Exactly what to pack, what to leave at home, and how to keep your bag under the 15 kg bush-plane limit — from guides who live in the field.
Chacha Kehengu — Safari Operations Manager
June 18, 2026 12 min read
The Golden Rule
Pack Light — and Then Remove Half
Most bush planes on Tanzania's internal routes impose a 15 kg soft-bag limit per person (carry-on included). The camps wash clothes daily, game drives are dusty not glamorous, and you will wear the same neutral-toned layers on repeat. A well-chosen bag of 12–14 kg is more than enough for two weeks in the field.
The most overlooked packing decision is the bag itself. Hard-sided suitcases are a practical problem on safari — bush planes have small cargo holds and most camps store luggage in outdoor lockers. A soft-sided duffel or a collapsible bag is essential.
Bag / Category
Recommended Weight
Notes
Main safari duffel
10 – 12 kg
Soft-sided only; fits under bush-plane seats
Day / camera bag
2 – 3 kg
Brought on every game drive; fits on your lap
Neck/money pouch
< 0.3 kg
Passport, cards, and cash close to your body
Total target
12 – 15 kg
Within most Tanzanian bush-flight limits
Bush Flight Bag Policy
Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, and Air Excel — the main bush carriers — all enforce a combined 15 kg soft-bag limit. Excess luggage is either stored at your Arusha or Dar es Salaam hotel or charged per kilo. Hard-shell cases are refused on some routes. Africa Endless Cruising can store your extra bags securely with our Moshi team.
Clothing & Colours
Safari clothing has one job: keep you comfortable in temperatures that swing from a crisp 10°C at dawn to 32°C by noon, while avoiding colours that disturb or attract wildlife. The good news is that a small, smart wardrobe covers everything.
The Safari Colour Rule
Stick to khaki, beige, olive, tan, stone, and sage green. These neutral tones help you blend into the landscape, which keeps wildlife calm and makes for better sightings. Avoid the colours below — they either mimic the tsetse fly's favourite targets or startle animals at close range.
Khaki
Sand / Beige
Olive Green
Stone / Sage
Light Brown
Avoid: Navy / Dark Blue
Avoid: White
Avoid: Red / Bright Colours
Must = non-negotiable essentialRec = strongly recommendedOpt = optional / depends on season
Lightweight long-sleeve shirts ×3
Neutral tones; UPF 30+ protects arms from sun and insects
Must
T-shirts ×2
For camp evenings and layering under fleece
Must
Safari trousers / convertibles ×2
Zip-off legs double as shorts for game drives
Must
Shorts ×1–2
For camp downtime; avoid very short styles in villages
Rec
Fleece or light jacket
Early morning drives can be cold, especially June–August
Must
Warm layer / down gilet
Essential for Ngorongoro and high-altitude camps
Rec
Waterproof / windproof jacket
Compact packable shell; doubles as dust shield in dry season
Rec
Wide-brim hat
Full sun protection on open-vehicle game drives
Must
Buff / neck gaiter
Keeps dust off your face and nose on dusty tracks
Must
Underwear ×4–5 (merino wool ideal)
Merino dries fast and resists odour between washes
Must
Swimsuit
Many camps have pools; essential for Zanzibar extension
Rec
Smart-casual outfit ×1
Some lodges have semi-formal dining; one outfit is plenty
Opt
Footwear
Three pairs of shoes is the sweet spot for most Tanzania itineraries. Any more and you're burning precious weight allowance on something that stays in the bag.
Closed-toe walking boots or trail runners
For bush walks and walking safaris — ankle protection matters
Must
Camp sandals / flip flops
For evenings, showers, and Zanzibar beach days
Must
Comfortable trainers / light shoes
For Arusha, Stone Town, and airport days
Rec
Skip the Heels & New Boots
Open-toed sandals are a genuine hazard on bush walks — thorns, scorpions, and rough terrain. And brand-new boots worn for the first time on safari are a recipe for blisters. Break in any footwear at home for at least two weeks before you go.
Safari Gear & Tech
Game drives involve long hours in an open vehicle, often with bright equatorial light and fast-moving subjects. The right gear makes the difference between a frustrating experience and images you'll keep for life.
A telephoto lens of 300 mm or more is invaluable for wildlife — big cats in particular rarely come within 30 metres.
Binoculars (8×42 or 10×42)
Non-negotiable — your guide spots it first, then you need to find it
Must
Camera + telephoto lens (100–400 mm ideal)
A mirrorless body + kit zoom works; bring a tele if you have one
Rec
Extra camera batteries ×2–3
Cold mornings drain batteries fast; charging in the field is limited
Must
Spare memory cards (64 GB+)
You will shoot more than you expect on a busy migration day
Must
Universal power adapter + multi-port USB charger
Tanzania uses Type G plugs; camps often provide limited sockets
Must
Power bank (20,000 mAh)
Keeps phone and Kindle alive on full-day drives
Rec
Headlamp with red-light mode
Paths between tents are unlit; red mode avoids disturbing wildlife
Must
Dust-proof dry bag or zip-lock bags
Red Serengeti dust gets into everything — protect your electronics
Must
Kindle / e-reader
Great for afternoon rest periods and long flights
Opt
Wildlife field guide (Birds of East Africa, etc.)
