What to pack for a Tanzania safari

Clothing

• Light, breathable shirts and trousers in neutral colours: khaki, beige, olive. Avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies.
• A warm fleece or light down jacket. Early game drives are cold, and the Ngorongoro Crater rim is at about 2,300 m.
• A light waterproof jacket in the rainy months.
• A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and comfortable closed shoes.
• Swimwear: many lodges have pools.

Luggage

Use a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase. If your trip includes a light-aircraft flight, the limit is usually 15 kg per person, including hand luggage, in a soft bag.

Important: Tanzania has banned plastic carrier bags. Pack your shoes and toiletries in cloth or reusable bags. Clear zip-lock bags for liquids in hand luggage are generally accepted.

Health and comfort

• High-factor sunscreen and lip balm.
• Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin.
• Any prescribed malaria tablets and personal medicines.
• A small torch or headlamp.

Documents and money

• Passport valid for six months, with blank pages, and your visa.
• Yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from a country with yellow fever risk.
• Travel insurance details.
• US dollar notes printed in 2009 or later, in small denominations for tips.

Photography

• Binoculars: one pair per person if possible.
• A zoom lens of at least 200–400 mm for wildlife.
• Spare batteries and memory cards, and a car charger adapter.
• A beanbag to rest your camera on the vehicle roof.