Travel Insurance for Tanzania
Expert tips for choosing a great travel insurance for Tanzania
Our Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, has some tips to help you choose a suitable policy for your trip.
Adrian Taylor
Chief Executive – General Insurance
Compare policies that suit your budget
When deciding on an insurance policy, consider the range of cover it provides. You may choose to include medical coverage, travel delay and cancellation costs, theft of personal belongings and cover for rental vehicle excess if you plan to drive.
Declare your pre-existing medical conditions
Always declare any pre-existing medical conditions as part of your travel insurance application so your insurer can assess what cover they can offer you. Cover for pre-existing conditions may incur an additional premium; however, without it, you may not be covered for claims related to your condition.
Increase your excess to lower your premium
Consider choosing a higher excess to reduce your premium. But remember that your excess is what you pay out-of-pocket if you need to claim, so always choose a manageable excess amount.
Travel insurance for Tanzania explained
If international travel is on your mind, Tanzania may be a destination you’re considering. It’s been growing in popularity for Australians, especially as a safari and adventure destination. But before you jump on a plane, it’s important to consider a travel insurance policy.
Travel insurance can protect you if things go astray on your trip, from medical needs to lost luggage. And, with travel insurance now mandatory for international tourists visiting Tanzania, you won’t be able to enter the country without it.
Do I need travel insurance for Tanzania?
Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for international travellers to Tanzania.1 The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania introduced the policy in 2025, and it came into effect as of January 2026.
This mandatory travel insurance policy can be purchased upon arrival in Tanzania, where you will be required to pay an insurance fee of USD$44 (AUD$63) in Tanzanian shillings. It’s important to note that this policy must be bought from the official government channels, not via a third party.
While the policy is valid for up to 92 days and covers emergency medical expenses, loss of luggage, rescue services and repatriation, you may wish for additional cover. You should still consider purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance policy for your Tanzanian trip, as the mandatory policy won’t cover you for many tourist adventure activities, such as trekking Kilimanjaro, trip cancellations or personal liability.
Do I need travel insurance for Zanzibar?
In addition to the mandatory travel insurance policy for mainland Tanzania, tourists are also required to purchase a separate mandatory travel insurance policy to visit the popular archipelago of Zanzibar, which is part of Tanzania.
This insurance policy must be bought from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) and costs USD$44 (AUD$63). A child’s policy costs US$22 (AUD$31).
Like the policy for mainland Tanzania, the Zanzibar policy covers medical emergencies, lost baggage, rescue services and repatriation.
How much is travel insurance to Tanzania?
A travel insurance policy for Tanzania could cost $100 to $330; however, this is based on a comprehensive policy for a traveller aged 30 for a two-week holiday who needs to declare pre-existing medical conditions.*
The above quote was sourced from our comparison service, but it’s important to note that the cost of a travel insurance policy varies from person to person. A range of factors will determine the price you’ll pay, including:
- Your age
- Destination
- Duration of travel
- Desired level of cover
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Optional extras to your policy.
What is the best travel insurance policy for Tanzania?
What is considered ‘best’ for one traveller may not be the most suitable for another, so there’s no universal top travel insurance policy for Tanzania. Instead, to find a policy that suits you, consider what you’ll need on your trip – do you have expensive camera equipment that you need higher cover limits for, or do you plan on going on a safari? These are important considerations to make when finding a policy that suits your plans and your budget.
What is the cheapest travel insurance policy for Tanzania?
The cheapest travel insurance policy for Tanzania will vary between travellers, just like the ‘best’ policy does. While a basic, medical-only policy is likely to be cheaper than a comprehensive plan, you’ll need to consider whether the inclusions, exclusions and policy limits will suit your trip. It’s worth comparing quotes online to find a policy that suit both your plans and your budget.
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Yes, Australians will need a visa to travel to Tanzania. You can apply online via the Tanzania Immigration website. It costs USD$50 (AUD$72).2
If you haven’t arranged the visa before your trip, it may be possible to obtain a single-entry visa on arrival at the main points of entry, if you meet the entry requirements. You may also be required to provide proof of your return journey.
Common mistakes travellers make when visiting Tanzania
Anyone can make a mistake while travelling, especially considering you may be out of your comfort zone and don’t know your surroundings. Sometimes these are even quite common for travellers, such as the mistakes below that travellers shared online:
Being overcharged: It’s common for taxi drivers and shop owners to try to overcharge tourists for goods and services. A good way to avoid this is to confirm the price of your trip with the taxi driver before entering the vehicle, and to barter with shop owners for a reasonable price.- Booking separate legs: It’s sometimes cheaper to book flights with separate legs instead of direct ones, but this has gotten some travellers into strife with lost luggage or missed connections.
