Is it safe to travel solo in Tanzania?
When thinking about a solo trip to broaden your horizon, travel solo in Tanzania will give you more freedom and drives you out of your comfort zone. There’s also less pressure to be constantly on the go as everything is up to you.
Furthermore, solo travel also empowers you to be more independent and adventurous. However, it can’t be helped to think negatively, mainly if it’s your first time doing solo travel.
If you use discretion and mindfulness, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about when visiting Tanzania.
Whether you’re here to sink into tropical beaches or for a few safari trips, Tanzania has so much to offer fellow travelers.
Are you on a tight budget? Our team of safari experts can give you all the tips you’ll need for curating a daily budget and can also assist in crafting you a customized itinerary for your next adventure. So what are you waiting for? Contact us today !
You could be asking yourself if it’s really safe to do solo travel in Tanzania, especially if you’re a solo female traveler. So, is it really safe to do solo travel in Tanzania? Let’s find out!
Is it safe for solo travellers to visit Tanzania?
Yes! It’s safe to do a solo travel in Tanzania. In fact, this African country has been rated many times as the safest African country to visit, particularly for female solo travelers.
But, there are still a few essential things to keep in mind when you decide to be one of the solo female travelers that do African expeditions in Tanzania. It’s best to keep in mind to be always careful of your surroundings, especially when you explore various locations at night.
Kindly read our travel tips below before taking on the major cities, iconic parks, and beautiful beaches and wildlife safaris in this amazing African country.
Tanzania safety travel tips for solo travellers
Since you’re traveling alone, it’s best not to draw unwanted attention. As much as possible, try to blend in and thoroughly immerse yourself in different cultures in Tanzania.
Furthermore, never go out alone at night, and drink alcohol to prevent putting yourself in trouble. There’s no perfect place on earth, and danger could be looming around the corner, so it’s best to mind your behavior whenever you go out alone.
As much as possible, be also aware of your surroundings and never let your guard down. Here are some helpful Tanzania travel tips for solo travelers to help you evade dangerous places and respect local culture:
Be modest in Zanzibar
Although this country is liberal and very relaxed, it’s still an Islamic country. Thus, modesty should be seriously taken into consideration.
As much as possible, dress modestly, especially if you’re traveling to stone town in Zanzibar. The women there are dressing conservatively as Islamic practices remain steadfast at this place.
Avoid walking around with jewelry
Another travel tip that can be useful for you is to keep your distance from the road. Although Tanzania is a safe country for solo travelers, bag-snatching can be common—whereby a thief on a car or motorbike drives close to the road and snatches bags from unsuspecting tourists when they pass.
Always keep your distance from the road and carry your bag close to you to prevent this.
Research and choose a reliable local tour operator
If you’re planning a unique and beautiful hike up Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru, do your research and choose one out of the reliable local operators in Tanzania.
Ensure that your selected operator uses reliable gear and knowledgeable guides.
It’s also best to know that altitude sickness is a real risk in Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro trek. So, it’s best to choose a longer route to give your body enough time to acclimatize.
The same applies to the various national parks around Tanzania.
If you book with a shady tour operator, your safari lodges may be overbooked or your safari vehicle may break down in the middle of the lion-infested Serengeti.
Avoid walking on secluded beaches and places
When traveling alone, common sense is essential to have. Avoid walking on remote beaches alone if you go to the coast, particularly Pemba and Zanzibar.
On top of that, consider leaving your other valuables at home even if you walk in a group to prevent losing them.
Buy a local sim card
If you’re planning to stay for a long time in the country, it’s best to buy a local sim card as public WiFi isn’t so common in Tanzania. Though few upscale restaurants have WiFi, it’s much safer as a solo female traveler to always stay connected wherever you go.
Exciting places to visit in Tanzania
As you land at Kilimanjaro Airport, your travel solo adventure begins. Here, you can do amazing things like going to Dar Es Salaam—a major city and commercial port on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast.
You can also visit the main towns of Arusha, where Mount Meru is located and the primary starting point of Mt. Kilimanjaro. You can also visit the towns of Mwanza, Dodoma, Mbeya, Zanzibar, Dar Es Salaam, and more!
If you haven’t decided yet the locations you want to visit in Tanzania, here are some exciting places worth visiting:
Serengeti National Park
With an overwhelmingly large concentration of wildlife, Serengeti is a head-turner for everyone who visits Tanzania. Massive herds of elephants, predators, and The Great Wildebeest Migration make this national park a must-visit destination.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mt. Kilimanjaro is a must-visit site to go on a thrilling trekking adventure. This mountain is perfectly safe to climb as you don’t need any technicalities to reach its summit.
However, this doesn’t mean that everything will be easy either. This tallest African mountain stands at 19,300 feet tall, making anyone who wants to explore this mountain prone to altitude sickness.
But, as long as you give your body time to acclimatize, you’ll soon be okay and succeed in taking on the summit of the world’s highest free-standing mountain! Choosing one of the best local tour operators also plays a significant part in making your tours safe and smooth sailing.
You can check out our affordable Kilimanjaro tours if you want to conquer Africa’s highest mountain.
Ngorongoro Crater
Although the Ngorongoro Conservation Area isn’t technically a part of the renowned Serengeti, it’s time-worthy to visit the area. You can see black rhinos, buffalos, lions, elephants, leopards, and many other animals that will surely catch your interest.
Furthermore, this site houses the Ngorongoro Crater—the sixth-largest intact volcanic caldera in the world and the Olduvai Gorge. Although the Ngorongoro Conservation Area isn’t technically a part of the renowned Serengeti, it’s time-worthy to visit the area. You can see black rhinos, buffalos, lions, elephants, leopards, and many other animals that will surely catch your interest. A truly excellent game viewing experience.
Furthermore, this site houses the Ngorongoro Crater—the sixth-largest intact volcanic caldera in the world and the Olduvai Gorge.
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara has a stunning and almost unreal view of countless pink flamingos for single travellers. There are also over 400 bird species at this park, and many of them are migrants and waterfowls.
The park is renowned for its impressive tree-climbing lions and vast elephant packs.
Tarangire National Park
Have you ever wanted to watch animals drink from an African watering hole next to ancient baobab trees? Game drives and day tours are very popular here during the dry season when the wildlife teems around the watering holes. Be sure to only go with experienced guides as they’ll know where to take you for some amazing close-up experiences.
Mara River
The Mara River is the permanent water source for the 1.2 million wildebeest. In addition, it also sustains huge populations of numerous wildlife species, such as the hippopotamus, black rhinos, and more.
The region is also home to various birds, with over 450 species having been documented. Smaller species include dik-diks, caracals, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, baboons, warthogs, monkeys, and mongoose.
Prison Island
The beautiful yet controversial Prison Island is another place worth visiting as a solo traveler! The site acted as a coal mine and was utilized as a prison for rebellious slaves in the 1860s.
The island isn’t too far from stone town and is pretty cheap too! You can rent a boat and visit this spot to see the giant tortoise and do water activities like snorkeling.
The view is also exceedingly incredible, and the stunning turquoise ocean is calm and clear!