What to put in your suitcase for a Safari in Tanzania?

posted onAuthorMargaux4 Comments

Your Safari is booked and you are all set to experience this extraordinary adventure immersed in the middle of the african savannah. 

We have all dreamed of being able to see with our own eyes the fabulous landscapes of the “Lion King” as well as his wild animals. A safari is a unique experience to achieve at least once in his life for nature lovers and especially wildlife.

Will you have the chance to meet the Big five (elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos) during your safari? 

I wish you this because I personally had this chance and it is a amazing feeling than to find oneself only a few meters from these majestic wild beasts.

Why Tanzania for a Safari?

La Tanzania is a country rich both for its flora and for its wild fauna, this country is therefore well known for its Safaris. Some even say that there are most beautiful parks in the world to go on safari. 

So this is the country that I chose to do my first safari.

Among the national parks of the country there are:

  • In the North part:
    • The immense plains of the famous Serengeti (did you know that the Serengeti Park inspired "The Lion King"?)
    • The National Park of Tarangire
    • Le Lake Manyara
    • Le Ngorongoro Crater
    • The national park from Arusha
  • In the South:
    • The National Park of The days
    • The National Park of saadani
    • The Reserve of Selous
    • The National Park of Ruaha
  • In the West:
    • The National Park of Katavi
    • The National Park of Mahala
    • Gombe

For my part, I chose to go for a 5 day camping safari about parks North part in the month of June. So I went to the parks of Tarangire, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.

You are ready to go but you are wondering what to put in your suitcase to meet the Big Five (and many others of course)?

Based on my personal experience there, I have prepared a List of essential things to take for a Safari successful.

Bag or suitcase for a safari in Tanzania?

Bag or suitcase ? This is the first question we can ask ourselves. The answer depends on the style of safari you have chosen.

Going on a private Tanzania safari?

It all depends on number of persons, Number of days your safari and the vehicle size with which you will travel. But you can take a suitcase as well as a bag. 

To give you an idea, as a general rule the car will be loaded with your personal bags or suitcases as well as food and water for the duration of your safari.

Also, if you have opted for an safari camping, your car will carry all necessary camping equipment (tents, mattresses, duvets etc ...) 

Keep in mind that it is necessary take what is strictly necessary because the space is not unlimited.

Be aware, however, that it is easier to walk with a bag than with a rolling suitcase because the accesses are not always provided for the latter. If you choose to bring a suitcase I advise you to take one with relatively strong wheels to be able to roll it in the "dirt" just in case.

You can opt for a suitcase on wheels or for a backpack like these for example:

Without forgetting of course to take a small bag that you will keep with you all day in which you will have everything you may need during the day (cameras, accessories, small sweater…).

 Like this bag for example:

Going on a shared safari with a group?

In this case space may be more limited in the vehicle. We must therefore think of finding a bag which will allow you to take what is strictly necessary for the duration of your safari.

Safari vehicles allow you to take 6 between people and 20. So it will all depend on the size of your group.

To give you an example, I went on a 5 day camping safari with a group. We were 6 in a vehicle that can accommodate 7 people + the guide maximum. The car was full. Knowing that we had a tarp on the roof with some camping bags and mattresses. 

It would be better take a backpack rather than a suitcase for this kind of safari.

I recommend a backpack like the first for travel with a small bag for the day like the second:

However, in the event that you continue your trip to the country after your safari and if you have the possibility of leaving a main baggage in a hotel of confidence, I advise you to take a more small backpack if your safari does not exceed 4 - 5 days. It will be much more convenient for you to move around.

A bag like this for example:

Once the choice of bag has been made, you ask yourself, what am I going to put in this suitcase for my safari?

What clothes to take for a safari in Tanzania?

Contrary to what some may think, during your safari you will pass the most of your time in the car. 

It is therefore not necessary to bring an astronomical amount of clothing. Of course, everything also depends on the duration of your safari, but the most important thing is to be comfortable in his clothes. 

Tops to bring on a Tanzania safari

No matter what season you are going on your safari, it is an essential to have the following clothes:

  • Personalized T-Shirts 
  • At least one pull : it can be cold during the day. You should know that during the day when we walk in the national parks we drive with the roof open and therefore there can be quite a bit of wind. 
  • A small doudoune/ or windbreaker to keep warm especially in the evening when the temperatures drop. Temperatures drop even more during periods of rain (March-June).
  • Un k-way / raincoat is always interesting to have especially if you go on safari during the rainy season.

The stockings for a safari in Tanzania

  • Shorts / dresses in summer for hot and sunny days
  • At least one pants because the weather can change quickly and prevention is better than cure. 
  • Tracksuit / leggings : in the evening the temperatures decrease and we are always more comfortable in a jogging.

What shoes for a safari in Tanzania?

As I said before, on the safari you will be spending most of the time in the car so there is no no need to bring big and heavy mountain boots.

On the other hand, I advise you to opt for a pair of sneakers with which you are comfortable like these for example:

You can also take a pair of flip flops which can be useful to you in the evening at the campsite or at the lodge or even during the day if the weather is hot.

Personally, I did the safari with a pair of sneakers and a pair of flip flops and it was perfect for me.

Should you bring a sleeping bag or not for a safari in Tanzania?

Are you going on a camping safari and you haven't been told if you should bring a sleeping bag?

Well, there is no rule to answer this question. 

Tout depends on the organization with which you booked your safari. 

