Tanzania Country Code +255: Complete Calling Guide 2026
Complete guide to Tanzania country code +255. Learn how to call Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, mobile carriers (Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo), and the cheapest ways to call Tanzania.
The Tanzania country code is +255. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about calling Tanzania in 2026, including how to dial Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and other regions, mobile carrier prefixes (Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, Halotel), and the cheapest ways to call Tanzania from abroad.
Quick Reference: Tanzania +255
Country Code: +255
Exit Code: 000
Trunk Prefix: 0
Capital: Dodoma
Time Zone: EAT (UTC+3)
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
How to Call Tanzania
International Dialing Format
To call Tanzania from abroad:
+ 255 + area/mobile code + numberImportant: Drop the leading "0" from Tanzanian numbers when calling from abroad. A local number 0222 XXX XXXX becomes +255 22 XXX XXXX.
Dialing Examples
Tanzania Area Codes
| City/Region | Region | Area Code | International Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam | Dar es Salaam | 22 | +255 22 |
| Arusha | Arusha | 27 | +255 27 |
| Zanzibar | Zanzibar | 24 | +255 24 |
| Mwanza | Mwanza | 28 | +255 28 |
| Dodoma | Dodoma | 26 | +255 26 |
| Mbeya | Mbeya | 25 | +255 25 |
| Tanga | Tanga | 27 | +255 27 |
| Morogoro | Morogoro | 23 | +255 23 |
| Iringa | Iringa | 26 | +255 26 |
| Kilimanjaro (Moshi) | Kilimanjaro | 27 | +255 27 |
| Tabora | Tabora | 26 | +255 26 |
Mobile Carriers in Tanzania
| Carrier | Prefix | Market Share | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodacom Tanzania | 74X, 75X, 76X | ~32% | 4G/LTE | Largest carrier, Vodafone subsidiary, best urban coverage |
| Airtel Tanzania | 78X, 68X, 69X | ~27% | 4G/LTE | Bharti Airtel subsidiary, strong data plans |
| Tigo Tanzania | 71X, 65X, 67X | ~22% | 4G/LTE | Millicom brand, operates Tigo Pesa mobile money |
| Halotel | 62X | ~15% | 3G/4G | Vietnamese-owned (Viettel), strong rural coverage |
| TTCL (Tanzania Telecom) | 73X | ~4% | 4G/LTE | State-owned, primarily landlines and some mobile |
Note: Tanzania's mobile market is highly competitive with over 50 million subscribers. Mobile money is a major feature -- Vodacom's M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and Tigo Pesa are used by millions of Tanzanians for daily transactions, making mobile phones essential financial tools beyond just communication. Halotel has invested heavily in rural infrastructure, providing coverage in areas other carriers do not reach.
Special & Emergency Numbers
| Number | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | All Emergencies | Universal emergency number, works from any phone |
| 114 | Police | Direct police emergency line |
| 115 | Fire Brigade | Fire emergencies |
| 116 | Ambulance | Medical emergencies (availability varies by region) |
| 199 | Anti-Corruption Hotline (PCCB) | Report corruption anonymously |
| 0800 (prefix) | Toll-Free Numbers | Free from Tanzanian phones |
| 0900 (prefix) | Premium-Rate Numbers | Higher per-minute charges apply |
Cheapest Ways to Call Tanzania
Free app-to-app calls. WhatsApp is widely used in Tanzania.
Best Times to Call Tanzania
Tanzania uses East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3 year-round. There is no daylight saving time. Tanzania is in the same time zone as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.
The best window for calling Tanzania from the US is early morning Eastern Time, corresponding to afternoon/evening in Tanzania. Keep in mind that network quality can degrade during peak evening hours in major cities.
| Your Location | Offset to Tanzania | Best Calling Window (your time) |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | Tanzania is +8 hours | 5:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST |
| US West Coast (PST) | Tanzania is +11 hours | 2:00 AM - 7:00 AM PST |
| United Kingdom (GMT) | Tanzania is +3 hours | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM GMT |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Call not connecting to rural areas
Mobile coverage in Tanzania is concentrated around cities and major roads. Rural areas, national parks, and remote villages may have limited or no coverage. If you cannot reach someone in a rural area, try calling during different times of day -- some people in low-coverage areas walk to higher ground or closer to a tower for reception at scheduled times.
Confusion between +255 country code and US area code 255
US area code 255 is unassigned, but the nearby 256 area code serves Huntsville, Alabama. Tanzania's country code is +255. Always include the "+" or exit code (011 from US) to ensure you reach Tanzania. A call to 255-XXX-XXXX without the proper international prefix will not connect to Tanzania.
Subscriber's phone is off or unreachable
Many Tanzanians conserve battery by turning off their phones when not expecting calls, especially in areas with unreliable electricity. Power outages are common. If a call goes to a "switched off" message, try again later. It is helpful to coordinate call times via WhatsApp text message beforehand.
Multiple SIM cards and phone numbers
Many Tanzanians carry 2-3 SIM cards from different carriers (Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo) to take advantage of on-network calling discounts and varying coverage. The number they give you may not always be the one they are actively using. Ask which number is their "main" number for incoming international calls.
Calling Zanzibar from abroad
Zanzibar uses the same +255 country code as mainland Tanzania. Zanzibar landlines use area code 24 (+255 24 XXX XXXX). Mobile numbers in Zanzibar use the same carrier prefixes as the mainland. There is no separate dialing procedure for Zanzibar -- treat it the same as any other Tanzanian number.