SAFARI PACKING CHECKLIST

Be sure to pack a small day pack to put everything you need to take with you while in the vehicle. This should include your cameras and extra batteries, a hat, warm layer, beanie, sunscreen, lip balm, any emergency medicines like an epi-pen or Ventolin inhaler etc

While Driver Guides carry first aid kit for the vehicle, we request that each person has their own first aid kit with essentials such as Imodium, paracetamol and ibuprofen, band-aids, antihistamines, eye drops, cold and flu medicine, throat lozenges, travel sickness medicine, hand sanitiser, ginger tablets, anti-diarrheal, topical antibiotic, bandages, blister packs, ankle brace and prescription medicines.

Select safari clothing made from muted neutral and naturally-toned fabric such as shades of khaki, greens, and browns.

Research has suggested that bright colours may repel wildlife. Animals perceive the world differently than we do and have their own 'lenses' based on their unique evolutionary histories. What we imagine is frightening for an animal might not be; conversely, what we imagine is non-threatening could be terrifying in reality.

Bring comfortable, breathable clothes you can wear all day. Man-made fabrics (i.e. polyamide) outperform natural fabrics (i.e. cotton) and keep you cooler and better protected from the sun.

A warm layer is essential in the mornings and evenings. Long-sleeved shirts with roll-up tabs and zip-off trousers allow you to adapt to changing conditions.

Covering up is one of the most effective measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

While rainfall is unusual during the dry season June - October, weather patterns can be unpredictable and we advise to always bring a rain jacket or light travel umbrella.

The low season has two rainy seasons:

• the long rains (masika) fromlate March to early May

• short rains (mvuli) November through December.

Early mornings can be cool depending upon the time of year/altitude. We advise to bring a fleece even in the summer months.

The Ngorongoro Crater has cool mornings most of the year due to the elevation.

If you’re visiting in the cold months bring some warm socks.

Useful for the cooler mornings, evenings and when staying at altitude.

A good pair of comfortable walking shoes and a pair of sandals or thongs (flip-flops).

Bring a well fitting hat that fits securely to your head and won’t come off when you’re driving with open windows.

Be sure to bring spare bulbs and batteries.

Many lodges have swimming pools and depending upon the season you are travelling you may enjoy a dip in the pool.

Lower-DEET, higher-efficacy Australian-made insect repellents such as Bushman and RID are recommended.

DEET (Diethyltoluamide) was developed in the 1940s as an insect protection measure for the U.S. Army. It repels and deters mosquitoes and offers protection from a range of other insects such as ticks, sand flies, leeches, sand fleas, march flies, horse flies, bird lice, and other insects.

DEET has been the subject of many years of study and analysis and continues to set the benchmark for effectiveness.

• If your appliance is compatible with a Type G plug, many lodges in Tanzania have these outlets. Type G features special slots for three flat pins and has been the modern British standard since 1947.
  

• Tanzania is moving towards universal outlets, compatible with any type of plug, a basic dual universal outlet will accommodate any plug, negating the need for travel adapters.
  

• It's unlikely you will come across a type D socket any more as they are mostly found in old buildings and are generally considered a rarity.

• Electricity in Tanzania is between 220­ - 240 Volts. This is the case in most of Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom and most countries in Africa and Asia. The standard frequency in Tanzania is 50Hz. If this voltage or frequency differs from the frequency used in your home country, please use caution when plugging in your devices. Most modern digital appliances are built to be compatible with all worldwide voltages, from 100 volts to 240, but you should always check.
  

• Many camps and lodges do not have 24 hour electricity so we recommend charging your devices soon after arriving at your lodge or in your vehicle while on safari.

• Your safari vehicle will offer power/charging ports.

• There are no charging facilities on Mt Kilimanjaro.

The driver will have a pair of binoculars for his use. While he is happy to share we recommend you bring your own for your personal enjoyment. For most purposes, 7x21 compact binoculars will be fine, but birdwatchers will find a 10x magnification more useful.

You may like to bring an ebook or Tanzania guide to reference when you are on safari.

The roads can get bumpy. For those with back issues or sensitivities, we recommend a cushion to help with the bumps.

You might like to bring a few separate bags (no disposable plastic bags allowed) to put your dirty shoes, clothes and underwear in to keep your bag from stinking out and making your fresh clothes smell bad.