment and six days for the Machame Route (there are other routes as well that take longer). After that, an extra night in Arusha or Moshi is advisable before you can travel further. Afterwards, we went to Mkomazi National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Nature Reserve, and the Serengeti. We then spent six nights (5 days) in Zanzibar.

After reflecting on the route, we might have spent 1-2 days less in Zanzibar to have more time in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, or Tarangire National Park. Everything is very appealing, and the scenery is incredibly beautiful. We were glad to have received good advice from Diamir. Our driver Julius from the local partner discovered incredible wildlife sightings that we would not have seen from a great distance. We can recommend him to you as well (just mention him when dealing with Diamir).

With Ethiopian Airlines, you can get to Kilimanjaro Airport via Addis Ababa (depending on what your first destination in Tanzania is; for us, it was climbing Kilimanjaro). Diamir also took care of the flights; we didn't have to worry about anything.

If you want to book your flights on your own, that's no problem. However, in the event of a cancellation on your part, it will no longer be a package tour, and you'll have to take care of everything yourself. Check Skyscanner for the best connections and see my tips here on how we book flights.

A private 4x4 rental car or a car with a driver are the best options for getting around the country. Drive times are long, and the roads off the highways are quite bumpy and poor - make sure to allow enough time. The highways are paved and well-developed.

Check out Diamir for they can organize your perfect round trip just the way you want (choose your travel building blocks or join a group tour). We booked everything with Diamir and were very satisfied and glad we didn't have to drive ourselves after the strenuous trek on Kilimanjaro. Since there were five of us, we could share the costs for the car and driver.

If you drive on your own, be careful: there is police everywhere along the roadside monitoring speed. If you disregard traffic rules, you'll be pulled over just a few meters later and penalized. I have never seen such extensive police monitoring in any other country.

To search for a good hotel, we recommend the platform Booking.com. We always book our accommodations through this platform or directly with American Express, as we get additional discounts with the American Express Platinum Card (view details, it's worth it only for frequent travelers).

Payments are usually made in cash, and only in better hotels or restaurants can you use a credit card. You can pay either with the local currency Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) or US dollars. For the latter, it's essential to ensure you only carry new and somewhat intact bills. ATMs are quite rare in rural areas, so it's wise to pack a bit more cash. US dollars are often appreciated as tips, but we prefer local currency (after all, we are Europeans and not Americans).

Please note that fees may apply at ATMs locally. You can withdraw a maximum of 400,000 TZS (around 160 Euros) at most ATMs. Use your credit card as often as possible. In lodges and accommodations within national parks, there is often no internet, which means no ability to pay by credit card.

Tip: We withdrew as much cash as possible upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha. You will find ATMs after the airport exit on the right side (Only Tanzanian Shilling, no US dollars).

Withdrawing cash in Zanzibar: There are ATMs only in Stone Town. If you need cash, you should withdraw it directly at the airport.

Currently, the best free credit cards for travel are the Debit Card from DKB Bank, GenialCard (Hanseatic Bank), and the Mastercard Gold from TF Bank. With a setup of at least 2 of these cards, you can withdraw cash at ATMs abroad for free almost always and pay on site without incurring foreign transaction fees on foreign currencies! -> Here you can find all tips with my experience for the best travel credit cards in comparison.

Tipping in Tanzania is mandatory and expected everywhere. In restaurants (5 to 10%, sometimes a service charge is included), tips are expected for tours, drivers, and porters. We gathered information to ensure we didn't give too much or too little while climbing Kilimanjaro. We were also informed multiple times that the guide may not distribute the money fairly, and so we noted down a list of all carriers and their tasks. This way, we could pay each one fairly, and everyone was happy.

In accommodations, a tip box at the reception does not indicate whether everyone receives anything. We had to learn that in one accommodation, the bar staff and restaurant servers did not receive anything. So we secretly tipped everyone (Important: besides the managers, as they often took tips directly. This is also a sad reality in Africa).

In our Kilimanjaro articles, you will learn about how much we tipped the crew. For drivers and guides, you can calculate 10 to 20 US dollars per group. For those who carry your luggage in hotels or camps, you should always have some small bills ready.

We found traveling in Tanzania to be safe. Of course, many people have become poorer since COVID, as they had no income from tourism for 2 years. Be aware of this, don't wear expensive jewelry, and everything will be fine.

It was also okay in Zanzibar, although we walked home on the beach at night in the dark. People are happy that tourists are returning and are nice and helpful. Unfortunately, they can sometimes be a little too pushy if they want to sell a tour or souvenirs. Especially in Zanzibar, this can become quite overwhelming, as a friendly "no thanks, I am not interested" is often insufficient.

