What to Pack for a Safari in Tanzania
Are you going on safari in Tanzania or thinking of going on safari and are wondering what you will and will not need to pack? Wonder no more…here is an extensive list to make sure you have just what you need!
First, try to keep things to a minimum. If you will be taking any internal flights during your stay, kindly bear in mind that most airlines allow SOFT BAGS ONLY, with a maximum weight of anywhere from 15-20kg (33-44lb) per person, depending on the airline. Precision Air has the most baggage allowance, at 23kg/50lb, and accepts both hard and soft luggage.
While on safari, you will want to be dressed as comfortably as possible, as you will be spending most of your time inside your 4×4 safari vehicle driving along bumpy roads, while either sitting down or standing up to look out through the pop-up roof. Consequently, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing will be best. Shorts, pants, T-shirts, and skirts are good during the day, owing to hot daytime temperatures. We recommend having at least one long-sleeved shirt/blouse and a fleece jacket (or something similar) for the cooler early-morning and evening hours, as well as for additional protection against mosquitos. It can get especially chilly in and around the Ngorongoro Crater.
Avoid wearing black and dark blue during your safari, as these colors attract tsetse flies. It’s also probably best to avoid white, since white clothing will soon turn brown from the ever-present dust! Guide books recommend wearing clothing with earth tones when on safari, but the Maasai people wear bright-colored cloth all the time, especially red cloth, so, the reality is, unless you are seriously tracking wildlife on foot, the color of your clothing is really not important.
Here is a sample packing List:
- Shorts
- T-shirts
- Long trousers
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Fleece jacket
- Rain poncho or similar (if traveling during the rainy season from March to mid-June)
- Sandals
- Closed shoes for walking (especially around campsites or lodges)
- Sun hat/baseball cap
- Swimsuit
- Sunglasses
- Mosquito repellent (with DEET)
- Sunblock
- Camera and lenses (long/wide-angle, if you have them)
- Charger for camera batteries and smartphone/tablet
- Adapter/converter for your electronics*
- Personal toiletries
- Any personal medication you might be taking, as well as malaria tablets (Malarone is the most common), ibuprofen or aspirin, an anti-diarrheal, and, just in case…an antibiotic (such as Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin, or Doxycycline); ask your doctor.
- Wet wipes
- Water bottle
*The standard voltage in Tanzania is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Most power sockets are the same as in the UK (see photo below).
