Packing for a safari is simpler than most first-time visitors expect. Here is what actually matters.
Clothing
- Neutral colours (khaki, olive, brown); avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies
- Layers: mornings on the crater rim are cold, middays are warm
- A warm fleece or jacket, a brimmed hat and comfortable closed shoes
- Long sleeves and trousers for evenings (mosquitoes)
Essentials
- Binoculars: the single most underrated safari item
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm
- Insect repellent with DEET
- Any personal medication, plus copies of prescriptions
- Camera with a zoom lens, spare batteries and memory cards
- A soft duffel bag rather than a hard suitcase if you have internal flights
What you can leave behind
Camping gear (we provide it on camping safaris), drinking water (in the vehicle every day), and anything camouflage-patterned, which is reserved for the military in Tanzania. Laundry is available at most lodges, so pack for four or five days even on a longer trip.