What to Pack for a Tanzania Safari 2026 Checklist

Most Tanzania safari packing advice is written to fill a page. This one is written to fill a bag. Ten items. Everything else is optional.

1. Neutral-coloured clothing in layers. Safari temperatures swing from 8°C at dawn to 32°C by mid-morning. A lightweight fleece over a long-sleeve shirt handles both. Colours: khaki, olive, tan, brown. Not white. Not bright.
2. Binoculars (8×42 or 10×42). Animals on safari are often 30–50 metres away. A good pair of binoculars is the single item that transforms what you see. Ours are available in vehicles, but having your own means you never wait.
3. High-SPF sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. The equatorial sun at altitude is harsher than it feels. SPF 50+, reapplied every two hours in an open vehicle. The hat covers your face when the sun is directly overhead.
4. Insect repellent with DEET. Applied after sunset and in the early morning. Non-negotiable in any season. The parks are in malaria-risk areas — repellent is part of the standard prevention approach alongside prescribed medication.
5. Camera with a telephoto zoom and spare batteries. A 70–300mm lens covers most situations. Wildebeest crossing the Mara River, a leopard in a sausage tree, a lion pride at dawn — all of it happens fast. Charge batteries every night. Bring more memory cards than you think you need.
6. Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes. Game walks in Tarangire and the Ngorongoro crater floor require proper footwear. Sandals and flip-flops are fine at camp, not on the trails.
7. Rain jacket (not a poncho). November–May wet season brings real downpours. A poncho is useless in an open safari vehicle — the wind drives rain sideways. A light waterproof jacket with a hood handles everything.
8. Reusable water bottle. Most lodges and all vehicles have filtered water available. A 1-litre bottle keeps you hydrated through a morning game drive and cuts down on single-use plastic.
9. Universal power adapter and a power bank. Tanzania uses Type G sockets (British-style). A universal adapter covers you. On mobile safaris, a power bank means your phone and camera stay charged even when you're away from camp for the full day.
10. All essential documents in two forms. Passport (valid 6+ months, two blank pages), visa fee (USD 52 in crisp bills), travel insurance documents, and vaccination card if arriving from a yellow fever country. Keep physical copies and digital copies in separate places.

What to leave at home

• Camouflage clothing — illegal to wear in Tanzania.
• Drones — prohibited inside all national parks.
• Formal or resort wear — all lodges and camps are casual.
• Expensive jewellery or watches — the bush has no use for them.
• Laptop — a phone covers photography and messaging. Most camps have intermittent Wi-Fi anyway.

Soft-sided bag, 15 kg

If you are flying to the southern parks (Selous, Ruaha) or connecting to Zanzibar after your safari, internal flights have a strict 15 kg weight limit including all carry-on. A soft duffel or roll-top bag fits. A rigid suitcase does not. Even on a northern circuit private safari where weight limits are less enforced, packing light makes the vehicle more comfortable for everyone.

Our guides' consistent feedback after thousands of safaris: bring half the clothes and double the memory cards. Laundry is available at most camps. Everything else is noise.

For the complete annotated version with seasonal adjustments and a per-category breakdown, see our full packing list page.