Tourist Scams in Tanzania

Papasi (beach boys) in Zanzibar persistently offer tours, spice tours, beach activities, and drugs to tourists, following them for long distances and becoming aggressive if ignored or refused repeatedly.

How to avoid: A polite, firm "La, asante" (No, thank you) in Swahili is often effective. Engage only if you genuinely want the service, and agree on prices in advance.

The busy Kariakoo market area has a high incidence of phone snatching, with thieves on motorcycles grabbing devices from tourists who are walking and using them for navigation.

How to avoid: Keep your phone in your pocket when not actively needed. Use a printed map or a cheap spare phone for navigation in busy market areas.

Unofficial guides attach themselves to tourists wandering Stone Town's narrow streets, leading them through the medina and to specific shops (earning commissions) before demanding large guide fees not agreed upon upfront.

How to avoid: Hire guides only through your hotel or the official Stone Town tourism desk. Agree on price and scope before starting any tour.

Touts on Stone Town waterfront sell dhow sunset cruises and fishing trips. Boats are overcrowded, safety equipment is absent, and the "snorkeling" location is a degraded reef with little to see. Prices bear no relation to the quality delivered.

How to avoid: Book water activities through your hotel or a licensed tour operator with a physical office. Ask to see the boat in advance. Check that life jackets are available. Read TripAdvisor reviews specifically for the operator, not just Zanzibar in general.

Scammers posing as licensed safari operators approach tourists at Arusha airports and hotels, offering discounted multi-day safaris. They collect large upfront payments, then deliver substandard vehicles and guides, skip promised game parks, or disappear entirely. Photocopied licenses and last-minute urgency are warning signs.

How to avoid: Book only with TATO (Tanzania Association of Tour Operators) and TTB (Tanzania Tourist Board) licensed companies — verify the license number on the TTB website. Legitimate safaris rarely cost below $150 per day per person. Never pay cash upfront to someone who approached you unsolicited.

Unlicensed taxis outside Julius Nyerere International Airport charge tourists TZS 100,000–150,000 or more for city centre journeys that should cost TZS 30,000–50,000.

How to avoid: Use Uber or book a hotel transfer in advance. Agree on a price in Tanzanian shillings before getting in any unlicensed vehicle.

Self-appointed "spice tour guides" position themselves near Forodhani Gardens and the Stone Town waterfront, offering spice farm tours at attractive prices. They collect full payment upfront, then either disappear before departing or deliver a drastically shortened tour that skips most farms and ends at a commission-paying shop. The guides carry no official credentials and are not affiliated with licensed operators.

How to avoid: Book spice tours only through your hotel, a licensed Stone Town tour agency, or operators recommended by the Zanzibar Tourism Commission. Never pay the full amount upfront to a street tout. Legitimate guides will show a printed itinerary and registered business paperwork on request.

Fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate Arusha safari booking platforms collect deposits and full payments for Serengeti or Ngorongoro crater trips that never materialise. The sites use professional layouts, copied imagery from real operators, and fabricated TripAdvisor badge graphics. Victims receive automated confirmation emails and WhatsApp follow-ups to build confidence, then discover the company is untraceable once they arrive in Arusha. Losses typically range from $500 to $3,000 USD.

How to avoid: Book only through operators listed on the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) website at tato.or.tz. Verify the company has a physical Arusha office address and call it before paying. Pay by credit card where possible to enable chargebacks, and avoid wire transfers or mobile money to individuals.