As an indication, I went on my safari with a little summer sleeping bag (15 degrees) in June, it was right because in the evening the temperatures may drop drastically.

The people with whom I went on the safari did not have sleeping bags and the organizers had the necessary for them so I advise you to contact the organization with which you are going before your departure.

Be aware, however, that you are going to Africa where hygiene can leave something to be desired so I strongly advise you to take a meat bag in which you will slip before entering the sleeping bag that will be lent to you.

If you prefer to have your own down, I recommend a light and sufficiently compact down like this for a safari: 

 

The perfect toiletry bag for a safari in Tanzania

The toiletry bag is an important element when preparing for a safari.

Obviously, I would not cite the elements that seem to me essential such as the toothbrush, toothpaste, brush etc....

I will focus on essential elements to remember to go on safari:

  • Soap / shampoo : if you sleep at the campsite, these are things to remember. Small special message for people with long hair: I advise you to take a good shampoo / conditioner if you are on a long enough safari because with the roof open, when you are walking on the "sand / earth" tracks in search of Big 5, your hair will harvest a good deal of the land from the savannah. And it is not always easy to disentangle hair full of dust ...
  • A good crème solaire : even if the sun can hide behind the clouds, it hits hard !! Remember, you are in Africa and the sun does not hit the same as it does at home. So protect your skin!
  • Personalized wipes : they are always appreciable when camping and all the more so with all the dust that you will collect on you.
  • Mosquito repellents : Camping, nature, savannah, exotic places rhyme with mosquitoes, right ?! I advise you to bring a mosquito repellent before going on an adventure.
  • A small aid kit: to prevent any small mishap.

What type of camera, its lenses and accessories for a safari in Tanzania?

There you go, a large part of your suitcase is ready, but you are still missing it " The most important " I would say… Namelyessential photographic equipment for immortalize this extraordinary adventure which you are about to join.

What type of camera should you take for a safari in Tanzania?

I could not advise you better than to take a good quality camera to bring back lots of beautiful images from your safari. But obviously the budget question arises. We don't all have the same budget to put in a camera.

At present the smartphones make great photos, so bring your cell phone and you'll already have great images.

However, thedisadvantage of smartphones remains the zoom… Which will be a big inconvenience, all the more so on safari where you want to take pictures of wild animals at more or less close distances. 

I therefore advise you to opt for a SLR or hybrid camera with interchangeable lenses to be able to cover a maximum of photographic possibilities.

Personally, I sold my SLR to turn to a hybrid before I left for the safari and I absolutely do not regret this choice.

Things even more important than the camera are the lenses. 

What objectives to get for a safari in Tanzania?

You can buy the most expensive camera in the world, but if you don't have the suitable objectives for the safari, it won't do you any good.

During the Safari you may see animals within a meter of you and others close to 100 meters from you. It is therefore important to be prepared for any eventuality.

For the objectives, depending on the place you have in your suitcase, I advise you to have at least :

  • Un 15- 45mm type lens for landscapes without the need for a big zoom.
  • Un telephoto lens greater than 300 mmOr 400 mm. This telephoto lens will allow you to take beautiful pictures of wild animals. The price is indeed high for this kind of telephoto lens but don't forget that you can rent this type of telephoto lens in specialized stores before your departure.

What are the essential photographic accessories for a safari?

Once you have chosen the camera and its lenses, you still have all the accessories necessary for the success of pretty safari photos.
  • Un tripod, monopod, a gorillapod or a bean bag : essential element to help you stabilize in the car. This accessory is even more useful when you have a heavy telephoto lens. This will prevent you from moving around and ending up with blurry photos.
  • Sun visor et filters: depending on the season and the sun, a polarizing filter and a sun visor can be very interesting and above all it does not take up too much space.
  • Cleaning equipment for camera: I recommend at least rags, a brush and a blower 
  • Personalized spare batteries: I left with 3 batteries to be sure not to run out. There was something to charge in the car, but this is not the case with all agencies.  
  • Personalized memory cards: nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of a safari and not having any more space on your memory cards. I therefore advise you to take enough so as not to feel this frustration on the spot.
  • A action camera: this is not mandatory, but can be useful for making videos. I left with my GoPro as well, and I'm so glad I got it.
  • External battery / solar: in the campsites there are few or no outlets to charge your electrical devices so I advise you to invest in an external battery, it will always be useful to you.
  • Binoculars: in some cars pairs of binoculars are provided but in others this is not the case.

With all this you are ready to take some great photos during your safari.

What other accessories are essential for a safari in Tanzania?

It is important not to forget these last few essential items to put in your suitcase before the safari:

  • FREE sunglasses
  • A cap or a hat : to protect you from the sun which is very present in this part of the world
  • Un scarf : to protect you from wind or dust. Believe me this is something that I am very happy to have had during my safari.
  • A flash light : to get around in the evening or simply to light you up in the evening.

This is it, you are ready to embark on this great adventure. So don't hesitate to come back to the site after your safari for us tell your experience !

 

If you want more information or have contacts with local guides, do not hesitate to contact me at this address: [email protected]

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4 Replies to “What to Pack for a Safari in Tanzania?”

  1. Pingback: 5 Day Safari in Tanzania - Gogo-Traveling
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  3. Thank you your site is just great I'm planning my trip 🧳 and precisely I needed local guide coordinates so that I could organize myself you said in your article that we could contact you is it possible to have them

    Merciiiii

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