Is Tanzania Safe?

Whether you’re thinking about going on the solo trip of a lifetime or you’re simply looking for a new destination to head to next time you go on a vacation with your loved ones – Tanzania is a vibrant country with plenty of beautiful weather, tourist attractions and rich culture.

The only question is, is Tanzania safe?

This is where we come in to lend you a helping hand. In this guide, we are going to be taking a closer look at Tanzania to help you gain a better understanding of how safe it is to visit.

Along the way, we are also going to be sharing with you some safety advice to ensure that you are able to visit Tanzania safely. 

So, just keep on reading to discover more!

Is Tanzania Safe?

Now, for the all important question – is Tanzania safe? When you are thinking about visiting a new country or destination, it’s totally natural to be concerned about your safety, and you’re making the right decision to do your own research prior to booking those flight tickets.

The good news is that, at the time of writing, Tanzania is considered to be a generally safe place to both live in and visit as a tourist. This certainly goes some way in explaining why there are so many travel organizations that offer package trips there!

In fact, according to the Global Peace Index released in 2022, Tanzania is currently the sixth-safest country in Africa.

For the most part, the main areas of Tanzania are not only safe to both live in and visit, but they are also cultural hotspots just perfect for visitors of this country to spend time exploring.

More specifically, tourist hotspots such as Mt Kilimanjaro are considered to be some of the safest places for tourists to visit, while also guaranteeing memories that will last a lifetime!

Of course, just like with all other countries in the world, there are some places that you are probably going to want to make sure that you avoid as a tourist.

When it comes to Tanzania, in particular, the borders of the country are generally considered unsuitable for tourists to pay a visit to as there is often trouble that occurs at them. 

It is also worth noting that the Zanzibar archipelago (which is situated just off the east coast of the country) is considered to be a little less safe than some other tourist destinations.

While it is certainly by no means a “no go” region like the borders might be, there is a higher crime rate in this area of Zanzibar than in other areas of the country. Worth keeping that in mind before visiting. 

As we have already mentioned, no matter where you happen to visit in the world, there’s always going to be potential dangers you could be exposed to.

The key is to make sure that you are vigilant, prepared and taking the right precautions, and this brings us to our next section. 

How To Stay Safe In Tanzania

So, even though we have learned that Tanzania is a reasonably safe country to visit, you should still take precautions to stay safe – just like you would while visiting any other area of the world. 

To make sure that you can visit Tanzania, get the most out of your trip and stay safe, we have some tips for you.

Let’s check them out below:

Use Reliable Transportation

First things first, while you are traveling throughout Tanzania, it is very important that you use reliable transportation. It’s one of the first steps you can take to ensure your safety while you explore.

In particular, regardless of whether you are planning on visiting Tanzania as a solo traveler or you are going with a group of friends, it is extremely important to make sure that you are getting taxis from a reliable taxi company, especially during the night. Is it safe to travel in Tanzania? Absolutely – just use reliable transportation and common sense.

Keep Valuables In A Safe

What else can help ensure your safety while in Tanzania? We recommend keeping all of your valuable items somewhere discreet, such as in a safe.

If you are going to be staying in a hotel, then you should be provided with a safe in your hotel room.

However, if you are going to stay in an alternative type of accommodation, keep in mind that you may be required to pay a small fee for the hotel safe.

Wear Simple Clothing And Jewelry

Along with the above-mentioned piece of advice, while you are in Tanzania, it is also recommended that you consider wearing simple clothing and jewelry while sightseeing.

Just like with all other places in the world, tourist destinations are known to be a hotspot for pick-pocketing and other small crimes. That’s why it’s a good idea to opt for more simplistic clothing to ensure that you do not get targeted.

As we have already mentioned above, it is recommended that you use a safe so that you can keep valuables such as jewelry in there.

Stay In Tourist Areas

If you are planning to visit Tanzania, one of the very best ways that you can help to ensure that you stay safe for the duration of your trip is by making sure that you are doing your research. This includes only visiting areas that are recognized as being tourist-friendly.

Not only will picking tourist-friendly areas make your trip a breeze. It will also lower the odds of any undesirable events happening along the way. If you want to be certain that you’re visiting the right (and safe!) locations, spend some time planning and doing some pre-trip research. Get to know Tanzania a bit more before you go, and you’ll be all set, safe and sound.

Also, if you book the trip through a vacation or travel company, the organizers of your Tanzania vacation package should also be able to provide you with additional information on how to stay safe while exploring all that Tanzania has to offer. 

Stay Connected

Last but certainly not least, your best bet to stay safe while exploring the beautiful country of Tanzania is to stay connected for the entire duration of your trip.

You should always have your mobile phone with you wherever you go in Tanzania, as well as inform your phone carrier of the trip so that you will be able to use your mobile data as usual. 

Keep in mind that, if you want to go on day trips in Tanzania, you might find yourself away from your accommodation for a long period of time.

For this reason, we strongly recommend that you consider making the investment in a portable charger or a power bank, as this will prevent your phone from losing power while you are exploring Tanzania. 

Besides ensuring that you’ll be able to snap some pictures while you’re out and about in Tanzania, having your mobile phone charged will mean that you can use it if you find yourself in an emergency!

Keep in mind, it is important to have your phone charged, regardless of whether you are a solo traveler or visiting with a group of friends.

The Top Areas Of Tanzania To Avoid When Visiting

Even though Tanzania is considered a safe place to visit, there are some places that we don’t recommend visiting – especially if you are planning to visit this country as a solo traveler.

First, we highly recommend that you avoid visiting the deep south of the country, right next to the Mozambican border.

Why? Well, in recent years, there have been relatively high crime rates recorded there, which is why we recommend that you avoid paying a visit there if you do go ahead and travel to Tanzania.

Luckily enough, the tourist attractions aren’t anywhere near this region of Tanzania, so there should be no reason for you to visit the far south of Tanzania, anyway.

Along with making sure that you are avoiding traveling to the far south of Tanzania, it is also recommended that you are vigilant while exploring the capital – Dar es Salaam.

Now, while this isn’t by any means a place in Tanzania that you should flat-out avoid, it is an area of Tanzania that has high crime rates, particularly assault, vandalism, and theft.

However, just like with the south of Tanzania, there isn’t a real reason why tourists should need to visit Dar es Salaam, as it is considered to be more of an industrial, working city. 

Wrapping Up

There we have it! We have made it to the end of the guide.

We hope we could give you a better understanding of how safe Tanzania is, as well as the best precautions so that you can travel to Tanzania safely and without any issues.

Remember, Tanzania is considered to be one of the safest countries to visit in Africa, and 

Before you go, why don’t you consider giving this guide to staying safe in Tanzania a bookmark?

That way, if you ever need to come back and refresh your memory on how to make sure you stay safe while traveling – you will know exactly where to find us.

Thank you for reading this guide, and we hope that you enjoy your visit to Tanzania! In case you need assistance in planning your trip, reach out to us – we’ll help you make your Tanzania experience as safe and enjoyable as possible.