Hostels in Tanzania Hostels in Tanzania

You are looking for hostels in Tanzania? Good news, you have come to the right place.

On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Tanzania hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Tanzania.

All Cities in Tanzania

We list every single hostel in Tanzania and the world. In total, we have 18 cities in Tanzania for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.

All Tanzania hostels on a map

Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.

Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Tanzania. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.

Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Tanzania

Tanzania is a country on the east coast of Africa. It is within the African Great Lakes region and borders Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Indian Ocean. The capital of Tanzania is Dodoma, in the middle of the country, and the largest city is Dar es Salaam, on the coast. Other large cities include Kigoma, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Arusha. Mount Kilimanjaro, African’s highest mountain, is in Tanzania as is Africa’s lowest point, Lake Tanganyika. Tanzania is known for its wilderness, from the Serengeti plains to the tropical islands of Zanzibar and Mafia.

The international airport in Tanzania is Julius Nyerere International Airport, in Dar es Salaam. To get from the airport into the main city, there are taxis and public buses. These buses run every 15 minutes. Be cautious of taxi drivers trying to scam you into paying more. A domestic rail network links the country's major cities, including Kigoma, Mwanza, Dodoma, Tabora, and Dar es Salaam. To explore further afield, take a regional train or bus or hire a driver. It is not recommended to drive in Tanzania unless you have driven in a developing country before. Roads are not good, except for a few that go between major cities. Travellers going to Tanzania to hike Kilimanjaro or to do a safari in the north should fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, between Arusha and Moshi.

The currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling. The main economy is agriculture, which makes up around 24.5% of the GDP. However, Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world and has made little progress toward decreasing extensive hunger problems.

Tanzania is home to the indigenous Hadza and Sandawe hunter-gatherers; several migratory waves brought Cushitic and Southern Nilotes people from Ethiopia and Sudan into the north of Tanzania while at the same time the Bantu people moved into the west. They brought with them planting knowledge, as well as their iron making traditions. Tanzania has long been associated with the production of iron and steel.

Budget accommodation in Tanzania is not generally found in traditional backpacker hostel form, although there are a few in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Compared to Western countries, most accommodation - even the resorts - is inexpensive, although you may find that you have to share facilities. Instead of hostel-style accommodation, look for guesthouses or budget hotels. Keep in mind that most resorts and tourist attractions on Zanzibar and Mafia Island Marine Park close during the long rainy season (March to May.)

Near 38% of Tanzania’s land is in protected area for conservation, either as part of a National Park or wildlife reserve. There are 16 national parks in Tanzania, including the Gombe Stream National Park where Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research is ongoing. Many trails in the national parks are impassable during the long rainy season. Travellers should plan their trip accordingly. In the dry season (January to March,) temperature highs can reach above 40 Celsius, so keep that in mind if you’ll be hiking or spending a lot of time outside.

Tanzania is a land of geographical extremes, with the mountains in the northeast, where Kilimanjaro is located. It is one of the most popular hikes and takes upwards of seven days. In the northwest, Lake Victoria and the Serengeti plain are two of the top attractions. The annual wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo migrations take place in January and February - well worth watching! Water enthusiasts should head for the islands to see pristine coral reefs and swim with whale sharks.

With an excess of incredible wildlife, an exotic culture, and a beautiful coast, Tanzania is a country not to be missed.

expert for Tanzania hostels

Handwritten by local expert for Tanzania hostels Jakob Lombardi

Islands/Regions

Travel Tips for Tanzania - from the Community

Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Tanzania. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Tanzania. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!

FAQ on Hostels in Tanzania

There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:

Finding Hostels and Prices

What hostel booking sites are best to use?

There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.

This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.

For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.

How much are hostels in Tanzania?

Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.

You can search for exacty hostel prices in Tanzania here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.

When to book hostels?

If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.

We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.

#

Safety and Packing

Are hostels in Tanzania safe?

Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.

What to pack when staying in hostels?

There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.

  1. Padlock
  2. Earplugs
  3. Sleeping Mask
  4. Quick Dry Travel Towel
  5. Head Lamp

There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.

#
Unlock your Hostel Account to Freedom!

Unlock your Hostel Account to Freedom!

Sign up with Hostelz.com and get access to exclusive hostel content and much more.

Do you already have an account? Login
Home Pluz
Comparizon
Login