Easily spooked herds of Wildebeest and Zebra weave paths between dust-caked baobab trees. Lions and Cheetah roam freely among the tall grasses with spotted Hyena patiantly waiting to pick at the scraps. The rugged national park campsites fill with hungry Elephants, Cape Buffalo, and full prides of hunting Lions once nightfalls. Tanzania is easily the best wildlife destination in all of East Africa.
While wildlife and the trademark “African” landscapes are the most commonly raved-about sights in Tanzania, we also found it to have much more to offer. With a great local food scene in both Dar es Salaam and Arusha, incredible treks in Moshi or Lake Natron, and immersive visits to the Datoga and Hadzabe Tribes who live in the barren bushland near Lake Eyasi. Tanzania is a well-rounded travel destination if East Africa is to have one. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Uganda and Kenya, but Tanzania raised the bar just that much higher.
While mainland Tanzania was a favorite of mine…I can’t say the same for the famed island of Zanzibar. Which didn’t come as a surprise. Crowded, polluted, and extortionately over-priced for what you get, we found Zanzibar beaches universally unswimmable and unenjoyable. Touts pressure group snorkeling tours and unfurl their blanket of beads at your feet and food was sub-par at best (with a few exceptions). For travelers looking to experience island life in Tanzania, Pemba is a much better choice for you and the environment.
Tanzania Travel Guide
Recommended Destinations: Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Reserve, Lake Natron, Moshi, Dar es Salaam
Minimum Recommended Trip Length: 2 weeks.
One Bucketlist Item You Cannot Miss: Camping at Lobo Public Campsite in Serengeti National Park.
Things to Consider Before You Go: You might read online that Tanzania functions on the US dollar as well as the Shilling. Don’t be fooled. You can pay in Shillings always, and it’s ALWAYS a better deal to do so. Most Credit Card transactions incur a 5% fee so plan to pull out Shillings from KCB banks (no atm fee) and use those instead.
Zanzibar has implemented (as of October 2024) a mandatory travel insurance fee when you arrive on the island. It costs $44 per person and covers your medical expenses. You can not enter the island without this insurance. It does not matter if you have your own travel insurance already.
If you are traveling from a country where Yellow Fever is endemic (Uganda, Kenya, etc.) you will need to have your official & original Yellow Fever Vaccination form. If you are traveling from the US or Europe it is not required.
Visa Requirements
If you are an American, you must pay for a 1-year multiple-entry visa. This allows you to have 3 months consecutively within the country but it costs $100 per person.
Most other nationalities qualify for the traditional tourist visa. It costs $50 per person and allows you to stay in Tanzania for 90 days.
You can see their full visa guidelines here.
Estimated Backpacker Budget
On a Shoestring: $50/day
Flashpacker: $80/day
Backpacker Luxury: $220/day
On a shoestring you will be able to join a group tour to a few of the parks, cook your own meals, and take only public transport, Backpacker Luxury opts for nice hotel rooms, eats mostly in restaurants, and splurges on activities. Flashpackers are the middle ground & in this instance it involves renting a car, cooking your meals and camping, while visiting all the parks for a wildlife packed trip.
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