What to Pack for a Tanzania Safari

Clothing

• ·Neutral colours: khaki, olive, beige, brown. Avoid dark blue and black — they attract tsetse flies.
• ·Avoid bright white, which shows dust within an hour.
• ·Three or four T-shirts and two long-sleeved shirts for sun and insect protection.
• ·Two pairs of light trousers plus one pair of shorts.
• ·A warm fleece and a windproof layer — the crater rim can drop to 8°C at dawn.
• ·A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a light scarf or buff for dust.
• ·Comfortable closed shoes; hiking boots only if you plan a walking safari or Kilimanjaro.

Health and toiletries

• ·High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm — the altitude sun is stronger than it feels.
• ·Insect repellent with DEET and your malaria prophylaxis.
• ·A small personal first-aid kit with rehydration salts and anti-diarrhoeals.
• ·Wet wipes and hand sanitiser for long days on dusty roads.

Gear

• ·Binoculars — the single most underrated item on any safari.
• ·Camera with a zoom lens (200mm or longer), spare batteries and memory cards.
• ·A power bank; vehicles have charging sockets but camping power is limited.
• ·A headtorch, essential at campsites.
• ·A soft duffel bag rather than a hard suitcase, especially if you are flying into the Serengeti, where the limit is usually 15 kg.

Documents and money

• ·Passport valid for at least six months, plus a printed visa or e-visa confirmation.
• ·Travel insurance certificate — this is mandatory on our safaris.
• ·US dollar notes printed in 2009 or later; older notes are refused in Tanzania.
• ·Small notes for tips and curio stalls.

Leave at home

Plastic bags are banned in Tanzania, so leave them out of your luggage entirely. Drones require permits that are almost never granted to tourists. And camouflage clothing is restricted to military use — do not bring it.