Safety in Tanzania: Keys to a Truly Peaceful Expatriate Experience

Published on January 28, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Moving to Tanzania is a dream for many: safaris in the Serengeti, the beaches of Zanzibar, expat life in Dar es Salaam, trekking Mount Kilimanjaro… The country is attracting more and more foreigners and is often presented as one of the most welcoming destinations in East Africa. But a successful expatriation is not built on postcard images alone. To live peacefully on the ground, you need to understand the actual security context, the concrete everyday risks, and how to manage them.

Understanding the Overall Security Framework

Settling long-term in a country means looking beyond travel impressions. For Tanzania, several indicators help gauge the general risk level.

Peace, Crime, and Risk Perception Indicators

Tanzania ranks in the upper half of the most peaceful countries according to the Global Peace Index, while still being classified as ‘medium risk’ by many foreign ministries. Some benchmarks can be summarized in a table.

Western governments adopt a cautious approach. Canada advises exercising ‘a high degree of caution’ throughout the country. The United States classifies the destination as Level 3 (‘Reconsider Travel’). The United Kingdom advises against all but essential travel to certain sectors near Mozambique and the borders with Burundi and the DRC.

Two key points emerge:

A Welcoming, Yet Unequal Country

Tanzania remains a warm, very collective society where one can feel integrated quickly. Expatriates benefit from decent infrastructure in major cities (banks, internet, international schools, private clinics). At the same time, the average standard of living is low, social protection is limited, and the state does not provide a standardized pre-hospital ambulance service or a highly structured rescue network.

For an expatriate, this means: a very favorable human environment, but an obligation to plan for one’s own security, health coverage, and emergency logistics.

Crime and Scams: Real Risks and Best Practices

Crime in Tanzania is at an intermediate level: it is far from the most dangerous countries on the continent, but it would be naive to neglect it. Expatriates and tourists are perceived as well-off, making them prime targets for theft and fraud.

Everyday Crime: Theft, Assault, ‘Express Kidnappings’

The most common forms of delinquency are snatch-and-grab thefts, burglaries, and scams. Serious violence exists, particularly in major cities.

Authorities often lack the resources to investigate thoroughly. Many expatriates have understood this and favor a preventive approach: choosing good neighborhoods, private security, and cautious travel.

Common Scams: From Small-Time Tricks to Fake Safaris

Most scams target the wallet more than physical integrity. They rely on lack of knowledge of the local context or the search for ‘good deals.’

Among the most common:

The country has also seen an explosion in cybercrime: the central bank reported an 84% increase in digital theft in one quarter, and scammers have even impersonated local companies like Simply IT to trap users on WhatsApp.

How to Effectively Reduce Exposure

Most of these risks can be managed with simple habits:

For an expatriate, these habits quickly become automatic and allow for a relatively peaceful life, even in a major city like Dar es Salaam.

Settling in the City: The Case of Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam concentrates a large part of the expatriate community. It’s the main economic hub, a major port, and a metropolis of over six million inhabitants. The city is dynamic, chaotic, traffic-jammed… and very contrasting in terms of safety depending on the neighborhood.

Choosing Your Neighborhood Based on Safety

Expatriates favor a few areas offering enhanced security, international schools, private clinics, and good connectivity. A comparative summary helps clarify.

In the high-end neighborhoods, one finds reassuring characteristics: guards, fences, cameras, expat neighbors, better roads, nearby services, stable internet, and more infrequent power cuts. This is often the natural choice for a first expatriation.

Beyond rent, one must factor in: utilities and taxes, home insurance, maintenance costs, public services.

– the distance to international schools if you have children;

– the commute time to your office (traffic jams can easily double travel times during rush hour);

– proximity to private clinics and reference hospitals (Aga Khan, Muhimbili, Regency, etc.);

– the risk of flooding during the rainy season (higher in some parts of Kinondoni and Kariakoo).

Residential Security: What Standards to Aim For?

With frequent burglaries in some sectors, many expatriates favor secured residences: gate, fence, 24/7 guard, sometimes alarm and CCTV. In premium areas (Masaki, Oyster Bay, Upanga), these features are practically the norm.

– the quality of doors, locks, and windows;

– access procedures (visitor log, ID verification, barrier);

– the existence of adequate exterior lighting;

– the presence of generators and water reserves (frequent outages in some neighborhoods);

– the neighborhood’s reputation among expatriates already on the ground, via forums (Expat.com, InterNations, WhatsApp groups, etc.).

