Packing for a safari is different from packing for a normal holiday. You spend long days in an open-roof vehicle, mornings can be surprisingly cold, afternoons are hot and dusty, and small safari planes have strict luggage limits. This checklist is based on what our guides see guests bring every week, and what they wish they had brought.
The golden rule: pack light, pack neutral colours and pack in layers. Most lodges offer laundry, so you need fewer clothes than you think.
Step 1: Choose the right bag
- A soft duffel bag instead of a hard suitcase. It fits better in the safari vehicle and is required on most small planes
- A small daypack for the vehicle: camera, water, sunscreen and a warm layer
- If you fly between parks or to Zanzibar on a light aircraft, the limit is usually around 15 kg per person, including hand luggage
Tip: Climbing Kilimanjaro first? We can store your city clothes safely in Arusha while you are on the mountain or on safari.
Step 2: Pack the right clothes
Choose light, breathable clothes in khaki, beige, olive, brown or grey. These colours blend into the bush and show less dust. Avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies in some parks.
- 3 to 4 T-shirts or light shirts
- 2 long-sleeved shirts for sun and mosquito protection in the evening
- 2 pairs of light trousers and 1 pair of shorts
- A warm fleece or light down jacket for early game drives
- A light rain jacket, especially from November to May
- A wide-brimmed hat or cap
- Comfortable clothes for the lodge in the evening, and swimwear
Important: Military-style camouflage clothing is not allowed for visitors in Tanzania. Leave it at home.
Good to know: The rim of the Ngorongoro Crater is over 2,000 metres high and can be cold at night and early in the morning, even in the dry season. Bring a real warm layer.
Step 3: Shoes
- Closed, comfortable walking shoes or light hiking shoes
- Sandals or flip-flops for the lodge
- Proper hiking boots only if you add a walking safari, Mount Meru or Kilimanjaro
Step 4: Safari gear and electronics
- Binoculars: the most underrated safari item; one pair per person is ideal
- A camera with a zoom lens (100–400 mm is perfect) or a good phone
- Spare memory cards and batteries
- A power bank; our vehicles have charging points, but bring a backup
- A plug adapter: Tanzania uses type D and type G sockets (230 V)
- A head torch for walking around camp at night
- Sunglasses and a buff or scarf against dust
Step 5: Health and toiletries
- High-factor sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
- Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin
- Malaria tablets: speak to your doctor or travel clinic before you travel
- Your personal medicines in your hand luggage, with a copy of the prescription
- A small first-aid kit: plasters, painkillers, rehydration salts and stomach tablets
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
Note: Plastic carrier bags are banned in Tanzania. Pack your things in fabric bags or packing cubes instead.
Step 6: Documents and money
- A passport valid for at least 6 months, with empty pages
- Your Tanzania visa; most visitors apply online before travel (see our visa and entry guide)
- Travel insurance: since 1 October 2026, foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must also hold the government travel insurance policy ($44 per person). Zanzibar has its own separate compulsory policy
- A yellow fever certificate if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever risk
- US dollars in newer, undamaged notes for tips and extras, plus a card for lodges that accept it
- Printed and digital copies of your bookings and insurance
Pro tip: Rules for visas and insurance can change. We send every guest an up-to-date checklist after booking, so you always travel with the right documents.
Step 7: What you do not need to pack
- Lots of outfits: lodges have laundry, and on safari everyone wears the same few clothes
- Hair dryers and heavy towels: lodges provide them
- Expensive jewellery
- Drinking water: we provide water in the vehicle during your safari
Your printable safari packing checklist
- Soft duffel bag and small daypack
- Neutral-coloured shirts, trousers and shorts
- Fleece or warm jacket and a light rain jacket
- Hat, sunglasses and buff
- Walking shoes and sandals
- Binoculars, camera, power bank and adapter
- Sunscreen, insect repellent and malaria tablets
- Passport, visa, insurance and yellow fever certificate if needed
- US dollars and a bank card
- Swimwear for the lodge pool or Zanzibar
Going to the beach after your safari? Read our guide to Zanzibar after safari. Climbing too? Compare the Kilimanjaro routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colours should I wear on safari in Tanzania?
Neutral colours such as khaki, beige, olive, brown and grey. Avoid bright white, which shows dust, and dark blue or black, which can attract tsetse flies. Camouflage clothing is not allowed.
Is it cold on safari in Tanzania?
Early mornings and evenings can be cool, especially from June to August and on the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Days are usually warm to hot. Dress in layers you can take off as the day warms up.
How much luggage can I bring on a safari?
On a road safari with us there is enough space for a normal soft bag per person. On small planes between parks or to Zanzibar the limit is usually around 15 kg per person in a soft bag.
Do I need travel insurance for Tanzania?
Yes. Since 1 October 2026 foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must hold the government travel insurance policy, and Zanzibar has its own compulsory policy. We also recommend your own comprehensive travel insurance that covers cancellation.