Currently, proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required for entry. This will be carefully checked in your vaccination booklet upon entry. A yellow fever vaccination is only necessary if you are coming from a yellow fever country (Uganda). Since I have previously traveled in Uganda, I had this vaccination from my past travels and didn't have to worry about it.

Vaccinations recommended for entry into Tanzania (but not compulsory) include: Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Cholera, Rabies, and Meningococcus.

Dangerous malaria mosquitoes and tsetse flies are found only in low-lying regions (below 1500 meters). They are especially common in wet areas and during the rainy season. Higher, cooler places like the Usambara Mountains and Kilimanjaro (above 2500 meters) are largely mosquito-free.

Recommended mosquito repellent:

Buy a mosquito spray containing DEET before your trip. A higher concentration offers longer protection. Natural mosquito repellents like essential oils are less effective here.

As an important protection against malaria-carrying mosquitoes, accommodations have mosquito nets. In lower-lying regions, it is usual and advisable, but less commonly found in higher elevations.

Mosquito protection through clothing:

I recommend wearing light, body-covering clothing. No black or dark blue. These colors attract flies. There are special clothes with integrated mosquito protection (e.g., permethrin), ideal for African conditions. However, I don't own any. Long sleeves and long pants, as well as socks, protect corresponding body parts perfectly. Additionally, you should treat your clothing with mosquito spray specifically for clothes.

In some areas, malaria (the dangerous malaria tropica) is present. A prophylactic treatment with malaria medication is recommended; however, you should consult your doctor. Since we have been to East Africa often, we have now assessed our own risk and opted not to take anything this time (no Malarone, which is often prescribed) as we didn't want any side effects to affect our Kilimanjaro climb. If an illness occurs, there is the best medicine and help available locally (that's our opinion). However, don't take malaria lightly.

The tsetse fly is a large daytime biting insect that resembles a horsefly. It can transmit sleeping sickness in certain months, particularly in Tarangire National Park and sometimes in the Serengeti. Therefore, avoid wearing dark blue and black clothing. These colors attract flies. If you wonder why there are blue-black cloths hanging everywhere in these national parks: they are soaked in poison to attract and kill tsetse flies. Additionally, upon entering Tarangire, our vehicle was completely sprayed with a special substance.

Don't be stingy with your anti-mosquito spray or repellent (best is the tropical one with DEET, which also helps against tsetse flies).

We advise you to obtain foreign health insurance. This can be acquired -> Hanse Merkur starting at 10 Euros per year and saves you a lot of trouble and costs in the event of an accident or illness.

When arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport, you can already see the cabins marked with Vodacom directly across from the airport building after exiting. Currently, they provide the best network coverage. If you travel on to Kenya, you can also use the card with Safaricom network (and vice versa).

For the SIM card, you will need your passport, a photo will be taken of you, and a thumbprint will be collected. You can only pay for the SIM card in cash.

If you arrive at another location in Tanzania, you should ask your guide or driver. They are happy to advise tourists.

We purchased an "unlimited" data package for 65 US dollars. If you don't need to work on the go like we did, the 10 GB for 30 days at 20 US dollars will suffice.

With Vodacom, we had internet reception almost everywhere, including on Kilimanjaro, in the Serengeti, and Tarangire National Park.

In Tanzania, you will need a travel adapter for the UK. Sometimes you can plug your plug into the socket without an adapter (if it's a slim one). I always carry this adapter with USB ports.

Zanzibar is ideal for those looking for relaxation after the rigors of a Kilimanjaro climb or long safaris on dusty roads ("African Massage Road"). Everyone can find their perfect spot here: the bustling and challenging Stone Town with chic boutique hotels, the northeastern area with the most beautiful beaches and proximity to dive and snorkel sites, or the north with its hippie spots.

Culinary and culturally, there is much to discover here. We unusually relaxed a lot by the beach and hotel pool (depending on the tides) and undertook a trip or two.

We stayed at the stunning Matemwe Beach in the Zanzibar Pearl Boutique Hotel & Villas (3 stars, breakfast only). Ideally located on the white sandy beach, close to excursions, only an hour's drive to Stone Town and Jozani Forest. There are a few local restaurants by the beach near the hotel that you can visit daily because the food is simply delicious. The hotel restaurant is overpriced and lacks variety (at least the offered menus in the evening).

This hotel was also recommended and booked for us by Diamir. If you're a city person, you can choose accommodation in Stone Town. We found the city to be overwhelming, as every few meters someone wants to sell you something and almost every street food stand at the markets offers the same thing. Next time, I wouldn't know if we would stay at Matemwe Beach or in Stone Town. Tough decision.

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