With the vast Tanzania safari wildlife parks, Tanzania is a great Africa safari destination. The Tanzanian government has officially announced a ban on the entry of all plastic carrier bags according to a press statement from the Vice President’s office, Tanzania Bans Plastic Bags Effective June 1^st 2019.

The May 16, 2019 statement titled: “Notice to Travelers Planning to Visit Tanzania,” said the government was going to set up a special desk at Tanzania safari or tour Tanzania entry points to enforce the measure.

The statement was wrtitten as;

The Government of Tanzania wishes to make an official note to travelers planning to travel to Tanzania that from 1st June 2019 all plastic carrier bags, regardless of their thickness will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used in mainland Tanzania.

However, plastic or plastic packaging for medical services, industrial products, construction industry, agricultural sector, foodstuff, sanitary and waste management are not prohibited. Visitors to Tanzania are advised to avoid carrying plastic carrier bags or packing plastic carrier bags or items in plastic carrier bags in the suitcase or hand luggage before embarking to safari Tanzania. Special desk will be designated at all entry points for surrender of plastics carrier bags that visitors may be bringing into Tanzania.

Plastics carrier items known as “Ziploc bags” that are specifically used to carry toiletries will be permitted as they are expected to remain in the permanent possession of the visitors and are not expected to be disposed in to the country.

The government does not intend for visitors to Tanzania to find their stay unpleasant as we enforce the ban. However, the government expects that, in appreciation of the imperative to protect the environment and keep our country clean and beautiful; our visitors will accept minor inconveniences resulting from the plastic bags ban.

This is a great conservation move by Tanzania and a great way to protect the diverse habitats. Desks will be at Tanzania tour entry points because neighboring countries to Tanzania especially Uganda and Kenya haven’t really implemented the plastic bags ban and they could actually be purchased by tourists. These could get into the country because many tour in Tanzania tourists, love to tailor their Uganda safaris especially Uganda wildlife safaris, gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Uganda birding tour with wildlife safaris in Tanzania. Kenya safaris especially wildlife safari Kenya to Masaai Mara are also very much tailored to tours in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

We hope that all tourists receive this ban as a great move to conservation such that even after generations Tanzania still remains a great Africa destination.