A physical guide shared with your guide is a great learning tool
Opt
Bean Bag > Tripod
A full tripod is impractical in an open vehicle. A beanbag draped over the vehicle door or window frame gives you a stable platform that adapts instantly as the vehicle repositions. They weigh next to nothing and cost under $20.
Toiletries & Health
Camps provide the basics — shampoo, conditioner, soap, and often sunscreen — so you don't need to carry full-size bottles of everything. Focus on the items that camps don't stock and that your health genuinely depends on.
DEET insect repellent (30–50% concentration)
Apply to skin at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
Must
Antimalarial medication
Prescribed by your travel clinic before departure — start in advance
Must
High-SPF sunscreen (SPF 50+)
Equatorial sun is intense on open vehicles; reapply every 2 hours
Carry in original packaging; bring double what you need
Must
Hand sanitiser
Compact bottle for game drives when soap is unavailable
Rec
Moisturiser / after-sun lotion
The savannah is extremely drying on skin
Rec
Rehydration sachets
Heat and activity can deplete electrolytes quickly
Rec
Eye drops / contact lens solution
Dust on game drives is brutal for contact lens wearers
Opt
Visit a Travel Clinic 6–8 Weeks Before Departure
Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if arriving from an endemic country, and recommends hepatitis A, typhoid, and rabies vaccines depending on your activities. A travel health specialist will personalise your vaccination and malaria prevention plan. This is not something to sort two days before you fly.
Documents & Money
Passport (valid 6+ months beyond travel)
Tanzania requires 6 months validity and at least 2 blank pages
Must
Tanzania e-Visa (printed + digital copy)
Apply via immigration.go.tz at least 2 weeks before travel
Must
Travel insurance documents
Must include emergency evacuation cover — check Kilimanjaro altitude if applicable
Must
Yellow fever vaccination card
Required if arriving from an endemic country; keep with passport
Must
USD cash (small bills: $1, $5, $10, $20)
USD is widely accepted; small bills for tipping guides and porters
Must
Credit card (Visa / Mastercard)
For lodges in cities; ATMs in Arusha and Dar are reliable
Rec
Emergency contacts (printed & saved offline)
Africa Endless Cruising 24-hr line, insurance emergency number, nearest embassy
Must
Digital backups of all documents (cloud + email to yourself)
Google Photos or Dropbox scan of every critical document
Must
Extras for a Zanzibar Extension
If you're pairing your safari with a few days on the Zanzibar coast — which we wholeheartedly recommend — a few additional items will make life on the island more comfortable.
Rash vest / UV swim shirt
Coral snorkelling and full-day sun exposure requires UV cover
Rec
Reef-safe sunscreen
Oxybenzone-free formula protects coral ecosystems
Must
Lightweight cover-up / sarong
Stone Town is a Muslim area; cover shoulders and knees when exploring
Must
Waterproof phone pouch
For dhow excursions and snorkelling boat trips
Rec
What to Leave at Home
Knowing what not to pack is as important as knowing what to bring. These items are either impractical, unnecessary given what camps provide, or actively cause problems in the field.
Bring These
Soft-sided duffel or roll bag
Neutral earth-tone clothes
Worn-in walking shoes
Lightweight merino layers
Wide-brim hat & neck gaiter
DEET repellent & antimalarials
Binoculars + compact camera
Universal adapter & power bank
Photocopies of all documents
USD cash in small denominations
Leave These Behind
Hard-shell suitcases (refused on bush flights)
White, red, or bright blue clothing
Brand-new, unbroken-in boots
Heavy perfume or cologne (attracts insects)
Full-size tripod (use a beanbag instead)
Drone (illegal in national parks)
Hairdryer (camps don't have the voltage)
Too many shoes (3 pairs maximum)
Lots of jewellery (theft risk & weight)
Excessive electronics (dust is ruthless)
Drones Are Banned in Tanzania's National Parks
Flying a drone in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, or any other Tanzanian national park without a special TANAPA permit is illegal and carries heavy fines. Even if you plan to fly outside park boundaries, bringing a drone into Tanzania requires a Civil Aviation Authority permit. Do not risk having it confiscated at the airport. Leave it at home.
Safari Operations Manager, Africa Endless Cruising
Chacha Kehengu founded Africa Endless Cruising after growing up around Serengeti villages and building strong experience in African wildlife safaris, Kilimanjaro trekking, cultural tours, and East African adventures. These pre-departure notes share practical field guidance from the Africa Endless Cruising team in Moshi, Kilimanjaro.
