Flag of TanzaniaTanzania

Money & currency

Money in Tanzania

Updated 2026-08-15

Money & Currency
TSh

Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)

Currency code: TZS

Practical Money Tips

Two currencies, and bring clean dollars

Tanzania runs on two currencies at once and a visitor needs both. The Tanzanian shilling is everyday money — markets, local restaurants, transport, small shops. The US dollar is the safari economy's currency: national park fees, lodges, Kilimanjaro packages and most tourist services are quoted and payable in dollars, and that is not a convenience for foreigners but how the sector is priced. The critical detail, and the one that catches people out at park gates and bank counters alike, is that older US notes are frequently refused. Bring bills issued from 2006 onward, unmarked and undamaged — worn, torn or pre-2006 notes are turned away routinely and there is no arguing the point. Bring a mix of denominations too: larger notes tend to get a better exchange rate, while small ones are what you actually need for tips and incidentals. Exchange at banks or licensed bureaux in the cities rather than at hotel desks, and never on the street.

Cards at lodges, cash everywhere else

Visa and Mastercard work at upmarket safari lodges, international hotels and some city restaurants, and that is roughly the extent of card acceptance. Contactless and phone payments are available at a small number of modern terminals in the largest city and should not be relied on anywhere. Outside that narrow tourist layer — local restaurants, markets, transport, smaller guesthouses, fuel stations and a great deal of Zanzibar — cash is the only option, in shillings. The practical rule is to carry enough of both currencies for the day ahead, and to assume that the further you get from a city or a lodge the more completely cash rules. Card surcharges at lodges are common and worth asking about at booking rather than at checkout.

ATMs in towns, none in the parks

Cash machines are available in the main towns and cities — the coastal capital, the safari gateway towns, the lake cities and Zanzibar's main town — and most accept foreign Visa and Mastercard, dispensing shillings. Per-transaction limits apply and are modest by European standards, so several withdrawals may be needed for a large sum, with fees at both ends each time. What matters more is where they are not: there are no ATMs in the national parks, on Kilimanjaro, or across most rural areas. Draw what you need before leaving town, and treat the last city on your route as the last machine. As anywhere, decline the offer to be charged in your home currency and take shillings — that conversion is priced in the machine's favour.

Mobile money, and what it is good for

Tanzania has a mature mobile-money system and locals use it for almost everything, from groceries to utility bills. The dominant service is M-Pesa, run through one of the main mobile networks, with competing services from the other operators; a visitor can set one up with a local SIM card bought at the airport or in town, which requires a passport. It is genuinely useful for small vendors, local restaurants and some transport, and it saves carrying large amounts of cash around a city. What it will not do is pay for your safari: park gates, lodges and climbing operators want dollars or card, not mobile money. Treat it as a convenience for daily life rather than a substitute for the cash you need for the trip itself.

Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.

Common Money Questions

What currency does Tanzania use?

The Tanzanian shilling for everyday life, and the US dollar alongside it throughout tourism — park fees, lodges and most activities are quoted and paid in dollars. Non-residents may not import or export shillings, so change what you need on arrival and spend it before leaving. Cash above a published threshold must be declared at entry and exit, and the threshold is revised periodically, so check it if you are carrying a significant sum.

How expensive is a Tanzania safari?

More than in neighbouring countries for a comparable trip, and the reason is structural rather than negotiable: government park and conservation fees are charged per person per day and are among the highest in the region, before any operator's cost. Above that sit accommodation, vehicle, fuel and guiding, which is where the range from budget camping to luxury tented camp opens up enormously. Rates and fees are both revised periodically, so get a current quote broken down into fees versus services rather than working from any published figure — and treat a quote that looks far below the others as buying fewer days, a bigger group or a worse vehicle.

Should I bring US dollars or euros?

Dollars, clearly. Park gates, lodges, safari operators and climbing companies quote and accept them; euros are exchangeable at banks and bureaux in the cities but are not accepted for direct payment. Bring notes issued from 2006 onward and in good condition, because older or damaged bills are routinely refused. Visitors from Europe should treat dollars as the primary travel currency and keep only a small euro reserve.

Do I need cash for tipping, and how much?

Cash, yes, and it matters more here than in most places — tips form a significant and expected part of guides', drivers', camp staff's and porters' income rather than a bonus. Amounts are conventionally reckoned per person per day and pooled for camp staff, and your operator will give current guidance, which is worth asking for at booking so it can be budgeted rather than improvised at the end. Bring it in dollars in small denominations. On Kilimanjaro the crew is large and the sums are correspondingly significant; the Kilimanjaro guide explains why the crew question is worth asking an operator about before you book.

How do I pay for transport?

Cash for almost everything local. Taxis negotiate rather than meter, so agree the fare before getting in; the three-wheeled bajaji common in the cities and Stone Town works the same way. Shared minibuses are the cheapest option and are cash only. Ride-hailing apps operate in the largest cities and are the simplest way to avoid the fare conversation. Domestic flights are booked and paid online in advance, and the Zanzibar ferry takes cash at the terminal and sometimes card.

What is the Zanzibar insurance requirement?

Zanzibar requires visitors to hold travel insurance from its own designated national insurer for stays up to 92 days, and it is enforced at entry. Your existing international policy does not satisfy it — this is a separate purchase, made online before travel or on arrival, and it does not replace proper travel insurance either. Budget it as a fixed cost of visiting the islands, and check the current terms before you go since they are revised.

Entry rules, visa types and practical notes live on the Tanzania overview.

Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.