What to Know About Tanzania’s Plastic Ban Before Your Safari Tour?
In Safari
July 18, 2025
Drones have changed the idea of photography by giving us incredible perspectives of Africa’s famous animals and scenery. It’s tempting to see flying over herds of wildebeest crossing the Mara River or capturing the cold top of Kilimanjaro at daybreak. But people who want to take drone shots on Tanzania Safari should know that the country has some of the strictest drone laws in Africa. These Tanzania Drone Laws are meant to safeguard wildlife, local people, and national security while also allowing visitors to be creative. Before you even contemplate bringing a drone on your trip to Tanzania, it’s very important that you know these rules.
Tanzania is open to visitors from all over the world, but it also cares greatly about its unique natural assets. The Tanzania Safari Drone Regulations are in place to keep noise down, protect wildlife from stress, and protect the privacy of other tourists. The government also works to protect important infrastructure from people who might use drones inappropriately.
In practice, this means that on Safari Destination in Tanzania, you can’t legally fly a drone unless it has approval from more than one authority.
Travellers interested in capturing sweeping landscapes on drone footage should note that places like Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater are especially sensitive areas, requiring extra permissions from park authorities.
The important agencies that need to approve are:
If you try to transport a drone without these permits, you are not only taking a risk, but it is almost certain to result in confiscation.
Getting Tanzania Drone Permits is a complicated and multi-step process. You have to do each step in order, and it could take months to finish.
First, travellers must fill out an application for a filming permit that includes the objective of the trip, the dates of filming, and the names of the Tanzania Tour Operator.
Before you send in this application, you need to get it signed by the nearest Tanzanian embassy. Fees start at $1,000 for a month-long permit and go up to $3,000 if you want it done faster.
Civil Aviation Authority
The CAA of Tanzania is in charge of drone airspace. People who want to get a drone must fill out forms for importing and using it. These forms must include the drone’s weight and the places it will fly. The cost of these fees varies from $100 to $1,000, depending on whether the filming is for personal or business use. It might cost $50 to $300 more in import duties to register the drone.
The Ministry of Defence must look at every request because drones are a threat to national security. A letter asking for authorisation goes straight to the minister. After the ministry gives the go-ahead, it sends a military official to follow the drone operator around while they film.
If you want to Climb Kilimanjaro, you’ll have to pay for that officer’s daily allowance (around $100 per day), their lodging, meals, and even their gear.
The Tanzania National Parks Authority says that if you have all the necessary licenses, you need to write to the Conservation Commissioner at TANAPA to request permission to fly drones in the parks. TANAPA charges daily fees for filming:
| National Park Location | Filming Fee Per Day |
| Serengeti or Nyerere | $300 |
| Kilimanjaro and other parks | $250 |
| Gombe and Mahale Mountains | $180 |
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority is in charge of Ngorongoro, which is different from TANAPA. You can’t usually film with drones here unless you can show that your project will help promote Tanzanian tourism in a big way. Even then, each permit is reviewed case by case.
Tanzania’s drone laws are applicable to cities and towns. You need permission from the police and the municipal corporation to shoot in cities. But this is usually easier than filming in national parks.
Hotels also have the right to keep their guests’ privacy safe. So, even if you have permission, always ask the hotel manager before you film, you have permission. If you plan to continue from city filming to Zanzibar Beaches or Pemba Island, remember that these rules also apply to coastal locations, and permissions must be confirmed locally.
One of the main reasons for strict wildlife filming regulations in Tanzania is to safeguard the animals. People who go on Safari Tours in Tanzania are enticed by the promise of peace and the feeling of being in the wild. Drones could ruin these experiences for everyone if they aren’t controlled. So, drone operators must respect:
In addition to the defence officer, national parks may also hire a ranger to keep an eye on drone flights. This is particularly important for popular family itineraries like the 6 Days Tanzania Family Safari, where visitors expect a quiet, natural wildlife experience without noisy disturbances.
Getting full approval is not easy. If you’re willing to pay more and do more paperwork, the conventional process takes roughly 3 to 4 months. A faster track might end in 1 to 2 months.
Disclaimer: If you need help with all the paperwork, work with a professional tour operator. Start applying as soon as you know your vacation plans.
Trying to sneak a drone past customs will likely fail. Airports like Kilimanjaro International check bags very carefully. If customs don’t catch the drone, park rangers will, and they take unauthorised drones very severely. Possible results are:
If you fly a drone without permission, your fantasy trip to Tanzania could quickly turn into a disappointment.
At first look, the levels of approvals can seem unattainable. But these restrictions protect the essence of Safari Photography In Tanzania by keeping the untamed atmosphere of the place.
Tanzania gets around a million tourists every year. If only a few people flew drones openly, the noise and presence of these machines would destroy the scenery and the way animals act in the wild. Elephants, predators, birds, and animals that move around could all get stressed out or modify their habits.
Tanzania’s safety is at risk as well as its wildlife. Filming sensitive places by accident could put public safety at risk. That’s why the Ministry of Defence sends a military officer with drone operators to make sure everything goes smoothly.
In the bigger picture, these rules help maintain:
The scenery of Tanzania is stunning, from the undulating Serengeti plains to the volcanic highlands of Ngorongoro. Drones can add to this beauty by taking aerial views, but only if they are used legally and morally.
Meanwhile, a lot of travellers find that seeing Tanzania through a traditional camera or even their own eyes is just as satisfying. No drone can ever really capture the joys of being in Africa’s untamed places and taking in the sights, sounds, and smells.
When you book your Tanzania Safari with a business that knows what they’re doing and is responsible, you can be confident that your trip will be safe, respectful, and unforgettable. Africa Exotic Holidays is a trusted leader in safaris in Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, and other places. We can help you get the right permits or show you a more traditional way to take pictures, making sure that your Safari Tour in Tanzania is as amazing as you thought it would be.
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