Is It Safe to Travel to Tanzania in 2026?
Tanzania - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest, Kenya to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the east, Mozambique and Malawi to the south, Zambia to the southwest, and Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Is It Safe to Travel to Tanzania in 2026?
Tanzania is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Tanzania due to crime, terrorism, health risks, civil unrest, arbitrary enforcement of laws, and targeting of gay and lesbian individuals. Violent crime, including assault and robbery, occurs frequently, particularly in crowded urban areas. There is a risk of terrorist violence, including attacks and other activities. Demonstrations may occur in response to political or economic issues, with increased government security presence and potential internet restrictions. Medical services are limited, especially outside major urban areas.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- terrorism
- health
- civil_unrest
- other
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: increased government security presence, potential internet restrictions during demonstrations, arbitrary enforcement of laws.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a significant risk of violent crime, particularly in urban areas where street crime, including robbery and assault, is prevalent.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and limited medical services, particularly outside major urban areas.
Families traveling with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access and the risk of violent crime in crowded areas.
Remote workers may find reliable connectivity in urban centers, but should be cautious of arbitrary law enforcement and health risks in rural areas.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Tanzania.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution1 region
▶Tanzania
Tanzania has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Tanzania
Protect your trip to Tanzania — medical care, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation, wherever you're headed.
Mobile data in Tanzania
Skip roaming fees — get an eSIM and land in Tanzania with data already working.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Tanzania has an overall threat severity of 3.9 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 36/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Language
Swahili / English
Notable restrictions:
- Same-sex relationships are illegal and carry severe penalties.
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for travelers ≥1 year old; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Tanzania
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Tanzania?
▶Is it safe to travel to Tanzania right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
▶What vaccines do I need for Tanzania?
▶Is Tanzania safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Tanzania?
More Tanzania Data
Partly Free — 36/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.