Rules for overlanding in Tanzania

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 8 September 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An International Driving Permit on the 1968 Vienna Convention model is required. Check what applies to the licence you hold.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance — Third-party liability cover is compulsory, and an Italian policy is not valid here: short-term cover has to be bought locally. Check what applies to the policy you hold.
Bringing in a vehicle — A vehicle can be imported temporarily for a maximum of 12 months and a Carnet de Passages en Douane is required. A defence ministry circular also requires prior authorisation from the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority to bring in vehicles, aircraft or drones temporarily.
Left-hand traffic — Traffic drives on the left and overtakes on the right.
Alcohol — The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08% and police can require a breath test.
Helmets and seatbelts — Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists. Seatbelts are compulsory in the front seats.
Roads — There are no motorways. Roads are almost all single-carriageway, busy with heavy trucks, poorly maintained and often badly lit; reckless driving and worn-out vehicles cause frequent serious crashes. After a crash help can be very slow over these distances, and the better hospitals are only in the main cities.
Speed in the parks — The limit inside the parks is 50 km/h. Crashes on safari, some fatal, are frequent, so plan your stages so you are never forced to cover long distances in a rush to beat the park closing time. The ministry also suggests asking for guides who carry a radio.
Driver rather than self-drive — The ministry generally advises against driving yourself and suggests a local driver instead. If you do rent, check carefully that the insurance cover is adequate.

What catches travellers out

Drugs — Trafficking any drug, soft ones included, is punished harshly; the police use informants, hotel checks are frequent and luggage is inspected at the airport. Beach vendors sometimes try to sell drugs, which can end with you arrested on the spot.
Plastic bags — Producing, using or importing plastic bags has been banned since 1 June 2019, with fines and possible arrest. Only plastic packaging for medical products and toiletry bags are exempt.
Same-sex relationships — Same-sex relations are a criminal offence, punishable by 30 years to life, and even the attempt is punished. The ministry advises the utmost discretion.
Compulsory insurance for Zanzibar — Since 1 October 2024 anyone travelling to the Zanzibar archipelago must buy the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation travel policy, 44 USD per person for 92 days, even if they already hold other cover. It can be bought on arrival or in advance online, and it does not apply on the mainland.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 8 September 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Tanzania before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 8 September 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.