For travellers from Australia
Tanzania Safari from Australia
The Australian summer holidays fall in the calving season on the southern Serengeti plains, and the winter holidays in the start of the dry season. This guide covers flights from Australian cities, the visa and insurance you need, and which safari suits each school holiday.
We usually reply within a day with a clear price in US dollars and no hidden costs.
Quick facts for travellers from Australia
Flights from Australia
There are no direct flights from Australia to Tanzania, and most travellers connect once in the Gulf. Emirates flies from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide to Dubai, with onward flights to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Qatar Airways flies from Australia to Doha, with onward flights to Tanzania including Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is about an hour from Arusha, where our safaris begin.
Flights through the Gulf were disrupted for several months in 2026. In October 2026 Smartraveller lowered its advice for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to "exercise a high degree of caution", and Qatar Airways is adding more Australian services from December 2026. Please check the latest Smartraveller advice for any country you transit, and the current timetable with the airline, before you book.
We do not book international flights, but we arrange your airport transfers and any flights within Tanzania as part of the itinerary. If you land in Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, we add the short domestic flight to Arusha so the safari starts on time.
Routes checked November 2026 in airline announcements. Fares and schedules change often, so please check with the airline.
Airlines flying into Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, and the routes announced for 2027
| Flying from | Routes to Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Sydney and Melbourne | Emirates through Dubai, Qatar Airways through Doha |
| Adelaide | Emirates through Dubai, Qatar Airways through Doha |
| Brisbane and Perth | Emirates through Dubai, with more Qatar Airways services to Doha from December 2026 |
Visa and insurance
Australian passport holders need a visa. Smartraveller advises applying for an eVisa online before you travel, through the official portal at visa.immigration.go.tz, although some single-entry visas can be issued on arrival at the main airports. The single-entry tourist visa costs $50. Our visa guide explains the application step by step.
Since 1 October 2026, every visitor to mainland Tanzania must also buy the government inbound travel insurance from the National Insurance Corporation, even with an Australian policy in place. It costs USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child aged 3 to 17, and our travel insurance page explains how to buy it. Smartraveller notes that this cover is limited, so your own policy should cover all medical costs, including evacuation.
Health
As of November 2026, because of Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa, Tanzania asks all travellers to complete a Traveller's Health Surveillance Form online at afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz, before departure or on arrival, and travellers from affected countries are screened at the airport. This is a temporary measure, so please check that it still applies before you travel.
Smartraveller advises that malaria occurs all year in Tanzania, except in areas above 1,800 metres, and recommends anti-malarial medication. You need a yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, and some airlines may ask to see it when you leave. Medical facilities are limited, and a serious illness or injury may mean evacuation to Kenya or another country, so please check that your insurance covers it. The Smartraveller Tanzania page has the full health section.
Which safari suits each school holiday
School holiday dates vary between states, but each break falls in a different season in Tanzania. Please tell us your exact dates and we will check where the herds are likely to be.
| When | What is happening in Tanzania | Our suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Summer holidays | The herds are on the southern plains around Ndutu and the calving season begins, with the births increasing through January. Festive rates apply over Christmas and New Year | Calving Season Safari: Ndutu & Ngorongoro7 Days, from $2,640 per person11-Day Tanzania & Zanzibar11 Days, from $3,350 per person |
| April holidays | The long rains. Green landscapes, the lowest lodge rates of the year and very few other vehicles, although some seasonal camps close | 5-Day Northern Circuit Safari5 Days, from $1,815 per person |
| June and July holidays | The start of the dry season. The herds move north through the western Serengeti, and the first Mara River crossings come in early July in some years and from mid-July in others | 8-Day Classic Tanzania Safari8 Days, from $2,625 per personFamily Safari Tanzania8 Days, from $2,625 per person |
| September and October holidays | The end of the dry season. The crossings continue in the northern Serengeti and Tarangire is at its best for elephants | Great Migration Safari: Northern Serengeti10 Days, from $4,680 per person |
From prices are per person sharing, for the Comfort tier with six guests, for travel in 2027. Single rooms, children, and Christmas, New Year and Easter dates are quoted separately. Our Great Migration month by month guide shows where the herds are in every month.
Tell us when you can travel
Send us your dates and who is travelling, and we will reply with a day-by-day itinerary and a full price with no hidden costs.
Booking and paying from Australia
We are based in Arusha and plan every safari ourselves, so you deal with the same team from the first quote to the end of the trip. Every quote is in US dollars, with the lodges named and every park fee included, and our park fee tables list the official government figures for each park.
