Safari Packing List

While on safari, neutral-colored (such as khaki), relaxed clothing is recommended. Many guests choose khaki-colored pants (jeans, or nylon-based “travel pants” — such as the zip-off convertible types), paired with a T-shirt or button-up shirt.

Why neutral colors? Because bright colors can upset or scare some animals, and dark colors (black, dark blue, etc.) can attract flies and mosquitos.

As the temperature can fluctuate throughout the day, it pays to dress in layers, and we’ve found that light Merino wool (such as Icebreaker), or synthetic blends (such as Ex Officio), work best as base layers. On top of that, feel free to wear a long-sleeve button-up shirt, jeans, or khaki pants. T-shirts are also popular, especially during the warm hours in the middle of the day.

Nights and early mornings can be cool — even in the summer — so we also suggest taking a fleece or jumper/hoodie for the times you might feel a bit chilly. Once the sun comes up and it gets a bit warmer, you can just cast off any top layers as you wish.

A pair of comfortable tennis shoes will be your best bet while on safari. Be aware that you will be taking them off and on a bit, as we ask that you take off your shoes before you stand on the seats to grab a better view of the wildlife (which happens often).

If you plan on going to Zanzibar pre- or post-trip, you should pack a pair of sandals or flip-flops for use on the beach.

Be sure to bring the following items to ensure a comfortable safari for you and your companions:

• a day pack (35L in size or less, such as these day packs from Osprey), to carry your snacks, water, and rain gear
• a larger main pack (such as a large backpack or duffel bag from around 70-90L
• mobile phone
  • make sure your phone is unlocked in order to use a local SIM card (ask us in advance if you’ll need one), or be sure to sign up for a travel package through your current service provider
• a wide-brim hat (to keep the sun out of your eyes and prevent sunburn on your face and head)
• sunglasses (along with cleaning spray and wipes, as it gets quite dusty)
• electrolyte hydration tablets
• sunscreen and SPF lip balm
• swimsuit (for hotel pools)
• bug spray/insect repellent (DEET or Picaridin)
• camera (something better than your smartphone, if available)
• extra batteries and USB charging packs
• ear plugs and a sleep mask
• personal toiletries and medication
  • your prescription medication
  • Imodium (a.k.a. loperamide, in case of digestive issues)
  • aspirin/paracetamol or ibuprofen/Advil
  • toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant
  • sanitary products
  • bandages and zinc-ointment/Neosporin
• a day pack/backpack that you can bring inside of the cabin with you, told to hold any excess clothing, electronics, extra batteries, snacks, etc.
• binoculars (not necessary, as we tend to get pretty close to many of the animals, but if you have a pair it doesn’t hurt to bring them)

We are pretty close to the equator, and the sun here burns a bit stronger than you may be used to. Be prepared, bring sunscreen/lip balm/hat/sunglasses, etc.!

Please note that we will carry a first aid kit, binoculars (at least one pair per vehicle), and water (see Water, below). Flashlights are provided in your room at the lodges for when you need to walk in between your room/tent and the main/dining lodge at night.

Please limit baggage to two items per person, and always use soft-sided bags rather than suitcases (e.g. duffel bags and backpacks). This is to allow easier packing into the rear of the Toyota Land Cruisers which you’ll be traveling in.

Please note that if your trip includes domestic flight(s) (e.g. a flight to Zanzibar pre- or post-safari, or if you choose to fly back to Arusha from Serengeti National Park), luggage may be limited on some airlines to 33 lbs (15 kg) per person or less. Please double-check with the airline’s guidelines to make sure you don’t overpack (if we book the flight for you we’ll be sure to let you know).

We will provide you with bottled drinking water throughout the duration of your trip, so there is no need to bring any containers for water, or any type of purification system.

Bottled water will also be available in your rooms for both drinking and brushing your teeth, etc. We recommend you use this water for that purpose, in lieu of the tap water, just to be safe.

We encourage all guests to consult with their licensed medical professional prior to setting off to Tanzania.

Malaria prevention medication, such as Malarone or Doxycycline (both prescription-only), may be taken if you wish. Each medication has its side effects, so consult with a physician before deciding which to choose. We will not be encountering many mosquitoes due to the high altitude at which the parks are located (4,500 ft. [1,370 m] or so on average), but that does not rule out the possibility of mosquitoes/Malaria altogether. (Please note that Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are found in higher concentrations at lower elevations, as on the coast, in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, but Malaria prevalence is still relatively low compared to neighboring countries as they have spent years focusing on Malaria eradication programs.)

Make sure you are up-to-date on your basic travel immunizations, such as Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, MMR, DPT, etc. See a full list of recommended immunizations at the U.S. Center for Disease Control website here.

Proof of the Yellow Fever Vaccine having been administered is required if coming from an endemic country, or if spending more than 12 hours on a layover in an endemic country (e.g. Brazil, Kenya, etc. – check the current list of countries here).

If you may need any other medication, such as prescriptions, aspirin, an inhaler, Imodium, etc., please make sure to bring enough with you to last the duration of your trip (and maybe a bit more, in case of any delays).

We encourage all guests to purchase at least travel medical insurance in the event that you get sick or injured while you are with us in Tanzania (not because what we are doing is dangerous, but just because accidents and illness can happen anytime any place).

Trip cancellation insurance will cover your trip costs, including airfare, if for whatever reason you cannot make your trip as previously scheduled (illness, death of a family member, etc.).

If you’d like to purchase both, we recommend using TravelEx, as it has been independently rated as one of the best insurers around and doesn’t cost much. If you would like to compare trip cancellation and/or travel medical insurance plans from a variety of providers, please head on over to the Squaremouth insurance search engine.

