Before you fly
Visas, travel insurance, health tips and the practical things we tell every guest heading to Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kenya.
Your countdown
A few simple steps in the weeks before you fly, and you'll arrive ready for the bush.
Last reviewed: September 2026Step one
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Entry requirements
Tanzania and Kenya each need their own permission to enter, and both are applied for online. Tanzania is not part of the East Africa Tourist Visa.
Travel insurance
A government entry requirement for all foreign visitors to Tanzania, including Zanzibar. You only need one policy.
Choose one, based on where you first enter Tanzania. Buy it online before you travel and keep the certificate on your phone or printed.
Flying into Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or Mwanza, or arriving at a land border.
Apply for the mainland Tanzania travel insuranceFlying directly into Zanzibar.
Apply for the Zanzibar travel insuranceThis policy is an entry requirement and does not replace comprehensive travel insurance. It must be bought directly by each traveller through the official government websites. Endelea shares this as a guide only and can't buy or manage policies for guests.
We strongly recommend a comprehensive policy with medical evacuation, trip cancellation and cover for your activities, including high-altitude trekking on Kilimanjaro.
Kenya has no mandatory government insurance for visitors, but your own comprehensive policy is just as important there.
Most guests need very little. A few easy habits keep you feeling great from the first game drive to the last.
See a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you go. They'll check your routine vaccines and advise on anything else for your trip.
Only needed if you're arriving from a yellow fever country, such as Kenya. Combining both countries? Just pack your card.
Malaria is easy to prevent. Use repellent, wear long sleeves at sundowner time and ask your clinic about tablets. Lodges provide nets.
Stick to bottled or filtered water. Our safari vehicles always carry cold drinking water for you.
Bring sunscreen and a hat for the equator sun, and a warm layer for chilly mornings on the Ngorongoro Crater rim.
Pack enough for the whole trip in their original packaging, with a copy of your prescription.
General guidance only. Your doctor or travel clinic knows best for you.
On the ground
The small things that make a big difference in East Africa, from what to pack to how to greet people.
Single-use plastic carrier bags are banned in Tanzania and Kenya and can be taken at the airport. Pack in fabric bags instead.
US dollars are widely accepted. Bring clean, recent notes, as old or torn ones are often refused. Most lodges take cards.
Always ask before photographing people. Avoid military sites and airports. Drones need a permit, so talk to us first.
Neutral safari colours work best. Skip camouflage, which is for the military only. In Stone Town, cover shoulders and knees.
Light aircraft usually allow around 15 kg per person in a soft bag. We'll confirm the limit for your flights.
Use your room safe and our arranged transfers. On game drives, stay in the vehicle and follow your guide.
Both countries use 230 V with mostly UK-style three-pin plugs. Bring a universal adapter and a power bank.
A warm greeting goes a long way. Zanzibar is mainly Muslim, so dress modestly in town and be discreet during Ramadan.
Save your passport, visa, insurance certificate and tickets on your phone and on paper. Officials may ask for any of them.
This page is a general guide and was last reviewed in September 2026. Entry, insurance and health requirements are set by the governments of Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kenya and can change at short notice. Please confirm the latest rules for your nationality on the official websites before you travel.
Questions before you fly?
