What to do if someone dies in Tanzania

Tanzania presents more geographical complexity than almost any other repatriation origin. Where in Tanzania the death occurred determines which authorities are involved, how long the process takes, and how the body reaches an international airport. This guide distinguishes between the three main scenarios: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and remote safari locations.

Notify the British High Commission

The British High Commission in Dar es Salaam is the primary consular contact. The address is Umoja House, Hamburg Avenue, Dar es Salaam. Direct line: +255 22 229 0000. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

For deaths on Zanzibar, there is a British Consular contact on the island. The High Commission can direct you to the correct contact.

Consular staff will register the death with UK authorities and advise on Tanzanian documentation requirements. For deaths in national parks, they have experience coordinating with TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority).

If the death was in a national park or remote safari location

This is the most complex scenario. The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) or Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority must be notified for deaths in protected areas. Wildlife-related deaths (animal attacks) require an additional investigation before the body can be released.

The body must be transported from the safari location to a town with a Government Chemist Laboratory Agency (GCLA) facility. For the northern park circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire), this typically means Arusha. Internal transport may involve a light aircraft from a bush airstrip.

From arrival at the GCLA facility, the post-mortem process begins. Allow 7 to 14 days for results. Add 3 to 5 days for the internal transport phase. Safari repatriations rarely complete in under 21 days.

If the death was on Zanzibar

Zanzibar is semi-autonomous. Deaths are registered with the Zanzibar Registration and Identification Department. The GCLA examination still applies for unnatural deaths, but the body must be transferred to Dar es Salaam on the mainland first, either by domestic flight or ferry.

Allow an additional 2 to 4 days for the island-to-mainland transfer. The mainland process then runs as it would for a Dar es Salaam death.

If the death was in Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam is the most straightforward scenario. Deaths are registered with RITA (Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency). For violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths, the GCLA conducts the post-mortem. Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) is the main cargo hub.

Export documentation

The Ministry of Health issues the export permit, embalming certificate, and freedom from infectious disease clearance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues the laissez-passer. Once all documentation is in order, the body is booked onto a cargo flight.

Routing to the UK

There are no direct Tanzania-UK cargo flights. Most repatriations route via Nairobi (NBO) with Kenya Airways, or via Addis Ababa (ADD) with Ethiopian Airlines. British Airways operates via Nairobi on some routings. Your UK specialist coordinates the multi-leg routing and transit documentation.

What families can do from the UK

Tanzania is a high-value holiday destination. Most specialist travel insurance policies include repatriation cover. Notify the insurer immediately. For safari operators, check whether the tour operator has repatriation assistance built into the booking. Some do; many do not.

Source: FCDO guidance on death in Tanzania; Tanzania Registration of Births and Deaths Act; GCLA regulations; TANAPA procedures (2023).