Note: If you are climbing Kilimanjaro as a part of your time with us you are required to purchase travel medical insurance that covers such activity, such as TravelEx’s Travel Select policy (with the Adventure Sports option, if available in your home state/area).

Make sure to bring all necessary chargers to power any devices you’ll be bringing with you. There will be power outlets in the hotel rooms as well as in the vehicle itself so that you can keep everything charged up.

Tanzania runs on a 230 volt/50-hertz electrical grid. Most power sources auto-switch voltage nowadays, so you most likely will NOT have to bring a voltage converter with you (notebook computers, smartphones, anything with a USB charger, camera battery chargers, etc.).

Tanzania’s plug type is the same as the UK plug (as it was once a British colony). We will have some plug converters on hand in case you need them, but we recommend grabbing some converters on your own as well — such as this one (plug only), or this one (with USB ports) available on Amazon.

We don’t recommend bringing high-draw electronics that don’t auto-switch voltage, such as curling irons and hair dryers, as using them on the local voltage could ruin the devices.

The local currency is Tanzanian shillings (abbreviated TSh or TZH), and is available via ATM withdrawals in Arusha city, via local money changers at Kilimanjaro International Airport, or at the banks in town.

Denominations of paper currency include 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 shilling notes. With the largest note — TSh10,000 — valued at just over USD$4.00, be aware that you’ll be carrying a ton of notes around if you make a large withdrawal/currency exchange.

However, most transactions during your stay — especially during the safari portion — will be listed in U.S. dollars. U.S. dollars are the preferred currency for everything from souvenirs, alcohol, and services at the lodge, and gratuity. If you prefer to pay a bill listed in U.S. dollars in Tanzanian shillings instead, just let the clerk or staff member know and they will convert the total to shillings.

Euros are also accepted but are not as preferable as U.S. dollars.

Base gratuity is included for all Pamoja Safaris excursions. This means that we pay a very competitive amount to our guides and staff as well as hotel personnel along your route — there is no need to tip anything additional. This is how we attract, and keep the best talent in the country.

However, if you feel that any team member goes above and beyond the call of duty during your time with us please feel free to show your appreciation if you feel called to do so. You may want to have some cash on hand for this purpose, as alternate payment methods such as Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal do not work in Tanzania.

If you have an unlocked mobile phone, you will be able to use a local SIM card in your phone (check with your carrier if you don’t know if your phone is SIM-locked or not, as many carriers will unlock your phone for you if you just ask).

However, to get a local Tanzanian SIM card you’ll need to bring your passport and some Tanzanian shillings to one of the registration centers, choose your calling/Internet package, and wait for them to sign you up.

Although this can be done, we ask that you let us know in advance if this is a service that you’ll be needing, as your schedule may not allow for such a stop.

Alternatively, you will have a hotspot present in the Toyota Land Cruiser that will allow you, upon request, to connect to the Internet whenever you have a tower signal. In addition to this, your lodges and luxury tented camps will have similar wifi routers available (most operating on mobile carrier towers), although they do tend to lose signal at times or become slow in the evenings whenever too many guests are trying to connect.

For general use — messaging, checking social media, email — you shouldn’t have any real issues, other than occasional outages/slow down of the Internet speed. Uploading video, high-resolution photos, and transferring other large files may be problematic though, even when using a personal SIM card.

It’s a relatively simple process to go online and apply for a Tanzanian e-visa. After filling out a few pages of personal details, you’ll pay online via credit card, print out your confirmation page, and bring it with you to the airport, where the Tanzanian immigration officials will stamp you in.

Please make note of the following important information before applying for your visa:

• The cost for the visa is $100 for U.S. Passports and $50 for most other nationalities that require a visa (listed here).
• If a U.S. Citizen the only option for a tourist visa is a multiple entry visa. If you are not a U.S. citizen, your only option is a single-entry tourist visa.
• Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date in Tanzania, and you will need at least one page free in your passport for the entry and exit stamps.
• Visas must be applied for more than 10 business days in advance of your departure date to Tanzania, to allow time for processing (we recommend at least 30 days).
• You will need to upload a scanned passport photo, a copy of the photo page of your passport, and a PDF copy of your onward flight ticket. 
• The port of entry and departure will usually be Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) unless flying in or out of Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (or some other city or land border crossing, in which case just contact us for assistance).

To apply for the visa, please visit the official website here.

Note: if the form mentions that you need proof of travel and/or a Letter Of Invitation, please contact us for further assistance. If your passport/photo upload doesn’t work, try decreasing the resolution/file size of the image and trying again.

If arriving in Arusha from an international destination, the airport you’ll be flying into will be Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

If you will be flying to Arusha via a domestic flight (e.g. from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar), you can choose either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha City Airport (ARK). (ARK is preferable, as it is much closer to the city, but usually costs a bit more and has fewer flight options.)

Either way, we’ll be there to pick you up when you arrive — just look for our representative (usually your guide) holding a sign with your name(s) written on it outside of the baggage claim area. From Kilimanjaro Airport, it will be about a 1-1.5 hour drive to Arusha; from ARK, it will be 15 minutes or so.

On departure day we’ll be driving you to the airport, or your lodge will have a free shuttle. You will be scheduled to arrive approximately two to three hours before your flight departs.

Tip: many airlines pass out the paper immigration form on the flight, so bring a pen with you so that you can fill out the immigration form and have it ready when you land at the airport. Also, if needed, be sure and go to the bathroom before the plane lands, as there are no facilities available while waiting in line at immigration.

Tip: if you are flying from the U.S. to Tanzania via Delta/KLM, be sure and bring the physical credit card that you used for the booking with you to the airport for check-in. There is a possibility that they will ask you for it upon check-in and will not let you board unless you have it with you. If you no longer have the card in your possession, or if the card information has changed since you made the booking, be sure to contact customer support before your departure date to inform them of this fact.