How to travel responsibly in Tanzania?

Tanzania’s beauty and wonder are legends in their own right. Three of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders (Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti wildlife migration) are found in this single dazzling country spanning from the Swahili Coast to the shores of Lake Tanganyika. But despite its striking aesthetics and abundant natural resources, it is critical that these same destinations are protected through responsible travel and Kizo Safaris takes great care to ensure that our Tanzania holidays provide our guests with a one-of-a-kind, authentic, and sustainable travel experience. We strongly encourage all visitors to Tanzania to travel responsibly and respectfully in order to ensure that tourism has a positive impact on the economy, the environment, and local communities.

Here are ways you can help practice responsible travel in Tanzania:

1. Always respect local etiquette and be mindful of local culture, customs, and religion, especially when visiting remote rural areas and the conservative Muslim coast and islands.
2. Tanzania is a conservative country, so you should dress modestly and respectfully. Please keep in mind that vest tops, short shorts, ripped or dirty clothing are not acceptable in Tanzania.
3. If you are visiting Zanzibar, beachwear is perfectly acceptable on the beach and around your hotel swimming pool; however, you should cover up when leaving the beach areas and visiting Stone Town. Our top recommendation is to purchase a kanga, a local sarong that can be used to cover shoulders as well as a towel, blanket, or scarf at other times. During the month of Ramadan, you should be extra cautious about covering up.
4. If you are visiting Zanzibar, please do not participate in any boat trips that offer the chance to swim with dolphins. Although these have largely replaced the island’s traditional dolphin hunt, there are no regulations governing dolphin tourism in Tanzania, and most tours are led by boat drivers who have no experience or interest in animal behavior. Boats frequently crowd around and chase the dolphins, and tourists jump into the water to swim with them, with no monitoring of the dolphins’ behavior.
5. While on a game drive, do not allow your guide to get too close to the animals, and do not allow your driver to deviate from the usual path. Be as quiet as possible at all times and avoid making any noises that might attract or frighten wildlife. Of course, you’ll be excited if you see a pride of lions for the first time, but please keep your excitement to yourself. When a predator is hunting or eating a kill, a mother has a young animal beside her, or a lone male elephant or buffalo is nearby, you should remain calm and composed and keep a safe distance.
6. Please do not pick any plants or flowers in national parks or game reserves.
7. Consider visiting the southern and western areas of Tanzania, such as the Selous, Ruaha, Katavi, and Mahale Mountains, when planning a safari. When compared to the Serengeti and northern areas, these areas receive far fewer visitors, and a lack of income means fewer rangers patrolling the vast landscapes – and less of an incentive to protect the wildlife from poachers. Your conservation fees will help directly to conservation efforts.
8. Leave no litter in national parks or game reserves – whatever you bring in, you must take out. Litter can be harmful to wildlife in addition to causing environmental damage. Only your footprints will be left behind.
9. If you are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, keep in mind that a good relationship with your guides and porters will make your trek even more enjoyable; therefore, you should book with a company that ensures proper porter and guide treatment. Before booking your trek, ask your travel consultant about their company’s policies on porters’ rights and working conditions, as well as their wages, to ensure that they are fairly compensated. You should ideally book with a company that is a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Association Project, which is an organization dedicated to porter welfare on Kilimanjaro.
10. During your stay in Tanzania, make an effort to interact with locals and learn about their cultures and customs. Visiting rural villages and markets provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the local way of life. If you’re on a trek or safari, make an effort to get to know your guides and porters by asking their names and getting to know them.
11. Always obtain permission before photographing anyone, including children, and respect others’ privacy. Rather than just taking pictures, we recommend that you interact with the locals. Cultural exchange is a two-way street, and you are a source of fascination as well.
12. A visit to a school can be a fascinating experience, but keep in mind that tourists taking photos in classrooms on a daily basis can be disruptive to children’s education. If you do visit a school, make sure it is planned and coordinated by a responsible tour guide and authorized by the school’s principal. Gifts and donations should be given to the principal rather than the students, who may begin to view foreigners as a source of gifts and money.
13. Never buy anything made from an endangered species, such as coral, turtle shells or eggs, ivory, fur, or bone.
14. Rather than hotel tourist shops, buy locally made items such as jewelry, wooden carvings, and Maasai blankets at markets, villages, and small-scale souvenir shops.
15. Eat at local restaurants and cafés to broaden your horizons. Not only will this help the local economy, but it will also provide you with a more authentic holiday experience.

Carry a Swahili phrasebook with you and make an effort to learn a few key words and phrases. The ability to communicate in basic Swahili will undoubtedly earn you many smiles from the friendly locals you will meet during your stay in Kenya. Swahili is simple for native English speakers to learn because the words are pronounced exactly as they appear to an English speaker.

For any further information on the topic or request for your bespoke holiday, please contact our Travel Specialists or submit an online enquiry to get started.