Tanzania Travel Safety Guide

Tanzania receives visitors safely every day and has a small number of specific, current risks that a general safari brochure will not mention. This page states them and their limits, because both matter.

The Mozambique border, and the west

The area along the border with the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique has seen attacks by groups linked with Islamic extremism. An attack on the village of Kitaya in Mtwara region in October 2020 was claimed by extremists operating from northern Mozambique.

Separately, there have been armed robberies and vehicle hijackings near the Burundi border and in Kigoma region. Drive there only in daylight, and expect few facilities for visitors.

Terrorism, in plain terms

Terrorist attacks in Tanzania cannot be ruled out. Extremists linked to Al-Shabaab, based in Somalia, are thought to be active in Tanzania, and attacks by IS-Mozambique are possible near the border with Cabo Delgado. There is thought to be some support for Daesh. The Tanzanian authorities have made a number of arrests in connection with terrorism. Many incidents in Tanzania are of unclear origin and may be the work of criminal gangs, and most attacks target the local security forces.

The election, and why it is still on this page

A general election was held on 29 October 2025. Protests and the resulting security response led to fatalities and injuries in many areas of mainland Tanzania. Previous elections in Zanzibar have turned violent and resulted in fatalities.

Further demonstrations, including violent responses by security forces, are possible at any time, and there have been calls on social media for demonstrations on public holidays. There has been an increase in anti-foreigner rhetoric. The authorities have previously limited internet access during and after protests, so keep the numbers you would need offline: your airline, your insurer, and your own consular assistance line.

Stay away from demonstrations, rallies and large crowds. If you become aware of a protest nearby, leave the area.

Photography, phones and what the law says you may hold

This is the section most likely to affect a reader of a travel publication, because it is about the thing everyone does.

It is illegal to take or share photographs and video footage of protests and violence. You could be detained for social media activity including posting comments, blogging, or sharing photographs or footage relating to protests or the political situation.

Tanzanian security services may ask to check your phone and other electronic devices for content related to the events around the election, and to review your participation in online groups perceived to have incited violence. The police have said it is an offense to hold or share videos or images that cause panic or degrade a person's dignity.

Keep away from activities that could be considered political, including political discussion in public places and online.

Crime, and where it happens

There is a risk of armed crime, including armed robbery, throughout Tanzania. In Dar es Salaam, tourists and residents have been targeted in the city center, in the Masaki and Oysterbay peninsula area and particularly at Coco Beach, and along Toure Drive. In Zanzibar, incidents have occurred in Stone Town, at hotels, and on popular tourist beaches across the island.

Bag snatching is a known tactic, often from cars or motorbikes. Walk towards the traffic so you can see vehicles approaching, walk as far from the road as you can, and carry a bag loosely by the handle rather than with the strap across your chest, which is the difference between losing a bag and being pulled off your feet.

Incidents of assault, rape and sexual aggression against foreigners have occurred, including at beach resorts. Avoid walking alone at night, do not leave drinks unattended, and be wary of strangers offering rides or invitations. If you are a victim of a crime you can report it to your own high commission or embassy, whose consular staff can help you report it locally and can translate.

There have been cases of women traveling alone or in small groups being verbally harassed.

The law on same-sex activity

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Tanzania, including in Zanzibar. Tanzania is a conservative society in which same-sex relationships are not tolerated, and public displays of affection such as holding hands or kissing could result in arrest or imprisonment.

That is the law as it stands and this publication states it as law. It is not advice about who should travel where, and the decision belongs to the reader.

Two more legal facts worth carrying

Tanzania has strict drug laws with severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences, for supply and for simple possession, including when transiting through the airport. Airports have detection technology that is used on the baggage of transiting passengers. Tanzanian prisons tend to be dirty and overcrowded.

If you are detained or questioned by immigration officials, stay calm and ask that your embassy or high commission be informed immediately.

Health, and the number to call

The emergency number in Tanzania is 112. Ask for an ambulance, and contact your insurance company quickly if you are referred anywhere for treatment.

Tanzania had reported no Ebola case as of 17 October 2026, but because of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the cases in Kenya, every arrival now completes an online health form and passes temperature screening. The visa guide has the details.

Check the current vaccine recommendations at least eight weeks before you travel. The health risks named for Tanzania include dengue, malaria, cholera and mpox, and altitude sickness is a risk in parts of the country, which is a safety question on Kilimanjaro and on the northern highlands rather than a purely medical one.

Medical facilities are limited, especially outside Dar es Salaam. That is the single most important sentence on this page for anyone planning time in a remote park, where emergency access and evacuation can be difficult, and it is the argument for insurance that covers medical evacuation rather than only treatment.