How to plan a trip to Tanzania?

Organizing a trip can be a tedious task, but it is the only way to ensure that everything will go well on your vacation, especially if you travel to remote countries like Tanzania, where the cultural contrast is greater. At Passporter we want you to live a unique experience, that’s why we have prepared this post to help you plan your trip to Tanzania.

Take notes because below we will give you practical information such as the best time to travel to Tanzania, the necessary documentation, how to find accommodation or how to move around the country among many other travel tips. We will also share the advantages of traveling with the Passporter App, where you can plan your trip in an orderly manner and discover the country through the experiences of other travelers.

1. Choose the dates to travel to Tanzania

Although Tanzania can be visited at any time of the year, the best time is during the dry season, which is divided into two periods, January to March, and June to October. These months are ideal for exploring Tanzania’s national parks, such as the Serengeti or the Ngorongoro Crater as wildlife is concentrated around water sources, making it easy to observe animals in their natural habitat. The disadvantage of this period is that it coincides with the high season, which means that prices increase considerably.

During the rainy season it is also possible to travel in Tanzania. However, you have yo keep in mind that there will be areas in the parks that are difficult to access and that the experience on the beaches of Zanzibar will not be the same in the rain.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

2. Compare and find accommodation with Passporter

In Tanzania you will find a wide range of accommodation in the main tourist destinations, from campsites to luxury resorts. However, be aware that accommodation may be more expensive than you first thought.

In Tanzania’s natural parks, such as the Serengeti National Park, prices are high because in many cases they also include transport, a guide and a cook who will accompany you throughout your stay.

When booking your accommodation remember that with the Passporter App you will be able to use Booking and save your reservations in an organized way.

3. Keep the necessary documentation for traveling to Tanzania at hand in the Passporter App

To travel to Tanzania you will need a visa and your passport. The tourist visa, with a duration of 90 days in the country, can be processed online, but it is recommended to do so at least 10 days in advance. To apply for the visa you will need a copy of your passport, your return flight, and to fill out a form and pay US$50. Remember that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the date when you enter the country. In the Passporter App you will be able to save your visa and other documents in an organized way.

To travel from Spain to Tanzania it is not mandatory to get any vaccinations. However, it is recommended to be vaccinated against yellow fever, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B and tetanus-diphtheria. If on the way to Tanzania you stay more than 12h in any country where yellow fever is endemic, then vaccination will be mandatory.

4. How to get to and around Tanzania

To get to Tanzania you will need to fly into the country’s international airports, such as Kilimanjaro International Airport, or Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. From some European cities there are direct flights, but from Spain you will have to make at least one stopover.

Once in the country, the best option is to take local flights as the main points of interest are quite far apart. To move around the cities there are cabs, buses and minibuses that will take you wherever you need. However, to visit the natural parks you will need to hire a tour that will take you in 4X4. When hiring organized tours the most common thing is that they also include transportation from the airport.

The good thing about Passporter is that it allows you to compare and buy airline tickets through Skyscanner from the App itself, where you can also save them to have all your travel documents organized in the same place. From the Passporter App you can also book a car for transfers with MyTransfer.

5. Taste the cuisine in Tanzania and find the best restaurants with Passporter

Through the gastronomy of Tanzania we can see the passage of different peoples who have influenced the local cuisine with their ingredients, flavors and techniques. In Tanzanian dishes you will see Arabic, Indian and African influences, which coexist with ingredients such as corn, rice and spices that vary according to the region.

In the cities, such as Dar es Salaam, you’ll find a wide range of national and international restaurants, but in the safari and rural areas you’ll discover real local cuisine.

These are some of the most typical dishes of the country:

1. Ugali: is a dough made from cooked cornmeal, similar to a puree, which is eaten with various sauces and stews.
2. Nyama Choma: grilled meat, usually beef or goat, seasoned and roasted over charcoal.
3. Pilau: rice seasoned with spices such as cloves, cinnamon and cardamom, mixed with meat and vegetables.
4. Chapati: Indian-influenced omelet-like flatbread, often accompanied by meat or vegetables.
5. Mishkaki: marinated and grilled skewered meats.
6. Samaki Wa Kupaka: fish cooked in a coconut and spices sauce, a specialty of the coast.
7. Mchuzi wa Ndizi: green plantain stew with meat and spices.
8. Wali na Maharage: rice cooked with beans in coconut sauce.
9. Matoke: green plantains cooked and mixed with spices and palm oil.
10. Vitumbua: sweet rolls baked in round molds, kind of like a pancake.
11. Supu Ya Ndizi: thick soup made from green plantains with meat or fish.
12. Kachumbari: fresh salad made with tomatoes, onion, chilies and lime.

6. Plan a trip with your friends to Tanzania

Exploring new places with your friends is an amazing experience, but it can become a real challenge when there are conflicting interests or logistical problems. In this aspect, Tanzania is a good destination for traveling with friends since to visit the main natural destinations you will have to hire organized tours, which simplify the mobilization of large groups.

Another way to organize your trip with friends is through the Passporter App, with which you can create a common travel route and share your experience through images and comments with other travelers. We have also prepared this post where we leave you some useful tips when traveling with friends: Group travel: The best way to travel with your group of friends.

7. What to pack for a trip to Tanzania

Before embarking on your trip to Tanzania, it is a good idea to pack your suitcase taking into account the variety of landscapes in the country and the fact that you will spend a lot of time in contact with nature. For this reason, we have prepared this list with some essentials to pack in your suitcase.

• Comfortable shoes for safari. Better if it is closed to avoid getting bitten by insects.
• Goggles for diving on the reefs of Zanzibar and fins or booties. If it does not fit in your suitcase you can rent it in diving schools on the beach.
• Mosquito repellent. In Africa mosquitoes are disease transmitters, so better to be safe.
• Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. In Tanzania the sun is hot, and if you’re on safari you’ll spend many hours exposed.
• Lightweight, long-sleeved clothing. One way to protect your skin from the sun is with long, thin garments.
• Cash. It is advisable to carry some cash as many places do not accept cards.
• Medicines and Band-Aids. Whether it’s because of the heat, fatigue or your stomach isn’t used to the local cuisine, it’s best to carry a first-aid kit with the basics.

8. Other essential travel tips for planning a trip to Tanzania

• In some beaches in Tanzania, there is an entrance fee.
• The official languages in Tanzania are Swahili and English.
• A visa and a passport are required to enter Tanzania.
• The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling.
• Although in the more touristy areas it is possible to find places that accept credit cards, it is advisable to carry cash.
• Tanzania has a tropical climate with pleasant temperatures throughout the year. However, you should be prepared for climatic variations depending on the region you visit and the time of the year.
• Drink only bottled water and avoid consuming raw foods from untrustworthy places to avoid stomach problems.
• Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• Tanzania is a safe destination, but we recommend you take care with your belongings and avoid going out alone at night.
• Don’t forget your sunscreen.

8. How to prepare what to see on your trip to Tanzania

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
• Organize your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
• Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and information of the trip.
• Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you feel like visiting each day.
• Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums…
• Book your flights, accommodations, transfers and activities through a single app.
• Save all your documents in the app to have everything always at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documentation…
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip
• Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travelers with your experience. In addition, you can share your own travel tips on what to see in Tanzania

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

9. Frequently asked questions about a trip to Tanzania