Packing & Preparation
What to pack for a Tanzania safari, and what to leave behind
Neema Kileo · April 18, 2025
Bush flight baggage limits are strict. Layering matters more than you expect. And the heavy camera lens you agonised over will spend most of the trip in the bag.
Start with the weight limit, not the gear list
Most packing guides for safari start with lists. This one starts with a constraint: if your itinerary includes a domestic bush flight, and most Tanzania itineraries do, your checked baggage limit is 15 kilograms, soft bag only. Hard-shell suitcases will not be loaded on light aircraft. They will be stored at the airstrip.
Pack to that limit first. Everything below becomes easier.
Clothing: layers over bulk
The single most common packing mistake is bringing too much. The second most common is bringing the wrong weight distribution, too heavy for afternoons, not warm enough for mornings.
Game drive mornings are cold. Even in July and August, Serengeti mornings at 6am in an open vehicle with breeze can feel genuinely cold. You need a mid-layer, a fleece or lightweight down jacket. This matters more than almost any other clothing item.
Afternoons are warm to hot. A long-sleeved linen or technical shirt handles sun and dust without overheating. Two is enough.
Colour. Earth tones across everything: khaki, olive, tan, stone, brown. Bright colours, including white and dark navy, disturb wildlife and mark you out as a novice. Avoid them for game drives.
What works: 2 × long-sleeved technical or linen shirts, 1 × fleece or lightweight down jacket, 2 × lightweight trousers or chinos, 1 × shorts for camp, 3-4 × merino wool socks (better than cotton in the bush), comfortable closed-toe shoes for game drives, sandals for camp.
Leave behind: formal wear, high heels, multiple shoes, a heavy jacket.
Footwear
Closed-toe shoes or lightweight boots for game drives. Dust is fine and persistent, open-toed shoes fill immediately and become uncomfortable. Sandals are fine for around camp and evenings. Do not overthink this. Two pairs total is enough.
The camera question
Most guests agonise over cameras. Here is the honest answer from guides who see this every day: binoculars first, camera second.
The animals do not come to you because you have a 600mm lens. They are where they are regardless of your equipment. The best wildlife encounters happen when you observe, when you sit still with binoculars and follow an animal's behaviour over time rather than frantically switching between shooting and watching.
That said, for photography:
- A mirrorless body with a 100-400mm zoom covers 90% of what you will encounter
- A phone with a decent camera is genuinely sufficient for social and memory use
- A tripod takes up half your weight allowance and is almost never worth it (use your bag or the vehicle frame)
- Spare batteries and large capacity memory cards matter more than lens upgrades
Health essentials
- Malaria prophylaxis: required for most of Tanzania. Consult a travel clinic 4-6 weeks before departure. Malarone or Doxycycline are the most common choices.
- Sun protection: high-factor SPF and a good hat. The Serengeti sun is intense and you are in an open vehicle.
- Insect repellent: DEET-based for Tanzania and Zambia. Apply at dusk and dawn.
- Hand sanitiser: useful between game drives.
- Prescription medication: bring enough for the full trip plus several extra days. Pharmacies in remote areas are not reliable.
What to leave behind
- Blue or black clothing: tsetse flies are attracted to dark blue and black. They bite through thin fabric.
- Perfume and strong-smelling lotions: unnecessary in the bush and potentially attractive to insects.
- Too many books: one or two. You will be tired in the evenings.
- Hair dryers and styling tools: lodges rarely have the right voltage adapters and you won't use them.
- Anything you can't afford to get dusty: the Serengeti covers everything in a fine terracotta layer.
The packing list in brief
| Category | Item | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Long-sleeved technical shirt | 2 |
| Clothing | Lightweight trousers | 2 |
| Clothing | Fleece or down jacket | 1 |
| Clothing | Shorts (camp only) | 1 |
| Clothing | Merino socks | 4 |
| Footwear | Closed-toe shoes | 1 pair |
| Footwear | Sandals | 1 pair |
| Sun | Wide-brim hat | 1 |
| Sun | SPF 50 sunscreen | 1 |
| Health | Insect repellent (DEET) | 1 |
| Health | Malaria prophylaxis | Full course |
| Optics | Binoculars (8×42 recommended) | 1 |
| Bag | Soft duffel, max 15 kg | 1 |
| Bag | Small day pack for the vehicle | 1 |
The discipline of packing light makes the entire experience better. You carry less, move faster, and spend less time managing luggage.