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Tanzania
- Visitors to Tanzania face primary travel risks related to road safety and petty crime in urban areas, particularly Dar es Salaam. Avoid travel near the Mozambique border, where there is an elevated risk of violent crime and potential terrorist activity.
- Petty crime, such as bag-snatching and pickpocketing, is common in busy urban areas. Visitors should keep valuables concealed, avoid displaying electronics or large sums of cash in public, and keep belongings close at hand.
- Road safety is a major concern, with poor road conditions and reckless driving being common. Public transport is often overcrowded and unsafe.
- Natural disasters, such as flooding and earthquakes, can occur, particularly during the rainy seasons from March to May and November to December.
Risk Factors
- Travelers should be aware of the potential for pickpocketing and theft in busy areas, especially markets, bus stations, and national parks.
- Dar es Salaam experiences heightened levels of violent crime, especially in the Msasani Peninsula (Toure Drive), Coco Beach, and Oysterbay areas. Choose reputable hotels, transportation, and avoid walking alone at night, especially in isolated or poorly lit areas.
- Criminals may target vehicles, especially those with visible valuables, during traffic stops or in isolated areas. This risk is elevated when vehicles are stationary in heavy traffic or when drivers leave windows down and doors unlocked. Keep windows up and doors locked, particularly in slow-moving or stopped traffic.
- In Zanzibar, incidents of theft and assault have been reported, particularly in Stone Town and on popular tourist beaches. Bags left unattended on beaches are easy targets. Avoid poorly lit and isolated areas at night.
- Bag snatching by thieves on motorcycles is a criminal tactic in crowded urban areas like Dar es Salaam and Arusha, where thieves target pedestrians walking on roads. Serious injuries have been reported from victims being dragged. Keep straps on the shoulder away from traffic to reduce the chance of being targeted.
- In Dar es Salaam, incidents of 'express kidnapping' have been reported, where tourists are assaulted, robbed, and coerced under the threat of violence to withdraw cash from ATMs. In some cases, victims have been forced to arrange cash transfers through services like Western Union. These crimes often occur after tourists are befriended by strangers or after using unlicensed taxis. To reduce risk, travelers should avoid engaging with overly friendly strangers and use licensed transportation services.
- Roads in Tanzania, particularly outside of urban areas, are poorly maintained and often impassable during the rainy season. Flooding and landslides are common, making travel difficult. Travelers are advised to avoid driving at night due to poor lighting and hazardous road conditions.
- Public buses and minibusses (known as daladalas) are common but overcrowded and often operate at unsafe speeds. They have higher accident rates due to overloading, speeding, and poor vehicle maintenance. Motorcycles (boda-bodas) should similarly be avoided as they often ignore traffic rules and witness high accident rates.
- Taxis are safer than daladalas but should be hired at taxi stands or arranged through a hotel or reputable provider. Negotiate fares in advance, as metered taxis are uncommon. Private vehicles in Tanzania feature yellow plates at the front and back, whereas buses, taxis, and hired cars used white plates. Ensure your vehicle uses a white license plate.
- Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt are available in Dar es Salaam. Using these apps ensures that the vehicle and driver are registered, providing an additional layer of security.
- The terrorism risk to travelers in Tanzania is generally low but heightened near the southern border with Mozambique in the Mtwara region, where militants have carried out attacks. Travelers should avoid traveling within 30 kilometers of the border with Mozambique due to the threat of militant attacks and kidnappings.
- The risk of civil unrest in Tanzania is moderate, with occasional protests related to political, social, or economic issues. Demonstrations are generally peaceful but can escalate quickly, particularly around election periods. Common protest locations include urban centers such as Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, often near government buildings, universities, and public squares. Stay away from large gatherings and monitor alerts for updates.
- Tanzania experiences heavy rainfall from March to May and from November to December. During these months, roads can be blocked by floods and landslides. Coastal regions, such as Zanzibar, also face the risk of monsoons and cyclones.
- Mount Kilimanjaro presents a risk of altitude sickness for climbers. Ensure you are physically fit before attempting high-altitude climbs.