For travellers from Canada
Tanzania Safari from Canada
The calving season on the southern Serengeti plains falls in the middle of the Canadian winter, and the Mara River crossings in the summer holidays. This guide covers flights from Canadian cities, the visa and insurance you need, and which safari suits each time of year.
A clear price in US dollars with no hidden costs, usually within a day.
Quick facts for Canadian travellers
Flights from Canada
Airlines flying into Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, and the routes announced for 2027
There are no direct flights from Canada to Tanzania, so you connect once on the way to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is about an hour from Arusha, where our safaris begin. From Toronto, the quickest routing is usually Ethiopian Airlines, which flies nonstop to Addis Ababa in about 13 hours and connects from there to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.
Qatar Airways flies from Toronto and Montreal to Doha, Turkish Airlines from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to Istanbul, and KLM from several Canadian cities to Amsterdam, and all three connect to Tanzania. Schedules change by season, so please compare routes on the airline websites before you book, and allow a comfortable connection time on the way out.
We do not book international flights, but we arrange your airport transfers and any flights within Tanzania, such as Arusha to Zanzibar, as part of the itinerary. If you want to finish on the beach, it often works well to fly into Kilimanjaro and home from Zanzibar.
Routes checked November 2026 on airline websites and in airline announcements. Fares and schedules change often, so please check with the airline.
| Flying from | One-stop routes to Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Toronto (YYZ) | Ethiopian Airlines nonstop to Addis Ababa, Qatar Airways through Doha, Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, KLM through Amsterdam |
| Montreal (YUL) | Qatar Airways through Doha, Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, KLM through Amsterdam |
| Vancouver (YVR) | Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, KLM through Amsterdam |
| Calgary (YYC) and other cities | KLM through Amsterdam, or a domestic flight to Toronto or Montreal to join one of the routes above |
Visa and insurance
Canadian passport holders need a tourist visa. The High Commission of Tanzania in Ottawa lists the single-entry tourist visa at $50, valid for 90 days. The Government of Canada notes that this visa can also be issued on arrival at the main airports, but we recommend applying online through the official eVisa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz at least two weeks before you travel. Please use the official portal only, as third-party sites charge an extra fee, and 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, even with a Canadian 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. Please keep your own travel insurance as well, with cover for hospital stays and medical 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. The Government of Canada also recommends seeing a travel health clinic, preferably six weeks before your trip, to discuss vaccines and antimalarial medication for your itinerary and time of year. Hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended for travellers to Tanzania, and routine vaccines should be up to date.
A yellow fever certificate is not needed for a direct journey from Canada. Tanzania asks for proof of vaccination from travellers coming from, or transiting through an airport in, a country where yellow fever occurs, and Ethiopia and Kenya are both on that list. If your route connects through Addis Ababa or Nairobi, please check the transit rule with your travel clinic before you fly. The Government of Canada Tanzania page has the full health section.
Which safari suits each time of year
Many Canadian travellers plan around the school calendar, while others come in January and February to swap the winter for the calving season. March Break falls in different weeks depending on the province, so 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas and New Year | The herds are back on the southern plains around Ndutu and the first calves are born from late December. Festive rates apply at most camps, and the best-placed camps book up to a year ahead | Calving Season Safari: Ndutu & Ngorongoro7 Days, from $2,640 per person11-Day Tanzania & Zanzibar11 Days, from $3,350 per person |
| January and February | Peak calving season at Ndutu, with lion, cheetah and hyena following the herds. It is warm and green in Tanzania at this time of year, so it suits travellers who are free outside the school holidays | Calving Season Safari: Ndutu & Ngorongoro7 Days, from $2,640 per personHoneymoon Tanzania & Zanzibar11 Days, from $5,510 per person |
| March Break | In the first half of March the herds are usually still on the southern plains and lodge rates have dropped to green season. The long rains usually arrive in the second half of the month | Calving Season Safari: Ndutu & Ngorongoro7 Days, from $2,640 per person5-Day Northern Circuit Safari5 Days, from $1,815 per person |
| Summer holidays | The dry season. The herds reach the Mara River in the northern Serengeti, with the first crossings in early July in some years and from mid-July in others. This is peak season, so please book early | Great Migration Safari: Northern Serengeti10 Days, from $4,680 per personFamily Safari Tanzania8 Days, from $2,625 per person |
| September and October | The end of the dry season. Tarangire is at its best for elephants, the crossings continue in the north, and there are fewer families travelling once Canadian schools are back | 8-Day Classic Tanzania Safari8 Days, from $2,625 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 Canada
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. Our founder studied and worked in Canada before returning to Arusha in 2023. Every quote is in US dollars, with the lodges named and every park fee included separately, and our park fee tables show the official government figures.
