Visas
Many of our visitors need a visa to enter and visit Tanzania and these can usually be obtained relatively easily. A visitor’s visa can usually be obtained in advance online, or on arrival. For peace of mind and to avoid a potentially long queue on arrival, you may wish to obtain your visa in advance.
Details of which nationals can obtain their visa on arrival are available on the Tanzanian government website at https://www.immigration.go.tz./index.php/downloads/regulations by downloading the Visa Guidelines document. This also includes specifications for the required photograph and the current visa application fees, which are $50 per person ($100 for US nationals) at the time of writing.
You can apply for a visa online at https://visa.immigration.go.tz/. Although it does not usually take this long, we advise you to apply at least 3 weeks before departure.
Please note that you passport should be valid for at least six months after the start of your visit.
Vaccinations
The only legally required vaccination for Tanzania is a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from a country where the disease is endemic or you are transiting through such a country. The date on the certificate must be at least 10 days before you commence travel. Travelers over 60 years of age or under 1 year of age are exempt. Other exemptions may apply for specific medical conditions (carry documentation with you).
Yellow fever endemic countries are considered to be: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d’lvore, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia (Including Galapagos Islands), Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
You are advised to consult your own doctor about any other vaccinations that may be recommended for travel.
Insurance
Tanzania requires that you purchase medical insurance from specified Tanzanian companies either when you apply for a visa or on arrival. This is mandatory (even when you have your own private insurance) and for $44 you will receive basic coverage including medical emergencies, evacuation, repatriation, accidents, and baggage issues—valid for 62 days. EAC/SADC citizens are exempt.
Visitors to Zanzibar must buy insurance exclusively from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) via https://inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz. For $44, it covers up to US$ 50,000 in medical expenses, quarantine, and sports-related emergencies
If you will be spending time both on mainland Tanzania and in Zanzibar, you will need to buy both.
We advise that you do not rely on these policies alone and that you supplement with additional private policies, particularly for extras like trip cancellation or higher limits, especially for Kilimanjaro treks.
Malaria Prophylaxis
You are advised to consult your own doctor on malaria prophylaxis. The most commonly used are doxycycline pills, but your doctor may recommend an alternative.
Diamox
Diamox (acetazolamide) is a prescription medication commonly used to prevent and treat altitude sickness, especially relevant for climbs like Kilimanjaro. It works as a diuretic and by acidifying the blood to stimulate breathing, speeding acclimatization to low oxygen at high altitudes above 8,000-13,000 feet. Please consult your doctor and consider whether you wish to use this medication to assist you at altitude on Kilimanjaro.
