Tanzania gives you the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro in the north, and Zanzibar's beaches and Stone Town an hour's flight away. Most backpackers start in Arusha for a shared camping safari, then finish on the island. It isn't a cheap country once park fees kick in, so plan the big-ticket days first and build the rest around them.
Tanzania is the country most people picture when they think of a safari. The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater sit in the north, a short drive apart, and the wildebeest migration loops through them all year. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, rises above the town of Moshi. Then there's the coast: Zanzibar, with Stone Town's alleys and carved doors, white-sand beaches at Nungwi and Paje, and reefs that are easy to snorkel.
Almost every first trip follows the same shape. You fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, base yourself in Arusha or Moshi, and join a three- to five-day camping safari through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Some people add a six- to eight-day Kilimanjaro climb. Then you fly or take the bus and ferry to Zanzibar for a week of Stone Town, spice farms and beaches. Two and a half to three weeks covers that loop without rushing.
Dar es Salaam is the biggest city and the main transport hub, though few travellers stay long. It's where the ferries to Zanzibar leave, where the new electric SGR trains run west to Morogoro and Dodoma, and where you'll catch the boat or plane to Mafia Island, a quieter alternative to Zanzibar with whale sharks in season. Far to the west, Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika is the jumping-off point for the chimpanzees of Gombe Stream, a long trip that rewards people with time.
Be clear-eyed about money before you go. A dorm bed and street food are cheap, but park fees are high, they're charged in US dollars, and 18% VAT goes on top. A day in the Serengeti costs US$82.60 in park fees alone before you've paid for a vehicle, a guide or a tent. Kilimanjaro climbs start at roughly US$1,500. Since 1 October 2026 every visitor also has to buy a US$44 government travel insurance policy, on top of the visa.
The upside is that a shared safari from Arusha is one of the best-value ways to see big wildlife anywhere in Africa, and hostels in Arusha, Moshi and Zanzibar are used to sorting out group trips. Swahili goes a long way, people are friendly, and the pace is slow in the best sense. Pole pole, slowly slowly, is the phrase you'll hear most often, from Kilimanjaro guides to Stone Town café owners.
The northern circuit (Arusha, Moshi, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro) and Zanzibar cover most first trips. Dar es Salaam, Mafia Island and Kigoma reward a second visit or a longer one.
Stone Town's Swahili alleys, spice farms and the island's east and north coast beaches. The natural end to a safari trip, an hour's flight or about two hours by ferry from Dar.
Lovely lovely place to stay, highly recommend, lovely beach!!!
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Tanzania's safari capital, where most shared camping trips to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti start. Busy, practical and the best place to compare operators.
Most trips combine a safari with Zanzibar, and a lot of people add Kilimanjaro. Work out which of these you care about before you book, because each one has its own season and its own costs.
Shared camping safaris from Arusha through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, with the migration as the headline.
A five- to nine-day climb to the roof of Africa, plus shorter hikes on Mount Meru and in the Usambara Mountains.
Zanzibar's white-sand beaches, the kitesurf lagoon at Paje and the quieter shores of Mafia and Pemba.
Warm Indian Ocean reefs around Zanzibar and Pemba, and whale sharks off Mafia in season.
Centuries of Swahili, Omani and Indian Ocean trade history in Stone Town and along the coast.
Remote western Tanzania: chimpanzee treks at Gombe Stream and the shores of Lake Tanganyika, for travellers with time.
The northern safari circuit is the reason most people come. A classic budget loop from Arusha takes three to five days: Tarangire for its elephants and baobabs, Lake Manyara or straight on to the Ngorongoro highlands, a drive across to the Serengeti, then a morning on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater on the way back. The crater is a single, enclosed bowl about 600 metres deep, packed with buffalo, zebra, lions and a small population of black rhino, and it's the most reliable place in the country to see a lot in a short time.
The Serengeti is about scale. Plan around the migration if you can. From roughly January to March the herds are in the south around Ndutu, where hundreds of thousands of calves are born and the predators follow. In June and July they move through the Western Corridor and over the Grumeti River, and from July to October they're in the north around Kogatende, crossing the Mara River. Central Seronera has resident cats all year, so a short trip there is never wasted.
