What colours should I wear on safari?

Khaki, olive, beige and brown. Avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies, and bright white, which shows every speck of dust. Camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in Tanzania.

Is there a luggage limit on a Tanzania safari?

In our Land Cruisers, a soft bag of up to about 15 kg per person is comfortable. If you add a light-aircraft transfer to or from the Serengeti, the airline limit is usually 15 kg in soft bags only.

Do I need binoculars on safari?

Yes — they change the experience more than an extra camera lens does. One pair per person, 8x42 or 10x42, is ideal. Our vehicles carry a spare pair for guests who forget.

Travel Tips · 5 min read

What to Pack for a Tanzania Safari

Almost everyone brings too many clothes and not enough layers. Here is what actually gets used.

The short answerPack neutral-coloured layers, a warm fleece for dawn game drives, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellent with DEET, binoculars, spare camera batteries and a soft duffel bag rather than a hard suitcase. Laundry is available at most lodges, so three or four outfits are plenty for a week.

Published 22 June 2026 by Isaac Sumary in Arusha

Flamingos taking flight from the shallows of a Tanzanian soda lake

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.

About the author

Isaac Sumary

Isaac is a Tanzanian safari guide from Arusha and the founder of both the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center and Fruits & Love Safaris. He has been driving the northern circuit for over a decade, and 10% of every safari payment goes back to the children in his care. Reach him on +255 762 353 576 or isaacsumary@yahoo.com.

Planning a trip?

We run private safaris from Arusha and give 10% of every payment to the Fruitful Orphanage. Send us your dates and we will reply within 24 hours with a quote in USD.

Get a quote

Safaris mentioned in this article

3 daysLake Manyara · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire

3-Day Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari

The best-value way to see three completely different landscapes and stand a real chance of the Big Five in three days.

From

$750 USD pp

View itinerary

5 daysTarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater

5-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari

Two full nights inside the Serengeti plus a crater day — the shortest itinerary that does the migration justice.

From

$1,450 USD pp

View itinerary

Parks covered in this guide

Lake Manyara National Park Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tarangire National Park Serengeti National Park

Safari lengths to compare

3-day Tanzania safari 5-day Tanzania safari

Frequently asked questions

What colours should I wear on safari?: Khaki, olive, beige and brown. Avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies, and bright white, which shows every speck of dust. Camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in Tanzania.
Is there a luggage limit on a Tanzania safari?: In our Land Cruisers, a soft bag of up to about 15 kg per person is comfortable. If you add a light-aircraft transfer to or from the Serengeti, the airline limit is usually 15 kg in soft bags only.
Do I need binoculars on safari?: Yes — they change the experience more than an extra camera lens does. One pair per person, 8x42 or 10x42, is ideal. Our vehicles carry a spare pair for guests who forget.

Keep reading

Planning