A 30% deposit confirms the booking, and the balance is due 60 days before you arrive. You can pay by card (Visa, Mastercard or Amex) or by bank transfer. Our cancellation terms are on the terms page, and our licence details are on the trust page.
Our quotes are in US dollars, because lodges and park fees in Tanzania are priced in dollars, and your card provider converts the amount from Australian dollars.
Safety, consular help and local laws
Smartraveller advises a high degree of caution in Tanzania overall, and advises against all travel within 30 km of the border with Mozambique in the Mtwara region, in the far south of the country. The northern safari circuit and Zanzibar are not in that area. Smartraveller also asks travellers to take extra care in and around Arusha, so we arrange your transfers from the airport and between hotels as part of every safari. Please read the latest Smartraveller advice before you book and again before you travel, and our safari safety page explains how to check any operator.
There is an Australian Consulate in Dar es Salaam that provides limited consular assistance, and full consular help comes from the Australian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya. The 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre is on +61 2 6261 3305.
Single-use plastic bags are banned in Tanzania, including in your luggage, and visitors can be fined. Dress standards are conservative, especially in Zanzibar, so outside the resorts women are advised to avoid shorts and sleeveless tops.
Safari and Zanzibar
After the long flight from Australia, many travellers add a few days on a Zanzibar beach at the end of the safari. Our 11-Day Tanzania & Zanzibar trip starts from $3,350 per person, and our honeymoon itinerary from $5,510 per person.
We include the flight from Arusha to Zanzibar in these itineraries, so the only flights you book yourself are the ones to and from Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from Australia to Tanzania?
No. The usual routes connect once in the Gulf. Emirates flies from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide to Dubai, with connections to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, and Qatar Airways flies from Australia to Doha, with connections to Tanzania including Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about an hour from Arusha, where our safaris begin. Gulf schedules changed several times during 2026, so please check the current timetable with the airline before you book.
Do Australians need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes. Smartraveller advises applying for an eVisa online before you travel, through the official portal at visa.immigration.go.tz, although some single-entry visas can be issued on arrival at the main airports. The single-entry tourist visa costs $50 under Tanzania's published visa fees. You may be asked for proof of your return journey, and third-party visa sites charge an extra fee for the same application.
Do I need the mandatory Tanzanian travel insurance if I have an Australian policy?
Yes. Since 1 October 2026, every visitor to mainland Tanzania must buy the government inbound travel insurance from the National Insurance Corporation, even with a personal policy in place. It costs USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child aged 3 to 17. Smartraveller notes that this cover is limited, so please keep your own travel insurance as well, covering medical costs and evacuation.
Do I need malaria tablets?
Smartraveller advises that malaria occurs in Tanzania all year, except in areas above 1,800 metres, and recommends anti-malarial medication. Most of the northern safari circuit is below that height, so please speak to your GP or a travel clinic well before you travel. Yellow fever vaccination is only needed if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, which includes a transit in some African countries.
Which safari suits the Australian summer holidays?
The summer holidays fall in the calving season. From late December the herds are on the southern plains around Ndutu and the births increase through January, with lion, cheetah and hyena following the herds. Our Calving Season Safari is designed for these months. Festive rates apply over Christmas and New Year, and the best-placed camps book early.
Is Tanzania safe for Australian travellers?
Smartraveller advises a high degree of caution in Tanzania overall, and advises against all travel within 30 km of the border with Mozambique in the Mtwara region, in the far south. The northern safari circuit and Zanzibar are not in that area. Smartraveller also asks travellers to take extra care in and around Arusha, so we arrange your transfers from the airport and between hotels as part of every safari.
Where can Australians get consular help in Tanzania?
There is an Australian Consulate in Dar es Salaam that provides limited consular assistance, and full consular help comes from the Australian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya. In an emergency you can also call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305.
What is the time difference, and will I need a plug adapter?
Tanzania is seven hours behind Brisbane all year, seven hours behind Sydney and Melbourne in winter and eight during daylight saving, and five hours behind Perth. Sockets in Tanzania are mostly the three-pin Type G, so you will need an adapter for Australian plugs. The voltage is 230 volts, so Australian chargers work without a converter.
Guides for other countries
Plan your safari from Australia
Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will reply with a full itinerary and a full price in US dollars with no hidden costs, usually within a day.
WhatsApp +1 519 721 3872 · hello@salehsafaris.com