What you pack for Tanzania depends heavily on which parts of the trip you're doing. Here's a realistic breakdown by activity, plus a few rules that catch first-time visitors off guard.
Rules worth knowing before you pack
- No camouflage-patterned clothing. It's reserved for the military and is illegal for civilians to wear in Tanzania — items can be confiscated. This applies to kids' clothes too.
- No single-use plastic bags. They're confiscated at the airport on arrival — don't pack loose ones, including as packing organizers.
- Bush planes cap luggage at around 15kg per person, in a soft-sided duffel bag (no hard-shell suitcases) — relevant if your itinerary includes internal flights between parks.
Safari clothing
- Neutral earth tones — khaki, beige, olive, tan. Avoid bright colors and pure white, which stand out to animals.
- Avoid dark blue and black — these colors attract tsetse flies, which give a painful bite in some park areas.
- Long sleeves and trousers for sun and insect protection, even in warm weather.
- A warm layer (fleece or jacket) for early-morning game drives — it's genuinely cold before sunrise.
- Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes — not stiff new hiking boots.
Zanzibar & beach
- Light, breathable clothing for the heat and humidity.
- A modest cover-up (shoulders and knees) for Stone Town and local villages — swimwear is fine at resorts and beaches.
- Reef-safe sunscreen if you're snorkeling or diving.
Kilimanjaro (if climbing)
This is its own packing list — proper layering for temperatures that swing from tropical heat at the base to well below freezing at the summit. Reputable operators typically provide a full kit list and can rent gear like sleeping bags and trekking poles, which saves checked-baggage weight.
General essentials
- Type D or G power adapter (Tanzania uses these plug types) — check your specific devices.
- A basic first-aid kit, plus any personal prescription medication in original packaging.
- Strong insect repellent (DEET or picaridin-based).
- A printed copy of your approved e-Visa — officers ask for a physical copy at entry.