Tanzania Safari Packing Gear List

Tanzania Safari Packing Gear List

Baggage and Sleeping (not applicable to lodge safaris)

  1. Large Holdall, to contain everything you’ll need while on safari
  2. Daysack, 25-35 litres, for personal use while on safari; for ready-access items
  3. Sleeping Bag, rated to -10C if climbing Kili with us, or +5C if on safari only
  4. Waterproof rucksack liner or heavy duty plastic sack (only if incorporating a multi-day walking safari)
  5. Elasticated waterproof rucksack cover (only if incorporating a multi-day walking safari) NB: sleeping mattresses are not required as we provide these for you.

Clothing

  1. Sweat-wicking T-shirts / vests – Fleece.
  2. Insulated down jacket or similar, (only if climbing Kilimanjaro or Oldonyo Lengai climbingor Mt meru climbing) –
  3. Down mittens or similar, (only if climbing Kilimanjaro or Oldonyo Lengai climbingor Mt meru climbing)
  4. Thermal long-johns for summit night, (only if climbing Kilimanjaro or Oldonyo Lengai climbingor Mt meru climbing)
  5. Lightweight walking trousers (for active safaris that incorporate hunting or trekking, avoid jeans or heavy cotton as they chafe and dry slowly)
  6. Underwear (briefs are usually better than boxer shorts which gather and chafe)
  7. Very good quality hiking socks and thin liner socks. (We advise that socks should be at least a size too small otherwise they stretch and bunch causing blisters)
  8. Breathable lightweight waterproofs
  9. jacket and trousers, (for active safaris that incorporate hunting or trekking),
  10. Waterproof walking boots, sturdy and worn-in, (if your safari incorporates active elements
  11. otherwise comfortable leather shoes will suffice) – Calf gaiters, (for ascents of Kilimanjaro , Oldonyo Lengai climbingor Mt meru climbing
  12. Balaclava, (for ascents of Kili or Oldonyo Lengai only) – Wide brimmed sun hat to protect face, ears and neck

Hygiene

  1. Toothbrush, toothpaste & deodorant –
  2. Flat packed Wet Ones, travel wipes, or similar for personal hygiene on the mountain.
  3. Kleenex tissues in plastic travel pouches or toilet paper
  4. Hairbrush / comb
  5. Sanitary products
  6. Lip salve with UV protection
  7. Vaseline, to prevent chafing skin and heel friction blisters

Health

  1. Malaria Tablets (if you choose to take these. Most will seek advice from their GP. Note: some anti-malarial courses need to commence several weeks before departure
  2. Sun cream. Note: some argue that most sun creams are carcinogenic and either organic sun barriers or loose-fitting clothes that cover the skin are regarded by many as preferable.

Documents

  1. Passport (with additional 6 months’ validity after proposed trip return date)
  2. Tanzanian Entry Visa. (If flying to Nairobi and taking the bus to Arusha, Kenyan visas can be bought on arrival at Nairobi airport.)
  3. Air Travel Documents – Cash in US dollars in denominations of $10 and $20 (tipping allowance and local purchases, taxis, meals, etc)
  4. Credit Cards (recommended for eventualities only & obtaining extra cash from ATMs)
  5. Travel Insurance Documents
  6. Vaccination Certificates (where applicable) – Traveller’s Cheques are not recommend as they are subject to extremely poor conversion rates in Arusha.

Other stuff

  1. Camera and film or Digital Camera and spare memory cards & batteries & charger
  2. Sunglasses with UV-filter lenses
  3. High energy snacks (Cereal bars, dried fruit and nuts)
  4. Spare Contact Lenses and fluid, if worn – Watch
  5. Head torch with spare batteries
  6. Water bottles & Camelbak (3 litres carrying capacity if climbing)
  7. Water Purification Tablets / Iodine drops
  8. Ear Plugs (in the event of attempting to sleep near barking dogs)
  9. Plastic bags (for dirty washing, used wrappers, etc.)
  10. Telescopic walking poles (optional – and for use on active safaris & climbs only)
  11. Mobile phone. There is signal reception in much of the national parks and safari areas. Note: It is a very good idea to unlock your phone before you come out so that a local SIM card can be used. This will make calls home very inexpensive.

Personal Small First Aid Kit

  1. Pain Killers (Ibuprofen)
  2. Diamox (Acetazolamide) if you are climbing Kilimanjaro– Paracetamol
  3. Zinc oxide tape and small scissors.
  4. Compeed Blister Pads
  5. Immodium / Loperamide anti-diarrhoea tablets
  6. Any medication you normally use
  7. Dioralyte sachets or similar re-hydration packs. Note that your guide or safari liaison will carry a more comprehensive medical kit containing additional Acetazolamide, Ibuprofen, Anti-inflammatory gel, bandages, Loperamide, Amoxycilin, Oral Dexamethasone, and several other items.

