This comprehensive Tanzania Safari Packing List guide covers everything you need to know about packing smart for your Tanzania adventure, including practical advice on what works, what doesn’t, and the items most travelers forget until it’s too late.

Tanzania Safari Luggage Restrictions: What You Need to Know

Small aircraft operating between Tanzania’s national parks enforce strict luggage limits. Most flights restrict passengers to 15kg (33 lbs) in soft-sided bags only. Hard-shell suitcases are frequently rejected at airstrips, forcing travelers to repack or leave items behind.

Recommended luggage: A soft duffel bag offers the best combination of capacity and flexibility. Choose a sturdy, neutral-colored bag that can be compressed when needed and easily handled by lodge staff.

What to Wear on Tanzania Safari: Clothing Essentials

Safari lodges typically offer complimentary or affordable laundry service, and clothes dry quickly in the African climate. This means you can pack lighter than you might expect.

Color Guidelines

Neutral tones are essential for safari clothing. Khaki, olive, beige, brown, and gray work best. Bright colors can startle wildlife, while white shows dust immediately. This color palette also photographs well in the natural environment.

Core Clothing Items

Pack about three to four lightweight long-sleeve shirts for sun protection and evening mosquitoes, along with two pairs of comfortable pants (zip-off styles offer versatility). Include one pair of shorts though pants work better for most game drives, and definitely bring a fleece or light jacket since early mornings can be surprisingly cool. If you’re visiting between June and August, add a warmer layer like a down jacket. You’ll need four or five sets of underwear and socks, a swimsuit for lodge pools, comfortable closed-toe shoes for game drives, sandals for camp wear, a wide-brimmed hat for sun protection, and a lightweight scarf or buff for dust.

Items to Leave Behind

Jeans are impractical due to their weight, slow drying time, and discomfort in heat. Formal attire is unnecessary as safari lodges maintain a casual atmosphere. Limit yourself to one pair of walking shoes plus sandals, avoid dry-clean-only garments, and leave white or brightly colored items at home.

Best Camera Gear for Tanzania Safari Photography

Your photography approach will determine what equipment you need.

For Serious Photographers

Bring your DSLR or mirrorless camera body with a 70-300mm lens at minimum, as wildlife viewing distances require substantial zoom capability. Pack at least two extra batteries beyond your estimate, memory cards with generous storage capacity, a lens cleaning kit (dust is pervasive in safari environments), and a beanbag for stabilizing your camera on vehicle roofs during game drives.

For Casual Photography

Modern smartphones capture excellent images and may be sufficient for your needs. A zoom lens attachment can enhance capability without significant investment or weight.

Equipment That Doesn’t Work

Drones are prohibited in Tanzania’s national parks. Tripods prove impractical as wildlife moves quickly and setup time is limited. Flash photography disturbs animals and should never be used during game drives.

Photography advice: You’ll likely capture thousands of images but carefully review only a small fraction. Focus on experiencing the safari rather than exclusively viewing it through a camera lens.

Essential Sun Protection for Tanzania Safari

The equatorial sun in Tanzania is intense and requires serious protection regardless of your typical sensitivity to sunburn.

Essential sun protection: Bring SPF 50+ sunscreen (the highest rating available), after-sun lotion, lip balm with SPF protection, quality sunglasses (polarized lenses reduce glare effectively), and a wide-brimmed hat that provides comprehensive shade.

Apply sunscreen every two hours during game drives, even when inside the vehicle. The sun reflects off dry grasslands and affects passengers despite roof coverage. Cloud cover doesn’t significantly reduce UV exposure.

Malaria Prevention: Health Essentials for Tanzania

Tanzania has endemic malaria in certain regions, making prevention essential.

Pre-Departure Medical Preparation

Schedule a travel medicine consultation four to six weeks before departure. Obtain malaria prophylaxis medication such as Malarone or Doxycycline as recommended by your physician. Verify your yellow fever vaccination status (required when arriving from certain countries) and confirm all routine vaccinations are current.

Insect Protection Items

Bring insect repellent containing 25-50% DEET, permethrin spray for pre-treating clothing, and anti-itch cream for treating bites that occur despite preventive measures.

Wearing long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk provides significant additional protection. These times coincide with peak mosquito activity and prime wildlife viewing hours.

Medical Kit Essentials

Access to pharmacies becomes limited once you leave major towns. Bring medications you might need rather than hoping to purchase them locally.

Recommended medications: Pack anti-diarrheal medication like Imodium, antihistamines for allergic reactions, pain relievers for headaches related to altitude or travel, antibiotic cream, adhesive bandages and blister treatment, oral rehydration salts, and adequate supplies of any prescription medications in original packaging. If visiting Ngorongoro Crater rim areas, consider altitude sickness medication.

Important: Keep all medications in your carry-on luggage. Checked bags experience delays or loss more frequently than travelers anticipate.

Essential Documents and Paperwork

Required Documentation (Physical and Digital)

Your passport must remain valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date. Obtain your Tanzanian visa online before departure to streamline arrival procedures. Prepare copies of travel insurance details, yellow fever certificate (if applicable), hotel and lodge confirmations, flight tickets, tour operator contact information, and emergency contacts.

