Money and Tipping in Tanzania: Safari Guide 2026

Tanzania money guide: shillings vs dollars, which US notes work, ATMs, cards and cash, plus how much to tip safari guides, camp staff and Kilimanjaro crews.

7 October 2026 · Golden Memories Safaris

Money on a Tanzanian safari is simpler than most people fear, and more particular than most people expect. The big costs are paid in advance, so you rarely handle large sums. But a handful of small habits make a real difference: which dollar bills you bring, when to use shillings, where to find a cash machine and, above all, how to tip fairly. Tips are a significant part of the income of guides, drivers, cooks, porters and camp staff, and getting them right is one of the nicest things you can do on your trip.

In this guide

Tanzania's currency: shillings and US dollars
Which US dollar bills are accepted
Exchanging money
ATMs and bank cards
How much cash to bring
Paying for your safari
Tipping on safari
Tipping on Kilimanjaro
Tipping in hotels, restaurants and on Zanzibar
How to give a tip
Bargaining, souvenirs and fair prices
Frequently asked questions

What is Tanzania's currency?

The official currency is the Tanzanian shilling, abbreviated TZS. Notes come in denominations from 500 up to 10,000 shillings, and coins in smaller values. The exchange rate moves, so check the current rate with a bank or the Bank of Tanzania before you travel. Prices in the tourism sector, including park fees, lodge rates, tour prices and many hotel bills, are quoted and often paid in US dollars. Everyday goods, such as street food, local transport, small shops, markets and bottled water, are priced and paid in shillings.

In practice, you will use both. Dollars cover large or tourist-oriented items, and shillings cover small daily purchases. Many places accept either and may give a poor rate on dollars if you pay for small items with them, so it pays to keep some shillings.

Which US dollar bills are accepted?

This catches many visitors out. Banks and bureaux in Tanzania are strict about the condition and age of US notes, because older and damaged notes have been the source of forged copies. As a rule:

Bring newer notes. Notes printed in 2009 or later are widely accepted, and some places insist on those printed from around 2013. Older small-head notes are often refused or exchanged at a worse rate.
Bring clean, undamaged notes. Tears, ink marks, stains or heavy creasing can be a reason to refuse them.
Larger notes, such as 50 and 100 dollar bills, usually get a better exchange rate than 1, 5 and 10 dollar bills. Bring a mix, since small notes are handy for tips and small purchases.
Ask your company or your lodge in advance if you are unsure, and check the rules before you travel, because they can change.

How do you exchange money?

Use banks and licensed bureaux de change in Arusha, Moshi, Dar es Salaam and Stone Town. Bring your passport.
Avoid changing money on the street, where scams and counterfeit notes are common.
Airports often have poor rates, so change only a small amount there and the rest in town.
Compare rates, check any commission and count your money before leaving the counter. Keep your receipt.
Do not exchange more than you need, because you may find it hard to change shillings back at a good rate when you leave.

ATMs and bank cards

You can withdraw shillings from ATMs in the main towns, including Arusha, Moshi, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Stone Town, and at some bigger airports. Visa cards are the most widely accepted, and Mastercard works at many machines too. A few points to know:

There are no ATMs inside the national parks or in remote areas, and few in small towns. Withdraw cash before you head out.
Machines have a limit per withdrawal, often a few hundred thousand shillings, and your bank sets a daily limit and charges a fee. Large withdrawals may need several transactions.
Use ATMs inside banks, shopping centres or hotels, in daylight, and cover the keypad. Skimming and card fraud do happen.
Tell your bank you are travelling, so that your card is not blocked, and carry a second card as a backup.
Machines sometimes run out of cash or go offline, particularly at weekends and holidays.

Credit and debit cards are accepted at many larger hotels, some lodges and camps, upmarket shops and restaurants in towns and on Zanzibar. A surcharge of a few percent is common, and cards often do not work in remote camps. Always carry enough cash for tips, drinks and small items, and do not assume a card will be accepted.

How much cash should you bring?

It depends on what is already paid. On a typical package safari, accommodation, park fees, meals, a vehicle, guide and airport transfers are prepaid, and you need cash only for tips, drinks, souvenirs, laundry, optional activities and visas where required. Check what your safari price includes before deciding.

Tips for a one week safari: allow a few hundred dollars per person.
Drinks, souvenirs and extras: allow 100 to 300 dollars per person, or more if you shop.
Optional activities, such as a balloon flight, cultural visit or spa, are usually booked and paid separately, so ask whether they take cards.
Tanzania visa: most travellers apply online and pay by card, so check our visa guide.
A buffer for emergencies: a little spare cash in dollars, kept separately, is sensible.

Keep cash in more than one place, in a money belt or hidden pocket, and use the hotel safe for what you do not need that day. Do not carry large amounts when walking in towns.

How do you pay for your safari?

Most companies take a deposit to secure the booking and the balance before or on arrival. Payment methods vary, and may include bank transfer, card payment through a secure page or cash on arrival. Bank transfers can carry fees from your bank and the receiving bank, and card payments usually carry a surcharge. Agree in writing how much is due, when and in which currency, and ask for a receipt. Pay only into an account in the company's name, as we explain in our guide to choosing a safari company.

