What to pack for a Tanzania safari

2026-05-19 · Planning

Less than you think, in colours that do not shout, in a soft bag.

Soft bags only

Light aircraft between the parks have strict luggage limits — usually 15 kg in a soft duffel. Hard suitcases will not fit in the hold. Most camps do laundry, so pack for three days, not ten.

Colours

Neutrals: khaki, olive, brown, grey. Avoid bright white, which is conspicuous, and dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies.

Layers

Mornings on the Ngorongoro rim can be near freezing and the same afternoon can hit 30°C. A fleece and a windproof for dawn drives, light long sleeves for the sun and the insects.

The things people forget

Binoculars — one pair each, not one to share. A dust-proof bag for cameras. A head torch. Spare glasses if you wear them. A power bank; many camps run generators for only part of the day.