The 15 Best Food & Drink Experiences in Tanzania

1.Food Markets and Street Food Walking Tour

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

Spend three evening hours in Stone Town with a local guide such as Zahran or Juma. Visit Darajani Market, watch sunset with a Tanzanian beer or soft drink, then eat through Forodhani Gardens, trying Zanzibar pizza, urojo, shawarma, spice tea, coffee, and sugarcane juice.

“We had Juma as a guide (from zanzibar local experience). He was very kind and had a lot of knowledge about Stone Town, that you would never get from someone not local. The food at the street marked was very tasty, especially the zanzibar pizza and the sugarcane juice.”

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2.Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar

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

Meet Lodi at Maru Maru Hotel for a 2.5-hour walk through Stone Town, stopping at at least six local food vendors. Sample dishes such as sambuusa, chapati, uji, tende shake, Carlisi, and Zanzibar pizza while learning about food traditions, neighborhood life, and the city’s winding alleys.

“Had a fantastic time with Lodi walking the streets of Stone Town. The man knows EVERYONE. It felt like we were walking with family and friends, eating at authentic local spots away from the touristy areas. My fave dish was the pizza and many of the dishes we sampled were a good introduction to local cuisine.”

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3.Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $42

Spend four hours with a local guide such as Israel, James, Jack, Lameck, Magret, or Bariki, depending on the day. Visit Arusha’s central food market, choose two Tanzanian dishes, shop for fresh ingredients, then cook and eat in a traditional local kitchen. Hotel pickup and drop-off near the city center are included.

“We were really excited since we booked this experience and the most amazing part is when we started with a food market tour, the smell was beautiful, everything was local and fresh from the 2 different sides of the central food market (Read more”

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4.Organic Coffee Tour and Local Food Experience in Arusha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $45

Spend about three hours at a family farm in Ambureni village near Mount Meru. With a local guide such as Cosmas, you’ll pick coffee berries, roast and prepare your own cup, sample handmade snacks, and eat dishes cooked by local mamas in clay pots. Blue monkeys and birds may appear among the trees.

“The coffee making experience was outstanding. Lunch was excellent AND our tour guide COSMAS did a fantastic job. Overall, way more than we expected !!!”

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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 guide such as Juma, Kassim, Jummah, or Salum, walking Stone Town’s Darajani Market, stopping at Africa House for one drink and sunset, then eating Zanzibar pizza, urojo, shawarma, and more at Forodhani Gardens.

“This was an amazing tour by our guide, whilst providing excellent knowledge on the city and general history. His knowledge of the markets and advising us where to eat and not too was fantastic. The food that was provided was grest and introducing us to some of the vendors was great. Highly recommend this tour, were there in April 2023”

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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 central Arusha, then visit a central market with guides such as Liroy and Israel. Choose ingredients, cook plantain, chapati, ugali, vegetables, and optional meat with chef Neema, then eat together. The five-hour outing is hands-on, friendly, and best for curious eaters who want 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

Walk from Kajo Art Gallery near Arusha’s Maasai Market into Sinoni with local guides such as Jackson and Given. Over 2 to 3 hours, taste sweet and salty food, visit urban farms, a maize mill, workshops, churches, recycling projects, and mud houses. All profits support Jamii Imarika Foundation.

“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 traveling from Moshi or Arusha to Serval Wildlife Sanctuary in Siha District. A naturalist guide introduces you to giraffes, zebras, ostriches, lions, monkeys, and Oryx, with time for close encounters and photographs. Lunch follows at a local restaurant. Confirm exactly what your price covers before paying.

“This tour was fantastic! You are able to get up close to the animals, & pet & feed them safely. None of the animals are caged & freely roam the beautiful grounds. My tour guide, Ester, was amazing. She was so knowledgeable about all of the animals & she was an incredible photographer. If you are considering this tour, consider no more, it is a must-do!”

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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 on a private dhow trip through Menai Bay. You can look for dolphins, snorkel over coral reefs, eat a seafood BBQ on Kwale Island, see a 200-year-old baobab, and swim in a natural pool. Michael and Jumo are among the guides associated with the service.

“The views were amaizing and tourist services were very nice and welcoming,,, i recommend this tourism company for anyone who wish to have a good vacation in zanzibar”

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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 wooden dhow to Kwale Reef, a tropical sandbank, and Quail Island. Snorkel, eat octopus, lobster, fish, and calamari, climb a 500-year-old baobab, and swim in a mangrove lagoon. Guides include Ahmad, also listed as Ahkmed.

“Una bellissima giornata! Escursione stra-consigliata! Tutto perfetto: bevande, mangiare, trasporto. Se poi avete la fortuna come noi di farla con Ahmad passerete una giornata indimenticabile!”

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $350

Start early from central Arusha for Materuni Waterfalls, a Chagga coffee experience, Kikuletwa Hot Springs, and a serval wildlife sanctuary near Moshi. Your private guide handles transport, entry fees, lunch, and coffee preparation. Guides including Andrew, Justin, and Eli have been praised for warm service and personal attention.

“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

Spend five hours at Tangawizi Spice Farm near Zanzibar City, where a guide introduces you to cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg, and black pepper. Then join Mama Africa for cassava harvesting, coconut milk making, and a Swahili cooking lesson. 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 in Nungwi with guide Sultan and local cooks. Walk through a spice farm, learn how spices and unusual fruits grow, then help prepare local dishes such as spiced rice and coconut sauce. This is a private experience for up to two people, with pickup offered and free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

“We made (really we just prepped the ingredients) an amazing variety of dishes. Everything was made on the cook’s front porch, with an interpreter explaining everything. Who knew there were 11 types of bananas?! We toured the spice farm (interesting to see, smell, taste) the plants and trees. Then we ate together. Everything was delicious!”

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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 and head to a local coffee farm for a 3.5-hour, hands-on visit. With guides such as Maximilian and Oliver, you’ll pick cherries, process and roast beans, then taste different roast profiles. Snacks are included, while transport and the optional hills-and-waterfalls hike cost extra or require separate arrangements.

“Fantastic staff! We will treasure the hospitality and richness of what we experienced!! If you are in Arusha, absolutely do it!!”

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

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 3 reviews · 4 hours

Ride through Dar es Salaam with a local guide such as Glory, stopping at Kariakoo Market for daily life and street food, Mwenge Woodcarvers’ Market for handmade crafts, and the Village Museum for Tanzanian heritage. The four-hour tuk-tuk outing includes snacks, fresh juice, water, and entry to the museum.

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