What should I pack for a Tanzania safari?

WHAT TO PACK & WEAR

Tanzania has a large number of different tribes each with separate language, traditions and culture but what brings them together in one accord is the harmonious national culture, based on a subtle but strong social code of courtesy and respect.

Tanzania’s climate is predominantly tropical. For the whole country, the hottest months are from October to February. The long rains are from mid-March to late May, and the short rains from November to January. The coolest months are June to August when the nights and early mornings can be cold. In high-altitude areas such as Kilimanjaro, temperatures can fall below freezing.

To allow you to prepare yourself for your safari, you can use the following packing lists:

Clothing

• Sun hats with rim all round or peak.
• Sunglasses with good UV protection.
• A cotton scarf to protect neck from sunburn,
• light cotton shirts in neutral bush colors – short sleeves + long sleeve (avoid blue colors),
• medium type fleece for the evenings,
• lightweight rain-jacket,
• shorts; zip-off trousers are very good they are light and dry very quick and convenient if you like to change to shorts,
• casual smart clothing for the evenings when staying in lodges / tented camps,
• sensible walking shoes or trainers are fine, sport sandals also useful,
• torch (flashlight); head torches are very handy.

Medical

• head-ache tablets,
• diarrhea tablets,
• rehydration salts,
• stretch bandage x 1,
• band aids & plasters,
• 30 + sun-screen cream and lip protection,
• moisturizing cream or gel (sun and wind can catch you unaware when game viewing),
• malaria tablets / prophylaxis (consult doctor),
• yellow fever vaccination (consult doctor),
• antihistamine tablets and cream for bites and stings,
• alcoholic type sterilizing gel hand cleanser,
• prescribed or personal medication (important – please advise us of any medical history/condition that we should know about either on safari or if climbing Kilimanjaro or Mt Meru – it is important that our driver guides or Mountain guides are informed accordingly if using prescribed or personal medication).

Personal Equipment

• A light-weight day sack or sport bag; 15 to 25 liter, to keep your personal items at hand whilst on the move.
• Toiletries – depending on standard of accommodation; some lodges will supply mini soaps, shampoos and conditioners, when using our mobile fly-camping then you will need all toiletries as these are not provided to date.
• Water Bottle with insulation sock to keep water cool during the game drives, we will supply 1.5 liters of mineral water per day per person.
• A good camera with plenty of films and/or memory Cards and spare batteries or charging devices; all 4×4 Vehicles have British standard (three pin) sockets allowing for charging camera/video batteries/phones/music devices – this will only be possible whilst the vehicle is moving so advisable to come with a spare battery whilst one is in use the other is on charge all lodges/tented camps will have charging facilities for a period of time if camp/lodge is run off of a generator.
• Multi-plugs to charge your equipment at lodges (converting your countries plug into a 3-pin UK type, see our page on electricity in Tanzania for more information).
• Internal money belt – for cards /passports (local currency can be pulled from 24 hr ATM machines – most common cards Visa/MasterCard).
• Wallet or purse for carrying day-spending money,
• Binoculars,
• Wet wipes,
• Insect repellents.

Luggage

Please make sure to lock all of your bags when traveling and to obtain travel insurance prior to departure. It is recommended that you travel with a set of clothes and essential items in your carry-on bags in case of luggage being lost – security measures at airport check in are the same as international airports – Do not carry lighters, pen knives, nail scissors in carryon luggage as it will be removed and destroyed. Bush2Beach Safaris offers secure storage rooms / safes where luggage & valuables can be left for a certain part of a safari if returning to Arusha (ie: If climbing Kilimanjaro or heading to the beach climbing/beach gear can be left whilst on safari and delivered to the lodge/hotel prior to your return).

Soft sports type bag(s) are handy when on safari (suitcases are large and do not pack well in the vehicles.) On most small aircraft there is a luggage allowance of 15kg and again big suitcases do not always fit in the luggage compartment under the plane – please request full details if unsure.

Money

• Travelers' cheques can take a long time to get your cash with long queues and processing, passport receipts need to be produced and most have a limit of $200 a day which will be given in local currency.
• Lodges accept all major currencies (USD, GBP, and Euro). If using USD, please make sure to bring new notes as most countries in East Africa do not accept old notes (with smaller heads and prior to the year 1996 to be sure try to get notes of the year 2000 onward with no damage).
• If you need $ U.S Dollars you will need to buy them back at a poor rate using TZS currency.
• ATM is easy and readable available in Arusha, Moshi and Dar-es-Salaam – limits per day ranging from $300 – $800 per 24hr period given in local currency depending on the restrictions you have emplaced on your credit cards. Beware though, this is Africa so phone-lines or power might be down and ATM’s do not always work.
• Bring in large dollar bills – $100 -$50 for changing into local currency at “bureau de change” and small bills for tipping at lodges – smaller bills will return a lower rate of exchange at bureau’s ).
• Tipping is a sensitive issue for most European countries but common in East Africa in the tourist industry
• Donations, sponsorship and support – Depending on your itinerary you may be visiting one of the Gecko Tanzania community projects that is supported –  in the past clients have requested a list as to what to bring or how they can help. Please contact for further details if wanting to bring with you learning materials: ie: English learning/reading materials, writing books, pens, pencils, colors, ect: if wanting to sponsor and assist in further education of an individual then please discuss this with the office staff.

Travel Documents

Visa requirements are an important consideration, especially if you are going on safari in multiple African countries as some of them have different visa terms. Your travel agent or safari operator should be able to help you with this so make sure you check with them…

• Passport and correct visas (ensure that you retain copies at home and while on safari)
• Emergency phone numbers
• Insurance policy
• Your itinerary (current and confirmed version if amendments were present during your correspondence with us)
• Addresses and mobile numbers (postcards/emails/texts)
• Any vaccinations certificates

Emergency Evacuation Cover

A mandatory ‘Emergency Evacuation Cover’ is built into all wildlife /climbs/beach safaris. 

However, we strongly suggest that you take out an (additional) comprehensive cover depending on what activities (climbing/diving) you want to include in your safari itinerary prior to traveling.

How AMREF Flying Doctors works in conjunction with your own travel insurance is that in case of any unforeseen incident the emergency services will act upon a simple phone call from us or anyone on the scene, saving essential time that can be lost whilst your own insurance is notified and for them to take action. Here in Tanzania there are NO public emergency services that will jump into action without seeing a visa card or payment waved in front of their eyes. The AMREF Flying Doctors emergency service is inexpensive ($15 or $30 per person for 30 days), both air and land rescue units are available and in case of a required medical rescue you will be taken to the nearest medical facility depending on severity of incident either Tanzania, Kenya or South Africa, where upon the AMREF Flying Doctors hands over and you own insurance comes into play