Create digital scans of all documents and email them to yourself. Share copies with a trusted person at home. When electronics fail unexpectedly, having backup access to critical information proves invaluable.

Additional Important Items

Several items consistently prove their value despite not fitting obvious categories.

Binoculars: While many lodges provide binoculars, having your own pair ensures availability and familiarity. Specifications of 8×42 or 10×42 work well for safari conditions.

Lighting: Camps operate without streetlights. A headlamp or small flashlight is essential for navigating between your tent and common areas after dark.

Power adapter: Tanzania uses UK-style electrical outlets (Type D and G). Many modern camps include USB charging ports, but bring a proper adapter for reliability.

Reusable water bottle: Most lodges provide filtered water for refilling. A durable water bottle eliminates the need for purchasing disposable plastic bottles.

Hygiene items: Wet wipes and hand sanitizer see constant use during dusty game drives and bush meals.

Day pack: A small backpack keeps water, camera equipment, and snacks organized during game drives.

Protective bags: Ziplock bags in various sizes protect electronics and documents from dust infiltration.

Repair supplies: A small roll of duct tape or tape wrapped around a water bottle handles emergency repairs to luggage, clothing, or equipment.

Noise management: Ear plugs help with nighttime wildlife sounds and other disturbances that may interrupt sleep.

Items You Can Skip

Certain products marketed specifically for safari don’t provide commensurate value.

Multi-pocket safari vests: Standard shirts with basic pockets serve the same function at lower cost and with more versatility.

Premium safari-specific clothing: Regular hiking pants and outdoor wear perform identically at a fraction of the price.

Portable wifi devices: Most lodges offer wifi connectivity, though speed and reliability vary. Consider embracing limited connectivity as part of the safari experience.

Hair styling tools: Many accommodations provide hair dryers if needed. The dusty, active nature of safari makes elaborate styling impractical.

Extensive cosmetics: Heat and dust make minimal makeup the practical choice for most travelers.

Multiple books: Safari schedules typically leave limited energy for extensive reading. Download audiobooks or e-books if concerned about entertainment options.

Money and Payment Methods

What to Bring

US dollar bills in pristine condition dated 2013 or later are required for visa fees and tipping. Credit cards are accepted at most lodges for accommodation charges. A small amount of Tanzanian shillings proves useful for local markets and small purchases.

What to Skip

Traveler’s checks are obsolete and no longer accepted at most establishments. Carrying excessive cash creates security concerns, as lodges accept credit cards for most transactions. ATMs operate in Arusha for emergency cash needs, though reliability varies.

Seasonal Packing Variations

Dry Season (June-October)

Include a warm jacket for early morning game drives when temperatures drop significantly. Bring additional dust protection including scarves, extra wet wipes, and eye drops. Pack lighter weight clothing for midday temperatures.

Wet Season (November-May)

Add a waterproof rain jacket (a lightweight shell rather than heavy raincoat). Ensure all clothing items dry quickly. Include a waterproof bag or dry sack for protecting electronics, and pack extra ziplock bags for added moisture protection.

Carry-On Strategy

Certain items should never go in checked luggage: all medications, essential documents, phone and camera with charging cables, one complete change of clothes, and any items you absolutely cannot replace or do without.

Luggage delays and losses occur regularly. Pack your carry-on as though your checked bag might not arrive with you, because this scenario happens more frequently than most travelers expect.

Considerations for Traveling with Children

Families traveling with children should add kid-friendly sunscreen formulations that won’t irritate sensitive skin, extensive downloaded entertainment that doesn’t require internet connectivity for long drives, familiar snacks that may not be available in Tanzania, comfort items necessary for sleep routines, and abundant patience throughout the journey.

Comprehensive Packing Checklist

Tier 1: Absolutely Essential

□ Passport & visa documents
□ Travel insurance details
□ Malaria medication
□ Sunscreen SPF 50+
□ Insect repellent with DEET
□ Wide-brimmed hat
□ Quality sunglasses
□ Camera or smartphone
□ Binoculars
□ Comfortable neutral-colored clothing (3-4 outfits)
□ Closed-toe walking shoes
□ Light jacket or fleece
□ Personal prescription medications

Tier 2: Highly Recommended

□ Extra camera batteries and memory cards
□ Headlamp or flashlight
□ Power adapter (UK-style)
□ Reusable water bottle
□ Small day pack
□ Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
□ Basic first aid supplies
□ Swimsuit
□ Sandals for camp wear

Tier 3: Nice to Have

□ Ziplock bags for electronics protection
□ Lens cleaning supplies
□ Additional warm layers for cold mornings
□ Quick-dry towel
□ Downloaded entertainment
□ Favorite snacks

Our Recommendations for Tanzania Safari Packing List

Successful safari experiences depend more on preparation and flexibility than on having every possible item. Focus on protecting yourself from sun and insects, bringing quality optics for wildlife viewing, and packing appropriate clothing for the climate.

Your clothes will accumulate dust. Your hair may not cooperate. You might forget something and need to adapt. These minor inconveniences are inherent to the safari experience and don’t diminish the remarkable wildlife encounters and landscapes you’ll experience.

Pack strategically, prioritize the essentials, and maintain flexibility when things don’t go exactly as planned. The quality of your safari depends far more on your attitude and preparation than on having every specialized item marketed to safari-goers.