Unrest in Tanzania – how Swiss travel providers are reacting

Samia Suluhu Hassan is reported to have won Tanzania’s presidential election on Saturday with nearly 98 percent of the vote. Demonstrations had already erupted in several cities before the election, after incumbent President Hassan barred the largest opposition party from the ballot.

Since Wednesday, protesters have been killed, primarily in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. The government reports ten deaths, while the opposition party claims over 800, based on hospital reports. A nationwide internet shutdown is hindering efforts to verify the situation.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) advises against tourist and non-essential travel to Tanzania. The situation is very tense and further developments are uncertain: «Road closures may occur, hindering access to the airport. Airports may be temporarily closed; there will be travel restrictions.»

The German Foreign Office also advises against travel to Tanzania: «Air traffic is restricted in all parts of the country, including Zanzibar. A curfew was imposed on October 29, 2025, and remains in effect until further notice.»

The situation is unclear.

Travelnews inquired with Swiss Africa specialists about the current situation. The situation in Tanzania is currently unclear, and the information is difficult to assess, notes Marcel Gehring, Managing Director of Let's go Tours: «Contact with our local partners is difficult due to limited communication options, but we are maintaining contact as best we can. Our partners on the ground report that the situation is escalating in certain regions, particularly in urban centers, but there is great hope for a swift improvement following today's inauguration of the new government.»

«Our guests are currently continuing their trips as far as is safe and responsible – which is currently possible in the national parks. Most are not in the major urban centers,» says Gehring. «The local tour operators are currently running the trips. As long as the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has issued an official travel warning for Tanzania, we are not accepting any new bookings at short notice. We are in close contact with our customers regarding trips already booked with departures up to the end of November. Depending on how the situation develops, customers will decide individually whether they wish to take their trip, postpone it, or rebook.»

When asked about cancellations, Marcel Gehring said: «Around 40 customer departures were cancelled over the weekend. We are now looking for alternative destinations for these customers or considering postponing their trips to a later date. We place great importance on fair and customer-oriented solutions. If it is a package tour and there is an official travel warning from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), affected customers can cancel their trip free of charge, rebook, or travel to a different destination.»

Free cancellation for departures until November 5th.

Stephan Kurmann, Head of Communications at Dertour Suisse, assesses the situation as follows: «Currently, the situation in Zanzibar is calmer than on the mainland. We advise travelers on the island to avoid large crowds and follow the instructions of the local authorities. There are currently around 40 Dertour Suisse guests in Tanzania.» There is no indication at present that any guests have cut their trips short.

«Travel will generally proceed as scheduled, provided the booked flights take place as planned and the travelers wish to continue their trip,» Kurmann continued. «In isolated cases, trips have been rebooked for later dates in 2026. We are not currently observing a major wave of cancellations.»

When asked whether travelers to Tanzania can cancel their trips free of charge, the Dertour spokesperson said: «Guests with departures up to and including November 5th will be actively informed about the latest travel advice from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). They can choose to rebook or cancel free of charge. For trips departing from November 6th onwards, we are continuously assessing the situation, following the FDFA's decision, and will provide updates as needed.»

John Stewardson of Africa Design Travel says: «On Friday evening, following the EDA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) announcement, we contacted our clients to ask if they still wished to travel. They all unanimously confirmed their departure plans. After consulting with our local agency, we were also able to inform clients that the situation in Arusha-Kilimanjaro is calm, which is generally the case during a safari.» Because the rainy season has now begun, there are far fewer safari bookings for Tanzania than in September and October. Regarding Zanzibar, Stewardson is still awaiting a situation report, but communication is difficult due to the internet outage in Tanzania.

Edelweiss is sticking to its Tanzania flights.

Edelweiss operates flights between Zurich and Kilmanjaro/Arusha, Zanzibar, and Zurich every Tuesday and Saturday. Edeleiss spokesperson Andreas Marti commented on the current situation: «Following a reassessment, we have decided to operate the flights for the time being. The general situation in JRO (Arusha) appears to have calmed down after the recent elections; however, further disruptions are still possible. The situation is being continuously monitored and reassessed.» Very few cancellations have been received in recent days.