Tanzania Safari Packing List

Supplies

  • Insect repellent/Mosquito Coil
  • Sunblock and after sun lotion
  • A travel towel
  • Skin cream
  • Malaria tablets
  • Citronella or other body soap/shower gel
  • Sunglasses – make sure they have polarised lenses.
  • Wet wipes/hand sanitizer or no-water/antibacterial soap – very handy in the safari vehicle.
  • Pocket Knife with scissors
  • Toothbrush/toothpaste/dental floss
  • 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner
  • Tweezers
  • Lip balm
  • Q-tips & cotton balls
  • Razor & shaving cream/gel
  • Sanitary requirements (shops are sometimes few and far between, and very basic)
  • Band aids
  • Painkiller
  • Antiseptic cream
  • Motion sickness tablets
  • Anti-diarrhoea medicine
  • Re-hydration salts
  • Pen/pencil
  • Plastic bags (wet washing/muddy shoes/organise clothes in suitcase)
  • Small compass
  • String/rope (washing line, tying sleeping bag, etc.)
  • Cold/flu tablets
  • Allergy remedy
  • Some people take a basic antibiotic in case
  • Sterile needles (in case you need an injection and don’t trust the hygiene conditions)
  • Prescribed medicine

Clothing

  • Wear neutral colours: khaki, light brown/green, tan. Avoid bright colours and white for improved game viewing
  • A safari jacket  
  • Comfortable short and long sleeved shirts (2 or 3 of each
  • Comfortable shorts and long trousers (2 or 3 of each) 
    About 5 sets of underwear
  • Pyjamas
  • Swimming costume
  • Flip-flops or sport sandals (public showers, airing feet)
  • Comfortable safari hiking/walking shoes (not white).
  • About 5 pairs of socks
  • Extra shoelaces
  •  

Equipments

  • Binoculars
  • Flashlight or headlamp
  • Camera, memory cards, extra batteries, battery charger and lens cleaner
  • Money belt
  • Washing powder/travel soap for laundry
  • Plug adaptors – generally in Africa it’s 3-prong round or square
  • Lighter/waterproof matches
  • Travel alarm clock
  • Mini combination locks (keys get lost)
  • Mini sewing kit
  •  

Documents

  • Passport & correct visas
  • Emergency phone numbers
  • Africa travel insurance policy
  • Extra passport photos
  • Copy of your passport, kept in a separate place than your passport
  • Medical history
  • Copies of prescriptions
  • Copy of marriage certificate, if applicable especially if you recently tied the knot

MONEY & SPENDING

  • Tanzania’s unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling but our advice is to use US Dollars only – and in cash: credit cards and travellers cheques (although accepted in most establishments) incur hefty transaction fees.
  • ATMs are found throughout the major towns in Tanzania but in case they are out of service you should always have a supply of back-up cash.

Note that : Due to the number of fake notes in circulation, no US Dollar bills printed before 2003 will be accepted in Tanzania.

 

CLIMATE

  • Average summer temperatures: 18°C to 29°C
  • Average winter temperatures: 15°C to 26°C
  • Rainy season: mid-March to May (“long rains”) and November to December (“short rains”).
  • Refer to “best time for Safari in Tanzania” for climate, details on the best wildlife-viewing times and when to witness the Serengeti migration.
 

FLIGHTS & GETTING AROUND

Dar-es-Salaam International Airport: Tanzania’s main airport is the gateway to the Indian Ocean coast and Zanzibar as well as Selous Game Reserve.

Kilimanjaro International Airport : Tanzania’s second international airport serves the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. However, you need to transfer to nearby Arusha Airport for charter flights to these destinations and, as international flights often arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport late in the day, a night in Arusha is usually necessary.

Arusha Airport: located 30km from Kilimanjaro Airport, this is the gateway to northern Tanzania’s fly-in safari airstrips. Given the size of Tanzania and the condition of its roads, charter flights are considered the best way to get around the country. Road transfers and game drives in Tanzania are conducted in open-sided 4X4 vehicles though visitors to Gombe and Mahale will enjoy a boat transfer across Lake Tanganyika.

ETIQUETTE

Religious belief is strong in Tanzania with Christianity and Islam dominating. Most Muslims live on the coast and in Zanzibar; visitors should be aware of the conservative nature of these destinations and dress and behave accordingly.

Tanzanians are renowned for being friendly and harmonious people; however, it is courteous to ask permission before photographing people.

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