Tanzania Safari Packing List & Travel Tips
A safari needs less than most people think: comfortable neutral clothes, warm layers for cold mornings, sun protection and a good pair of binoculars. The paperwork matters more: a visa, the new compulsory travel insurance and the right health advice.
Before you travel
Visa
- Apply online only through the official government site, visa.immigration.go.tz. Other websites that sell "Tanzania visas" charge extra.
- A single-entry tourist visa costs $50. US citizens must take the multiple-entry visa at $100.
- Allow up to ten days for processing. Your passport needs at least six months' validity and a blank page, and you may be asked for a return ticket.
Compulsory travel insurance
- From 1 October 2026, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold the government's inbound travel insurance, sold by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) for $44 per person and valid for 92 days. Visitors without it can be refused entry. Citizens of East African Community and SADC countries are exempt.
- Zanzibar has had its own compulsory $44 insurance since October 2024. If your trip includes both, check before you travel whether you need both policies.
- These policies are basic. We still recommend your own travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and cancellation.
Health
- Yellow fever: a certificate is required if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, or spend more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in one. Kenya is on that list, so check this if you come via Nairobi with a long layover or overland.
- Malaria: there is a risk everywhere below 1,800 metres, including the safari parks and Zanzibar. See a travel health clinic four to eight weeks before you leave, and follow their advice on tablets and bite prevention.
Money
- US dollars are widely used for safari payments and tips. Bring clean, undamaged notes printed in 2009 or later; older notes are often refused.
- The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), useful for small purchases in town.
No plastic bags
Tanzania banned plastic carrier bags in June 2019, including in luggage. Pack with fabric bags or packing cubes instead; clear zip-lock bags for toiletries are allowed.
What to pack
Clothing
- Light shirts and trousers in khaki, olive, beige or grey
- No dark blue or black: tsetse flies are attracted to them
- A warm fleece or jacket for early drives; the Ngorongoro rim at about 2,300 metres can be close to freezing in the dry season
- A light rain jacket in the green season
- Wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses
- Comfortable closed shoes; hiking boots if you plan a walk or the Ol Doinyo Lengai climb
Useful extras
- Binoculars (one pair per person if possible)
- Camera, spare batteries and memory cards
- Power bank and a UK-style (Type G) plug adapter; the power supply is 230 V
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Headlamp for camping and night climbs
- Personal medicine and a small first-aid kit
Luggage limits on light aircraft
If your safari includes a flight, for example between Zanzibar and the Serengeti, pack in a soft bag without wheels. Coastal Aviation allows 15 kg per person including hand luggage, and Auric Air allows 20 kg. Extra weight can usually be bought in advance. On a road safari there is no strict limit, but a soft bag is still easier to fit in the vehicle.
Tipping on safari
Tipping is customary in Tanzania, but never compulsory. Tips are an important part of income for guides and camp staff. Common guidelines from safari operators:
| Who | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Driver-guide | About $15 – $25 per guest per day on a private safari |
| Camp cook (camping safaris) | About $8 – $15 per day from the group |
| Lodge or camp staff tip box | About $5 – $15 per guest per day |
Give tips in cash at the end of the safari, ideally in an envelope. Tip what feels fair for the service you received.
On safari
- Stay in the vehicle except at marked picnic and viewpoint areas, and follow your guide's advice.
- Never feed animals, and keep your voice low near wildlife.
- Always ask before photographing people, including in Maasai villages.
- Don't bring a drone: flying one in the national parks needs special permits.
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