- Drinking tap water: While the tap water is technically safe to drink, Australian stomachs aren’t used to it – so you may end up very ill. It’s not only drinking the tap water either; it’s advised that you use bottled water when you’re brushing your teeth as well.
- Neglecting vaccines: It’s recommended that travellers to Tanzania get vaccines, including for yellow fever, hepatitis A and typhoid. Many of those who choose to neglect getting these vaccines found themselves very ill, which isn’t a great way to spend a trip!
- Not getting travel insurance: Above all else, travellers say that not getting travel insurance was their biggest regret. You never know when something will go wrong, and having a comprehensive travel insurance policy can give you peace of mind that you’ll be financially protected if it does.
Inclusions and exclusions
What should my Tanzania travel insurance policy include?
A travel insurance policy should cover many different things, from overseas medical care to lost luggage and emergency assistance. What travel insurance specifically covers will vary from policy to policy, with each insurance company usually offering different levels of cover from basic to comprehensive.
With that in mind, a comprehensive policy will typically cover you for:
Overseas medical care and hospital expenses
Australia and Tanzania do not have reciprocal healthcare, so it’s essential you have medical insurance organised. Most travel insurance plans offer overseas medical care and hospital expenses, which is especially important for remote areas where medical care such as medical evacuation may be extremely costly.
Trip interruptions, cancellation and delay costs
Sometimes plans change, and your travel insurance policy may cover you for trip interruptions or cancellations. This cover inclusion can also help in situations where a delay means you need emergency accommodation, or your money back for activities you can no longer attend.
Baggage delays and lost, damaged or stolen personal belongings
Depending on your level of coverage, baggage delays and stolen belongings can be covered up to varying monetary values, so it’s important to consider what they might be worth.
Theft is common in Tanzania, especially in tourist-heavy areas such as largest city Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar. This includes pickpocketing, bag snatching and petty theft, all of which can be covered by your travel insurance policy.
Adventure activities
There are plenty of adventure activities to experience while visiting Tanzania, from safaris through the Serengeti National Park to hiking Mount Kilimanjaro or snorkelling and scuba diving in Zanzibar.
While some activities may be covered in your policy, many adventure activities aren’t standard inclusions. If you find the activities you want to do aren’t automatically included, you might still be able to secure coverage by purchasing an adventure sports add-on.
24/7 emergency assistance
Emergencies can happen at any time of day, so ensuring your travel insurance provider can offer 24/7 emergency assistance is essential. The emergency line will usually offer a range of assistance, from helping you find a medical facility to organising to get you home if need be.
It’s essential you read your policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to know the inclusions, exclusions, conditions, limits and important information relating to your policy.
What does my travel insurance policy for Tanzania exclude?
Your travel insurance policy to Tanzania will not cover you in certain instances, which are important to be aware of. Generally, travel insurance doesn’t provide cover for:
- Ignoring government advice: Destinations with a ‘Do not travel’ warning are listed on the Australian Government’s website, Smartraveller.
- Trip cancellations due to change of mind or being unprepared (e.g. forgetting to renew your passport).
- High-risk sports and activities (such as white-water rafting, skydiving).
- Leaving bags unattended.
- Claims related to alcohol and illicit substances.
- Claims resulting from illegal activities.
In these cases, your insurance policy claim may be rejected. However, some things that are exclusions from most policies may be covered if you have a comprehensive insurance policy and have added additional extras, such as adventure cover. In order to understand what you are and aren’t covered for, you should read your policy’s PDS.
How do I compare travel insurance quotes for Tanzania online?
Comparing quotes online is a great way to browse different policies and consider whether they suit your trip and your budget. You can compare their inclusions, exclusions, limits and more, helping you to understand what’s on offer.
To find the policy that may suit you and your travel itinerary best, you should explore a range of options via Compare the Market’s comparison tool.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.
1. Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania. Travel insurance for foreign nationals entering mainland Tanzania. Last updated July 2025. Accessed March 2026.
2. Smartraveller. Tanzania. Last updated January 2026. Accessed March 2026.
*Prices from our website on 20/04/2026 for comprehensive cover with a $200 excess for one person aged 30 travelling to Tanzania 1 July – 15 July 2026. Minimum cover for trip cancellation $10,000, minimum cover for luggage $5,000 and a need to declare pre-existing medical conditions. Prices are indicative only.