What to Pack for a Tanzanian Safari?
Packing for your first African safari can be quite a challenge. What do you need? What kind of clothes do you bring? Don’t stress too much about what to pack. Just keep it simple and pack lightly. The luggage you can bring on safari vehicles or smaller planes is limited, and a lot of lodges and camps offer laundry services, so there is no need to bring different clothes for each day of your trip. On most Tanzanian safaris it’s going to be sunny, so pack lightweight clothes and good sun protection. This is our advice on what you need for a safari in Tanzania.
Backpack
It’s always handy to have a more manageable bag (small backpack or duffle bag) that you can have with you in the vehicle.
Passport, Itinerary, Travel Insurance Docs & Tickets
It seems obvious, but we would be remiss if we didn’t put this at the top of the list of what you must pack for your safari.
Prescription Meds
Remember to put your prescription medications in your hand luggage (in case your check-in bag goes astray… it happens!)…and make sure you have enough of each type to last your entire safari.
To chill during sunsets and especially at night, you must pack insect repellents.
Camera, Video and Binoculars
Whilst most people will remember to take their camera and/or video (or will use their mobile phone), not everyone thinks they need to take binoculars!
In some occasions, you want to have a closer look and if you have your own binoculars you can see more details. Usually, we also have at least two binoculars by vehicle, but to be on the safe side you can bring your own.
What to Wear
- T-shirts and tank tops
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Shorts
- Light long pants or convertible long-short pants
- Warm fleece pullover or jacket
- One swimsuit
- Cotton socks and underwear
- Pajamas (also warm ones);
- One pair of comfortable walking shoes
- One pair of sandals or flip-flops
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Bandana (for dust)
- Heavy sweaters, gloves, and toque if travelling in the cold season
Phone, Music, Tablet or Laptop
What you must pack for your safari are your phone, music, tablet, or laptop – and their respective chargers (Africa is generally 3-prong round or square, like the UK)
Medications
Please don’t forget to carry any prescribed or eventually any other medicine in need. This is just a fancy way of saying ‘meds’ – stuff you need, just in case the worst happens: diarrhea, headaches, heartburn, insect repellent, hand sanitizer, bites (antihistamine), indigestion, sore throat (lozenges), eye drops, and most important – anti-malarial tablets.
Prescription Glasses (Sunglasses, Hat, Sunblock)
If you wear prescription glasses, be sure to pack more than one set (in case you lose one, or they get broken). You will be outdoors for much of the time, so be prepared. Pack a hat, sunblock, long sleeves, and lip balm.
Hand Luggage
Firstly, try to restrict your hand luggage to one item only, if for no other reason than more than one item makes travel that much harder. And, yes, a handbag qualifies as a second item! Obviously, that one item should be of a size that is acceptable as carry-on luggage by the airlines.
Time to Plan Your Safari!
Hopefully, these tips will help you to figure out what you need to pack for your safari. If you need more information or want to go ahead and embark on a safari adventure, Contact Us. We’ll be happy to help you decide on the best tour option.
