Africa
Is Tanzania safe?
L3Reconsider travel
Is Tanzania safe?
Safaris, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar are usually trouble-free, but bag snatching and armed robbery hit Dar es Salaam and Stone Town, and post-election tension brings protests and phone checks.
Key facts
- US travel advisory: Level 3: Reconsider travel, updated 2025-10-30.
- Homicide rate: 3.7 per 100,000 people (2020, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths: 31.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: All emergencies 112.
- Solo women: Verbal harassment is common; dress modestly, especially in Zanzibar. Assaults at beach resorts have occurred: avoid lone night walks and watch drinks.
Risks, scams and laws
Main risks
- Bag snatching from motorbikes in Dar es Salaam and Stone Town
- Protests since the October 2025 election; internet cuts possible
- Express kidnaps via unlicensed taxis or new 'friends' in Dar
- Avoid the Mozambique border area (Cabo Delgado insurgency)
Common scams
- Unlicensed safari and Kilimanjaro operators; check TATO membership
- 'Beach boys' selling overpriced tours and spice trips in Zanzibar
- Street money changers using sleight of hand
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.
Safety by place 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 Tanzania safe for tourists?
Safaris, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar are usually trouble-free, but bag snatching and armed robbery hit Dar es Salaam and Stone Town, and post-election tension brings protests and phone checks.
Is Tanzania safe for solo female travelers?
Verbal harassment is common; dress modestly, especially in Zanzibar. Assaults at beach resorts have occurred: avoid lone night walks and watch drinks.
What is the emergency number in Tanzania?
All emergencies 112.
Safety by place
Sources
- World Bank: intentional homicides
- US State Department travel advisory
- UK FCDO travel advice: Tanzania
- Immigration Services Department, Tanzania
- NIC mandatory inbound travel insurance
- Speedtest Global Index: Tanzania
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.