Specialist Equipment for Hunters & Survivalists

  1. Small, sharp, strong high-quality lock-knife. STT recommends Buck Knives. But please don’t bring a very expensive model.
  2. Leather-palmed fingerless gloves (unless you have very tough skin on your hands)
  3. Goggles – only for those requesting a night hunt, as torches cannot be used once we are near to the prey, and the risk of damage to unprotected eyes by thorns is high
  4. Knee and elbow pads are not strictly necessary, however serious survivalists or Special Forces students who will be spending several days in Eyasi and wish to perfect their bush CTR & closing skills, may benefit from this protection. Note: Please bear in mind that while the Hadzabe only wear a leather skin for protection (and sometimes not even that), they are very robust and are willing to accept the risk of injury perhaps more readily than most of the rest of us.
Nonlone
Nonlone
2024-02-27
Very Wonderful Safari Trip Lappet Faced Safari left a very good impression on me about Safari. When discussing the itinerary, Francisco responded very promptly and provided a lot of useful suggestions; during the entire trip, there were no extra costs or extra services. During this trip, we are very grateful to our guide Mike, who worked tirelessly to help us find animals and introduced various animal knowledge, making us have a very enjoyable trip; we also booked a ride from Arusha to Kilimanjaro For the airport shuttle bus, thank you to Noel for his superb driving skills; and thank you to Francisco for helping us book a fruit lunchbox in advance so that we did not go hungry. We were very satisfied with this trip.
Scott
Scott
2024-02-25
7-Day Wildebeest Migration Safari We had an amazing 7-day safari visiting Tarangire National Park, the Ndutu region of southern Serengeti, Central Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. Before arriving in Tanzania I had regular communication with Francisco, the owner of Lappet Faced Safaris. Francisco always responded promptly and answered all of our questions as we planned this custom safari. I was very impressed by his prompt and thorough responses to questions and his willingness to be flexible with our itinerary during the planning stages of this trip. We were met at the airport by our driver/guide, Amani, who accompanied us for the duration of the safari. To say that Amani went above and beyond was an understatement. He was an amazing guide and he did a great job in finding various wildlife and putting us in an excellent position to observe and photograph. He was also very good at answering our questions about the wildlife, the vegetation and the people of Tanzania. I was very impressed and I could tell that he enjoyed his work and that he knew what he was talking about when explaining things about different animals. It really made the trip a more complete experience. I was very pleased with our accommodations throughout our safari, as well as with the food. Everything matched the information that we received from Francisco when we were planning our trip. Lappet Faced Safaris is a small locally-owned safari company and they provide first-class service. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is interested in visiting Tanzania and experiencing a safari. Francisco is flexible in putting together a trip itinerary so do not hesitate to share what your interests are for your safari experience and he will work with you to meet those plans. We wanted to see the wildebeest migration during their calving season, as well as seeing other resident wildlife and what we experienced during our safari was simply amazing.
Kenny C
Kenny C
2024-02-21
Amazing experience The 3-day safari was an unforgettable experience and were extremely delighted we went with Lappet Faced Safaris for the trip. Our guide and chef were both extremely professional and they both went out of their way to make sure we had the best experience possible. We would 100% recommend this safari trip.
Tatiana C
Tatiana C
2024-01-09
Breathtaking, Wild, Unforgettable!!!! MUST DO!!! That was an unbelievably wonderful experience of a lifetime! We had just 6 days in Zanzibar and 2 of them we decided to devote to safari in Tarangire and Ngorongoro national parks. It was one of the wisest decisions because the amount of emotions and feelings you would get from the beauty of the nature and animals you have seen only on discovery channel before would bring you infinite happiness and pure joy :))) Thanks to Lapped Faced Safaris for making it real! The service was exceptional. Francisco ( the owner of the company) was always in contact with us all the time. He answered all our million questions and made sure everything would go smoothly. He took care about everything from the moment we left Zanzibar and came back. Our guide/driver was the best guide we could imagine: attentive, caring, choosing the best angles to observe the animals. Together with him we saw all Big Five (leopard, lions, elephants, zebras and rhinos) and more))) however it’s always a matter of luck whom you would spot ;) Karankari lodge - is a gorgeous hotel I would highly recommend to stay at for 1 night between the safaris. Look forward to coming back for 3-4 days safari! Lapped Faced Safaris - THE BEST!
Sachin K
Sachin K
2023-11-25
Best expeirence Our guide was knowledgeable and very well behaved. The sunset tour has been remarkable. No issue at all Thanks....
Sandra M
Sandra M
2023-11-20
Epic Adventures On my recent trip, Michael and his crew (shoutout to Joshua, Stive, and Frank!) totally made the experience awesome. Their know-how and passion, along with the smooth coordination and personal touch, made every moment unforgettable. Seriously, I highly recommend this travel crew for an epic trip!
Abdul A
Abdul A
2023-11-18
Family-Friendly Adventure Lappet Faced Safari was an amazing experience for our family. The guides whose name Joseph were not only knowledgeable but also fantastic with kids, making it a great experience.
pami k
pami k
2023-11-17
Exemplary Expedition: A Journey Elevated by Expert Guides Embarking on a recent travel expedition, I was fortunate to have Michael as our guide. His expertise and passion for the destinations we explored added immense value to the journey. The seamless coordination and personalized touch from Michael and his team, including Joshua, Stive, and Frank, made every moment unforgettable. Their commitment to excellence was evident in the meticulous planning and insightful commentary. I highly recommend this travel experience, where the guides' dedication and knowledge elevate the trip to extraordinary heights.
Ranvir K
Ranvir K
2023-11-16
Thrilling Night Safari Lappet Faced Safari's night safari was a thrilling addition to our adventure. Armed with spotlights, we delved into the nocturnal world of wildlife. From elusive predators to creatures of the night, the experience was both exhilarating and educational. A unique and captivating way to witness the diversity of the animal kingdom.
Mama B
Mama B
2023-11-15
Sunset Safari Splendor Lappet Faced Safari took the traditional safari experience to new heights with their sunset tour. The colors of the African sky painted a breathtaking backdrop to our wildlife encounters. Watching the sun dip below the horizon while surrounded by nature's wonders was a mesmerizing and unforgettable spectacle.

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