The Ultimate Tanzania Packing List

The trouble with Tanzania is there’s just too much to do. It packs lots of different holidays into one. Mountaineering? ✅ Safari? ✅ Lazing on a beach? ✅ Culture and cuisine? ✅

Now, we’re not saying Tanzania doesn’t have any shops because it does – and lots of them! And every town and village has bustling market or craft bazaar so you’ll need room in your luggage to bring back your Tanzania treasures. So here’s the ultimate packing checklist for Tanzania and it gives you the choice of going for the essentials only or the full kitchen sink!

If you’re challenging yourself to a hike up Kilimanjaro, we’ve a separate specialist packing list for that.

Checklist 1: The Essentials

This is pretty much common sense but it also covers things that are irreplaceable or difficult to find in Tanzania:

Travel Essentials:

• Passport.
• Visa. You can buy this at the airport when you arrive or pre-purchase.
• Travel vaccination certificates.
• Travel insurance: policy number and emergency numbers.
• Flight tickets.
• Trip confirmation with contact details.
• Photocopies of important documents, or as images on your phone.
• Spare passport photos.
• International driving licence if you plan to hire a car or scooter.
• Cash.USD are preferred and make sure any notes aren’t older than 2004.
• Credit card.
• Travellers’ cheques. Don’t forget to note the serial numbers.
• Money belt or pouch or specialist travel bra- gotta love those secret pockets!

Health Essentials:

• First aid kit, including aspirin or paracetamol, antiseptic wipes and plasters.
• Anti-diarrhoea pills like Imodium, and rehydration powders like Dioralyte.
• Antibacterial gel, for when there’s no soap.
• Your own medication.
• Warning bracelet if you have a condition like epilepsy.
• Malaria prophylaxis.
• Birth control/ condoms (always practise safe sex!)
• Insect repellent : there are bugs galore but many of them are pretty!
• Suncare stuff: high factor sunscreen – at least factor 30, plus sunblock; after-sun moisturiser, sunglasses and sunhat (it’s Africa! It’s hot!)
• Contact lenses and solution.
• Travel sickness tablets or wristband.
• Toiletries and shaving equipment, unless you’re growing a beard. You, too, ladies!
• A roll of toilet paper (just in case).

Checklist 2: Your capsule wardrobe.

Throw out high fashion and throw in useful, comfy clothes. Here’s our essential clothes list:

• Light suitcase or backpack – make sure it’s easy to carry.
• Light daypack with lot of pockets.
• A light waterproof – what, you think it doesn’t rain in Tanzania?
• A warm jumper or sweatshirt, and warm trousers.
• Light clothes: t-shirt, shorts, vests.
• Swimwear.
• Pyjamas. You try nipping to the loo in a dark campsite. Dressed is best!
• Comfortable sneakers or walking shoes.
• Sandals / flipflops.
• Towel.
• Don’t forget your underwear! And some really high quality socks.
• A pashmina or scarf to cover your shoulders if you’re visiting temples and churches.

Checklist 3: Useful stuff

You can get a lot of these useful things in Tanzania but half the fun is finding and packing your own:

• Alarm clock (yes, they’ll be early mornings if you’re camping!)
• Ear plugs.
• Binoculars.
• Camera with spare memory card and charger.
• Mobile phone and charger.
• Sewing kit and scissors.
• Swiss army knife – yep, you’re in Tanzania now.
• Tanzania guidebook.
• Swahili phrasebook – Jambo!
• Cards or portable games to play with your new friends.
• A good book for beach time.
• Address book (your phone might have this).
• Pen and travel journal to capture your inspirations.
• Electrical adapter for Tanzania.
• MP3 player and headphones. Remember the ABC of music: Always Be Courteous!

Checklist 4: Camping Essentials

If you’re going to Tanzania and not going on safari or camping out under the stars, then there’s something wrong with you. Here’s our top tips for camping equipment that’ll make your stay more comfy:

• Inner sleep sheet: we provide beautifully clean sleeping bags your own personal sleep sheet is a good idea.
• Inflatable travel pillow.
• Sleeping bag if you’re planning on mega-camping, otherwise it’s a bit of a pain to carry around.
• Head torch you’ll need both hands when you’re scrabbling around a dark campsite!
• Did we say toilet roll? Toilet roll.

We hope these checklist essentials will make your preparation for your Tanzanian holiday less fraught, and your stay here more comfortable. If you’re in doubt, then just drop us an email and we’ll be pleased to help you out! We can’t do your packing for you but we can tell you what’s a must-have.

Download our packing list here.