Being Prepared: What to Wear On Your Tanzania Safari
Being Prepared: What to Wear On Your Tanzania Safari
Going on a safari is one of the most exciting experiences in the world.
You’ll have the rare chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat from up close and take pictures of lions, elephants, leopards, rhinoceros, and even giraffes.
But these types of exotic trips require a certain amount of preparation.
Before you book a Tanzania Safari tour, you should know what to expect.
A safari guide will drive you and the other tourists around the area where you can see the animals from a safe distance. Trips are usually made in protected vehicles and the guide will take all safety precautions.
But you should also prepare yourself for extreme temperatures that can go from the highest at daytime to the lowest at nighttime and dress accordingly.
Keep reading to see what you should wear on your Tanzania Safari and how to pack for your trip of a lifetime.
How to Pack for Your Tanzania Safari
Safaris are not the same as vacations on tropical beaches. There are many dangers lurking around, especially if you’re not careful and respectful towards nature and the animals.
So before you embark on your Tanzania Safari journey, you should know what type of clothes to wear. Comfortable, light garments are your best bet for a safari.
You want to pack light and take only the essentials with you. A capsule wardrobe is often the best choice because you can create several outfits with only a few pieces of clothing.
If you’re staying in a resort or a luxurious hotel, pick a smart outfit to wear for special occasions or dinner.
Here’s a handy list of the essential items you can pack for your safari adventure:
- T-shirts
- Long-sleeve blouses and shirts
- Jackets and Fleeces
- Shorts
- Trousers
- Khaki pants
- Warm pajamas
- Socks
- Several pairs of underwear
- Sports bras for women
- A thin raincoat or jacket
- A swimsuit (if your resort has a pool)
- Comfortable shoes (sandals, flip flops, sneakers and hiking boots)
- Hats and sunglasses
Also, make sure to pack the appropriate shoes for the dry terrain.
Wear Neutral, Earthy Tones
When picking outfit colors for your Tanzania Safari, bear in mind that the Tsetse flies that transmit the African Sleeping Sickness are attracted to black and blue.
Also, military clothes and camouflage patterns are forbidden to wear in Tanzania for everyone who’s not a member of the military.
Choose neutral, earthy colors such as beige, light green, and khaki, as well as other light colors. Avoid colors that are too dark or too bright.
Your shoes, socks, and hats should also be in this color palette.
Cover Your Body
When you’re going on a Tanzania Safari tour, you’ll be out in the open most of the time.
You should protect your body and face from the intense heat during the day and the cold temperatures at night.
But also, you need to guard yourself against mosquitos and other insects that may transmit diseases.
Wear light, cotton t-shirts during the day and long-sleeved shirts with high collars at night.
Hats are an absolute must to protect your head from the sun and a pair of quality sunglasses to protect your eyes from the UV rays. Some women wear light scarfs to cover their heads and shoulders.
If you’re moving through tall grass, make sure to wear long pants rather than shorts to avoid insect bites.
At night, temperatures tend to fall drastically, so have a jacket or a fleece at hand.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
The type of shoes you wear on a safari are as important as your clothes.
Because you’ll be walking on arid lands, you want to choose light hiking shoes like boots or sneakers. But for moving around your resort, or when you’re not on a trip, you can wear flip flops and sandals.
The most important thing about your shoes while on a Tanzania Safari tour is the comfort. You need to be able to move effortlessly when outside and rest your feet while inside.
If your accommodation is on the luxurious side, you can also bring a pair of smart shoes for a dinner.
Useful Clothing Tips
Women should avoid wearing skirts or shorts that are too short or revealing as this may be an offense in Tanzania, especially in non-tourist areas. The same goes for strappy or transparent tops.
It’s best to wear knee-length or long skirts and shorts, as well as short-sleeved tops that cover your shoulders.
Swimsuits should only be worn on beaches or around pools.
For men, long pants are more culturally appropriate outside of tourist attractions and are a good choice for a dinner setting.
These tips are mostly applicable for optional tours outside your safari and hiking tours but are still useful to know.
Final Thoughts
When planning a Tanzania Safari tour, you can’t afford to go unprepared.
You’ll be visiting a foreign country with different weather conditions, so you need to pack accordingly.
Some people tend to overpack and carry extra items of clothing and shoes “just in case”. But in fact, you’ll only need a few outfits to change during your stay.
Some resorts have a laundry option, so if your clothes get dirty, you can easily wash them and have them ready for the next day.
For the safari tour, you should wear light shirts and pants in neutral colors so as not to attract animals or insects. Light colors will also protect you from the sun because they don’t retain heat.
Wearing a safari hat is mandatory if you want to protect your head and face from the scorching sun, along with sunglasses with appropriate UV protection.
As for shoes, opt for lightweight sneakers for the safari tour and bring a pair of hiking shoes if you go on a hiking tour along the way. Keep the open-toe shoes like sandals and slippers for inside the resort.
Safari tours are one of the most wonderful experiences you can invest in. Seeing the lions, rhinos, zebras, baboons and elephants strolling through the savanna or resting under big shadows will give you a great insight of nature and its course.
Book your Tanzania Safari tour with us and prepare to make memories for a lifetime.