PRADD Tours - Tanzania 7N_From Baobabs to the Endless Serengeti

The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across vast savannah, rain forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and great plains brimming with legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this exceptionally diverse African nation. Visitors typically visit Tanzania to partake in at least one of the four well known Tanzanian tourist experiences: a relaxing seaside vacation on the picturesque island paradise of Zanzibar, an underwater tour of some of the world’s most renowned dive sites around the gorgeous Spice Islands, a safari adventure in some of Africa’s most impressive game reserves, or a hiking excursion around Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Whichever of these incredible holidays you choose, you will undoubtedly be welcomed by some fabulously friendly and peaceful inhabitants who, despite being divided into 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, live in harmony with one another and provide some of the most wonderfully exotic local cuisine you could imagine. With all of this diversity on offer, the most difficult part of your Tanzanian holiday experience is likely to be deciding where to go!

Health Declaration Form

To ensure the ongoing health and safety of all residents and visitors, Tanzania has updated its arrival protocols to include routine health measures. Please review the following requirements to ensure a seamless entry process:

• Complete your Health Form: All arriving travelers must fill out a brief online health declaration at afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz. You can easily complete this before your departure or right when you arrive.
  Once completed, the system will generate a confirmation with a Unique Health Code (UHC) or QR code. Take a screenshot or print this confirmation to show the health officials upon your arrival.
• Quick Health Screenings: Expect a simple temperature check at your airport, port, or border crossing. This is a standard, ongoing precaution to monitor for infectious diseases like Mpox, Hantavirus, and Ebola.
• Practice Good Hygiene: While navigating the arrival areas, follow standard health guidelines by washing your hands, using sanitizer, and avoiding unnecessary physical contact.
• Stay Healthy During Your Trip: Officials will provide you with basic health information upon arrival. If you happen to feel unwell or develop symptoms during your stay, you can call Tanzania’s toll-free health hotline at 199 or visit the nearest clinic for assistance.

Travel Insurance

All visitors entering mainland Tanzania by air, land or sea will require local inbound travel insurance.

However, the mainland regulations exclude residents of East African Community (EAC) or Southern African Development Community (SADC) partner states.

NIC's operational guidance also lists the following as exempt:

• Tanzanian residents
• Holders of valid work or residence permits
• Members of the diaspora
• Diplomats
• Transit passengers

Travellers who may qualify should check their eligibility with NIC.

Application Process:

All applications are made online via the website. We recommend doing this before departure to make arrival simpler. It is advisable to keep the email confirmation, either electronically or in printed form, to present to airlines at check-in or immigration officers upon arrival. https://inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz/

These can also be purchased at the Point of Entry.

Please use the portal as your first point of arrival.
Please complete NIC for Mainland Tanzania and ZIC for Zanzibar.

A valid NIC or ZIC inbound policy should be recognised when travelling between Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, so there is no need to buy a second policy. Guests should keep their certificate available throughout their trip. If entering via Zanzibar, please use the link below:
https://inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz/

Key Features:

Cost: Tanzanian shilling equivalent of USD 44
Duration & Validity: Up to 92 days from arrival, with multiple Mainland entries during that period
Cover: Emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, repatriation and loss of luggage, subject to the policy terms and limits

Packages and Discounts

The NIC application portal offers three options:
Individual: 1–2 people
Family: 3–9 people
Group: 10–100 people; adults receive a 10% discount

In all three packages, children aged 3–17 receive a 50% discount and infants aged 0–2 are free. The portal will show the final amount payable.

Existing personal travel insurance does not constitute a valid substitute for the required local policy.

Currency

Local currency: Tanzanian Shilling
Symbol: TSh
ISO code: TZS
Subunit: Cent
Banknotes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10 000 shillings
Coins: 50, 100, 200 and 500 shillings

Banking

Card Transactions: Yes
ATMs: Yes, in major cities
Mastercard: Yes
Visa: Yes
American Express: No
Diner’s club: No

Banking Hours:
Weekdays: Generally 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturdays: Generally 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Sundays and Public Holidays: Closed
Foreign exchange services: Yes

Air: 
Main airlines: Air Tanzania, Precision Air 
International Airports: Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam), Kilimanjaro International Airport 
Domestic Airports: Zanzibar International Airport 

Please note that only one piece of soft luggage weighing 15-20 kg is permitted on charter flights

Road: 
Driving on the: Left 
Tar roads: Yes 
Gravel roads: Yes 
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: No 

Bus: 
Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 
Railway system: Limited 
Subway System: No 

Water: 
Ferries: Yes 
Water taxis: Yes 
Leisure cruises: Yes 

Food and water safety:
Can you drink the tap water: No
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes, with strict precaution
Ice: No
Meat: Yes, when cooked thoroughly and served hot
Street food: No

Local cuisine: Tanzanian cuisine reflects its diverse cultural influences, offering a blend of Indian, Arab, and European flavors. Staple foods include ugali (maize porridge), nyamachoma (grilled meat), pilau (spiced rice), and chapati. Traditional dishes like mshikaki (marinated meat skewers) and samosas are popular street foods. Don't miss trying the Swahili cuisine with its rich seafood dishes.

Drinks: Notable local drinks include Tangawizi (ginger soda), Tembo (local beer), and Konyagi (a spirit).

Tipping: 10-15%

Annual rainfall: Varies by region, averaging around 1,000 mm 
Average temperature: 25°C 

Summer: 
Average highs: 30°C 
Average lows: 20°C 

Winter: 
Average highs: 25°C 
Average lows: 15°C 

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Tanzania is during the dry season, from June to October, when wildlife viewing in national parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro is optimal. 

Spring and Summer 
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: No 

Winter and Autumn 
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No 

General 
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: Yes 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

General tips

General tipping guidelines:

Safari Lodges / Hotels:

- Tip box at reception: USD 10 per traveller, per day of stay 
- Game drive guide: USD 15 per traveller, per day  
- Game drive tracker: USD 10 per traveller, per day  
- Private game drives: USD 10 - 15 per traveller, per day  
- Butler: USD 2 – 5 (at own discretion) per traveller, per day 
- Staff (general): USD 2 – 5 (at own discretion) per traveller, per day 

- Porter: USD 2 per bag

Guided tours:
- Tour guide USD 15 per person per day  
- Driver USD 5 per person per day  
General living:
- Restaurants: 10% - 20% of the invoice amount 
- Activities: USD 5 -10 per person  

Child Protection & Responsible Travel

We proudly support The CODE, a global initiative working with the tourism industry to

prevent the sexual exploitation of children.

Any form of commercial, sexual, or other exploitation and harassment — especially involving

children and adolescents — is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. We ask all

travellers to act responsibly and remain vigilant throughout their journey.

See something, say something.

If you witness or suspect any form of exploitation, please report it immediately to your tour

leader, our emergency contact, or the relevant local authorities.

Responsible Purchasing While Travelling -  Illegal souvenirs:

While travel brings wonderful opportunities to shop locally, we strongly advise against

purchasing illegal or environmentally harmful souvenirs. 

These may include items such as ivory, endangered animal products, animal skins and furs,

turtle or tortoiseshell, coral, seashells, sand, rocks, ancient artefacts, protected plants,

cultural or religious items, or live animals.

Buying these products can contribute to wildlife trafficking, environmental damage, and the

loss of cultural heritage — and may result in fines or confiscation at customs.

Our guides will brief guests during tours and are always available if you are unsure about a

purchase. Please choose ethical, legally sourced souvenirs and help us support responsible

travel.