Tanzania Time Zone & Local Time — Quick Reference Guide
The Tanzania time zone is easy to understand. Tanzania follows East Africa Time, usually written as EAT. It is three hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time, so the country uses UTC+3.
The same Tanzania local time is used across the country. Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Moshi, Dodoma, Mwanza, Zanzibar and the safari parks all follow one clock.
A traveller flying from Arusha to Zanzibar does not need to change the time on a phone or watch. The same applies when driving between Moshi, the Serengeti and other parts of Tanzania.
The clock stays fixed all year. Tanzania does not move it forward or backward. Other countries may change their clocks during certain months, which can change the time difference with Tanzania.
Tanzania Time at a Glance
Tanzania follows East Africa Time at UTC+3. The country does not use daylight saving time.
- Time zone: East Africa Time
- Short form: EAT
- UTC offset: UTC+3
- Daylight saving: Not used
- Number of time zones: One
- Zanzibar time: Same as mainland Tanzania
- Clock changes: None during the year
- Example: When it is 12 noon UTC, it is 3:00 pm in Tanzania
What Time Zone Does Tanzania Follow?
The Tanzania time zone is East Africa Time. This means the country is always three hours ahead of UTC.
Only one Tanzania local time is used across the country. Zanzibar, northern Tanzania, the coast and the safari parks do not have separate time zones.
Airport pickups, domestic flights, lodge check-ins and safari departures are all shown in local time. Travellers do not need to make another time calculation when moving between regions.
Kenya and Uganda also follow East Africa Time. Someone crossing from Kenya into Tanzania can keep the same time on a watch or phone.
The clock does not change at the border.
Does Tanzania Change Its Clocks?
No. Tanzania does not use daylight saving time.
The Tanzania time zone remains UTC+3 in January, June, October and every other month.
Sunrise and sunset may move slightly during the year. The official clock stays the same.
The time difference between Tanzania and London, New York or Sydney can still change. This happens when those places change their own clocks.
For example, Tanzania is three hours ahead of London when the UK follows Greenwich Mean Time. When the UK changes to British Summer Time, Tanzania is two hours ahead.
Tanzania has not changed its time. The UK has changed its clock.
Tanzania Time Difference According To Various Places
The table below shows the usual difference between Tanzania local time and several common starting points.
| Country or city | Difference from Tanzania | Local time when Tanzania is 12 noon |
| New York | 8 hours behind in standard time and 7 hours behind during daylight time | 4:00 am or 5:00 am |
| Chicago | 9 hours behind in standard time and 8 hours behind during daylight time | 3:00 am or 4:00 am |
| Los Angeles | 11 hours behind in standard time and 10 hours behind during daylight time | 1:00 am or 2:00 am |
| London | 3 hours behind during GMT and 2 hours behind during BST | 9:00 am or 10:00 am |
| Germany, France and the Netherlands | 2 hours behind in winter and 1 hour behind in summer | 10:00 am or 11:00 am |
| Perth | 5 hours ahead of Tanzania | 5:00 pm |
| Brisbane | 7 hours ahead of Tanzania | 7:00 pm |
| Sydney and Melbourne | 7 hours ahead in standard time and 8 hours ahead during daylight time | 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm |
Australia has several time zones. Searching only for “Australia time” may not give the correct answer. It is better to check the city.
Perth and Brisbane normally keep the same clock all year. Sydney and Melbourne change their clocks during part of the year.
Tanzania and United States Time
The Tanzania time zone is ahead of every time zone in the United States.
When it is lunchtime in Tanzania, much of the United States is still asleep. At 12 noon in Tanzania, it may be 4:00 am or 5:00 am in New York. In Los Angeles, it may be 1:00 am or 2:00 am.
During standard time, Tanzania is usually:
- Eight hours ahead of New York
- Nine hours ahead of Chicago
- Ten hours ahead of Denver
- Eleven hours ahead of Los Angeles
The gap becomes one hour shorter when most parts of the United States use daylight saving time.
This is worth checking before calling a Tanzania Tour Operator. A morning call in Tanzania may reach someone in America during the night.
For many American travellers, early morning or evening at home is a better time to speak with a Tanzania safari team.
Arizona and Hawaii follow different clock rules from many other US states. Check the exact city before arranging a call.
Tanzania and UK Time
Tanzania local time is either two or three hours ahead of the United Kingdom.
When London follows Greenwich Mean Time, Tanzania is three hours ahead. During British Summer Time, Tanzania is two hours ahead.
A few examples:
- 9:00 am in London during GMT is 12 noon in Tanzania
- 10:00 am in London during BST is 12 noon in Tanzania
- 3:00 pm in Tanzania is 12 noon or 1:00 pm in London
The difference is not very large. Most UK visitors do not need several days to adjust to the Tanzania time zone.
The flight may still feel tiring, especially when there is a stop in Europe or the Middle East. An airport wait and a road transfer to Arusha or Moshi can also make the first day long.
Tanzania and European Time
Tanzania local time is normally two hours ahead of Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands during winter.
During European summer time, Tanzania is usually one hour ahead.
A call planned for 9:00 am in Tanzania would be:
- 7:00 am in Central Europe during winter
- 8:00 am during European summer time
The clock difference is small. European travellers often adjust to East Africa Time more easily than visitors arriving from North America or Australia.
Still, an overnight flight can affect the first day. A long drive immediately after landing may not feel comfortable.
Some travellers stay in Arusha or Moshi for the first night. The safari then begins the next morning.
Tanzania and Australian Time
Australia is ahead of the Tanzania time zone. The exact difference depends on the city.
Perth is five hours ahead. Brisbane is seven hours ahead. Sydney and Melbourne are seven or eight hours ahead, depending on daylight saving time.
