Safari Guide
Tanzania Money: Cash, Cards & Daily Costs
The short answer
Two currencies, one firm rule about the notes.
Tanzania runs on two currencies: Tanzanian shillings (TZS) for everyday spending and US dollars for park fees, safaris, and many hotels. Carry roughly USD 300–500 in clean post-2009 notes per person, plus TZS from ATMs as you go. Cards work at tourist hotels and bigger towns but fail constantly elsewhere — cash is essential. Daily budget: USD 30–50 shoestring, USD 60–120 mid-range, far more on safari.
| Everyday spending | Tanzanian shillings (TZS) |
| Park fees, tours, hotels | US dollars (USD) |
| USD note rule | Series 2009 or newer, unmarked — older notes refused |
| ATMs | CRDB and NMB most reliable · ~TZS 400,000/transaction · USD 3–5 fee |
| Card surcharge | 3–5% at most tourist establishments |
| Safari guide tip | USD 15–25/day from the group total |
| Daily budget (mid-range) | USD 60–120 off-safari |
| Safari daily (mid-range) | USD 400–700 pp all-inclusive |
| Last verified | August 2026 |
Currency
Dollars vs shillings: which currency goes where
National park and conservation fees are priced in US dollars and increasingly paid by card at the gate or via your operator invoice. Safari operators, dive centres, balloon flights, and upper-tier hotels also quote in USD. Shillings are for daily life: street food, dala-dala minibuses, a bajaji across Stone Town, fruit at the market, SIM cards, tips for everyday staff.
One firm rule that catches people every week: your dollar notes must be series 2009 or newer, clean, unmarked, and unfolded. Older notes, notes with any pen mark or fold line, get refused flat by banks, bureaux de change, and many hotels. Ask your bank at home for new bills, and bring a mix of denominations including small ones.
Cards
Cards and ATMs: where they work and where they do not
Cards (Visa and Mastercard; Amex rarely) work at established hotels, dive shops, supermarkets, and better restaurants in Stone Town, Arusha, Moshi, and Dar es Salaam. Expect a card surcharge of roughly 3–5%. ATMs are dependable in towns and absent everywhere else — CRDB and NMB are the most reliable networks, with per-transaction limits around TZS 400,000 and a fee near USD 3–5. There are no ATMs inside the national parks.
Tell your bank you are travelling before departure or payments may get blocked. One thing worth knowing: at many hotel checkouts and lodge billing terminals you will be offered the choice to pay in your home currency instead of TZS — this is dynamic currency conversion and is worth declining every time. The exchange rate is set by the card processor, not your bank, and is typically 3–8% worse than your own bank's rate. Pay in TZS when prompted.
Budgets
Daily budgets: what Tanzania actually costs
Costs swing sharply depending on whether the trip is on safari or simply living on the coast. Off-safari daily budgets: shoestring (guesthouses, local food, public transport) USD 30–50 per person, mostly in TZS; mid-range (comfortable hotel, mix of local and tourist restaurants, a few taxis, a guided day or two) USD 60–120; comfortable Zanzibar week (boutique stays, good restaurants, the odd boat trip) USD 150–300 per couple.
Safari is a separate line because costs are front-loaded into lodge, vehicle, guide, and park fees. Planning figures per person per day all-inclusive: budget camping safari USD 200–350; mid-range lodge safari USD 400–700; high-end or luxury USD 800 to well above USD 1,500. Northern circuit prices climb in the June–October high season; the wet season (March–May) is cheaper and quieter.
The best place to exchange cash is a bureau de change in Arusha or Stone Town — competitive rates, cash transaction, immediate. ATMs at a town bank run a close second. Hotel exchange desks are convenient but give rates 5–10% below the bureau. Airport bureaux have the poorest rates — use them only for a small first-day amount.
Tipping
Tipping: what is expected and how much cash to carry
Tipping is the most consistently under-budgeted item on Tanzania itineraries — it is not a bonus, it is the primary income for guides, drivers, and camp staff. For a 7-night safari, budget approximately USD 150–200 per traveller: safari guide USD 15–25 per day from the group total, camp staff pool USD 5–10 per traveller per day, transfer driver USD 5–10 for a short run. Keep a dedicated envelope of small-denomination USD bills before you leave your last town.
Tip guides and senior staff in dollars; tip everyday service staff in shillings. A stack of USD 50 notes is useless when your guide tip is USD 20 and nobody can give change at a park gate — mixed denominations matter. Street changers should always be avoided: short-change scams and counterfeit notes are the reason, and the too-good rate offered is the tell.
Practical
Cash to carry: the practical summary
Carry USD 300–500 per person in clean, recent bills as your dollar float: mostly for tips, any cash-priced tours, and emergencies. Top up TZS from ATMs as you go rather than carrying large amounts of local cash from the start. Split your money across two locations — a money belt with your main USD float and one card; a day bag or hotel safe with daily spending cash and a backup card. Losing one means you still have the other.
Two cards on two different accounts (ideally Visa and Mastercard from different networks) is the minimum sensible safety net. Card machines fail, connections drop, and some parks and lodges genuinely cannot process a payment when the system is down. Having a backup is not overcaution; it is standard practice for anyone who has travelled here before.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
Arriving with a single card and a few dollar notes from 2006 is one of the most common mistakes guests make before a Tanzania trip.
Should I bring US dollars or euros to Tanzania?
US dollars. They are accepted for park fees, hotels, and tours far more widely than euros or pounds. Crucially: notes must be series 2009 or newer, clean, and unmarked — older notes are refused by banks and bureaux across East Africa.
Can I pay everything by card in Tanzania?
No. Cards work at upmarket hotels, established restaurants, and supermarkets in Stone Town, Arusha, and Dar, often with a 3–5% surcharge. Markets, small guesthouses, dala-dalas, most park gates, and village shops are cash-only. Never rely on a card alone.
How much cash should I carry in Tanzania?
USD 300–500 per person in clean recent dollars for fees and tours, plus TZS topped up from ATMs as you go. Keep it split across two places and carry small TZS notes for tips, taxis, and markets where a large bill can't be changed.
Are ATMs reliable in Tanzania?
In towns yes; in the bush no. CRDB and NMB in Arusha, Stone Town, Moshi, and Dar are the most reliable. Withdrawal caps run around TZS 400,000 per transaction with a USD 3–5 fee. There are no ATMs inside the parks.
How much should I tip on a Tanzania safari?
Budget USD 15–25 per day for your safari guide (from the group total), USD 5–10 per day for camp staff pooled. For a 7-night safari, set aside USD 150–200 per traveller in small-denomination USD bills.
Is it safe to change money at the airport?
Use it only for a small amount to get through the first day. Airport rates are poorer than town bureaux de change or bank ATMs. Change a little at Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar arrivals, then exchange properly in Arusha or Stone Town.
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