What language is spoken in Tanzania?

Tanzanians speak Swahili. It is the national language and almost everyone speaks it, alongside the language of their own community. English is used in higher education, the courts, business and tourism.

How far English gets you

In the lodges, with your guide and at the airport, all the way. Everyone who drives for us speaks English, and so do the people in the camps.

At the market, in a daladala, the local minibus, and away from the tourist places, much less. There a few words of Swahili go further than you would expect.

The words you will use in your first week

You hear jambo everywhere, but that is mostly for tourists. Say habari and you get a smile back.

More words, and where Swahili comes from, in our blog about Swahili.

Swahili time

Take care when you arrange a time: in Swahili the day begins at sunrise. Saa moja, the first hour, is seven in the morning. How that works is on our page about the time in Tanzania.

Karibu

The first word you hear when you land, and the last one when you leave. How a trip with us unfolds in between is in our itineraries.

View our itineraries