Is Kenya Safe to Visit?

Tanzania is known as among Africa’s safest and friendliest countries, especially when you go on an organised safari. About a million tourists visit Tanzania every year and most of them do not face any incidents. But as with many tourist destinations, there are some things to be aware of before you go.

Use safe transport

As most incidents happen in cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha, we do not recommend to walk alone in the city after dark (19:00pm). But this is the rule throughout Africa and not just Tanzania. Use safe transport like taxi’s or ask your hotel or guide to arrange the transfer.

Hide valuable stuff

Common sense goes a long way. Make sure you take some precautions, such as not wearing costly jewellery or let an expensive camera hang down your neck the whole time. Never carry valuable things in your pocket but lock them in the hotel safe. Keep important things like your passport and credit card in a money belt under your clothes, out of sight.

Friendly people

Tanzanian people are known for their hospitality. They are very friendly and helpful. If you walk on the street local people can come up to you for a chat or trying to sell some of their wares. If you just tell them friendly you are not interested they will leave you alone.

• Avoid isolated areas, especially remote stretches of beach; and safety in numbers.
• In cities and tourist areas always take a taxi at night and only from established taxi ranks or hotels. Never enter a taxi that already has someone else in it other than the driver.
• When using public transport, don’t accept drinks or food from someone you don’t know. Take requests for donation support from ‘refugees’ or ‘students’ with a pinch of salt. Contributions to humanitarian causes are best done through an established agency.
• Be skeptical of anyone who approaches you on the street, at the bus station, or in your hotel, offering safari deals or claiming to know you.
• Never pay any money for a safari or trek in advance until you’ve thoroughly checked out the company, and never pay money outside of the company’s office. Demand a receipt.
• In western Tanzania, especially along the Burundi border, there are sporadic outbursts of banditry and political unrest. Get a local update before venturing into this area.
• In tourist areas, such as Arusha, Moshi and Zanzibar Island, touts can be quite pushy, especially around bus stations and budget tourist hotels. Do what you can to minimize the impression that you are a newly arrived tourist: walk with purpose and duck into a shop if you need to get your bearings or look at a map.
• Have your luggage as consolidated as possible – with your valuables well-hidden under your clothes – when arriving at a major bus station for the first time. Try to spot the taxi rank before disembarking and head straight for it. Walk with purpose. It is also a good idea to try and buy your bus tickets a day or two in advance (without your luggage).
• Carry your passport, money and other documents in a pouch against your skin, hidden under loose-fitting clothing. If there’s a reliable one, secure your valuables in a hotel safe and ideally inside a pouch with a lockable zip to prevent tampering.
• When travelling in a vehicle, keep the side windows up when stopped in traffic and keep your bags out of sight (e.g. on the floor behind your legs).
• When bargaining or negotiating prices, don’t do so with your money or wallet visible.
• Government travel advisories can be good sources of updated security information.

CLICK HERE FOR SAFETY GAME DRIVE AND LIFE INSIDE THE NATIONAL PARKS

Do you have any Questions about Safari or Kilimanjaro Climbs to Africa?  Feel free to ask any Questions about Africa, it’s easy  Click here and ask any Questions you may have about Africa and our Panel of Travel Experts will be happy to help you free of charge ~ The only Unbiased advice about your Safari!