Africa: visit, move, invest
East Africa guide 2026: Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia compared
Planning a safari, a move or an investment in East Africa? Visas, park and gorilla permit fees, safety advice, taxes and economic facts for Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
Tanzania (Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar) and Uganda (gorillas, the Nile) charge about US$50 for a tourist visa; Rwanda gives visas on arrival to all nationalities; Ethiopia uses an e-visa. Uganda's gorilla permit is US$800. Rwanda and Ethiopia were among Africa's fastest-growing economies in 2025.
The four countries side by side
| Tanzania | Uganda | Rwanda | Ethiopia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital | Dodoma | Kampala | Kigali | Addis Ababa |
| Population | 70.5 million | 51.4 million | 14.6 million | 135.5 million |
| GDP per person (2025) | US$1,319 | US$1,206 | US$1,124 | US$933 |
| Growth (2025) | 5.9% | 6.3% | 9.4% | 9.8% |
| Currency | Tanzanian shilling (TZS) | Ugandan shilling (UGX) | Rwandan franc (RWF) | Birr (ETB) |
| Languages | Swahili, English | English, Swahili | Kinyarwanda, English, French, Swahili | Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya, Afar |
| Time zone | UTC+3 | UTC+3 | UTC+2 | UTC+3 |
| Drives on the | Left | Left | Right | Right |
World Bank data (2025) and official references. Compare all 54 countries in the Africa comparison tool.
Visas
| Country | Tourist visa |
|---|---|
| Tanzania | eVisa at eservices.immigration.go.tz. US$50 single entry for most; US citizens US$100 (12 months). Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and some others are exempt. |
| Uganda | eVisa US$50 single entry. The East Africa Tourist Visa (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda) costs US$100 for 90 days. A yellow fever certificate is no longer mandatory from October 2026. |
| Rwanda | Visa on arrival for all nationalities since 2020, or online via Irembo: US$50 single entry (30 days), US$70 multiple entry (90 days). East Africa Tourist Visa accepted. |
| Ethiopia | e-visa at evisa.gov.et. Fees vary by visa type, so check the portal. |
Parks and wildlife
- Tanzania: under the official 2023/24 tariff, non-resident adults paid US$70 a day for Serengeti, Nyerere and Kilimanjaro, and US$50 for Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Arusha (excluding VAT). Check TANAPA for current rates.
- Uganda: gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi and Mgahinga cost US$800, gorilla habituation US$1,500 and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale US$250 (2024–2026 tariff). Park entry is US$40–45 a day for most parks. Kibale chimp permits rise to US$300 from January 2027.
- Rwanda: gorilla permits in Volcanoes National Park are widely reported at US$1,500, with a lower rate for Africans. Book only through Visit Rwanda or Irembo.
- Ethiopia: highlights include Lalibela's rock churches, Gondar, Lake Tana, the Simien and Bale Mountains and the Danakil Depression.
Safety advice (October 2026)
- Tanzania: the US advises Level 3, "Reconsider travel", after unrest around the October 2025 election; the UK advises against all but essential travel near the Mozambique border.
- Uganda: the US still showed Level 4 after a 2026 Ebola outbreak, even though Uganda declared it over on 28 July 2026. The UK advises against travel near the DRC and South Sudan borders.
- Rwanda and Ethiopia: check the US and UK advice for regional warnings, especially for border areas and, in Ethiopia, parts of several regions.
Moving, tax and business
| Tanzania | Uganda | Rwanda | Ethiopia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 30% | 30% | Check RRA | Check MoR |
| Top personal tax | 30% | 40% | Check RRA | Check MoR |
| VAT | 18% | 18% | Check RRA | Check MoR |
| Tax residency | 183 days, or 122-day average over 3 years | 183 days, or 122-day average over 3 years | — | — |
Tanzania and Uganda rates from PwC Tax Summaries (2026). RRA = Rwanda Revenue Authority; MoR = Ethiopia's Ministry of Revenues. Always confirm with the national revenue authority.
- Land: land in Tanzania and Ethiopia is owned by the state and held through long leases or rights of occupancy; foreigners generally can't own freehold in any of the four countries. Use a local lawyer.
- Ethiopia's currency: the birr has been market-set since July 2024 and traded around ETB 160 per US dollar in the official market in 2026, with a higher parallel rate.
- Economy: in 2026 inflation was about 4% in Tanzania and Uganda, about 16% in Rwanda and about 15% in Ethiopia.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda?
US$800 for foreign non-residents in Bwindi and Mgahinga under the 2024–2026 tariff; gorilla habituation is US$1,500.
Does Rwanda give visas on arrival?
Yes, to all nationalities since 2020. Single entry is US$50 and multiple entry US$70.
Does the East Africa Tourist Visa cover Tanzania?
No. It covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only, for US$100 and 90 days.
Is a yellow fever certificate needed for Uganda?
From October 2026, Uganda no longer makes the yellow fever certificate mandatory for travellers.
Sources
- Embassy of Tanzania — Visa information
- Tanzania National Parks — Tariffs
- PwC Tax Summaries — Tanzania
- US State Department — Tanzania travel advisory
- Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration — Tourist visa
- Uganda Wildlife Authority — Conservation tariff 2024–2026
- PwC Tax Summaries — Uganda
- The EastAfrican — Uganda ends mandatory yellow fever card rule
- US State Department — Uganda travel advisory
- Embassy of Rwanda — Types of visas and fees
- NISR — Rwanda GDP, Q2 2026
- IMF — Ethiopia: fourth review under the ECF arrangement
- Ethiopian Business Review — NBE raises policy rate to 16%
- Uganda Immigration — East Africa Tourist Visa
- World Bank Open Data — indicators API
Links are for reference only. METRIKA is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by these organisations.
Last reviewed 1 Oct 2026. METRIKA gives estimates and general information, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice.