A great trip starts with knowing what you need before you arrive.

Planning a trip to Tanzania?

If your itinerary includes Dar es Salaam, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Arusha or other parts of Mainland Tanzania, there is an important travel requirement you need to know about.

Tanzania has introduced mandatory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors entering Mainland Tanzania. Under the Finance Act 2025, the insurance costs the equivalent of USD 44 and is designed to provide emergency assistance for stays of up to 92 days.

And here's where things can get a little confusing.

Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar Have Separate Insurance Requirements

If you're travelling to both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, don't assume that one mandatory policy automatically covers your entire trip.

Mainland Tanzania has its own inbound travel insurance requirement.

Zanzibar has a separate mandatory insurance scheme administered by the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC). Zanzibar's scheme has been in place since 2024 and applies to visitors entering Zanzibar.

So, for an itinerary like:

London → Dar es Salaam → Serengeti → Zanzibar

there are potentially two separate insurance requirements to consider, depending on the traveller's circumstances and entry points.

What Does the Mainland Insurance Cover?

The Mainland policy is intended to provide emergency assistance for situations including:

🏥 Medical emergencies
🚑 Emergency medical evacuation
✈️ Repatriation
🧳 Loss of luggage

The policy is intended for a maximum stay of 92 days.

What About Zanzibar?

Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance is separate and is administered by ZIC.

ZIC currently states that its inbound insurance is mandatory for visitors entering Zanzibar, with coverage for individual trips of up to 92 days.

That distinction matters.

Because when you're planning a multi destination holiday, the details matter just as much as the destinations.

What Travellers Should Do

Before travelling, check the requirements that apply to your specific itinerary, nationality and entry point.

And if your trip includes both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, make sure you don't simply assume that meeting one insurance requirement means you've met the other.

At Curated Tours, we believe travel planning goes beyond booking flights and hotels.

It's also about making sure you're prepared for the practical details that can affect your journey.

Because the last thing you want is to discover an important travel requirement after you've already packed your bags.

Travel. Connect. Impact.