Menu
In this Tanzania safari packing list, we will go through all the items you need to take with you and explain as to why you should bring them with you.
Bringing the right clothing and personal items on your Tanzania safari not only keeps you safe and comfortable, but also increases your enjoyment of the many adventurous activities available during your travels. As a general rule, you should pack lightly and make wise choices in what types of clothing you bring. Unless you have a special event to attend, formal clothing is not necessary, and can even be burdensome while in Tanzania. Loose fitting garments that can be worn in layers will ensure your comfort day and night, and you should bring only clothing that you do not mind getting soiled. Some safari accommodations in Tanzania offer next day laundry services (generally at a cost) subject to appropriate weather conditions, so you do not need to bring a large quantity of clothing. Avoid bright colors, white and dark colors, and instead bring clothes of neutral colors, such as khaki, light bark or mid-tone brown, beige, olive and green, the typical colors used for safari clothing.
Though it might seem obvious, it’s easy to forget important documents and currency if you’re rushing. Here’s what you’ll need:
Passport: A must-have for travel. To ensure you don’t forget it, place a reminder somewhere you’ll see it, like the fridge or bathroom mirror. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months.
Visa: Opt for an e-visa if possible. It’s easier to manage and can help avoid potential issues at your destination. If needed, you can get a visa upon arrival in Tanzania.
Travel Insurance: Crucial for covering unexpected issues like cancellations, flight delays, theft, or medical emergencies.
Covid-19 Documentation: As of January 2023, Tanzania no longer requires Covid-19 vaccination or PCR-test documentation for entry.
Currency: Bring a mix of debit/credit cards and cash. US dollars are widely accepted if they are from 2006 or later, but you’ll also need Tanzanian shillings for smaller purchases.
Clothing for a Tanzania safari can be challenging to decide on due to the country’s unpredictable weather, which varies with the seasons.
Tanzania has distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry seasons occur from January to February and June to October, while the wet seasons span March to May (the main rainy season) and November to December.
Dry Season Packing: During the dry months, rainfall is rare, but it’s wise to bring a light waterproof jacket for unexpected showers. Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so pack breathable, light clothing, including T-shirts, shorts, and sun protection like hats and sunglasses. Early mornings and evenings can be chilly, so include a warm sweater or light jacket.
Wet Season Packing: The wet season demands heavier clothing to stay warm and dry, especially in the evenings and on cooler mornings. Include a thicker waterproof jacket, warm sweaters, and scarves for added comfort. Be prepared for muddy terrain with sturdy, waterproof shoes.
Year-Round Essentials: Regardless of the season, certain clothing items are essential for every safari:
Overall, neutral-colored, lightweight clothing that can be layered is the most practical choice for a safari. Packing versatile pieces that can be adjusted for varying weather will ensure comfort throughout your journey.
Choosing the right footwear is crucial for your Tanzania safari, especially if you plan on doing a lot of walking or are embarking on a walking safari. Comfortable, sturdy shoes are essential to keep your feet protected and supported on varied terrain.
Overall, make sure your footwear is well broken in before your trip to avoid discomfort during your safari adventures!
Camera and memory cards: The diverse and stunning landscapes, along with the magnificent wildlife, create countless opportunities for incredible photography. Make sure to bring a high-quality camera with a powerful zoom lens (at least 200mm, but preferably more) to capture distant subjects effectively. Don’t forget your camera batteries, charger + extra SD cards!
Phone charger: Most of the safari vehicles have outlets. Make sure to bring your USB charging cable!
Universal adaptor: Ensure you pack a universal adapter for Tanzanian outlets, as their plugs differ from those in many other countries. You can purchase a universal adapter at travel stores or online before your trip.
Tripod: A tripod will be extremely helpful for capturing the perfect shot. With the varying lighting conditions and diverse wildlife, a tripod provides the stability needed for stunning, high-quality imagery.
Power bank: While most safari vehicles are equipped with chargers, we encountered an issue where ours would randomly stop working. Luckily, we had a power bank with us, which ensured our phones stayed charged so we could capture all of the incredible moments on our safari!
When it comes to toiletries, you will want to bring the same kind of items as you would on other vacations, such as the following:
Basic first aid kits are available at most Tanzania lodges and camps, but you should always have one with you should an emergency arise. A private first aid kit will help to avoid any unexpected mishaps or illnesses on your safari.
From regular painkillers to medications to avoid sickness and diarrhoea – you want to make sure that you are stocked up on the essentials. This way, you can continue to enjoy your trip even if you have to deal with any medical problems.
