15 Food & Drink Experiences in Tanzania to Build a Day Around

1.Stonetown: Food Markets and Street Food Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 151 reviews · 3 hours · from $35Our pick

Spend three evening hours with a local guide such as Juma or Zahran, beginning at Darajani Market and a sunset drink before sampling Zanzibar pizza, urojo, shawarma, spice tea, coffee, and sugarcane juice at Forodhani Gardens. Hotel pickup is available across Zanzibar.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my tour with Zahran, who made it such an interesting and enjoyable evening. In particular, Zahran is incredibly kind and generous and I couldn’t believe all the food and drink that he provides as part of the tour. After a brief stroll around the Old Fort area, we stopped for sunset at a rooftop bar where I enjoyed a delicious cocktail. Then it was onto the lively and exciting food market. I wouldn’t have know where to begin but Zahran chose certain sellers that he knew were good quality and introduced me to Urojo (mango soup), Zanzibar pizza, chicken shawarma and sugarcane juice. All absolutely delicious and…”

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2.Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · from $40Top rated

Join Lodi for a 2.5-hour walk through Stone Town, stopping at around six local vendors for foods such as sambuusa, chapati, uji, tende shake, Carlisi, and Zanzibar pizza. Morning and evening routes differ, and vegetarian options are available with advance notice.

“I joined this street food tour because I was interested in tasting Zanzibar food in a more authentic and local way than the night market. I did not get disappointed! Not only did I really like what I tasted and the diversity of the food, but I felt like I was getting a glimpse into the life of the guide. I did the night your. If I come back, I will definitively do the morning one!!”

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3.Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $42

Your guide picks you up in central Arusha, leads a 30-minute food-market visit, helps you choose two dishes, then takes you to Sanawari for a hands-on class in a simple local kitchen. Guides such as Israel, James, Jack, and Lameck have led this experience.

“From start to finish, this experience was beyond exceptional. Our guide and chef was not only incredibly friendly and welcoming, but also deeply knowledgeable about Tanzanian culture and cuisine. What made this class so special was thaRead more”

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4.Organic Coffee Tour and Local Food Experience in Arusha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $45

At a family-run farm in Ambureni village, near Mount Meru, you’ll pick coffee berries, roast beans, prepare your own cup, and eat dishes cooked by local mamas. Cosmas may guide your visit, which ends with coffee in a treehouse overlooking the surrounding nature.

“A memorable experience learning about a real Tanzanian farm, and especially coffee from bean to cup. Trying the coffee at the end of the experience in the treehouse with an amazing view was a particular highlight. Extremely friendly and knowledgeable host - highly recommended tour for an authentic, relaxed day.”

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5.Stone Town Evening Walk Tour With Visit Food Markets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · from $40

Spend about three hours with a private local guide such as Juma, Kassim, Abu, Salum, or Zaharan. Walk through Darajani Market, stop for one drink at Africa House, then eat Zanzibar pizza, urojo, shawarma, and more at Forodhani Gardens.

“A great way to get an intro to stone town. Your began with a walk from our hotel, Abu provided an overview of some history, architecture, etc We enjoyed a beer with a sunset view and received advice for our spice shopping the next day. We then proceeded to the food markRead more”

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6.Traditional Tanzania Cooking class& Food Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 12 reviews · 5 hours · from $45

Start with hotel pickup near Arusha city center, then visit a local food market with guides such as Liroy and Israel. Shop for ingredients before cooking plantain, chapati, ugali, vegetables, and optional meat with chef Neema. The five-hour tour ends with a shared meal and recipes to take home.

“It’s a very nice day with the guides (Israel and Leroy) The guides were very attentive and interesting. We visit 2 markets and take the time with the peoples, and buy the food for cooking. The chef Neema was very nice too. She is very good chef and its funny to cook together. A beautiful moment with this people.”

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7.Street Food and Community Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $25Best value

Join Jackson or Given for a two-and-a-half-hour walk from Kajo Art Gallery to Sinoni. Taste sweet and salty Tanzanian foods, see urban farming, maize milling, carpentry, recycling, mud houses, and churches, while supporting a local NGO.

