Is Tanzania Safe for American Tourists?
Imagine a country where you can see wildlife in abundance, hike majestic mountains, mingle with vibrant communities, and so much more. Welcome to Tanzania. This East African country is every safari-goer’s dream destination, as it’s home to iconic attractions like Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar beaches, and the Maasai.
As for every human, we are always concerned about safety, especially when we go to new places. And for sure, we sometimes see security alerts being issued in certain parts of the country. Currently, the American embassy has warned Americans to avoid the Kisiju region of the Pwani region on security grounds. So, where do you stand right now? Do you feel safe being in Tanzania? For these and all other questions, stick with this article. We are going to reveal the safety of Tanzania to Americans and other tourists.
Every time an embassy notices something not safe for its citizens, it issues a security alert. This is for the protection of its citizens.
What to do after an alert has been issued?
- Do not visit the area: if you have plans to go there, cancel them.
- Leave the place immediately if you were there earlier before being alerted.
- Monitor local media for any updates
Tanzania, as a booming tourist gateway, is committed to ensuring safety for its visitors. Its collaboration with embassies and other stakeholders to safeguard foreign visitors is excellent. Every time, it suspects that a place’s security comes first before everything.
So, yes – Tanzania is safe for American tourists! Here are some tips for being safe while in Tanzania.
Health tips
- See a doctor two weeks before your travel. Always as a visitor take your health into account before traveling to Tanzania. Seeing a doctor should be the first thing to do after you’re interested to visit this country.
- Take recommended vaccines. Make sure you vaccinate against yellow fever, typhoid, and hepatitis before visiting. A yellow fever vaccine is mandatory if you’re transiting through a yellow fever transmission risk country.
- Protect yourself from malaria. Tanzania is a malaria-risk country. Because of that, be sure to bring antimalarial drugs and bug repellents like permethrin.
- Never drink tap water. Avoid tap water at all cost. Contamination can be there and you can contract waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid, and bilharzia. No ice cubes if the origin of the water is unknown.
- Always carry a miniature first-aid kit. It should have usual bandages, antiseptic, painkillers, and other useful things.
- And finally, if illness does strike, seek medical help at once and be aware of the nearest clinic or hospital.
City safety tips
As for any city or town, being careful is important. In Tanzania, cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha, where many tourists arrive, are targeted by petty thieves and robbers. Here are tips to stay safe.
- Avoid showing expensive jewellery or gadgets in the open as this could attract unwanted attention.
- When using automatic teller machines to withdraw money, do it during the day and use safe points, i.e., within banks.
- Do not walk alone, particularly during the night, and use well-lit streets.
- When using transport, use familiar services such as registered taxis or app-based cab services.
- Be nice but cautious while dealing with strangers, and if a meeting does not feel comfortable, trust your instincts and steer clear of it.
Dar Es Salaam
Respect customs.
Tanzania is quite different from the US. In the US, people wear anything, from modest to modern fashions, but in Tanzania, modest clothing beats all other forms.
- Dress modestly if visiting country villages or churches. Women have to dress in a way that their shoulders and knees are covered, especially in Zanzibar and other Muslim-dominated parts of the country.
- Greetings are great when meeting locals. Address the locals with Swahili welcomes such as “Jambo” or “Habari.”
- Don’t take photos of individuals without permission since it is rude. you are a visitor and you must respect the culture, and it will be a nice experience and interaction.
- Do not show affiliations like LGBTQ. It’s considered rude and illegal in the country
Weather tips
Tanzania’s weather varies from one season to another – dry season (June – October) and rainy season (November – May). It’s not a big deal for Americans, but we suggest you know it.
The dry season is good for wildlife safari, hiking, and other things. It’s always considered the best time of the year to visit Tanzania. The grass is short and animals are easy to spot.
The wet season comes with heavy rains, but ideal for birding and photographic safaris. It’s also quiet and budget-friendly. The downsides are muddy trail, tall grass, high risk of malaria, and frequent rainfall.
Tanzania is safe not only for American visitors but also for visitors of all kinds. The information you get from your home country’s embassies is important for your safety. And we, as a seasoned tour operator, we avoid areas deemed of high security risk. And your safety is always our first and foremost concern. So, you can trust us.
