How Much Money Should I Bring to Tanzania as a Tourist?

So how much money should you carry when going to Tanzania for a safari?

When Travelling in Tanzania, You should have at least USD $50 per person per day. This is tour package includes all the the main expenses of transportation, accommodation, food, and park entry fees. If it does not include these costs, carry at least USD $200 per person per day to cover for all your expenses.

In this article, I will explore the optimum amount of money a tourist needs to carry when coming

Typical expenses for Tanzanian tourist

Typical expenses vary based on whether you are visiting Tanzania using a tour package that is all inclusive or paying as you go.

Expenses when traveling on an all-inclusive  tour package

The expenses below assume a tour group of 4 people who will be traveling in the same transportation and sharing a number of the expenses of the trip.

1. Tips: Expect to spend between 30 to 40 dollars per day on tips. distributed among the driver/guide, cook and other staff who may assist you.
2. Drinks: The cost of these vary based on where you will be and the kind of drinks you will prefer.  However, it is safe to assume that you will spend anywhere in the regions of $40 to $100 per day for the entire group.
3. Hotel Fees: In case you arrive a day early or extend your stay by a day or two after the scheduled tour dates,  you will need to cater for your own accommodation expenses since this is outside of what is covered by the tour operator.
4. Special meals:  Depending on the kind of tour package you get,  there may be meals that are outside of what is considered part of the tour package.  In this case, you will need to cater for the cost of these meals yourself. We can give an estimate of anywhere between $20 and $50 per person per meal.  This would be something like a dinner or something specially prepared for you.
5. Souvenirs: Gifts that you buy for your friends back home will almost always be outside of the allowance that the tour package provides.  the cost of these souvenirs varies widely depending on the quality and the location where you buying these pieces. However, you should expect to spend anywhere between $100 $ 400 on souvenirs.
6. Visa Fees:  Travel and Transit visas need to be paid for in cash and may require you to have cash on you at the airport when you arrive. Expect repair tourist visa fee of $100 upon entry.  This Visa is valid for one year and allows for multiple entries and you will not need to pay again when coming back to Tanzanian within a period of one year. In addition to this, if you will be arriving in Tanzania through Nairobi Kenya you will need to pay a transit visa fee of $21 per person.

Expenses when paying as you go

How much you expect to spend when paying as you go in a Tanzanian Safari varies very widely.  ome of the factors that influence how much you will spend include which parks will be traveling to, the quality of the hotels you will be sleeping in,  and the level of luxury you expect in your entire Safari. My advice would be that you look for an all-inclusive safari package to avoid paying small amounts that add up quite fast.

How much cash is allowed in Tanzania

According to the IATA website There are no restrictions on how much cash you can bring in to Tanzania.  The only restriction to this is that this cash should not be Tanzanian currency. Even though there is no restriction on how much cash you can bring to Tanzania, it would be common sense not to carry very large amounts of money in cash for security reasons.

What kind of currency should I bring to Tanzania

The most common and widely accepted foreign currency in Tanzania is the US dollar.  it is accepted in many hotels and at Park entrances. Almost all tour operators that deal with foreign tourists will accept the dollar as proper payment for their services.  

Before coming to Tanzania ensure that you have the US Dollar in bills that are dated 2006 to date.

Should I use the dollar in Tanzania or exchange it to Tanzanian currency?

Once you arrive in Tanzania,  you will want to change your dollar bills for the local Tanzanian shilling at a local Bureau de Exchange.  The reason it is important to do this is that if you are going to use dollar bills in making your payments,  you will end up paying way more for goods and services than when you use the local currency. This is because the service providers and traders you will be dealing with may inflate their prices based on the fact that you are a foreigner. Paying them in dollars only puts you at a disadvantage when bargaining.

Places where credit cards are accepted in Tanzania

The following are places generally accepted card payments both credit and debit.

1. Hotels that are frequented by foreigners and tourists.
2. The offices of almost all Tour Operator
3. National Park Entry Gates
4. Some visa processing offices. However, carry $100 in cash just in case.
5. Some of the higher end GIft Shops

Its important for me to mention that for any facilities run by the government may have challenges in accepting card payments even though they indicate they do accept them. I love this continent but the one thing our governments haven’t gotten right yet is efficiency.

Places/things that require cash payments in Tanzania

1. Park Entry (sometimes)
2. Tips: You will need to pay all your tips in Cash. It’s therefore important that you carry Tanzanian currency when on your safari.
3. Souvenirs: most souvenir shops in Tanzania only accept cash payments. Depending on the quality of the souvenir, you would expect to spend anywhere between $10 and $100 per souvenir.
4. Manu local shopping outlets and Roadside traders. only a few shopping outlets that cater to locals accept card payments. They may also not accept any other currency as a means of payment.  They may accept the dollar because of its popularity but it is rather uncommon.

How to keep your cash safe when traveling in Tanzania

1. Use  a money belt: you want to avoid using wallets and purses to keep your money because these are easy prey for pickpockets who are many in Tanzania and most other African countries.
2. Don’t Carry too much: carry what you need for each day and don’t have too much money on you at any one time.
3. Keep some in safekeeping: most hotels have safes and if you need to store any valuables you may also leave them at the reception for safekeeping.
4. Distribute the money in the group. If you’re travelling in a group share the money amongst yourselves to eliminate the chance of you losing all your money because of a pickpocket.
5. Don’t Flash your Dollar bills: avoid flashing money and other valuables when on safari. Keeping a low profile will help you keep off the radar of anyone with nefarious intentions.

Tips on saving money as a tourist in Tanzania

• Always haggle: Most traders and business people will give you a discount if you ask for one. Ensure you ask for a better price when negotiating.
• Travel in groups and share the bill: Travelling with more than 3 people will save you money since what would have been paid off by one person is now shared among 3 or 4 people.
• Use Tanzanian Shillings instead of Dollars: Just because the US dollar is accepted by many players within the Tourism industry does not make the best currency to make daily purchases. One of the toughest challenges will be to find change and you will find yourself spending more than you expected.

A Final Word

As you prepare for your trip to Africa, I would like to recommend a few products that would help make your life easier. 

1. Information About Africa: I have created a YouTube channel that focuses on things about traveling to Africa that only Africans can tell you about. Check out the channel for insights about African culture and things you can do as a traveler to optimize your trip. You should also visit TripAdvisor forum posts (Here is the Kenya Forum) and ask questions about your particular situation. There are a lot of people who are happy to help you out. 
2. Choosing a Safari Company: I have written an extensive article on how to choose a safari Company. You can. Check it out before starting the process of searching for a safari company.
3. Safari Planning Services: If you’d rather leave the planning to an expert, I offer personalized safari planning services. I handle everything from helping you choose the right safari company, creating your custom itinerary, managing bookings, and even providing a packing list and reminders for important trip details. It’s like having a personal assistant dedicated to your trip, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying the adventure. Learn More in this article