For travellers from the UK
Tanzania Safari from the UK
From May 2027 there will be direct flights from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro, about an hour from Arusha, where our safaris begin. This guide covers flights, the visa and insurance you need, and which safari suits each UK school holiday.
A clear price in US dollars with no hidden costs, usually within a day.
Quick facts for UK travellers
Flights from the UK
Airlines flying into Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, and the routes announced for 2027
There are currently no direct flights from the UK to Tanzania, so most travellers connect once on the way to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The usual routes are with KLM through Amsterdam, Qatar Airways through Doha, Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa and Kenya Airways through Nairobi. Economy return fares from London are published from around £650, and are usually lowest outside the school holidays.
This will be easier in 2027. British Airways will fly from Gatwick to Kilimanjaro three times a week between 29 May and 31 October 2027, with a flying time of about nine hours, and the same aircraft continues to Zanzibar. The season covers the whole of the dry season and the Mara River crossings, so you can fly into Kilimanjaro for the safari and home from Zanzibar after a few days on the beach. From 3 November 2027 TUI also plans twice-weekly flights from Gatwick to Zanzibar.
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. Kilimanjaro Airport is about an hour from Arusha by road, 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes depending on traffic.
Sources: British Airways media centre, published fares checked November 2026. Fares change often, so please check with the airline.
Visa, insurance and health
British passport holders need a tourist visa. The single-entry visa costs $50 and you can apply through the official eVisa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz. We recommend applying at least two weeks before you travel, and using the official portal only, as third-party sites charge an extra fee. 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 UK policy in place. It costs USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child aged 3 to 17. Please keep your own UK policy as well, with cover for medical evacuation. Our travel insurance page explains how to buy it.
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. A yellow fever certificate is not needed when you fly from the UK. It is only required if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, which can include a transit of more than 12 hours in some African countries. For vaccinations and malaria advice, please see the TravelHealthPro Tanzania page and speak to your GP or a travel clinic.
Which safari suits each school holiday
Most families travelling from the UK are tied to school holidays, and each one falls in a different season in Tanzania. Holiday dates vary by school and between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scottish summer holidays usually start in late June, which is when the herds are in the Western Corridor, while English holidays from late July fall in the main river-crossing season.
| Holiday | What is happening in Tanzania | Our suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| February half-term | Peak calving season at Ndutu, with lion, cheetah and hyena following the newborn calves | Calving Season Safari: Ndutu & Ngorongoro7 Days, from $2,640 per person |
| Easter 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 |
| May half-term | The rains usually ease and the herds are in the central and western Serengeti. British Airways' direct flights start on 29 May 2027 | 8-Day Classic Tanzania Safari8 Days, from $2,625 per person |
| Summer holidays | The dry season. Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti, and the best general game viewing of the year. This is peak season, so book early | Great Migration Safari: Northern Serengeti10 Days, from $4,680 per personFamily Safari Tanzania8 Days, from $2,625 per person |
| October half-term | The end of the dry season. Tarangire is at its best for elephants and the herds begin moving south from the Mara | 8-Day Classic Tanzania Safari8 Days, from $2,625 per person |
| Christmas | The herds are back on the southern plains. Festive rates apply from mid to late December, and the best camps book a year ahead | 11-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 which holiday you are planning around
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 the UK
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 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, and our licence details are on the trust page.
Please note that our safaris are land-only, as we do not sell international flights, so they are not covered by ATOL, which protects holidays that include a flight. For trips without ATOL cover, the Civil Aviation Authority suggests travel insurance and paying by credit card as other forms of protection.
Safety, money and halal travel
The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel only to the area within 20km of Tanzania's border with the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, in the far south. The northern safari circuit and Zanzibar are not in that area. We recommend reading the FCDO travel advice for Tanzania before you book and again before you travel. Please note that it is illegal in Tanzania to photograph or film protests.
US dollars are the most useful currency for tips and extras, in notes printed after 2009, as older notes are often refused. Most lodges accept cards. If you plan to exchange pounds, the FCDO notes that Bank of England notes get a better rate than Scottish or Northern Irish notes.
For Muslim travellers from the UK, halal food is the norm across Tanzania and standard on all our safaris, and our halal safari page explains how we plan prayer times, meals and Ramadan travel.
Safari and Zanzibar
Many UK travellers finish with a few days on a Zanzibar beach, and from summer 2027 the British Airways route makes this easier, as you can fly into Kilimanjaro and home from Zanzibar. 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 the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from the UK to Tanzania?
Not at the moment, but this changes in 2027. British Airways will fly from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro three times a week from 29 May to 31 October 2027, with the same aircraft continuing to Zanzibar, and the flight to Kilimanjaro takes about nine hours. TUI plans twice-weekly flights from Gatwick to Zanzibar from 3 November 2027. Until then, every route from the UK connects once, usually through Amsterdam, Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa or Nairobi, and the most convenient airport for a safari is Kilimanjaro International (JRO).
Do British citizens need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes. British passport holders need a tourist visa, and the single-entry visa costs $50. 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. Please use the official portal only, as third-party sites charge an extra fee for the same application.
Do I need the mandatory Tanzanian travel insurance if I already have a UK 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. We still recommend a full UK travel insurance policy as well, including medical evacuation, because the government policy is a basic scheme.
Is my safari protected by ATOL?
No. ATOL covers holidays that include flights, and we do not sell international flights, so our safaris are land-only arrangements and fall outside the ATOL scheme. The Civil Aviation Authority suggests travel insurance and paying by credit card as other forms of protection for trips without an ATOL. Our deposit is 30%, the balance is due 60 days before you arrive, and our cancellation terms are set out in writing before you pay anything.
Can I pay in pounds?
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 pounds. Payment by bank transfer has no fee from us.
Which safari suits the summer school holidays?
The summer holidays fall in the dry season, which is the best time of year for general game viewing, and the Mara River crossings usually run from July to October. Our Great Migration Safari includes three nights near the crossing points at Kogatende, and our Family Safari is paced for children aged 5 and up. Please book early, as July and August are the busiest months in the Serengeti.
Is Tanzania safe for British travellers?
The FCDO advises against all but essential travel only to the area within 20km of Tanzania's border with the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, in the far south of the country. The northern safari circuit and Zanzibar are not affected. We recommend reading the latest FCDO advice before you book and again before you travel, and our safari safety page explains how to check any operator.
Will I need a plug adapter, and what is the time difference?
Most lodges use the same three-pin Type G sockets as the UK, at 230V, although some older buildings have round-pin sockets, so a small universal adapter is useful. Tanzania is three hours ahead of the UK in winter and two hours ahead during British Summer Time, so there is very little jet lag.
Plan your safari from the UK
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