Finally, planning for startup cash is crucial: landlords often require three to twelve months’ rent in advance. This liquidity need must be factored into the settlement plan.

Getting Around Safely: Roads, Transport, and Ferries

Road risk is probably the most underestimated yet one of the most significant in Tanzania. Health authorities have reported a very high road fatality rate, exceeding 30 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, well above some Western countries.

Driving in Tanzania: Rules and Realities

The country drives on the left, with a traffic code theoretically close to international standards: speed limits in town (50 km/h), on main roads (80–100 km/h), seatbelts mandatory, alcohol limit at 0.08% blood alcohol level. In practice, however, the behavior of many drivers remains unpredictable: dangerous overtaking, absence of turn signals, disregard for right-of-way, especially in and around Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, or Mbeya.

The roads vary significantly:

– major intercity routes are often paved and decent,

– secondary roads, rural tracks, and park roads are sometimes degraded, even impassable in the rainy season,

– unmarked speed bumps, potholes, and livestock on the road.

For an expatriate, adopting a very defensive driving style and avoiding nighttime travel as much as possible are among the basic rules.

Licenses, Insurance, and Papers

For the first months, a national driver’s license accompanied by an International Driving Permit is sufficient. Beyond six months, one must apply for a Tanzanian license. To drive in Zanzibar, a specific local permit is required, often obtained through car rental companies.

During a check, one must be able to present: the required documents.

– driver’s license (national + IDP or Tanzanian license),

– vehicle registration document,

– insurance,

– vehicle inspection certificate.

Official fines must be paid through a controlled payment system (government control number, mobile payment, or at a bank), never in cash directly to the officer. If in doubt about an overly insistent check, it is possible to note the agent’s name, rank, and identification number, which they are required to provide.

Choosing Your Mode of Transport

The most common local transport (dala-dala minibuses, boda-boda motorcycle taxis, tuk-tuk) combines very low prices and low safety standards: overcrowding, random maintenance, sometimes non-existent insurance. Many accidents, sometimes fatal, are linked to these vehicles.

For an expatriate, the safest combination is:

It is important to avoid taxis hailed randomly on the street, especially at night, and never get into a vehicle already occupied by other unknown ‘passengers’. Some of the documented ‘express kidnappings’ in Dar es Salaam were committed by drivers (taxis or ride-hailing) or with their complicity.

Ferries, Boats, and Pirates

Tanzania has experienced several deadly shipwrecks on domestic routes (Dar es Salaam–Zanzibar, between Zanzibar islands, ‘Lake Zone’ routes). The main cause: overloading of passengers and insufficient maintenance of vessels.

The recommendations are clear:

– use only reputable companies for the Dar–Zanzibar crossing;

– refuse to board a visibly overloaded or poorly maintained boat;

– locate life jackets and emergency exits when boarding.

Offshore, in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, acts of piracy remain a significant threat; pleasure craft are advised to avoid the area classified as high risk. For an expatriate, this point mainly concerns offshore sailing projects.

Health, Hospitals, and Emergencies: Securing the Medical Side

In terms of healthcare, Tanzania does not offer the standards of Western Europe or North America. Even in Dar es Salaam, public hospitals are overcrowded and under-resourced. In major cities, acceptable-quality private facilities exist, but costs can skyrocket quickly, especially for long-term expatriation.

Major Health Risks

The country is in a zone with a high infectious disease burden:

– malaria: present in all regions below about 1,800m. Chemoprophylaxis is recommended for most itineraries, including for expat life at sea level (Dar, Zanzibar).

– tropical diseases: dengue, chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, schistosomiasis (fresh water), typhoid fever, cholera.

– arboviruses and serious zoonoses: yellow fever (vaccination required if transiting through an endemic country), rabies (high circulation among dogs and wild animals), mpox, Marburg, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus.

– tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other STIs.

Prevention relies on a combination:

Healthcare System and Insurance

Pre-hospital emergency infrastructure is very limited: there is no truly operational public ambulance service across the entire territory. A few private operators (Knight Support, AAR, AMREF Flying Doctors for air evacuations) offer services in major cities and some parks.

For serious cases, it is common to consider a transfer to Nairobi or South Africa. An international medical evacuation can cost over €20,000, hence the crucial importance of international health insurance with evacuation coverage.

