Money in Tanzania: Currency, ATMs & Tipping
What to bring, what cards actually work for, and how park fees are handled.
Questions people ask
What currency should I bring?
US dollars for park fees, tips and larger payments — bring notes issued after 2009, as older ones are often refused. Tanzanian shillings for markets, small purchases and local transport. Cards work in Arusha, Moshi, Dar and Zanzibar but rarely inside the parks. ATMs dispense shillings and are reliable in the towns, not in the bush.
Do I need to book park fees separately?
No. Park and conservation fees are included in any quote we give you, and we show them as a separate line so you can see exactly what goes to TANAPA or the NCAA rather than to us. Fees are set by the authorities and revised on 1 July each year; where they change between quotation and travel, the difference is passed on at cost with the official tariff attached.
Still have a question we haven't covered? Ask us directly — a person in Arusha reads it, not a bot.
