Is Arusha safe?
Safe enough with normal care by day. Bag snatching, scams and tout pressure are common, and walking alone after dark is not advised. Use a licensed operator.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 3: Reconsider travel, updated 2025-10-30.
- Homicide rate in Tanzania: 3.7 per 100,000 people (2020, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Tanzania: 31.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: All emergencies 112.
Safety in Arusha at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Bag and phone snatching, pickpocketing in markets and bus stands, taxi robberies and hotel-room theft; touts pressure visitors on streets. |
| At night | Use a known taxi or hotel driver after dark. Avoid walking even short distances, especially with phones or bags. |
| Solo women | Verbal harassment and persistent touts are common; most solo women are fine with modest dress and caution. Avoid walking alone after dark. |
| Other risks | Malaria risk at lower elevations; Altitude (1,400 m) can cause mild headaches; Reckless drivers and unlit roads |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Street touts selling safaris without licences
- Fake guides asking for deposits via mobile money
- Taxi drivers inflating fares for tourists
Take care
- Walking the center after dark
- Central bus stand and markets: pickpockets
- Leaving phones in view near roads
- Unregistered safari touts: check TATO or TTB licence
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Filming or sharing protest footage is illegal, and police may search phones.
- Zanzibar can fine visitors US$700 or more for 'inappropriate' clothing in public.
- Exporting shells, horns or other animal products without a permit can lead to arrest.
How Arusha compares in Tanzania
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Moshi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Zanzibar | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Arusha | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Dar es Salaam | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Stone Town | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Nungwi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Paje | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Arusha safe for solo female travelers?
Verbal harassment and persistent touts are common; most solo women are fine with modest dress and caution. Avoid walking alone after dark.
Is Arusha safe at night?
Use a known taxi or hotel driver after dark. Avoid walking even short distances, especially with phones or bags.
What is the crime rate in Arusha?
Bag and phone snatching, pickpocketing in markets and bus stands, taxi robberies and hotel-room theft; touts pressure visitors on streets. Nationally, Tanzania records 3.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2020).
What number do I call in an emergency in Arusha?
All emergencies 112.
More about Arusha
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Tanzania Tourist Board
- Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.