Tanzanian safari operators collecting from foreign agencies
Most travellers to the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro book through agencies abroad. Those agencies pay Tanzanian operators deposits months ahead and balances before arrival, usually in dollars. How the money arrives, and when, shapes the operator's whole season.
- Published
- Reading time
- 1 min read
An Arusha safari company runs 200 trips a year through agencies in Denver, London and Munich. Deposits arrive from January for the July to October migration season; balances arrive 60 days before each trip. In April and May, during the long rains, very little comes in, while vehicles, staff and lodge contracts still cost money.
How agencies pay
Agencies abroad pay Tanzanian operators by international transfer, usually in dollars, to their Tanzanian bank accounts. Payments from non-resident agencies can generally stay in foreign currency under the rules on international transactions.
Terms
- Deposit of 20 to 30 percent on booking.
- Balance 30 to 60 days before arrival.
- Cancellation terms stating refunds and currency.
Transfers take time
International transfers to Tanzania pass through correspondent banks and can take several days. Ask agencies to send balances well ahead of deadlines, quoting booking references.
The long rains
Set aside a share of each peak month's receipts for the low season's fixed costs as they arrive.
Paying locally
Guides, drivers, lodges and park fees are paid in Tanzania, increasingly in shillings under the domestic pricing rules. Convert a planned amount ahead of each month.
Paying into Tanzania: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | Tanzania Instant Payment System (TIPS) |
| Run by | Bank of Tanzania |
| Settlement | Seconds, 24/7, between banks and mobile money |
Source: Bank of Tanzania: TIPS. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet opens business accounts for registered companies after verification, subject to local rules. Agencies abroad that bank with Rivet can pay Tanzanian operators' bank accounts through Rivet's payouts where available. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds.
Questions people ask
How do agencies pay Tanzanian safari operators?
By international transfer, usually in dollars, to the operator's Tanzanian bank account.
Can operators still charge foreign agencies in dollars?
Transactions with non-residents can generally remain in foreign currency under the Bank of Tanzania's rules. Check the current exceptions.
What payment terms are common?
A deposit of 20 to 30 percent on booking and the balance 30 to 60 days before the safari.
How should operators plan for the low season?
Set aside part of peak season receipts for fixed costs during the long rains in April and May.
Sources
Rashidatou writes Rivet's guides to how money moves between countries: the payment rails, what each one costs, and the account details a company needs to get paid in another currency. Every figure in Rashidatou's articles is traced to the scheme rulebook, the regulator or the provider's published price list, and those sources are listed at the end.
More from Rashidatou K. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
- tanzania
- safari
- tourism
- usd
- deposits
- agencies