Park fees are normally paid by your company to the park authority in advance, using electronic systems. You do not usually pay them in cash on arrival.

Read: How to choose a Tanzania safari company

Tipping on safari: how much and to whom?

Tipping is not compulsory, and it is not a bonus for average service. In Tanzania's tourism industry, wages are modest and tips are a normal and important part of staff income. The amounts below are common guidelines that many operators and travellers use, not rules. Adjust them for the quality of the service, the size of your group and your budget, and ask your safari company what it recommends.

The driver-guide

Your guide is usually both driver and wildlife expert, and the person who shapes your trip. A common suggestion is 10 to 20 US dollars per person per day for a shared vehicle, with the higher end for exceptional service or a small group, and the lower end for a large group. Some travellers give a flat amount per day for the vehicle, 20 to 30 dollars for a private party. For a week-long safari, it adds up to a significant income, and your guide will notice and remember.

The cook and camp crew

On mobile and camping safaris, a cook and sometimes an assistant travel with you. A typical guideline is 5 to 10 US dollars per day for the cook, paid per group.

Lodge and camp staff

At lodges and permanent camps, there is often a communal tip box at reception, which is shared among all staff, including cleaners, kitchen and laundry staff. A common amount is 5 to 10 US dollars per person per night, or 10 to 20 per party per night. Put it in the box at the end of your stay, and give a little extra to someone who went out of their way for you.

Balloon and activity staff

For a balloon flight, a walking safari or a cultural visit, a tip of 5 to 20 US dollars for the guide or pilot crew, depending on group size and service, is appreciated.

A rough weekly total

For two people on a seven day safari, with a private vehicle and a guide, lodge or camp stays and a cook on part of the trip, you might tip a few hundred dollars in total. Plan for it in your budget from the start, so that it does not feel like a surprise at the end.

Tipping on Kilimanjaro

Tipping on Kilimanjaro matters even more, because the crew is large and the work is hard. A typical climb employs a head guide, assistant guides, a cook, waiters and many porters, who carry your tents, food, water and luggage. Many of them earn most of their living during the season, and tips often form a large share of their income. The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project promotes fair treatment for porters and publishes tipping guidance, and it is worth reading before you climb.

As a guide, climbers often budget about 250 to 350 US dollars each for the whole crew on a typical climb, and more for large crews and longer routes. This is commonly divided by role and by day, for the whole group, as follows. These are guideline ranges, so ask your company for its current recommendation.

Head guide: about 20 to 25 US dollars per day for the group.
Assistant guides: about 10 to 15 US dollars per day each, for the group.
Cook: about 10 to 15 US dollars per day for the group.
Waiter or camp assistant: about 5 to 8 US dollars per day each.
Porters: about 5 to 8 US dollars per day each, for the group.

For a group of two to four climbers, these amounts are shared between the group. The longer the climb, the larger the total. For a precise, fair breakdown, ask your operator how many crew will be on your climb and what it suggests.

The tipping ceremony

On the last evening or the final morning, most groups hold a tipping ceremony at camp or near the gate, in which the climbers thank the crew and hand over the tips. It is usually done in front of the whole crew, and is often accompanied by singing and dancing. Your head guide will organise it. Put the cash in labelled envelopes if you wish, and hand the money to the head guide to distribute, or give it directly to each person, as your operator advises. Count the notes carefully, and bring enough small bills.

Tipping in hotels, restaurants and on Zanzibar

Restaurants: if a service charge is not included, 5 to 10 percent is appreciated. In small local places, rounding up is fine.
Hotels: a small tip for porters, such as 1 to 2 US dollars per bag or 2,000 to 5,000 shillings, and a few dollars per day for housekeeping, left in the room.
Taxis and transfer drivers: round up the fare, or add a small tip for a long or helpful journey.
Zanzibar: similar customs apply. A tip for a boat captain on a snorkel trip, a tour guide in Stone Town or a spa therapist is appreciated, typically 5 to 10 US dollars for a half-day outing.
Guides on walking and cultural tours: a few dollars to 10 dollars per person, depending on the length and quality of the tour.

How should you give a tip?

Tip at the end of the service, not the start, and in person if you can. Say thank you, and mean it.
Use US dollars or Tanzanian shillings. Many staff prefer dollars, as they are easy to change, but shillings are also welcome. Make sure that dollar notes are recent and clean, because staff may have difficulty changing old or damaged notes.
Bring small bills, since there may be no change available in remote camps. Pack tip money in advance, and keep it in an envelope.
Ask your company how tips are shared, particularly on Kilimanjaro, so that the crew all benefit.
Never feel pressured. A tip is a thank you, and you are free to give what you feel is right.

Bargaining, souvenirs and fair prices

In markets and craft stalls, bargaining is normal, and the first price is usually well above what a local would pay. Be friendly and patient, start at around half to two thirds of the asking price and settle at a price that feels fair to both sides. Do not haggle over very small amounts, and do not bargain in shops with fixed prices, supermarkets or restaurants. A fair price for a craftsperson is worth paying, because many depend on tourist sales.

