Is Paje safe?
Relaxed in the main beach strip by day, but empty beaches and village roads at night carry risk. Lock valuables in your room and use trusted drivers.
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 Paje at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Theft from rooms and beach bags, pushy touts, and occasional robberies or assaults on empty beaches or dark paths at night. |
| At night | Bars and hostels are lively, but go home with friends or a trusted driver. Do not walk beaches or village tracks alone. |
| Solo women | Hawkers can be persistent. Dress modestly in the village and avoid empty beaches or lone night walks; assaults have been reported. |
| Other risks | Strong kite winds and low tide reef; get instruction; Malaria; use repellent; Frequent power cuts and heavy rain in Mar–May |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- 'Beach boys' selling overpriced tours and kite lessons
- Unlicensed instructors taking deposits
- Taxi drivers quoting inflated tourist fares from the airport
Take care
- Walking the beach or dark village roads alone after dark
- Leaving phones or cameras on towels while kiting or swimming
- Unlit motorbike rides at night
- Kiting with no lessons or insurance
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 Paje 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 Paje safe for solo female travelers?
Hawkers can be persistent. Dress modestly in the village and avoid empty beaches or lone night walks; assaults have been reported.
Is Paje safe at night?
Bars and hostels are lively, but go home with friends or a trusted driver. Do not walk beaches or village tracks alone.
What is the crime rate in Paje?
Theft from rooms and beach bags, pushy touts, and occasional robberies or assaults on empty beaches or dark paths at night. Nationally, Tanzania records 3.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2020).
What number do I call in an emergency in Paje?
All emergencies 112.
More about Paje
Going to Paje solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Zanzibar Tourism Commission
- Tanzania Immigration
- 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.