Zanzibar's Mandatory Travel Insurance and Your Safari
What Zanzibar's mandatory entry insurance is, what it costs and how to buy it, and the one thing safari day-trippers need to know: it does not cover you on the mainland.
If you are visiting Zanzibar, there is a government requirement to deal with before you arrive: mandatory inbound travel insurance. It is simple to sort out, but one detail matters a great deal for anyone planning a Mikumi day trip, and most guides skip past it: this insurance does not cover you on the mainland.
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Here is what you need to know, with the safari side made clear.
What it is
Since 1 October 2024, every non-resident visitor to Zanzibar has been required to hold inbound travel insurance issued by the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC). The scheme is now well established and enforced at the border. You can be refused entry without it, so it is not optional.
The essentials, as published in 2026:
- Cost: $44 per adult and $22 for children aged 3 to 17. The youngest children are covered free (most sources put the cut-off at under 3, a few at under 2).
- Validity: 92 days from the day you arrive in Zanzibar.
- Coverage: emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation, with some cover for accidents and travel disruption.
- Who needs it: all non-resident visitors arriving by air or sea, children included. It is required even if you already hold your own comprehensive travel insurance.
The part that matters for your safari
This is the key point, so here it is as plainly as possible: the ZIC policy covers you only within the Zanzibar archipelago.
On a Mikumi day trip you fly from Zanzibar to the Tanzanian mainland. As soon as you leave Zanzibar, this insurance stops applying. It is an entry requirement for Zanzibar and a policy for emergencies on the islands. It is not safari cover.
So for the mainland part of your day (the flight, the game drive, everything that happens at Mikumi) you are relying on your own travel insurance, not the ZIC policy. If you were counting on the mandatory Zanzibar insurance to cover you on safari, it won’t.
That is why a safari day-tripper needs both: the ZIC policy to get into Zanzibar, and a separate comprehensive personal policy that covers you on the flight and on the mainland.
A newer rule on the mainland. In September 2026 the Tanzanian government published separate inbound travel insurance regulations for foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania (Government Notice No. 256 of 2026, also set at $44). When we checked, the published text gave no start date and did not say whether visitors crossing from Zanzibar for a day are included. Ask your operator whether anything is being checked on arrival at Mikumi before you travel. Either way, neither government policy is designed as safari cover, and your own insurance is still what protects the day.
Why you still need your own travel insurance
The mandatory Zanzibar policy is narrow by design. It exists so that visitors can get emergency medical care on the islands without burdening local services. It was never meant to be a full travel insurance policy, and it leaves real gaps:
- No mainland coverage, the big one for safari-goers, as above
- Limited scope for trip cancellation, missed connections, and lost or delayed baggage
- Coverage limits that may fall short of a serious medical evacuation
- Light-aircraft and adventure-activity cover, which your own policy needs to handle
Your own comprehensive travel insurance is what covers the safari day itself, the flight, and the knock-on costs if a weather cancellation disrupts your onward travel. See Free Cancellation and What Happens if Weather Grounds Your Flight. Before you travel, check that your personal policy covers Tanzania with the mainland included, light-aircraft flights, and safari activities. None of the safari listings on this site include travel insurance in the price, which is one of the costs our cost breakdown adds back in.
How to buy the mandatory insurance
The process is simple, but use the official channel:
- Go to the official Zanzibar tourism portal, visitzanzibar.go.tz. Use only this site. Copycat and unofficial sites circulate around schemes like this, so avoid anything that is not the official government portal.
- Enter your details, making sure the spelling matches your passport exactly, and select the individual, family or group option.
- Pay the fee.
- You will receive a receipt and a QR code by email. Keep it where you can reach it.
- Show the QR code at immigration on arrival, alongside your visa. It is checked at both the airport and the ferry terminal.
Buy it in advance, not on arrival. Guidance suggests buying at least a few days before you travel, and the time you sort out your visa is a sensible moment to do it. Buying online avoids the queues, and the risk of a system outage at an airport kiosk leaving you stuck at immigration.
Who’s exempt
The requirement applies to non-resident visitors. Residents are exempt, and the youngest children are covered free and do not need a paid policy. Age brackets and any other exemption categories are set by the authorities and can change, so check the official portal for the current position if your situation is unusual.
Common problems to avoid
- Using an unofficial website. Only visitzanzibar.go.tz. Anything else risks losing your money on a worthless document.
- Mismatched passport details. The name and passport number on your policy must match your passport exactly, or you may hit problems at immigration.
- Wrong dates. Double-check your arrival and departure dates when you buy.
- Leaving it to the last minute. Buy a few days ahead so any payment or system problem can be fixed before you fly.
- Assuming it covers your safari. It doesn’t. This is the one to remember.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need this insurance if I already have my own travel insurance? Yes. It is a government entry requirement and is mandatory whatever other insurance you hold.
Does the mandatory Zanzibar insurance cover my Mikumi safari? No. It covers you only within the Zanzibar archipelago. The mainland part of your safari, the flight and the game drive, is covered by your own personal travel insurance, not by this policy.
How much does it cost? $44 per adult and $22 for children aged 3 to 17, with the youngest children covered free, as published in 2026.
Where do I buy it? Only through the official portal, visitzanzibar.go.tz. Avoid any other website.
When is it checked? At immigration on arrival, at both the airport and the ferry terminal, using the QR code you receive when you buy it.
Can I buy it on arrival? Sometimes, at airport kiosks, but buying online in advance is strongly advised to avoid queues and system problems that could delay your entry.
Ready to book the day across the channel? Every safari we list carries free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Compare them all.
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