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.
The Government of Canada notes that foreigners have been victims of scams involving safaris, and recommends using reputable companies and checking them before you pay. Our licence and company registration details are on our trust page.
Safety, money and local laws
The Government of Canada advises a high degree of caution in Tanzania overall. It advises against all travel within 10 km of the border with Mozambique in the Mtwara Region, and against non-essential travel to the rest of southern Mtwara, in the far south of the country. The northern safari circuit and Zanzibar are not in those areas. We recommend reading the Government of Canada travel advice for Tanzania before you book and again before you travel, including its guidance for 2SLGBTQI+ travellers.
Tanzanian shillings and US dollars are the usual ways to pay, and cards are not widely accepted in rural areas, so a small amount of US dollars is useful for tips and extras. Cash over $10,000 must be declared on arrival and departure.
A few local laws are worth knowing before you pack. Plastic bags are illegal in Tanzania and visitors can be fined, so please leave them at home. Bringing in a drone requires a permit from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. Photographing military sites, airports and some government buildings is not allowed, and it is polite to ask before photographing people.
Safari and Zanzibar
After a long journey from Canada, 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 Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from Canada to Tanzania?
No. Every route from Canada connects once. From Toronto, Ethiopian Airlines flies nonstop to Addis Ababa in about 13 hours and connects to Kilimanjaro. Qatar Airways flies from Toronto and Montreal through Doha, Turkish Airlines from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver through Istanbul, and KLM from several Canadian cities through Amsterdam. The most convenient airport for a northern safari is Kilimanjaro International (JRO), about an hour from Arusha.
Do Canadian citizens need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes. The single-entry tourist visa costs $50 and is valid for 90 days, according to the High Commission of Tanzania in Ottawa. The Government of Canada notes that a single-entry visa can also be issued on arrival at the main airports, but we recommend applying online through the official eVisa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz at least two weeks before you travel, so there is no queue or uncertainty after a long flight. Please use the official portal only, as third-party sites charge an extra fee.
Do I need the mandatory Tanzanian travel insurance if I already have a Canadian policy?
Yes. Since 1 October 2026, every visitor to mainland Tanzania must buy the government inbound travel insurance, even with a personal policy in place. It costs USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child aged 3 to 17. Please keep your own travel insurance as well. The Government of Canada advises that medical facilities in Tanzania are not up to Canadian standards and that an upfront payment is usually required, so your policy should cover hospital stays and medical evacuation.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
Not for a direct journey from Canada. Tanzania asks for proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers coming from, or transiting through an airport in, a country where yellow fever occurs. Ethiopia and Kenya are both on that list, so if your route connects through Addis Ababa or Nairobi, please check the transit rule with a travel health clinic before you fly. Routes through Amsterdam, Doha or Istanbul do not raise this question.
Can I pay in Canadian dollars?
Our quotes are in US dollars, because lodges and park fees in Tanzania are priced in dollars. You can pay by card (Visa, Mastercard or Amex) or by bank transfer, and your card provider converts the amount from Canadian dollars. Payment by bank transfer has no fee from us.
Which safari suits March Break?
March Break falls in different weeks depending on the province. In the first half of March the herds are usually still on the southern plains after the calving season, and lodge rates have already dropped, so our Calving Season Safari works well. If your break is in the second half of the month, the long rains are more likely, and our 5-day Northern Circuit, built around Ngorongoro Crater and the central Serengeti, is the more reliable choice.
Is Tanzania safe for Canadian travellers?
The Government of Canada advises a high degree of caution in Tanzania overall. It advises against all travel within 10 km of the border with Mozambique in the Mtwara Region, and against non-essential travel to the rest of southern Mtwara south of the A19 highway, in the far south of the country. The northern safari circuit and Zanzibar are not in those areas. We recommend reading the latest advice on travel.gc.ca before you book and again before you travel.
What is the time difference, and will I need a plug adapter?
Tanzania is on East Africa Time all year. It is eight hours ahead of Toronto and Montreal in winter and seven hours ahead in summer, and eleven hours ahead of Vancouver in winter and ten in summer. Sockets in Tanzania are mostly the three-pin Type G, at 230 volts, so you will need an adapter, and please check that your chargers accept 230 volts (most phone and laptop chargers do).
Plan your safari from Canada
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