Money and payments in Tanzania — how to arrange it smartly

The first question: dollar or shilling?

Tanzania has two currencies you need as a tourist: the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) and the US Dollar (USD). Both are indispensable, but for different things.

**Dollars** are used for: - Park entry fees (paid via the TANAPA app or card machines) - Hotels and lodges - Tips for guides and drivers - Larger purchases at shops that sell to tourists

**Shillings** are used for: - Local restaurants and stalls - Taxis in the city - Small purchases at markets - Water and snacks along the way

The exchange rate is roughly 2,500–2,700 TZS per dollar (2026). But you don't need to calculate everything yourself — in most tourist shops the price is simply quoted in dollars.

Debit card: what works and what doesn't?

The short answer: your debit card works in Arusha, but not in the parks.

In Arusha there are ATMs from CRDB, NMB and NBC that accept Maestro, Visa and Mastercard. That works fine. It is better to withdraw smaller amounts multiple times ($200–300 per time) than one large withdrawal, so you are not walking around with too much cash.

In the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire there are no ATMs. You cannot pay by card at lodges in the park. Make sure you have enough cash before departure.

Credit card: useful but not everywhere

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at larger hotels, some restaurants in Arusha and most lodges. But always factor in a surcharge — some lodges charge an extra 3–5% for card transactions.

American Express is virtually unusable anywhere in Tanzania.

How much cash should you bring?

This depends on your trip length and style. As a rule of thumb:

- **Tips** (see below): plan $15–20 per day per person - **Souvenirs and markets**: $50–100 for the whole trip - **Extra snacks, drinks, shops**: $30–50

For a 7-day safari with two people: count on $400–600 in cash, on top of what the trip already costs.

Always bring **new, clean banknotes**. Crumpled or damaged dollars are sometimes refused or exchanged at a poor rate.

Exchanging money: do it smartly

The best exchange rate is at official exchange offices in Arusha (Forex bureaus) — not at the airport, not in hotels. The airport always has a worse rate.

Never exchange money on the street. This is illegal and you are almost guaranteed to be cheated.

Tips: the most asked-about topic

Tipping is a serious part of a Tanzania safari. Your guide and driver earn their basic income, but a large part of their actual income comes from tips. This is not an extra — it is an expectation and a custom.

The guideline we use:

| Who | Tip per day per group | |-----|------| | Guide/driver | $15–20 | | Camp manager/lodge host | $5–10 | | Other logistics staff | $3–5 |

Tips are traditionally given at the end of the safari, in envelopes per person. Your guide then distributes to other staff as applicable.

At Simba Tours tips are always optional, but our guides Jonas and Collin do their work with full dedication — and guests who appreciate that generally show it through tipping.

Paying in the parks

All national parks in Tanzania require electronic payment via the TANAPA system. This goes via: - The official TANAPA app (download before departure) - Card readers at park gates

Cash is no longer accepted at the gate. Make sure you have the app installed or that your tour operator has prepaid the entry fees — at Simba Tours this is always included.

Safety with money

Spread your money. Not everything in one wallet. In Tanzania pickpocketing in busy areas (markets, bus stops) is a risk — not in the parks, but in cities.

Use a money belt for larger amounts. In your hotel or lodge keep excess cash in the safe.

Do not leave money visibly in the car. Not because theft in the parks is common, but simply because you don't want to think about it.

Summary: the Allard checklist

- Bring $400–600 in new dollar bills (for a week) - Withdraw shillings in Arusha for daily purchases - Tips: plan $15–20 per day for guide and driver - Exchange only at official forex bureaus, never on the street - Check whether park entry fees are already paid by your tour operator - Credit card: useful as backup, but never as the only payment method