Kilimanjaro is the other big one. It's a walk rather than a technical climb, but the summit is 5,895 m, nights are well below freezing and altitude sickness is the real risk. Routes take five to nine days. Machame and Lemosho are the popular scenic camping routes, Marangu has huts and is the shortest, and Rongai approaches from the drier north. Longer routes have far better summit rates, so don't save money by cutting days.
On Zanzibar, spend at least two days in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, walking the alleys and eating at Forodhani Gardens after dark. Join a spice farm tour, snorkel at Mnemba Atoll, then pick a beach: Nungwi and Kendwa for swimming at any tide, Paje and Jambiani for kitesurfing and quiet.
With extra time, look at Mafia Island for whale sharks, the ruins at Kilwa Kisiwani, or Gombe Stream near Kigoma, where Jane Goodall began her chimpanzee research.
Tanzanian food is filling, cheap and built around a few staples. Ugali, a stiff maize porridge, comes with almost everything on the mainland: beans, greens, stewed beef or grilled fish. You eat it with your right hand, pinching off a piece and using it to scoop. Wali (rice) and chapati are the other common sides, and a plate of rice and beans at a local canteen, known as a mama lishe, is one of the cheapest meals you'll find.
The national comfort food is chipsi mayai, a chip omelette cooked in a pan on the street and eaten with chilli sauce or kachumbari (tomato and onion salad). Nyama choma, grilled goat or beef, is the social meal, ordered by weight in bars and eaten slowly with a cold beer. Mishkaki skewers, grilled maize and roasted cassava are the street snacks you'll smell everywhere in the evening.
Zanzibar and the coast eat differently. Swahili cooking leans on coconut, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon, with Indian and Omani influences. Try pilau (spiced rice), biryani, octopus curry and urojo, the tangy Zanzibar mix soup sold at street stalls. Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town turns into a seafood and snack market every evening; the so-called Zanzibar pizza, a stuffed, griddled pancake, is the stall classic. Check prices before you order, since the grill stalls are good at upselling.
On a safari, food is included and usually better than you'd expect, cooked at camp by the crew. Kilimanjaro trips work the same way. In Arusha and Moshi, cafés grow and roast local coffee, and a coffee farm visit near Moshi is an easy half day.
For drinks, Kilimanjaro, Safari and Serengeti are the main lagers, and Konyagi is the local gin-like spirit. Zanzibar is mostly Muslim, so alcohol is easy to find in tourist bars and hotels but rare in local cafés, and during Ramadan you should avoid eating or drinking in public in daylight away from restaurants. Tip about 10% in sit-down restaurants.
Tanzania's nightlife depends a lot on where you are. On safari or Kilimanjaro there is none: you're up before dawn, in bed soon after dinner, and the evening is a campfire, a beer if your camp sells it and whatever animals are calling outside the tent. That's often the best night of the trip.
Zanzibar has the most going on for backpackers. Nungwi and Kendwa on the north coast are where the beach bars and parties are, with sunset dhow cruises, beach bonfires and the long-running full moon party at Kendwa. Paje on the east coast is more about kite-school bars and hostel nights. Stone Town is quieter; a sundowner on a rooftop or at a seafront bar, then dinner at Forodhani, is the usual evening.
Dar es Salaam is the country's real party city. The bars and clubs cluster in Masaki, Oysterbay and Mikocheni, and this is where you'll hear bongo flava, Tanzania's own blend of hip hop, R&B and Swahili pop, and singeli, the very fast dance music that came out of Dar's streets. Arusha has a handful of bars and clubs that safari guides and volunteers use, and Moshi has a few relaxed spots where climbers celebrate their summit.
A few practical rules. Take a taxi arranged by your hostel or a ride-hailing app at night, even for short distances; the FCDO reports bag snatching, express kidnapping in Dar and attacks on popular beaches. Never leave a drink unattended. Keep beachwear to the beach in Zanzibar and dress more modestly in town. Drug laws are strict, and penalties for possession, including cannabis, can mean long prison sentences.
During Ramadan the coast slows right down, especially in Stone Town, and many local bars close or keep a low profile. Tourist hotels and beach bars carry on, but it's polite to be discreet.
