Tanzania Travel Preparation
A practical guide to health screening, arrival documents and mandatory inbound insurance for travellers planning a Tanzania safari, Zanzibar stay or combined Kenya journey.
Preparing for your safari also means knowing what to expect when you arrive. This Tanzania travel health advisory brings together the health forms, screening procedures and insurance information to check before your journey.
Start with your complete route: where you arrive, where you connect and which countries you have recently visited. Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar have separate health-form instructions, while a journey through Kenya also requires checking Kenya’s entry guidance.
Keep your passport details, flight information, accommodation address and contact number ready when completing official forms. Save your confirmations and insurance certificate offline so you can show them even when airport Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Mainland Tanzania’s 17 October 2026 advisory requires travellers to complete the Traveller’s Health Surveillance Form before departure or on arrival. Zanzibar uses a separate portal with requirements linked to travellers’ routes.
Expect health checks and follow Port Health instructions. Allow a comfortable connection between your international arrival and onward safari flight, particularly when changing terminals or airports.
Check which mandatory inbound insurance applies to your first entry point and personal circumstances. Keep the issued certificate with your travel documents. This insurance requirement is separate from your visa or electronic travel authorisation.
A Note from Rafiki Tembo: Share your full flight routing with us, including transit stops and any Kenya or Zanzibar extension. This helps us plan transfers and point you towards the official requirements relevant to your journey. Health declarations should always be completed accurately by the traveller or an authorised guardian.
References: Tanzania Ministry of Health advisory, 17 October 2026 and Tanzania entry guidance. Information checked on 23 October 2026; review official updates before departure.
Health Forms & Arrival Screening
Check the instructions for each destination on your route. Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar use separate health portals, so completing one declaration does not automatically fulfil the requirements for both.
The Ministry of Health advisory dated 17 October 2026 requires all travellers to complete the online Traveller’s Health Surveillance Form before departure or on arrival.
Zanzibar’s advisory dated 9 October 2026 requires travellers arriving from or transiting through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or Kenya to complete its separate Traveller’s Health Surveillance Form.
Travellers assessed as higher risk may receive health follow-up for 21 days. Mainland Tanzania’s notice describes daily automated messages or other contact, which travellers should respond to even if they leave the country during that period.
Health monitoring does not automatically mean quarantine for every visitor. Port Health officials decide whether further assessment or other measures are necessary. Keep your phone reachable and follow the instructions given to you.
Planning a connection through Kenya? Zanzibar’s dated notice includes transit through Kenya. Check this requirement even if you are only changing planes there, and review Kenya’s separate requirements if you will enter the country.
Sources: Tanzania Ministry of Health advisory of 17 October 2026 and Zanzibar Ministry of Health advisory of 9 October 2026. Checked on 23 October 2026. Confirm current instructions before travelling.
Keep Your Travel Information Together
Keep a copy with your travel documents so you can find the essential information when preparing for departure, checking in or connecting to your safari flight.
Our advisory brings together Ebola precautions, mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar health-form guidance, mandatory inbound insurance information and official links. A simple departure checklist helps you review the documents and preparations relevant to your journey.
Download the document to your phone and keep your completed health-form confirmation and insurance certificate alongside it. Check the advisory’s issue date and review official updates before departure, especially if your route or transit stops change.
Share this advisory with everyone in your travel party so each person can check the requirements that apply to them.
Download Traveller Advisory (PDF)Advisory dated 23 October 2026. Entry and health requirements may change. Current government and Port Health instructions take precedence.
Insurance & Travel Costs
Alongside your arrival documents, check the insurance required for your route. Keep the issued certificate accessible throughout your journey.
The charges below are mandatory inbound insurance premiums, separate from visa or electronic travel authorisation fees. Eligibility, exemptions and rates for children should be checked through the official provider before payment.
USD 44 equivalent
NIC publishes a standard premium payable in the Tanzanian shilling equivalent of USD 44, with cover for up to 92 days. Check your eligibility and the dates shown on your certificate.
Visit the Official NIC PortalUSD 44 per adult
ZIC publishes an adult premium of USD 44. If Zanzibar is your first entry point, use its official portal and confirm the applicable rate, eligibility and coverage dates for each traveller.
Visit the Official ZIC PortalUp to USD 44
Kenya’s official eCitizen insurance portal states a premium of up to USD 44 and cover for up to three months. This is a separate requirement for eligible visitors entering Kenya, subject to exemptions.
Visit Kenya’s Official Insurance PortalThe UK government entry guidance checked on 23 October 2026 states that travellers need to buy the policy corresponding to their first entry point: NIC for mainland Tanzania or ZIC for Zanzibar. It does not instruct travellers to automatically purchase both policies for the same journey.
Confirm that your certificate covers your full travel period and keep it available when moving between the mainland and Zanzibar. For a Kenya extension, check Kenya’s separate insurance requirement.
Check what your policy actually covers: Keep personal travel insurance suitable for your safari and other activities. Ask your insurer about outbreak-related treatment, medical evacuation, cancellation and any travel-advisory exclusions. Mandatory inbound insurance should not be assumed to cover every possible expense.
Sources: NIC FAQs, ZIC inbound insurance, Kenya eCitizen and UK government Tanzania entry guidance. Rates and guidance checked on 23 October 2026. Confirm current terms before purchasing.
Your Travel Questions
These answers reflect the official guidance checked on 23 October 2026. Review current instructions before departure, particularly if your route includes several countries or transit stops.
Tanzania’s Ministry of Health advisory dated 17 October 2026 reported no Ebola cases in Tanzania at publication. It introduced precautionary entry measures in response to regional developments. This is a dated statement, so check the latest official health updates before travelling.
No. Mainland Tanzania uses the Afya Msafiri portal. Its 17 October 2026 notice requires all travellers to complete the health form before departure or on arrival. Zanzibar uses a separate portal; its 9 October 2026 notice requires the form for arrivals from or through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or Kenya. Check for updated instructions.
No. A 21-day health follow-up is not the same as automatic quarantine for every visitor. Travellers assessed as higher risk may receive monitoring messages or other follow-up. Port Health officials determine whether further assessment or additional measures are needed.
No. The payment discussed in this guide is a mandatory inbound travel insurance premium, separate from visa or electronic travel authorisation fees. The applicable provider, premium, exemptions and coverage period depend on your destination and circumstances. Confirm these through the official insurance portal.
The UK government guidance checked on 23 October 2026 states that travellers should buy the policy corresponding to their first entry point: NIC for mainland Tanzania or ZIC for Zanzibar. It does not require automatically purchasing both for the same journey. Confirm your certificate covers your dates and check current requirements before departure.
Contact health services promptly, explain your symptoms and travel history, and call ahead before attending a clinic. Avoid close contact with others and obtain medical instructions before continuing your journey. In mainland Tanzania, the advisory lists 199 and poe@afya.go.tz for health reporting. Inform Rafiki Tembo if travel arrangements need coordination.
Official references: Tanzania Ministry of Health advisory, Zanzibar Ministry of Health advisory, Tanzania entry guidance and CDC Ebola information.
Share your travel dates, arrival airport and full flight routing, including any Kenya or Zanzibar extension. Our team can help plan your transfers and point you towards the official requirements relevant to your itinerary.
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