Nevertheless, there are reference hospitals:

– in Dar es Salaam: Aga Khan Hospital, Muhimbili National Hospital, Regina/Regency Medical Centre, various private clinics;

– in Moshi/Arusha: Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Selian Lutheran Hospital;

– in Mwanza: Weill Bugando Medical Centre;

– in Zanzibar: Mnazi Mmoja Hospital and private clinics.

Emergency Numbers and Personal Organization

The official emergency numbers are: 112 for medical emergencies in Europe, 15 for the SAMU in France, 18 for firefighters, and 17 for police.

– 112 for police (and in some sources, for police/ambulance/fire),

– 114 for medical emergencies,

– 111 for firefighters,

– complementary services (Red Cross, Wildlife, Poison Control, etc.).

The reliability of these lines varies by region and mobile operator, with better feedback for Vodacom and Halotel regarding 114 in some areas. Emergency calls are in principle free, and most operators speak Swahili and, in major cities, functional English.

For an expatriate, an essential checklist includes:

– saving emergency numbers in your phone and on paper;

– getting a local SIM card (Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, Halotel) to maximize coverage;

– identifying the nearest private hospital and memorizing its numbers;

– checking if your insurance works with ambulance providers and how to reach them;

– having a first aid kit and common medicines, especially in rural areas.

Political Environment, Terrorism, and Freedom of Expression

Tanzania remains historically more stable than some neighbors. The country experienced a peaceful constitutional transition in 2021 with the arrival of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. But tensions exist: dominance of a single ruling party for decades, persistent corruption, reduced media space.

Demonstrations and Unrest

General elections can be sensitive times. Past elections on Zanzibar have sometimes turned violent, and the 2025 elections saw violent demonstrations with deaths and injuries. During these episodes, authorities do not hesitate to:

For an expatriate, the conduct to adopt is simple:

– stay away from any demonstration or political gathering;

– follow local news via multiple sources (media, expat groups, embassies);

– anticipate reserves of cash, fuel, medicine, water, and food during election periods;

– avoid public political comments, including on social media.

Terrorism: Localized but Real Risk

The main focal point of terrorist risk is the southern border with Mozambique, in the Mtwara region, where groups affiliated with the Islamic State in Mozambique have already carried out attacks, including in Kitaya in 2020. Groups linked to Al-Shabaab (Somalia) are also active regionally.

Potential targets include:

– security posts and armed forces,

– places of worship,

– hotels, restaurants, bars frequented by foreigners,

– transport hubs and large crowds.

This risk remains very remote from the daily life of an expatriate based in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, or Zanzibar living an ordinary life, but it justifies increased vigilance during major events, religious holidays, and gatherings.

The usual advice applies: avoid unnecessary crowds, monitor your surroundings in public places, follow local security instructions and those from your embassy.

Rights, Local Laws, and Sensitive Topics

Living in Tanzania means submitting to local law, even when it differs radically from the norms of one’s home country.

Particularly Sensitive Themes

Several points require enhanced caution:

Dress Codes and Religious Respect

Throughout the country, modest dress is valued, especially outside tourist beach areas. This is particularly true in Zanzibar and Pemba, which are almost entirely Muslim majority.

A few guidelines:

During Ramadan, eating, drinking, or smoking ostentatiously in public during the day is frowned upon, even offensive. It is better to consume in hotels, restaurants, or private spaces.

Managing Interactions with the Police

During a police check, it’s better to remain calm, respectful, and patient. You can ask for the officer’s name, rank, and place of assignment. The law provides that you must give at minimum your name and address; the rest of the questions may be subject to legal counsel, especially if you are suspected of an offense.

If you are arrested, you have the right to legal assistance and to inform your embassy or high commission. Diplomatic missions maintain lists of local lawyers, without endorsing responsibility for their services.

Culture, Social Codes, and Informal Security

Security depends not only on police and fences, but also on the quality of social relations. Tanzania is a collectivist society, where family, clan, and neighborhood play an essential role.

Politeness, Respect, and ‘Face’

Tanzanians are generally warm, polite, and attached to formalities. Greetings are central: time is taken to ask how the person is, their family, their work. With elders, a specific greeting (‘Shikamoo’ / ‘Marahaba’), sometimes accompanied by a slight bow, expresses respect.

