Travel Safety in Tanzania

There are several security concerns in Tanzania. Both petty and violent crime are considered countrywide issues. In larger cities such as Dar es Salaam, as well as in popular tourist areas such as Zanzibar, travellers are regularly targeted in incidents of bag-snatching, pickpocketing and unarmed mugging. Theft from accommodation is also common. Violent crime is an issue in Dar es Salaam in particular and includes armed robbery, armed mugging and sexual assault.

Express kidnapping (the short-term abduction of people with the objective of having them withdraw money from an ATM or taking their valuables) usually involves illegal taxis and has become an established trend in Dar es Salaam. There is no major concern relating to kidnapping for ransom. In rural areas, national parks and along Tanzania’s border with Burundi and Kenya, there is a risk of banditry.

Tanzania has a persistent terrorism risk, mainly from international groups like al-Shabaab. The last large-scale attack took place in Dar es Salaam in 1998, but there have been more recent, smaller attacks in this city as well as in Zanzibar and Arusha.

Demonstrations take place occasionally, most commonly in Dar es Salaam and Stone Town in Zanzibar. In addition, there are often disturbances between local communities and different religious groupings that can result in localised conflict or civil unrest.

Medical facilities may be adequate in Dar es Salaam and other major urban centres, but are limited elsewhere.