What to Pack for a Tanzania Safari: The Complete Checklist

Packing for a safari is different from packing for a normal holiday: fewer clothes, more specific gear and a few small items that are easy to forget. Here is what you really need.

Clothing

• Neutral colors such as khaki, olive, beige or grey. Avoid bright colors, white (it shows dust) and dark blue or black, which can attract tsetse flies in some areas.
• Long sleeves and trousers for early and late drives, which can be cold in an open vehicle.
• A fleece or light jacket for dawn starts, especially at altitude around Ngorongoro and Arusha.
• A hat, sunglasses and a light rain jacket if you travel in the wetter months.

Gear

• Binoculars, ideally one pair each, because sharing means missing things.
• A camera with a good zoom, as phones struggle with distant animals.
• A dry bag or dust cover for electronics, since safari roads are dusty.
• A refillable water bottle and a power bank.

Health and documents

• Malaria tablets, after talking to your doctor.
• A small first-aid kit with your personal medicines.
• A passport valid for at least six months, your visa documents and travel insurance details.
• A yellow fever certificate if your route requires one.

Things first-timers forget

Small bills for tips, a headlamp for dark camp paths and lip balm or moisturizer, because the sun, wind and dust are drier than you expect. Pack lighter than you think. Most lodges offer laundry, and small planes between parks have strict luggage limits.

Still planning? Get in touch and we will tell you exactly what your trip needs.