Distances in Tanzania are long and roads are slow, so most trips mix a few flights with buses and boats. The northern safari towns are served by Kilimanjaro International Airport, between Arusha and Moshi, and Zanzibar has its own international airport. Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Coastal Aviation and Auric Air fly domestic routes, and a flight from Arusha or Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar saves a long day of travel.
The big change is the SGR, the new electric standard gauge railway. In 2026 passenger trains run from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and on to Dodoma, which takes just under four hours against seven to ten by road. Tanzania Railways Corporation added more trips from September 2026. The sections west to Tabora and Mwanza are still being built: TRC expects Dar to Mwanza services in 2027, and Tabora to Kigoma in 2028. At launch in 2024, standard fares were TSh 13,000 (about €4.40) to Morogoro and TSh 31,000 (about €10.50) to Dodoma. The line doesn't reach Arusha or Moshi, so it's most useful if you're heading inland.
Ferries to Zanzibar leave from the terminal in central Dar several times a day. Azam Marine's Kilimanjaro fast ferries take about two hours, and economy has long cost around US$35 for non-residents (about €30). Buy only at the official ticket office or online, because the FCDO warns about aggressive touts at the port. Afternoon crossings can be rough.
Between Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Moshi, long-distance buses take most of a day. Shuttle minibuses also link Arusha and Moshi with Nairobi in Kenya. In towns you'll see dala dalas (minibuses), bajaji (tuk-tuks) and boda bodas (motorbike taxis). They're cheap but the FCDO flags poor safety standards and frequent accidents, so take a taxi through your hostel, or Bolt or Uber in Dar.
Driving is on the left. You can drive on a UK licence for up to six months, but Zanzibar also requires a local permit through your hire company. Avoid driving outside towns at night, and expect police checkpoints. Official fines come with a government control number, not a cash payment on the spot.
Day-to-day Tanzania is cheap. At about TSh 2,950 to €1 (October 2026), street food, local buses and dorm beds cost little, and a backpacker in Arusha or Stone Town can get by on €30 to €40 a day before activities. The catch is that the things you came for, safaris, Kilimanjaro and diving, are priced in US dollars and carry 18% VAT.
Park fees set the floor. Per adult per 24 hours, the Serengeti costs US$82.60 in high season and US$70.80 from mid-March to mid-May. Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Arusha National Park are US$59 in high season and US$53.10 in low season. Ngorongoro is US$70.80 per adult, and every vehicle driving down into the crater pays a US$295 crater service fee, which is one reason shared trips save so much. Kilimanjaro's conservation fee is US$70 a day plus VAT, and camping is US$50 a night plus VAT, which adds up to about US$970 for a solo seven-day camping route.
For a shared camping safari from Arusha, expect roughly US$180 to US$250 (about €155 to €215) per person per day all in, with park fees, vehicle, guide, cook and camping gear included. Private trips cost more. A budget Kilimanjaro climb runs about US$1,500 to US$2,200 (about €1,300 to €1,900) and mid-range climbs US$2,200 to US$3,500. Be wary of very cheap quotes: they often mean underpaid porters or poor safety kit. The FCDO advises using operators licensed by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO).
Add the extras. The visa is US$50 for most nationalities (US$100 for US citizens), the compulsory insurance is US$44, and tips are expected. Safari guides usually get about US$20 to US$25 per person per day. On Kilimanjaro, budget around US$350 per climber for a seven-day crew.
ATMs in cities take foreign cards, but they sometimes run out, and cash shortages were reported after the October 2025 election. Use machines inside banks. Bring clean US dollar notes for tips and visas, and remember that parks take payment by card, not cash.
Most visitors to Tanzania have a trouble-free trip, but the UK Foreign Office's advice, last updated on 9 October 2026, is worth reading closely. It advises against all but essential travel only to areas within 20 km of the border with Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, in the far south-east, far from the usual tourist routes. The rest of the country, including the safari parks, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, isn't covered by that warning.
Politics is the bigger change. The general election on 29 October 2025 led to protests and a security response that caused deaths and injuries across the mainland, and the internet was restricted. The FCDO says more demonstrations are possible, notes calls for protests on public holidays and reports an increase in anti-foreigner rhetoric. Stay away from protests and crowds, and keep emergency numbers written down in case the internet goes off. It's illegal to photograph protests, and security services may check phones. Keep political opinions out of public conversations and social media while you're there.