“Jackson and Given were great at showing me around the neighborhood, they shared lots of interesting information and were very helpful and friendly. I enjoyed the foodie treats along our walk and am grateful to them for showing me a side oRead more”

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8.Serval Wildlife Tour with food and drinks

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 11 reviews · 3 hours

Spend three hours visiting Serval Wildlife Sanctuary in Tanzania’s Siha District. Your English-speaking guide handles transport from Moshi or Arusha, while sanctuary staff introduce you to servals, giraffes, lions, zebras, monkeys, ostriches, and Oryx. Lunch and drinks are included, but confirm exactly what that covers before booking.

“I think its toooo much expensive, better to go to safari the some price… there is only some zebra, some giraffes and 1 lion sleeping… thats all… The food was very tastyyyyyyy…. And the driver was soooo nice, has wifi inside the car… was really nice… but inside that place i was so disappointed… nthg to see and very fast take us… ah kids cant be close to the sleeping lion even!!!! Soooo you pay alot, you see zebras giraffes and one lion… thats all… really regret to book it…. If the price was less, its will be much better…”

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9.Blue Safari Full Day Private Trip Zanzibar With Sea Food BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $129

Set out from Fumba in a private group aboard a traditional dhow toward Menai Bay. Expect dolphin watching, reef snorkeling, a seafood BBQ on Kwale Island, a swim by a 200-year-old baobab, and optional Stone Town culture with guides such as Michael or Jumo.

“We have a great time at Blue safari I and my friends, we do snorkeling and after that we just go for the lunch which was very nice, Sea Food BBQ.”

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10.Sandbank picnic with sea food BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 6 reviews · 6 hours · from $151

From Stone Town, drive 35 minutes to Fumba, then sail by private Swahili dhow to Kwale reef, a tropical sandbank, and Quail Island. Snorkel, eat octopus, lobster, fish, and calamari, climb an old baobab, and swim in a mangrove lagoon with an English-speaking guide.

“Ahkmed was a fabulous guide. we had a wonderful time in the Indian ocean. Sun protection is a must! food was great. highly recommend.”

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11.Waterfalls, Coffee, Hotsprings, Food Cuisine, & Serval Wildlife

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $350

This private Arusha day trip pairs a Materuni Waterfalls hike with a Chagga coffee-making session, local buffet lunch, Kikuletwa Hot Springs, and a one-hour visit to a wildlife sanctuary. Guides such as Andrew, Justin, and Eli provide personal help throughout the long day.

“A great experience with moorland safaris, a Guide with a lot of knowledge. Explains the history of his country very well. A beautiful waterfall, and thanks to Eli I was able to make my coffee while dancing !”

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12.Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · from $59

Start with a three-hour walk through Tangawizi Spice Farm, touching and tasting cloves, vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, and tropical fruit. Then join Mama Africa for cassava harvesting, coconut milk making, and Swahili cooking. Private transport, lunch, and entry fees are included.

“+great customer service (Amina was our guide) -you’ll want to plan to tip several different people (guide, cooking class, coconut drink, driver) so have a lot of change in cash or shillings as they do not take cards for that or purchases. It’s definiRead more”

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13.Spice tour and cooking class (local food)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews

Spend about eight hours at a Nungwi spice farm with guide Sultan and local cooks. Walk among spices, choose ingredients, prepare dishes such as spice rice and coconut sauce, then eat together. Pickup is offered, and the private tour costs $155 for up to two people.

“The spice tour and cooking class are both an amazing experience and made for a great day. The tour guides involved are extremely knowledgeable and all around incredible people to get to know. Can’t recommend this enough!!”

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14.Coffee Plantation Tour with Tasting and Hands-On …

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $60

Meet your English-speaking guide at Arusha’s Clock Tower, then head to a local coffee farm for a 3.5-hour walk, hands-on processing lesson, and tasting. Guides including Max, Maximilian, and Oliver have led recent departures. Transport from the meeting point costs extra.

“Je recommande vivement, j'ai passé un excellent moment avec Maximilian, il est très enjoué et très agréable, la visite avec Oliver a été très intéressante, j'ai pu découvrir grâce à toutes ses informations la confection du café de l'arbre à la tasse... tout en y participant.. super bon moment que je n'oublierai pas quand je dégusterai du café Arabica.. Merci à tous les deux... bonne continuation”

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15.Tuk-Tuk Tour, Street Food & Local Lifestyle

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 3 reviews · 4 hours

Meet your local guide and explore Dar es Salaam by tuk-tuk. You’ll shop through Kariakoo Market, taste chapati and mishkaki, watch woodcarvers at Mwenge, and visit the Village Museum. Glory is specifically named as a flexible guide. English and French tours are listed.

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