For travellers from Qatar
Tanzania Safari from Qatar
Kilimanjaro is about five and a half hours from Doha on a nonstop flight, Tanzania is on the same time as Qatar, and halal food is the norm across the country. This guide covers flights, the visa for citizens and residents, and which safari suits Eid and the summer holidays.
We usually reply within a day with a clear price in US dollars and no hidden costs.
Quick facts for travellers from Qatar
Flights from Qatar
Qatar Airways flies nonstop from Doha to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in about five and a half hours. Kilimanjaro is about an hour from Arusha, where our safaris begin, so the safari can begin soon after you land. The Kilimanjaro flight does not run every day, so please check the days for your dates before you plan the rest of the trip.
Qatar Airways also flies nonstop to Zanzibar and serves Dar es Salaam. One option is to fly into Kilimanjaro for the safari and home from Zanzibar after a few days on the beach, and we arrange the flight from Arusha to Zanzibar in between. Schedules in the region changed several times during 2026, so please check 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.
Routes checked November 2026. Flight times are approximate, 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 |
|---|---|
| Doha to Kilimanjaro (JRO) | Qatar Airways nonstop, about 5.5 hours, not daily. Best for the safari |
| Doha to Zanzibar (ZNZ) | Qatar Airways nonstop, best for the beach, or to fly home after the safari |
| Doha to Dar es Salaam (DAR) | Qatar Airways, with a short domestic flight to Arusha |
Visa and insurance
Qatari citizens need a visa, and the Embassy of Tanzania in Doha lists the single-entry tourist visa at QAR 190 ($50), valid for 90 days, and you can apply online through the official eVisa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz. Residents of Qatar need the visa for their own passport. Most nationalities pay the same $50, but some, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, need a referral visa, which the embassy says is approved within six weeks, so please apply early. 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. 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, and we recommend keeping your own travel insurance as well, with cover for 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.
Malaria is present in Tanzania, so please see your doctor or a travel clinic a few weeks before you travel to discuss anti-malarial medication and vaccinations. A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, so it does not apply to a nonstop flight from Doha.
Which safari suits each holiday
The Eid dates depend on the sighting of the moon and may move by a day. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr (around 9 March 2027) | The herds are usually still on the southern plains after the calving season, and rates drop from 1 March at most camps. 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 |
| Eid al-Adha (around 16 May 2027) | The end of the long rains. Green landscapes, low lodge rates and very few other vehicles, although some seasonal camps close | 5-Day Northern Circuit Safari5 Days, from $1,815 per person |
| Summer holidays | The cool, dry season, and the Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti, with the first crossings in early July in some years and from mid-July in others. 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. The crossings continue in the north and Tarangire is at its best for elephants | 8-Day Classic Tanzania Safari8 Days, from $2,625 per person |
| Winter break | The herds are back on the southern plains, and the first calves are born from late December. 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 |
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 Qatar
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 riyals.
Halal travel, safety and local customs
Halal food is the norm across Tanzania and standard on all our safaris. Zanzibar is mainly Muslim, with a long Swahili and Omani history, and Stone Town's mosques and old quarter make a good half-day visit before the beach. Our halal safari page explains how we plan prayer times, meals and Ramadan travel.
Dress is modest in Tanzania, particularly in Zanzibar. Single-use plastic bags are banned, including in your luggage, and visitors can be fined. Photographing military sites is not allowed, and it is polite to ask before photographing people.
Foreign governments advise a high degree of caution in Tanzania because of crime and the risk of unrest, and advise against travel to parts of the far south near the border with Mozambique. The northern safari circuit and Zanzibar are not in those areas. Our safari safety page summarises the current advice and explains how to check any operator.
Safari and Zanzibar
With nonstop Qatar Airways flights to both Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, it is easy to combine a safari with the beach. 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 Doha.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from Doha to Tanzania?
Yes, Qatar Airways flies nonstop from Doha to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in about five and a half hours, although not every day, so please check the days for your dates. It also flies nonstop to Zanzibar and serves Dar es Salaam. Kilimanjaro is about an hour from Arusha, where our safaris begin, so the Kilimanjaro flight is the most convenient for a northern safari.
Do Qatari citizens need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes, the Embassy of Tanzania in Doha lists the single-entry tourist visa at QAR 190 ($50), valid for 90 days. You can apply online through the official eVisa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz, and we recommend applying at least two weeks before you travel.
I live in Qatar but hold another passport. What visa do I need?
The visa you need depends on your passport rather than your country of residence. Most nationalities pay the same $50 for a single-entry tourist visa. Some passports, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, need a referral visa, which the Embassy of Tanzania in Doha says is approved by the Immigration head office within six weeks of applying, so please apply early. Citizens of some countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore, do not need a visa at all.
Do I need the mandatory Tanzanian travel insurance?
Yes. Since 1 October 2026, every visitor to mainland Tanzania must buy the government inbound travel insurance, including visitors who do not need a visa. It costs USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child aged 3 to 17. Please keep your own travel insurance as well, with cover for medical evacuation.
Is halal food available on safari?
Yes, halal food is the norm across Tanzania and standard on all our safaris, and our halal safari page explains how we plan meals, prayer times and travel during Ramadan.
Which safari suits the Eid al-Adha holiday?
Eid al-Adha is expected around 16 May 2027, subject to the sighting of the moon. Mid-May is the end of the long rains in northern Tanzania, with green landscapes, low lodge rates and very few other vehicles, although some seasonal camps close. Our 5-day Northern Circuit, built around Ngorongoro Crater and the central Serengeti, suits a short holiday at this time of year.
Which safari suits the summer holidays?
July and August are the cool, dry season in northern Tanzania, with cold early mornings on the Ngorongoro crater rim, which is a welcome change from the Qatari summer. 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.
What is the time difference?
Tanzania and Qatar are both three hours ahead of GMT all year, so there is no time difference and no jet lag.
Guides for other countries
Plan your safari from Qatar
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