The short answer
- Safari parks
- Not in restricted areas
- Avoid
- The Mozambique border in Mtwara
- Biggest risks
- Protests and city crime
- Always check
- Your government's latest advice
What's changed recentlyShow
- Oct 2025Protests and a security crackdown followed the general election on 29 October 2025. The US raised its advisory to Level 3, Reconsider travel.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors safely enjoy Tanzania's parks, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar every year, almost always on organised trips. But the October 2025 election was followed by deadly protests, and several governments now advise more caution than before. Here is what they say and how to travel sensibly.
What governments advise
| Government | Overall advice | Areas to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Level 3: Reconsider travel (unrest, crime, terrorism) | Highest terrorism risk in the Mtwara region |
| United Kingdom | No general warning; avoid protests | All but essential travel within 20 km of the Mozambique border |
| Australia | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel within 30 km of the Mozambique border in Mtwara |
| Canada | Exercise a high degree of caution | Avoid all travel within 10 km of the Mozambique border; avoid non essential travel elsewhere near it |
Summary of published advice as checked in October 2026. None of the restricted zones include the northern safari parks, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar, but countrywide warnings about unrest and crime apply everywhere. Always read your own government's latest advice.
Practical safety tips
- Protests: Avoid demonstrations and crowds, especially around public holidays. Photographing protests is illegal and police may check phones.
- Internet shutdowns: Access has been restricted during unrest. Save your operator's and embassy's numbers offline.
- In cities: In Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Stone Town, use registered taxis or ride apps, don't walk alone at night and keep phones out of sight.
- On safari and Kilimanjaro: Use licensed operators, follow your guide and park rules, and don't buy trips from street touts.
- On Zanzibar: Dress modestly away from the beach; there are fines for inappropriate clothing in public.
- LGBT travellers: Same sex relationships are illegal throughout Tanzania, including Zanzibar, and public displays of affection can lead to arrest.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to go on safari in Tanzania?
Organised safaris with licensed operators are generally safe, and the northern parks are outside the areas governments advise against. Check the latest advice for unrest before you travel.
Is Zanzibar safe?
Generally yes with normal precautions, though crime occurs in Stone Town and on beaches, and past elections on Zanzibar turned violent.
Why does the US say reconsider travel to Tanzania?
Because of unrest after the October 2025 election, crime and the risk of terrorism, particularly near the Mozambique border.
Sources we checked
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