Is Dar es Salaam Safe for Tourists in 2026?

Street-level touts near Kivukoni Ferry Terminal sell tickets for "fast ferries" to Zanzibar at prices slightly below the established operators Azam Marine and Coastal Fast Ferries. The tickets are counterfeit or for a non-existent sailing. Victims only discover the fraud when they arrive at the terminal and are turned away. In some cases touts direct victims to an unofficial jetty where overcrowded wooden boats pose serious safety risks.

How to avoid: Buy Zanzibar ferry tickets only at the official Azam Marine or Coastal Fast Ferries counters at the Kivukoni terminal. Verify the vessel name and departure time on your ticket before leaving the counter.

Where: Pavements outside Kivukoni Ferry Terminal on Sokoine Drive, near the Clock Tower roundabout, approach routes from Kariakoo

Individuals presenting counterfeit Tanzania Police Force or Tourist Police badges approach tourists near popular sites and ferry terminals, claiming to have witnessed a minor infraction — photographing without a permit, littering, or crossing a road incorrectly. They demand an on-the-spot cash "fine" of $20–$100 USD to avoid being taken to the station, and may confiscate a phone or passport as leverage until payment is made. Real tourist police do not collect cash fines on the street; all official fines require a written receipt and are paid at a designated station.

How to avoid: Ask to see the officer's full identification including their force number, then ask to accompany them to the nearest official police station to pay any fine through proper channels. Legitimate officers will comply; scammers almost always back down. Do not hand over your passport or phone. If threatened, call the Tanzania Police emergency line at 112 or go directly to the Dar es Salaam Central Police Station on Makunganya Street.

Where: Outside the Kivukoni Ferry Terminal on Kivukoni Front; around the Slipway shopping centre on Msasani Peninsula; near the National Museum on Shaaban Robert Street; along Ohio Street in the city centre near embassies.

Touts operating near Julius Nyerere International Airport and the Kariakoo bus terminal approach newly arrived travelers with printed booking confirmations for guesthouses that either do not exist or have no record of the reservation. Victims are taken to a different, often inferior accommodation and charged above-market rates. The deception frequently involves accomplices posing as guesthouse staff who confirm the "booking" by phone in front of the traveler.

How to avoid: Book accommodation directly through the guesthouse website or a known platform before travel. Confirm the address independently and use a metered taxi or Bolt/Little app to reach it without a tout escort.

Where: Julius Nyerere International Airport arrivals hall, Kariakoo bus and dala-dala terminal on Msimbazi Street

Dar es Salaam is a hub for online fraud targeting the East African diaspora and international travelers who have recently shared contact details locally. Scammers pose as legitimate employers or investment brokers, contacting victims via WhatsApp with offers of high-return cryptocurrency or real-estate investments tied to Tanzania's growing economy. Initial small payouts build trust before victims are asked for large sums that disappear.

How to avoid: Never invest money through contacts made on social media or WhatsApp after a brief in-person meeting. Verify any investment opportunity with Tanzania's Capital Markets and Securities Authority before transferring funds.

Where: Initiated online but originating from contacts made in Msasani Peninsula bars, ferry terminals, and Kivukoni waterfront area