Tanzania

Africa

Tanzania

Tanzania is where the classic safari image comes from: vast golden plains of the Serengeti filled with wildebeest herds, the crater walls of Ngorongoro sheltering dense wildlife, and Kilimanjaro's snow-capped summit rising improbably out of the savanna. Off the mainland, Zanzibar's spice plantations and Stone Town's coral-stone alleys give way to white sand and turquoise water. Few countries pair big-game wilderness with a laid-back tropical coastline this convincingly.

Why go thereSafari Wildlife Nature & landscapes Beaches Islands Mountain hiking Indigenous cultures Diving & snorkelling Climbing & mountaineering Culture & heritage Adventure sports Ancient ruins

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Ugali

Stiff maize porridge shaped by hand and dipped into stew or greens.

Nyama choma

Grilled goat or beef eaten with kachumbari and a bottle of beer.

Pilau

Rice cooked in spiced meat stock with cardamom and clove, from the coast.

Main destinations

Other destinations

Comfort in January · by notability

Food & drink to try

Ugali

Stiff maize porridge shaped by hand and dipped into stew or greens.

Nyama choma

Grilled goat or beef eaten with kachumbari and a bottle of beer.

Pilau

Rice cooked in spiced meat stock with cardamom and clove, from the coast.

Urojo

Zanzibar's tangy mango soup layered with bhajia, crisps and coconut chutney.

Mishkaki

Marinated beef skewers grilled on street braziers and dusted with chilli.

Chipsi mayai

Chips set into an omelette and served folded with chilli sauce.

Wali wa nazi

Rice cooked in coconut milk, served with bean stew or fish.

Mchuzi wa samaki

Fish curry with coconut, tamarind and curry leaf, from Zanzibar and the coast.

Ndizi nyama

Green bananas stewed with beef until they thicken the sauce.

Mchemsho

Vegetables and meat boiled together in a light broth, from Arusha.

Mandazi

Fried coconut dough eaten with spiced tea in the morning.

Vitumbua

Small coconut rice cakes cooked in a dimpled pan and sold at dawn.

Zanzibar pizza

Thin dough folded around egg, mince and cheese and griddled in the night market.

Kachumbari

Tomato and onion salad with lime, served beside anything from the grill.

Kahawa

Strong black coffee poured from a brass pot and sold with sugared peanuts.

Practical info

Drives on the left

Entry & health

Set your passport

x.com how.africa travel.state.gov

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Tipping is expected but not automatic: in restaurants, service is rarely included, so 5-10% is customary; safari guides and drivers are typically tipped $15-25 per day (and porters/camp staff a few dollars each), while taxis just get fares rounded up.

Dress modestly, especially away from beach resorts and when visiting mosques, villages, or Zanzibar's Stone Town—cover shoulders and knees.
Always ask permission before photographing local people, especially Maasai, and expect some to request a small fee.
Use your right hand (or both hands) for eating, greeting, and giving/receiving items, as the left hand is considered unclean.
Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and same-sex relations are illegal, so discretion is advised.
Greet people properly before starting a conversation or transaction—brief small talk (asking about health/family) is an important social norm.
In Zanzibar and other Muslim areas, avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours in Ramadan.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Tanzania — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA