Let me start this off by saying that in all of my travels Tanzania has been my favorite adventure. It is truly an amazing country full of amazing people, beautiful scenery, and cool animals. I would go back in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself. But I wouldn’t be keeping my promise to you all if I didn’t paint the full picture. Last Newsletter I explained why you should visit here, but now I owe it to you to explain the Darkside.

Crime Rate

Crime is a major problem that plagues Tanzania like many other countries. Some of the most common crimes in this country are what are known as ‘street crimes,’ and that include crimes such as Mugging, bag snatching, armed robbery, vehicle theft, burglary, and home invasion. That’s probably why the night guard of the compound I stayed in carried a submachine gun. Other crimes are also a problem and sexual assault involving tourists is not uncommon. MAKE SURE YOU RESEARCH THE TOUR COMPANIES BEFORE YOU BOOK ANYTHING. It’s one thing to be a victim of a crime, it’s another thing to pay someone to victimize you. The crimes listed are not the only danger and here you can do further research. https://www.countryreports.org/country/Tanzania/crimes.htm#:~:text=Crime%20is%20a%20serious%20problem,%2C%20burglary%2C%20and%20home%20invasions.

Tanzania also plays a large role in its region’s Heroin trade, with much of that coming from Pakistan. This also leads to criminal organizations having strong ties to crime groups in Asia and Europe. But overall it’s a pretty minor player in the global drug trade.

Due to its geographical location, there is also the threat of terrorist action along its border with Mozambique. So you know, maybe avoid that area if possible. And like anywhere else in the world, just don’t accept a ride from a stranger.

According to the global crime index Tanzania earned a danger score of 6.15 out of 10. Making it the 37th most dangerous country in the world. But to its credit, it is still safer than Mexico and still one of the top 10 safest countries in Africa. https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/crime-rate-by-country/#tanzania

Third World Conditions

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world with many families trying to survive on less than $2 a day. This high poverty rate has a negative impact on the crime rate as people turn to crime just to survive.

Due to poverty, limited access to clean water, and a high crime rate disease is another major problem in the country. Malaria and HIV/AIDS are some of the more common diseases plaguing the country with more than 16% of all medical outpatients being diagnosed with malaria. Before you are even allowed to travel here you will have to either be vaccinated against Malaria or be given a prescription for anti-malaria medication. While I was there we also had to sleep under mosquito nets.

While I was there clean water was another major problem the citizens here faced. 29 million of them don’t have easy access to clean water directly to their homes. Many have to walk miles to the nearest source and carry it back.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/tanzania/publication/tanzania-economic-update-universal-access-to-water-and-sanitation-could-transform-social-and-economic-development#:~:text=Only%2061%25%20of%20households%20in,hygiene%2C%20according%20to%20SDG%20definitions.

So if you do find yourself here, don’t drink the water.

Dangerous Animals

To be fair the odds of a wild animal attack are extremely rare in any part of the world. But if you have ever heard the stories of tourists trying to get too close to a Buffalo in Yellowstone National Park, then you know why this is still relevant.

Elephants, Lions, Hippos, Rhinos, Leopards, Alligators, and many more are all bigger than you and much faster than you. Many of them have claws, and Many of them have sharp teeth. THEY ARE BIGGER THAN YOU, THEY ARE STRONGER THAN YOU, THEY ARE FASTER THAN YOU. Lions may look cuddly while they are lying down for a midday nap. THEY WILL KILL YOU IF YOU TRY TO PET THEM. The same goes for leopards. Hippos are known to not be friendly. DO NOT try to swim with them it will be a horrific death. Rhinos are rare, but they are also basically blind and are known to assume any movement is a threat, so don’t walk up to them. Wild Elephants are also not your friends. I do not care what the internet or TikTok has told you, they are not your friends. And this warning also goes out for animals like Black Mambas, Cape Buffalo, Cheetahs, Wilde beasts, and basically any other wild animal that you can think of.

I will say this though, when you stop for lunch on a Safari keep an eye on your food. Because if you’re in an area with Monkeys they will try to steal it the moment you step away. I speak from experience after a Monkey stole my apple.

In Conclusion

Like any other country Tanzania has its good and its bad, and most of the bad can be avoided completely by just not being stupid. So don’t get into the car with strangers, research your tours before booking, travel with a group at all times, and don’t venture into sketchy areas. Always trust your gut instinct, if something feels off then something probably is off. And make sure you also know how to contact your country’s Embassy in case something bad truly does happen. These apply to any country you visit.