Pack light and keep it simple. Soft bags are easier to load into a safari vehicle, and flights between parks have strict luggage limits.
Clothing
- Light, washable clothes in neutral colours
- A warm sweater or fleece for early drives and cool evenings
- Long trousers and long sleeves for the evening
- A sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Comfortable closed shoes and sandals
- A wrap or kanga for villages, towns and Zanzibar
Gear
- Binoculars (compact 8x or 10x are ideal)
- A camera with a zoom lens and spare batteries and memory cards
- A power bank and a plug adapter
- A torch or headlamp
- Insect repellent
Documents and money
- Passport, visa, insurance papers and flight details
- Some cash in US dollars and a card as a backup
Kilimanjaro climbers need a separate list: see our Kilimanjaro packing list.