A guide for what youโll need to pack on Safari
Planning your first safari in Tanzania? This expertly curated packing list ensures you’re fully prepared for a comfortable and seamless adventure. From breathable clothing and sturdy footwear to essential travel documents and safari gear, weโve got you covered. And if you forget anything, donโt worryโmost essentials, like toiletries and outdoor accessories, can be easily found in town before you set off on your journey!
Travel Documents:
- Valid passport
- Yellow Fever vaccination records/ certificate if travelling into Tanzania from a Yellow Fever risk country.
- Tanzania Visa, available at airport upon arrival, USD $100 payable in cash only for US citizens or USD $50 for residents of UK/European Union and most other countries.
- Copy of flight itinerary.
- Copy of travel and/or medical evacuation insurance.
- Personal medical/dental insurance cards.
- Credit card (Visa and MasterCard are most widely accepted).
- Cash in U.S. Dollars (bills MUST have been issued in 2004 or later)
Clothing:
Remember, itโs not a fashion show out there, so be a bit more practical when choosing your Safari wardrobe. Try to stay away from bright colours โ khaki and other neutral colours tend to work well. It is probably best if you dress in layers as the temperature can fluctuate.
- Sweater or fleece pullover to keep warm
- Sturdy boots or sandals
- Sun hat
- Sun glasses
- T-shirts or polo shirts (2-5 depending on how often you want to change)
- ย Long sleeve shirts (light weight)
- ย Shorts
- ย Long trousers
- ย Underwear
- ย Socks
- ย Sleepwear
- ย Travel towel
- ย Thermal underwear, gloves and warm hat (during May โ Sept)
- ย Rain coat and rain trousers (During rainy season Mar โ May and Oct โ Dec)
If you are taking part in a Balloon Safari, you will need warm clothes for the early morning start.
Avoid dark coloured blue/black clothes in tetse areas. Khaki and beige is a recommended colour.
Highly recommended:
- Camera and memory cards
- Binoculars
- Sunscreen
- Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
- Insect Repellent (Mosi-guard is a favourite)
- Personal toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, eye drops etc)
- Malaria tablets
- Basic first aid kit and prescription medicines
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Chargers and extra batteries for your camera, phone etc
- Power adapter to fit the UK style electrical socket
- Anti-histamine creams. Anti-itch creams such as Eurax are also useful for tetse fly bites.
Others tips:
- Bring soft luggage such as a duffel bag, hiking pack or sports bag. These are ideal for packing into a Safari vehicle. Hard suitcases can often be difficult to fit into the vehicles.
- Bring a backpack to carry all of your important items including travel documents, money, camera, medication etc. You should keep this backpack with you at all times. Its advised to put a few clothes in your hand luggage/backpack as sometimes your main luggage can be delayed on the larger international flights.
- Keep luxury items such as hair dryers/ straighteners, expensive jewellery, make up and bulky toiletries to an absolute minimum. If in doubt, leave them out.
- If you plan to bring cash, divide it into different areas of your carry-on luggage, wallet and money belt just in case something happens to one of those carry items.
- Leave some space in your luggage for the all-important souvenirs that you will probably buy. There are places where you can send packages home via DHL etc, however this can sometimes be an expensive option.
