Official travel advisories warn against non-essential travel here. Civil liberties are tightly restricted and political expression can carry risk.
Regional breakdown
Most travellers head to Dar es Salaam, the northern safari circuit around Arusha, and the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. These areas see heavy tourist traffic and are not flagged for special restrictions by the UK or US. Petty theft, bag snatching, and the occasional carjacking happen in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. So travellers tend to use hotel transport after dark and keep valuables out of sight. The picture changes in the far south. The official advisory guidance warns against all but essential travel to any area within 20km of the Tanzanian border with Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique. Armed groups linked to Islamic extremism have crossed that border in recent years. The official advisory guidance singles out the wider Mtwara Region for raised terrorism risk. Travellers heading to Mikindani, Mtwara town, or the Ruvuma River area should check their insurance and route carefully. Zanzibar Stone Town, Nungwi, and Paje stay popular and are not under the regional warnings. Local guidance still asks visitors to dress modestly outside the beach resorts and to respect Ramadan hours. Border crossings into Kenya at Namanga and into Rwanda at Rusumo are routine, though queues can be long.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last refreshed its Tanzania page on 10 December 2025. The wording keeps the 20km Cabo Delgado border exclusion zone in place and points to the risk of attacks by groups linked to Islamic extremism. The official advisory guidance also reminds travellers that insurance can be invalidated if they enter an area it warns against. No wider country-level restriction has been added. The official advisory guidance reissued its Tanzania advisory on 31 October 2025 at Level 3, Reconsider Travel. The Level 3 wording covers four themes: unrest and demonstrations tied to political and economic issues, violent crime including assault. Robbery, and carjacking, terrorism risk in Mtwara Region, and the targeting and harassment of LGBTQ+ individuals. There is no ordered departure of US government staff. The two governments now sit one notch apart on Tanzania. With the UK keeping a tighter geographic carve-out and the US applying a broader country-level caution.
What travellers should know
Check that your travel insurance matches the official advisories wording. Policies bought in the UK often exclude any trip into a 'advise against' zone, which here means the 20km strip along the Mozambique border. If your itinerary touches Mtwara, Mikindani, or the Ruvuma corridor, talk to your insurer before you fly. Demonstrations in Dar es Salaam and other cities can flare up quickly around election dates and economic announcements. The US advisory asks travellers to avoid crowds and political gatherings. LGBTQ+ travellers should know that same-sex relationships are criminalised in Tanzania and the US specifically warns about harassment. So public displays of affection are best avoided. Carry a copy of your passport, use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps. And keep an eye on local news for road closures during the rainy season.