When it is 8:00 am in Tanzania, it is usually:
- 1:00 pm in Perth
- 3:00 pm in Brisbane
- 3:00 pm or 4:00 pm in Sydney and Melbourne
This larger time difference can take a while to get used to.
A traveller from Sydney may arrive feeling ready to sleep while the local day in Tanzania is still moving. Going directly into a long road transfer can make the first day harder.
A night near Kilimanjaro Airport, Arusha or Moshi gives the body time to settle into Tanzania local time.
What Time Is It in Tanzania Now?
The easiest way to check the current time in Tanzania is to use the world clock on a phone.
Searching for any of these places will show the same time:
- Current time in Dar es Salaam
- Current time in Arusha
- Current time in Moshi
- Current time in Zanzibar
- Current time in Dodoma
Tanzania has one national time zone. All these places follow East Africa Time.
You can also check UTC and add three hours.
- 6:00 am UTC is 9:00 am in Tanzania
- 10:00 am UTC is 1:00 pm in Tanzania
- 6:00 pm UTC is 9:00 pm in Tanzania
Most phones update after connecting to a Tanzanian mobile network. Automatic date and time must be switched on.
It is still worth checking the current time in Tanzania before an early game drive or domestic flight.
Some travellers arrive with automatic settings turned off. They may not notice until the Safari Vehicle is already waiting outside the next morning.
Is Zanzibar on the Same Time?
Yes. Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania use the same Tanzania local time.
A traveller flying from Arusha to Zanzibar does not gain or lose an hour. The flight time shown on the ticket is the actual time spent travelling.
For example, a flight leaving Arusha at 1:00 pm and landing in Zanzibar at 2:15 pm takes around one hour and fifteen minutes.
The same rule applies to ferries between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Both departure and arrival times follow East Africa Time.
This makes a safari and Zanzibar trip easier to arrange. There is no extra time-zone calculation between the two parts of the holiday.
How Does Swahili Time Work?
A driver may say saa mbili asubuhi while the standard clock shows 8:00 am.
This part of Tanzania local time can confuse first-time visitors.
Traditional Swahili time starts counting from around sunrise and sunset. Sunrise is normally close to 6:00 am, so the first full hour of the morning begins at around 7:00 am.
That means:
- 7:00 am is saa moja asubuhi
- 8:00 am is saa mbili asubuhi
- 12 noon is saa sita mchana
- 7:00 pm is saa moja jioni or saa moja usiku
The Swahili number is usually six hours different from the number shown on a standard clock.
Visitors rarely need to use this system during a Safari. Airlines, airports, hotels, lodges and safari companies use standard clock time when speaking with international guests.
Swahili time may still come up while speaking with a local driver, market seller or small shop owner.
Repeating the time clearly is normally enough. For example, say “8:00 am standard time” before leaving.
Why Local Time Affects Safari Plans
Tanzania local time becomes important as soon as the flight lands.
Airport Pickups
A ticket may show an arrival at 12:30 am on Tuesday. The airport pickup must also be booked for Tuesday, even if the traveller left home on Monday.
This is where dates sometimes get mixed up.
International flights can arrive early in the morning, late at night or just after midnight. Check both the Tanzania local time and the arrival date shown on the ticket.
Morning Game Drives
Safari mornings often begin early.
A guide may ask guests to meet at 6:00 am. Breakfast may be served before departure, or the lodge may pack it for the vehicle.
Before going to bed, check:
- Wake-up time
- Breakfast time
- Vehicle departure time
- Packed meal arrangements
- Park gate opening time
- Meeting place at the lodge
A phone alarm is useful. Checking the departure time with the guide is better.
Domestic Flights
Flights to the Serengeti, Ruaha, Nyerere, Katavi and other safari areas follow the Tanzania time zone.
Bush airstrips are smaller than international airports. Check-in may be simple, but passengers still need to arrive early.
The airstrip may also be some distance from the lodge.
Road conditions, park gates, animals standing on the track and luggage checks can all take extra time.
Calls Back Home
A traveller may be preparing for a morning game drive while family members in New York are still asleep.
Friends in Australia may already be finishing the afternoon.
Check the time difference before calling. When the gap is large, sending a message may be easier.
Lodge Arrivals
A route may look short on a map. The drive can take longer on the road.
Traffic, rough sections, park gates, lunch stops, rain and wildlife sightings can all add time.
A safari plan should allow for these delays. Reaching the lodge very late after a full driving day can be tiring.
A Few Jet Lag Tips
Travellers from North America, Australia and parts of Asia may need time to adjust to East Africa Time.
Nothing complicated is required.
- Start changing your sleeping time slightly before the flight
- Drink water during the flight
- Try to eat at Tanzania meal times
- Spend some time outside after landing
- Avoid sleeping through the whole first day
- Keep the first evening light
- Do not plan a long drive after a late arrival
Travellers arriving late can stay near Kilimanjaro Airport, Arusha or Moshi. The longer drive can begin after breakfast the next morning.
This is often easier than getting off a long flight and sitting in a safari vehicle for several more hours.
Before Your Tanzania Trip
The main point is easy to remember. The Tanzania time zone is East Africa Time at UTC+3, and the clock stays the same throughout the year.
Knowing Tanzania local time helps with flight arrivals, airport pickups, early game drives, domestic flights, and calls home.
African Scenic Safaris has planned private Tanzania Safari Tours since 2009. Our team looks at arrival times, driving distances, park routes, and the number of available days before preparing the trip. Trips are private and customizable. This helps when an international flight, safari route, domestic flight, and Zanzibar stay all need to fit into one plan.
Share your travel dates with us and plan a private Tanzania safari around your flights, available days, and preferred pace.