Buy ethically. Do not buy products made from endangered animals, ivory, shells or coral, which are illegal to export, and be careful with items made from wood or seeds, which may need a permit. Many cooperatives and community projects sell handmade goods, and buying from them puts more of the money into local hands.

A simple budget worksheet for the cash you carry

Work out your own numbers before you travel, so that you carry enough and not too much. Fill in each line for your own trip.

Tips: safari guide, cook, camp or lodge staff, drivers, and for Kilimanjaro the crew. Use the guidelines above.
Drinks and snacks: check whether drinks are included at your lodges. Many camps include soft drinks and local beer or wine, and charge for premium drinks.
Souvenirs and gifts: set a limit, and leave room in your bag.
Optional activities: balloon flights, cultural visits, spa treatments, diving and boat trips. Ask which accept cards.
Laundry and small services: some camps offer laundry for a fee.
Transport extras: taxis in town, a night in Arusha before or after, airport tips.
Buffer: about ten percent for the unexpected.

Divide the total into what you will carry as cash and what you will draw from an ATM or pay by card, and tell your bank your dates. If you are unsure, ask your company what other guests normally spend.

Why do tips matter so much?

It helps to understand the economics. Guides and drivers are skilled professionals who often work long hours and many months a year, away from their families, in a job that depends on weather, bookings and seasons. Camp staff may work long shifts and live far from home. Kilimanjaro porters carry heavy loads for low daily wages, and the season can be short. In all these cases, tips are not a reward for the extra mile. They are part of how the job is paid, and a major reason people can afford school fees, medical care and housing for their families.

That is why we ask travellers to plan tips as part of the cost of the trip, and why a company that pays fair base wages and shares tips transparently is worth choosing. It is also why you should never feel embarrassed to ask your company how it works.

Mobile money, SIM cards and digital payments

Tanzania has one of the most active mobile money systems in Africa, with services such as M-Pesa and others used for everything from bus fares to market stalls. As a visitor, you may not need it, but it helps to know that local people often pay by phone, that some small businesses prefer it and that you can sometimes pay a driver or a guide this way, if you have a local SIM card and register an account, which requires identification. Most tourists will simply use cash and cards.

If you buy a local SIM for data, your company can tell you which network has the best coverage in the parks you will visit, and the shop will need to register it with your passport. Do not buy SIM cards from street sellers.

Common money mistakes to avoid

Bringing old or damaged dollar notes, and finding they are refused.
Bringing only large notes, and having no small bills for tips.
Assuming that cards will work in the park, at a remote camp or on a small island.
Changing money on the street, and receiving counterfeit notes or short change.
Not telling your bank, and finding your card blocked in the first town.
Carrying all your cash in one place.
Leaving tips until the last moment, and then having no suitable notes.
Not asking how tips are shared, particularly on Kilimanjaro.
Exchanging too much money, and being left with shillings that are hard to exchange back.

Leaving Tanzania: spending your last shillings

Shillings are not easy to exchange outside Tanzania, and the rate at airport bureaux is often poor. Spend your leftover shillings on souvenirs, snacks or a final meal, or tip with them, before you leave. Departure taxes are normally included in your air ticket, but check, because some small airstrips and ferry ports charge fees. Keep a little dollar cash for any last-minute payment, and remember that rules about exporting large sums of currency apply, so declare any amounts that exceed the limit at customs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use US dollars in Tanzania?

Yes, especially for tourist services, but bring recent, undamaged notes, and keep shillings for small purchases.

Do I need Tanzanian shillings?

Yes, for everyday items and local transport. You can get them from an ATM or a bureau de change in a town.

How much should I tip my safari guide?

A common guideline is 10 to 20 US dollars per person per day for a shared vehicle. Adjust for service and group size.

How much should I tip on Kilimanjaro?

Climbers often budget about 250 to 350 US dollars each for the whole crew, divided by role. Ask your operator for its current recommendation.

Are credit cards accepted?

In larger hotels, some lodges and restaurants in towns, often with a surcharge. In remote areas, they are not reliable. Carry cash too.

Is it safe to use ATMs?

Yes, if you use machines in banks and hotels in daylight, cover the keypad and check your statements. Tell your bank you are travelling.

Plan my Tanzania trip

Keep planning your Tanzania trip

These guides cover the next questions most travellers ask.

How much does a Tanzania safari cost?

How much does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro?

Is Tanzania safe for tourists?

Tanzania visa and entry requirements

Sources and further reading

Facts and figures in this guide come from the sources below. Fees, schedules and entry rules change, so confirm current details before you book.

Bank of Tanzania, exchange rates and currency information, bot.go.tz.
Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), Tariffs from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, tanzaniaparks.go.tz.
Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), porter welfare and tipping guidelines, kiliporters.org.
Tanzania Revenue Authority, tax and customs information for visitors, tra.go.tz.

Bank of Tanzania

KPAP tipping guidelines

Last reviewed 7 October 2026. Exchange rates, ATM limits, note requirements and tipping guidelines change, so confirm current details with your bank and your safari company.