Tanzania Unrest, What Travelers Should Do Now

Published on Nov 4, 2025, 10:33 am CST

5 min read

Key points

The U.S. raised Tanzania to Level 3, Reconsider Travel, on October 31, 2025
Night curfews, internet throttling, and security operations continue in major cities
Air and sea links have faced cancellations and ferry suspensions between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar
Near-term safaris should consider rerouting, retiming, or postponing depending on park access and flight reliability

Impact

Expect Curfews And Checks: Plan movements outside 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. windows and carry ID at all times
Air And Sea Disruptions: Confirm flight status repeatedly and have backup routings, ferries between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar have faced suspensions
Connectivity Limits: Assume intermittent internet and mobile data, save offline copies of tickets and hotel details
Insurance And Flexibility: Prioritize policies that cover civil unrest and allow date changes or cancellation for credit
Safaris And Lodges: Coordinate closely with operators on park access, transfers, and contingency nights in Arusha or Zanzibar

Post-election unrest in Tanzania has triggered curfews, internet restrictions, and a stepped-up security presence in Dar es Salaam and other hubs, prompting the U.S. Department of State to raise the country to Level 3, Reconsider Travel, on October 31, 2025. Travelers have reported disrupted airport access and suspended ferries, while airlines and tour operators are adjusting plans in real time. If you are booked to transit Dar es Salaam or connect to Zanzibar, you should build generous buffers, confirm every segment repeatedly, and be ready to re-route or change dates.

What changed and why it matters

The State Department's Level 3 advisory cites unrest, crime, terrorism, and targeting of LGBTQ+ individuals, and it specifically warns that demonstrations can flare with little notice and may lead to rapid security measures. This marks a shift from last year's Level 2 posture and follows days of protests and a heavy response around the October 29 vote, which saw curfews and internet shutdowns. For travelers, this translates to variable airport operations, limited after-dark movement, and patchy connectivity for essential tasks like receiving gate changes or mobile boarding passes.

Latest developments

Authorities imposed a night-time curfew in Dar es Salaam and expanded deployments nationwide after protests erupted around the election. Independent reporting notes continued police operations, restrictions on sharing protest images, and ongoing concerns from human-rights groups about the use of live ammunition. The information environment remains fluid due to intermittent internet service and platform throttling.

Transport links have been uneven. Over the past week, local and international outlets documented stranded passengers, domestic flight cancellations, and interruptions to ferry services connecting Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, compounding trip complexity for visitors combining mainland parks with beach stays. While conditions can normalize quickly, travelers should treat near-term schedules as provisional and verify the very latest status before heading to any terminal.

How travel is affected right now

Airports and flights. Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar have seen rolling day-of disruption tied to security posture and connectivity outages. Even when flights operate, curfew windows and checkpoints can make late-night airport transfers impractical. Build buffers, avoid tight domestic-to-international connections, and carry printed or offline copies of tickets.

Ferries and coastal links. Operators on the Dar-Zanzibar corridor have suspended or retimed services during and after the election period. If your itinerary depends on the ferry, arrange refundable seats, pre-book an extra hotel night, or swap to air once seats are reliably confirmed.

Connectivity and payments. Social platforms and messaging services have seen restrictions, which can break app-based travel plans. Save e-tickets, hotel addresses, and embassy numbers offline, and carry a backup card and cash in small denominations.

Security posture. Expect an elevated police and military presence, spot checks, and short-notice crowd-control measures around government buildings, transport nodes, and central districts, including in Zanzibar. Avoid gatherings, obey curfews, and monitor embassy channels for fresh alerts.

Analysis, planning the next four to eight weeks

Safari season planners should triage trips by date, gateway, and flexibility. For departures in the next two weeks, the most conservative option is to retime to daytime arrivals and departures, add a one-night buffer in Arusha or Dar es Salaam, and lock refundable hotel and transfer arrangements. For trips a month or more out, monitor advisories and operator guidance, since curfews and platform restrictions often ease before political grievances are resolved. If your route pairs the Serengeti with Zanzibar, ensure you can swap ferry legs for air, or reverse the order to reduce same-day dependencies.

Background. Tanzania's election period sparked nationwide protests and a forceful response that drew concern from international media and rights groups. Casualty estimates vary widely and continue to be disputed, which underscores how fast the situation can shift and why travelers should rely on first-party advisories and live operator updates rather than social-media clips alone.

LGBTQ+ travelers. The updated U.S. advisory calls out targeted risks. If you or someone in your party is LGBTQ+, review destination-specific guidance, keep profiles low, and confirm your insurer explicitly covers security-related evacuation, not only medical care.

Related Adept Traveler coverage

If your 2026 plans include northern parks, see our recent supplier and destination context, Siringit's 2026 camp expansion and seasonal strategy, and how the Four Seasons Safari Lodge times the Great Migration in the central Serengeti. These pieces outline on-the-ground logistics that can help you re-sequence days or pick alternative staging points when movement in cities is constrained: Siringit Collection Expands Tanzania Safaris With 2026 Camp and Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Great Migration Timing.

Final thoughts

Tanzania remains a marquee safari destination, but the post-election security environment adds real friction for time-sensitive travel. If you are traveling soon, keep plans flexible, move during daylight, and verify flights and ferries repeatedly. For trips further out, watch advisories and operator statements, and build contingency days so you can still reach the parks you came to see.