Most visitors need a visa to enter Tanzania. The ordinary tourist visa is USD 50 for the great majority of nationalities and USD 100 for United States passport holders, who receive a multiple-entry visa valid for twelve months.
Apply online in advance at the official Tanzanian immigration portal (visa.immigration.go.tz). Allow at least ten working days — most approvals come through in under a week, but there is no way to hurry a slow one. Visas on arrival are still issued at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, but the queues after a long flight are punishing and approval is not guaranteed, so we strongly recommend applying beforehand.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and have at least one blank page. You will also be asked for a return ticket and your first night's accommodation, both of which are on the itinerary we send you. If you are combining Tanzania with Kenya, an East Africa Tourist Visa may work out cheaper and covers both — ask us and we will check for your route.