Planning a safari in the Serengeti, a Kilimanjaro climb or a beach week in Zanzibar? From October 1, 2026, there's a new item on your Tanzania pre-departure checklist: government-approved inbound travel insurance. It costs $44 per adult, it's sold by a single approved provider, and arriving without it could mean being denied entry at the border.
Most international leisure visitors will need to buy it, regardless of whether they arrive by air, land or sea. There are exemptions - including certain residents of East African Community and Southern African Development Community states, diplomats, transit passengers and some permit holders - but if you're flying in from the US, Europe or elsewhere for a holiday, budget for it. Note this is on top of any travel insurance you already have, not a substitute for it.
The pricing tiers are reasonably generous: children aged 3 to 17 get a 50% discount, under-threes travel free, and groups of ten or more receive 10% off qualifying adult premiums. The policy covers up to 92 days with multiple entries allowed, which is handy if your East Africa trip involves hopping between countries and returning to Tanzania. Coverage includes emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, repatriation and lost or damaged checked luggage.
Here's the wrinkle that catches people out: mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar run separate insurance systems, and which one you use depends on your first point of entry. Fly into Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam and you buy through Tanzania's National Insurance Corporation at inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz. Land in Zanzibar first and you use the island's own portal at inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz. Either policy, bought through the correct channel, covers travel across both mainland and Zanzibar. Payment is by Visa or Mastercard, and while mainland arrivals can technically buy on arrival at designated entry points, buying online before you fly is the smarter move after a long-haul flight. Have your passport number, travel dates, first entry point and emergency contact details ready when you apply.
So is this a reason to skip Tanzania? Hardly. It's $44 on a trip where a decent safari easily runs into thousands per person, though it's fair to see it as another fee stacked alongside visa costs. The real risk isn't the money - it's not knowing about the rule. Add it to the same list as your visa, passport validity and vaccinations, and remember that for an expensive safari or expedition you should still carry comprehensive travel insurance suited to the total trip cost.
For anyone combining mainland parks with a Zanzibar wind-down, the key detail is simple: buy the policy tied to wherever you first touch down in Tanzania, then relax and enjoy one of Africa's great destinations.