This cultural dimension has a concrete impact on security: an expatriate who respects local codes, greets neighbors, chats with guards and shopkeepers, often benefits from an informal network of vigilance around them.

Religion, Gender, and Expected Behavior

The country is very religious (Christian on the mainland, Muslim in Zanzibar, with persistent traditional beliefs). Modesty and discretion are cardinal values, especially for women.

– choose accommodations with a good reputation and enhanced security;

– avoid walking alone late at night;

– limit overly familiar interactions with persistent strangers;

– dress conservatively off the beach;

– politely but firmly decline suspicious offers (outings, transport, drinks).

These measures are not meant to restrict their freedom, but to account for reported realities: cases of verbal harassment, sexual assault, sometimes insufficient handling by authorities.

Expatriate Integration: Networks, School, Work, Housing

To turn a ‘medium-risk’ environment into a pleasant living setting, the key is integration into reliable networks and structuring one’s daily life.

Expatriate Networks and Social Life

Many structures facilitate settlement:

– online communities (InterNations Tanzania, Expat.com, ‘The Tanzania (TZ) Connection’ in Dar es Salaam, etc.);

– local clubs (Corona Tanzania, Dar Hash House Harriers, cycling clubs, choirs, swimming or sailing clubs);

– professional or national groups (Cambrian Society for Welsh, business associations, etc.).

These networks play a central role in:

Education and Children’s Health

The Tanzanian public system remains far from Western standards. Most expatriates choose private international schools, concentrated around Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Moshi.

Institutions like International School of Tanganyika, Braeburn Dar es Salaam, Haven of Peace Academy, Aga Khan International School offer IB or British curricula. Fees are high (up to over $30,000 USD/year for upper levels), but the quality and security of the setting are generally there.

On the medical side, it is crucial to plan ahead:

Work, Income, and Relative Precariousness

The job market is open primarily to Tanzanians; Class B work permits are issued to foreigners only if no equivalent local skill is available. For an expatriate, arriving with a pre-negotiated contract in a sought-after field (engineering, IT, energy, health, international education, high-end tourism) strongly reduces precariousness.

The cost of living, especially if adopting a local consumption style (food, clothing, services), remains significantly lower than Europe. But ‘expat’ expenses (rent in a premium neighborhood, international school, international health insurance) weigh heavily. A realistic setup budget, including several months’ rent in advance, school fees, and insurance, avoids resorting to riskier housing or transport solutions.

Nature, Parks, and Safaris: Safety Outside Cities

One of Tanzania’s great strengths is its network of national parks and reserves, covering over 40% of the territory. These areas are generally well-managed, with good guide quality and safety oriented towards natural rather than criminal risks.

Safaris and Wildlife

In iconic parks (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Nyerere, Lake Manyara, Gombe, etc.), the main threats are related to:

The constant recommendations are to:

– only use licensed operators, referenced by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO);

– scrupulously follow guide instructions;

– never walk alone in the bush or outside secured areas;

– check insurance coverage (including helicopter or air ambulance if venturing on Kilimanjaro or very remote areas).

Kilimanjaro and High-Altitude Trekking

The ascent of Kilimanjaro is not primarily a criminal risk: the dangers come from altitude, cold, fatigue, and lack of preparation. Every year, hikers become seriously ill or die on the mountain, while rescue capabilities are limited.

– choose a registered agency, with licensed guides (TALA) and respect for KPAP standards for porters;

– avoid offers that are too cheap, often synonymous with cuts in safety;

– opt for a longer itinerary (7 to 9 days) to reduce the risk of acute mountain sickness;

– take out insurance covering altitude and evacuation.

Towards a Peaceful Expatriation: Summary of Habits to Adopt

Living in Tanzania as an expatriate is far from impossible; on the contrary. Many foreigners reside there long-term, raise their children, start businesses, and enjoy an exceptional natural setting. The country is politically more stable than other states in the region, and tourist areas are rather well-secured.

But peace of mind is not automatic. It relies on a combination of factors:

By combining these elements, Tanzania can become a place to live that is both safe, stimulating, and deeply enriching. The beauty of the parks, the warmth of encounters, and the cultural richness largely compensate for the constraints, provided one remains clear-eyed and organized. In this context, security is not an obstacle to expatriation, but a project to manage with the same rigor as visas, children’s schooling, or the work contract.

Cyril Jarnias

Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.

On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.

Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.

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