Using ATMs in Tanzania: A Practical Guide

ATMs are the easiest way for most visitors to get Tanzanian shillings. You will find them in Arusha, Moshi, Dar es Salaam, Stone Town and other towns, and usually at the main airports. Once you head into the national parks, though, there are effectively none.

A little planning means you will have the cash you need without carrying more than necessary. Here is what our team recommends.

Where to find ATMs

Major banks have ATMs throughout Arusha and Moshi, often at branches, shopping centers and fuel stations. Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on Zanzibar usually have ATMs in arrivals, but machines can be out of service, so do not rely on them alone.

Some small towns along safari routes, such as Karatu and Mto wa Mbu, have ATMs, but supply and reliability vary. Inside the parks you should assume there are none.

Bank branches and their ATMs are concentrated in town centers, so if you are staying at a lodge on the outskirts of Arusha or in the coffee farms around Moshi, plan a stop during a trip into town rather than assuming there is a machine nearby.

Which cards work

Visa cards are accepted by the widest range of Tanzanian ATMs. Mastercard works at many machines too, but not all, so bring a Visa card if you can. Make sure your card has a four-digit PIN and that your bank knows you will be in Tanzania.

Carry at least two cards from different accounts or networks, kept separately, so a lost card or a swallowed one does not leave you stuck.

Withdrawal limits and fees

Most Tanzanian ATMs dispense only shillings. Each machine sets a maximum amount per withdrawal, which can be relatively low, and the local bank often charges a fee per transaction. Your home bank may add its own foreign transaction fees on top.

Because of this, it can be worth withdrawing larger amounts less often, within the limits of what you feel safe carrying. Check your home bank's fees before you travel, as some accounts are much better for international use than others.

Using ATMs safely

ATM crime against visitors is not common, but simple habits reduce the risk further:

• Use machines inside banks, shopping centers or hotels, during daytime.
• Shield your PIN with your hand and check the card slot for anything unusual.
• Decline offers of help from strangers near the machine.
• Put cash away discreetly before leaving the ATM area.
• If an ATM offers to convert the charge into your home currency, decline, as the rate is usually worse.

Planning cash for your safari

Withdraw what you need in Arusha or Moshi before your safari starts. Think about tips for your guide and lodge staff, drinks if they are not included, souvenirs and optional activities. Your guide can stop at an ATM on the way out of town if needed.

If you are heading to Zanzibar afterward, you can top up in Stone Town, although machines in remote beach areas are fewer. Keep some US dollars as an emergency reserve in case cards or machines let you down.

Withdraw a little more than you think you need for the first days, then top up as you go. Cash is easier to manage in several smaller envelopes: one for tips, one for daily spending and one for emergencies.