African content: Tanzania may become visa-free for Russians
Russia is negotiating with Tanzania on the introduction of a visa-free regime, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia. This country is one of the most attractive tourist destinations for our citizens in Africa. Direct flights are expected to be launched in the summer, and in the future, Mir cards may be accepted in Tanzania. At the same time, a number of problems, including the activities of extremist groups, are hindering the development of tourist flows from Russia to African countries. In addition, many African countries, including Tanzania, are at risk of an outbreak of dangerous diseases, including Ebola.
Direct flights from Moscow to Tanzania will be launched in the summer
The Russian Federation is working on the introduction of a visa-free regime with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Tanzania may become another country to which Russians will not need to apply for a visa in the near future.
— We are constantly working to improve the contractual framework with foreign countries on issues related to the simplification of mutual travel of citizens, including with African countries. In particular, this topic was widely discussed during recent consultations with representatives of Tanzania, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia.
Izvestia contacted the Embassy of this country in Moscow with a request to comment on the progress of negotiations on the introduction of visa-free travel.
In May, an intergovernmental commission meeting was held in the city of Arusha. The Russian side was represented by Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development. The parties agreed to launch direct flights. Starting from July 2, 2026, Air Tanzania will carry passengers on the Dar es Salaam - Moscow -Zanzibar route (the archipelago belonging to Tanzania) with a frequency of three times a week.
The flow of Russian tourists to Tanzania is still relatively small, the country is not one of the mass destinations such as Turkey or Egypt. Over the past year, the number of trips by Russians to the African Republic has amounted to about 17 thousand. At the same time, interest in the direction increased by 40% compared to the previous one.
The launch of direct flights and visa-free travel can fuel demand for this destination. After all, complex logistics remains one of the main problems. Currently, Russians fly to Tanzania exclusively with connections — most often via Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar or Ethiopia. Connecting flights from Moscow to the island of Zanzibar last on average from 13 to 24 hours and cost in the range from 90 thousand to 135 thousand rubles per round trip ticket. According to forecasts of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), direct flights from Moscow will cost 55-75 thousand rubles.
As for the visa, it can be obtained for up to 90 days upon arrival or online. In both cases, you will have to pay $50. In addition, foreigners who come specifically to Zanzibar need to apply for a mandatory local policy online for $44. The government of Zanzibar introduced such insurance in 2024, in fact, as a hidden tourist tax and a mechanism to protect local infrastructure.
If the Tanzanian authorities approve the use of Mir maps in the future, this will further increase the interest of Russians in this country.
"The Central Bank of Russia and Tanzania are negotiating on this issue, which we cannot comment on," the Russian Embassy in Dar es Salaam told Izvestia.
What to see in Tanzania
Tanzania became popular with Russians in 2020, during the pandemic, when it did not close its borders. Due to this, many travelers rushed there. Tanzania's budget is heavily dependent on income from tourism, Daria Labutina, author of the educational project Gallop across Africa, told Izvestia.
Tanzania is the undisputed leader of African tourism, which perfectly combines wild safari, beach holidays and exoticism. The main advantage of the destination is its versatility: it is great for both the first family acquaintance with the continent and for experienced travelers.
Thanks to the developed domestic aviation, it is easy to combine holidays on the snow-white beaches of Zanzibar with the iconic Serengeti Park. In addition, Tanzania attracts outdoor enthusiasts with trekking opportunities of varying difficulty: from a serious multi-day climb to the largest peak on the continent of Kilimanjaro to comfortable one-and-a-half hour walks at its foot.
Irina Zasorina, founder of the Doctor Travel travel company, emphasizes that in recent years, many large chain and smaller boutique hotels have been built in the country.
— There are restaurants and lots of interesting entertainment. Even if you just fly to Zanzibar, there's plenty to do. Tourists can go on safari in the jungle to see rare colobus monkeys. Water excursions to dolphins are also popular. There is interesting surfing near the islands in Zanzibar," she told Izvestia. — At the same time, there are many more giant turtles here than in Mauritius or the Seychelles.
The country is also attractive for its history. For some time in the 19th century, the island of Zanzibar was the capital of the Omani Empire. There are traces of ancient architecture, a Portuguese fortress, she said.
Zanzibar is safe, the people are friendly and open, Labutina noted. But those who are going to enjoy a beach holiday should take into account the rainy season, which can spoil the impression (from March to May and from October to November), as well as the tidal factor, added Labutina.
— Another attraction of Tanzania is Lake Victoria— the largest lake in Africa, where you can watch birds and go fishing. However, swimming there is not recommended because of the hippos and parasites that are contained in the water. It will also be interesting to visit the Natron Salt Lake, where flamingos live," she concluded.
What difficulties can Russians face in the country?
Despite all the advantages, in Tanzania you need to follow a number of rules to avoid problems. Although the republic is one of the safest countries on the continent, it borders States where terrorist groups operate. The Islamic State— Mozambique organization is the main external threat to the security of Tanzania (the Islamic State group, to which it belongs, is banned in the Russian Federation). Extremists sometimes carry out cross-border raids in the Mtwara region of Tanzania, attacking villages and burning houses for food.
The Somali group Al-Shabaab (an organization recognized as a terrorist and banned in the Russian Federation) does not directly control the territories in Tanzania, but uses the country as a recruiting base.
In 2021, the Islamist extremist Hamza Mohammed staged a shooting near the French embassy — he acted as a lone terrorist, but at the same time the attacker studied online materials related to the activities of radical groups for a long time. The largest terrorist attack in the country's history was the bombing of the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1998, when 11 people were killed.
In addition, criminal paramilitary gangs operate along the western borders of Tanzania — in the provinces of Kigoma and Kagera, where refugee camps from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi are located. In Zanzibar itself, there is a radical Islamist movement called Uamsho (Association for Islamic Mobilization and Dissemination of Knowledge). She advocates the full independence of Zanzibar and the introduction of Sharia law.
"Express abductions" of tourists are practiced in large cities and in Zanzibar. A foreigner gets into an unofficial taxi or to a driver who offers a "cheaper ride." The accomplices of the criminal get into the car. Then the tourist is blocked, threatened with weapons and driven around the city, forcing him to withdraw cash from all available ATMs.
But the main risks are associated with tropical infections transmitted through insect bites, as well as poor-quality water and food. There is a high incidence of malaria in Tanzania all year round. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required only if you arrive from countries in the "risk zone", including Kenya and Ethiopia (transit time at the airport must exceed 12 hours).
In addition, there is sleeping sickness, a dangerous parasitic disease transmitted by tsetse flies. Without timely treatment, in almost 100% of cases, it leads to death.
Due to the outbreak of Ebola in the neighboring countries of the region — the DRC and Uganda — the Government of Tanzania has put on high alert. At the same time, local authorities have not imposed restrictions on tourist and business trips to the country, the Russian embassy clarified to Izvestia. However, sanitary control measures have been taken in the border areas and for people arriving from Uganda and the DRC through airports.
Due to the deterioration of relations with Western countries, some Russians are looking for new destinations for outbound tourism. In this regard, Africa is not yet able to become a full-fledged analogue of Spanish, Italian or French resorts, which are much more adapted for the mass consumer, especially with young children. In addition, the climatic conditions of exotic countries can deter many travelers. Nevertheless, Tanzania can be an ideal place to explore sub-Saharan Africa for the first time.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