Crime is mostly opportunistic. Bag snatching from motorbikes and cars is common: walk facing the traffic, away from the kerb, and carry bags loosely rather than strapped across your chest. In Dar es Salaam, the FCDO highlights the city centre and the Masaki and Oysterbay area, especially Coco Beach on Toure Drive, and reports express kidnappings in which tourists were forced to withdraw cash. In Zanzibar there have been incidents in Stone Town and on popular beaches. Don't walk at night, and don't get into unlicensed taxis or accept lifts from strangers.
Women travelling alone report verbal harassment, and the FCDO notes sexual assaults including at beach resorts. Same-sex relationships are illegal, including in Zanzibar. Dress modestly away from the beach: Zanzibar's authorities can fine visitors US$700 or more for clothing they consider inappropriate. Plastic bags are banned and taken from you on arrival.
On safari and the mountain, the main risks are wildlife, altitude and road accidents. Use licensed operators, listen to your guide, and treat ferries with care: if one looks overloaded, don't get on.
British, EU, US and Australian travellers all need a visa for Tanzania. The FCDO advises applying for an e-visa through the Tanzania Immigration Services portal before you travel. A single-entry tourist visa costs US$50 for most nationalities, and US citizens pay US$100 for a multiple-entry visa. Allow a couple of weeks; the official guidance says three to ten working days. The online system went down for a period in March 2026, so leave margin. You can also get a single-entry visa on arrival at the main airports and border crossings, but not a multiple-entry one, and you'll need cash in clean US dollar notes.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you arrive and have at least one blank page. Have your return or onward ticket ready, since border officers can ask to see it.
The newest rule is insurance. Zanzibar has required a government inbound travel policy since October 2024, and from 1 October 2026 mainland Tanzania does too. The policy costs US$44 (about €38), lasts up to 92 days and covers emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation. If your first stop is the mainland, buy it from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC); if you arrive in Zanzibar first, buy it from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC). The FCDO says you only need one policy, for your first point of entry, and that ZIC policies bought before 1 October still work on the mainland. You can buy online in advance or on arrival, and you may be refused entry without it. It doesn't replace your own travel insurance, which should cover safaris, diving and, if you're climbing, Kilimanjaro's altitude.
You need a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Expect temperature checks for mpox at all entry points. Malaria is present across most of the country, so speak to a travel clinic at least eight weeks before you go.
Don't take wildlife products in or out: people have been arrested at the airport for carrying horns and even seashells without an export permit.
Tanzania has two rainy seasons: the long rains from about late March to May, and the short rains from about October or November to mid-December. The long dry season from late June to October is the classic time for safaris and Kilimanjaro. January and February are dry and warm, and it's calving season in Ndutu. April and May are wet, cheap and quiet, and some coastal hotels and lodges close.
Average highs are for Arusha (about 1,400 m), the base for most safaris, from Weatherbase figures via Wikipedia. The coast and Zanzibar run several degrees hotter, around 30°C or more for much of the year, and Kilimanjaro's summit is well below freezing. Crowd scores are our own rough guide based on the safari high season and European holidays. Rainy season timing varies from year to year.
Pick a travel style and the number of nights for a rough daily total. Safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs, the visa and the compulsory insurance are big one-off costs, so budget for them separately.
Our estimates in euros per day for dorm beds, local food, local transport and the odd tour or museum, at about TSh 2,950 to €1. They don't include safari or Kilimanjaro packages: allow roughly US$180 to US$250 (about €155 to €215) per person per day for a shared camping safari, and US$1,500 or more for a Kilimanjaro climb. Check live dorm prices below.
Zanzibar's music and film festivals and the Kilimanjaro Marathon fill beds fast, and Ramadan changes the rhythm of the coast. Check dates before you book.
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Hostels in Arusha and Moshi double as safari and Kilimanjaro booking desks, and the best ones can put you in a shared vehicle to cut costs. On Zanzibar, Stone Town hostels sit in the old town's alleys, while Paje and Nungwi have beach hostels with kite schools and bars. Book ahead for July, August and Christmas.
Visa, insurance and park fee rules change. Check the official sources before you travel.
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