Neutral colours, light layers and a soft bag. That is the honest heart of every Tanzania safari packing list, and it is the same African safari packing advice we send our own guests before every trip. Our existing packing guide covers Kilimanjaro, and the mountain is a different animal. This one is for the safari vehicle, the dust and the early mornings.
What safari clothing should you wear in Tanzania?
Wear neutral colours: khaki, olive, brown, sand. They hide the red dust that settles on everything, they do not startle the animals when you stand up in the vehicle, and they keep you cooler than black under the sun. Avoid dark blue and black where tsetse flies are about, because those colours attract them. Skip camouflage entirely, since in Tanzania it is reserved for the military. Bright white lasts about one game drive.
Why do you need layers on safari?
Because the best game drives start cold. We leave camp around dawn, when the highlands and the crater rim can feel closer to a European autumn than to the Africa of the brochures, and the open sides of the vehicle make it colder still. By late morning you are down to a shirt. Pack a warm fleece, a windproof layer, a beanie if you feel the cold, and light long sleeves for the sun by day and the mosquitoes in the evening.
What about dust and camera gear?
Dust is the safari’s one honest nuisance. Bring a buff or bandana for the drives between parks, and keep your camera in a zipped bag whenever you are not shooting. A blower and a lens cloth earn their place. Bring more memory cards and batteries than you think you need, your own binoculars, and a small beanbag rather than a tripod, because you will be shooting from the vehicle. Our 4x4s have charging sockets, but a power bank saves arguments.
Why pack in a soft bag?
If your trip includes a light aircraft, for example a hop between the Serengeti and Zanzibar, the airline will insist on a soft-sided duffel and a strict weight limit, and they do mean it. We do not sell flights ourselves, so check the exact limit with whoever books yours; we are happy to help you read the fine print. Even on a road safari a soft bag fits the vehicle far better than a hard shell.
What should you leave at home?
- Camouflage clothing, for the reason above.
- Plastic carrier bags, which are banned in Tanzania.
- A drone, unless you have arranged the required permits long in advance.
- Hard suitcases and half your wardrobe. A few safari outfits are enough.
- Flashy jewellery and anything you would cry about losing.
We send every guest a full checklist before travel, adjusted to the season and the itinerary, written from our office in Arusha. If you would rather talk it through, send us a WhatsApp message and Baraka or one of the crew will answer, usually the same day.