Some of these essentials include:
Make sure that you have all the different kinds of storage necessary for all of your belongings. This could include backpacks, waterproof duffel bags, day pack & zip lock bags
Utilizing these different kinds of baggage will make it easier to decipher your everyday items from your specific safari items.
Your safari baggage weight restriction on most internal safari flights within Tanzania is 33 pounds or 15 kilograms, per person. If your bag exceeds this limit, you will be charged an additional fee for excess baggage. Most safari flights in Tanzania can be fully booked as the small to large safari aircrafts are allocated based on passenger load for each sector, so to ensure that your excess baggage is allowed on your flight, you should pre-pay the additional fee. Soft-sided, sturdy duffel bags should be used and not hard-sided luggage as your baggage will need to be easily loaded and maneuvered in a small luggage compartment during your air travel. If your Tanzania safari portion does not include any air portion which is not normally the case, you are free to bring in additional luggage up to 44 pounds (20 kg) in soft sturdy bags rather than hard sided suitcases.
Our company representative will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport upon landing and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.
Once settled in at your hotel, you will meet your appointed guide for the trek who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
We will also confirm you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance.
We pick you up at your hotel right after breakfast and drive from Moshi to Machame gate, where we complete park formalities, meet our crew of porters who’ll be with you for the whole 6 days Machame route hike and start to climb! The first section of the route climbs steadily and passes through magnificent, dense rain-forest.
The trail is often wet and muddy with high chances of rain all year long, but lots of animals can be found in this area, such as the black and white colobus monkey, antelopes etc. We continue a for 4 more hours of hiking and walking until we reach the Machame Camp.
At the camp, our porters will have already prepared your tent and the cook will be preparing dinner.
Our route continues right after breakfast, today you will emerge from the rain-forest continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge hiking for about four hours followed by a steeper ascent after a picnic lunch, lasting another 2 hours until you reach the Shira Plateau.
As the landscape opens up, you’ll enjoy stunning views to the east, including the Western Breach and its breathtaking glaciers. Upon reaching the Shira Plateau, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Kibo to the northwest and Mount Meru to the east—views that are especially beautiful at sunset.
Dinner and overnight at Shira 2 Campsite
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up as landscape becomes more and more rocky. You might start experiencing the first symptoms of altitude sickness, like headaches and breathlessness. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents and you’ll enjoy lunch at the top of Lava Tower mid afternoon. After lunch, you’ll descend over 650 meters (2,150 feet) through the stunning Barranco Valley, arriving at the Barranco campsite, which is nearly at the same altitude as your starting point. The “climb high, sleep low” strategy is excellent for acclimatization, significantly boosting your chances of reaching the summit.
Here, you’ll get a glimpse of the famous Barranco Wall, known for its sheer size and steepness. Though it may seem challenging, don’t worry—tomorrow’s climb follows an easy, non-intimidating hiking trail.
Today we will start early than usual this morning. After a hearty breakfast, you’ll begin the climb up Barranco Wall. It’s best to leave camp as early as possible to avoid the crowds from other groups, which can slow you down. The hike up the wall isn’t difficult and takes about an hour. The Great Barranco Wall divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring.
We then start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route. You will be served lunch once at Karanga camp, after which you continue hiking to Barafu camp.
At Barafu camp, a hot healthy meal will be served for dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping as you’ll start your summit attempt later that night.
Today’s adventure begins just before midnight as you set out into the night to begin your hike toward the summit. We start off around after midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. You will enjoy a light breakfast before starting your final ascent to the summit in darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks.
Stella Point is reached in approximately 5 to 6hrs and a further ascent to the Uhuru Peak reached in about another 45 minutes. We will gain incredible height over a short distance. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. Near Stella Point (5750ft) you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the “Roof of Africa”. Enjoy and cherish this moment.
We will eventually begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on-wards tracking our way back to Barafu Camp for lunch, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for dinner and a long well-earned rest with fresh air full of oxygen!
This is your last day of your 6 days machame route hike on Mt. Kilimanjaro . After breakfast we continue with a gentle trek that takes us down through the rain-forest to Mweka Gate. It can be wet and muddy so trekking poles will help. Also shorts and t-shirts will be suitable.
Upon reaching Mweka Gate, your tour guide will complete park formalities. You’ll have the chance to sign the register and receive your summit certificate—a green one for reaching Stella Point and a gold one for making it all the way to Uhuru Peak. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village where you can say goodbye & thank your team of guides, cooks & porters for a successful trek.
A private vehicle from African Delight Safaris will be waiting for you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 1hour).
We’ll help you customize your own itinerary for a once in a lifetime adventure in Tanzania.