By Tamara Ramsay | Gallivanters
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There are a lot of Tanzania packing lists online.
Most of them will tell you to bring khaki clothes, hiking boots, mosquito repellent and a safari hat.
And yes, some of those things can be useful.
But after living in Tanzania for almost five years — and after watching travelers come through Gallivanters Hostel with everything from one backpack to what looked like their entire apartment packed into three suitcases — I think packing for Tanzania is actually much simpler than people make it.
You don’t need to dress like you’re going on an expedition just because you’re coming to Africa.
Tanzania can mean a safari in the Serengeti one week, dinner in Dar es Salaam the next, wandering through Stone Town, swimming in Zanzibar, hiking outside the city or simply sitting somewhere along the Indian Ocean watching the sun go down.
So I would pack for your Tanzania, not some imaginary version of Africa.
And there are a few things I would absolutely bring from home.
First: Don’t Overpack
This is probably the first thing I would tell someone coming to Tanzania.
You can buy things here.
Dar es Salaam is a huge city. There are malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, clothing stores and plenty of places to pick up something you’ve forgotten.
What becomes annoying is dragging an enormous suitcase around if your trip includes several stops.
Dar → safari → Arusha → Zanzibar sounds wonderful when you’re planning it from your couch.
It feels slightly different when you’re repeatedly opening the same suitcase looking for one shirt buried underneath everything else.
This is where I think packing cubes are genuinely useful.
Keep swimwear in one, everyday clothes in another, safari clothes together and eventually use one for dirty laundry. It’s a small thing that makes moving around much easier.
And weigh the suitcase before you leave home.
This is another tiny travel item that earns its space in your bag.
A small digital luggage scale takes up almost no room.
And keep it with you. Somehow the suitcase always manages to gain weight before the flight home.
Put a Tracker in Your Checked Luggage
International travel usually means connections, and Tanzania can be a long journey depending on where you’re flying from.
If you use an iPhone, putting an Apple AirTag inside your checked suitcase is one of those things you hope you never really need.
But when you’re standing at baggage claim after a very long journey, being able to check the location of your suitcase gives you a little extra peace of mind.
What I Would Actually Wear in Tanzania
This is where I think a lot of Tanzania packing guides get unnecessarily complicated.
You don’t have to spend two weeks dressed entirely in beige.
For normal days in Dar es Salaam, I would think: breathable, comfortable, presentable and easy to move around in.
Loose dresses are easy. Lightweight trousers are easy. T-shirts and tops are easy. A light layer is useful.
For women who prefer a little more coverage, something like a long, loose maxi shirt dress with pockets can work for travel days, sightseeing and casual outings.
Not because it’s khaki. Because it’s simple.
And that is how I would approach most of your clothing.
Zanzibar deserves a little extra thought.
Beach resorts are one thing. Walking around Stone Town and local communities is another.
I wouldn’t panic about this or turn it into a long list of rules. I would simply pack a few things that give you the option of more coverage when you want it.
A light scarf or shawl takes up almost no room and can become surprisingly useful.
And this is exactly why I tell people to pack for the trip they’re actually taking. Tanzania isn’t one experience.
Shoes: You Probably Need Less Than You Think
A comfortable pair of walking shoes will handle a lot of Tanzania. Add sandals or something easy for the beach and casual days.
You do not automatically need hiking boots because you’re going to Tanzania.
If you’re actually hiking or spending significant time on rough or wet terrain, that’s different. Then a supportive waterproof hiking boot makes sense.
Otherwise, save the suitcase space.
Bring a Power Bank
This one I wouldn’t skip.
Your phone becomes everything when you’re traveling: camera, maps, messages, WhatsApp, reservations, boarding passes and entertainment during long drives.
And Tanzania travel can include very long days away from your room.
A safari drive is an obvious example, but even a full day exploring Dar or taking a boat out to one of the islands can leave you away from an outlet for hours.
I would bring a good high-capacity portable charger and charge it every night.
You’ll probably use it more than half the things you thought you absolutely had to pack.
Don’t Forget the Plug Adapter
If you’re coming from the United States, your plug isn’t simply going to fit everywhere you go. Bring the adapter before you arrive.
A world travel adapter that includes Type G support is the kind I would pack rather than buying something for only one destination.
One important thing: an adapter changes the plug connection. That doesn’t automatically mean it converts voltage. Check the voltage requirements of anything you’re bringing before plugging it in.
If You’re Going on Safari, Bring Binoculars
This sounds obvious until you’re actually on safari and realize the lion isn’t politely sitting three feet from your vehicle.
Wildlife can be far away. Sometimes that’s actually part of the beauty of it.
You see something moving across the landscape, someone spots it, and suddenly everyone is trying to figure out what they’re looking at.
A compact pair of binoculars doesn’t take up much room and can completely change those moments.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a wildlife person. Tanzania has a way of changing that.
Then There Is the Other Tanzania: Water
People naturally think safari when they think Tanzania.
But then there’s the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar. Bongoyo. Mbudya. Boat rides. Beach days.
And an entirely different section of your suitcase suddenly becomes useful.
For those days, I like the idea of having a waterproof phone pouch somewhere in my luggage.
They’re inexpensive, weigh almost nothing and give your phone an extra layer of protection from water, wet swimwear and sand.
If you’re carrying more than a phone — camera, wallet, clothes, electronics — a waterproof dry bag can be even more useful. Especially when getting on and off boats.
Backpacking? Pack a Quick-Drying Towel
Hotel travelers can probably skip this one.
If you’re staying in hostels, backpacking, camping or bouncing between beaches and islands, I’d make room for a lightweight microfiber travel towel.
It dries quickly and doesn’t occupy half your backpack.
After years of having backpackers come through Gallivanters, I think this is a much more realistic hostel item than half the elaborate backpacking gear lists people create.
A Few Things I Would Always Keep in My Carry-On
This part matters more to me than having a perfectly organized suitcase.
Your passport and important documents belong with you. So do prescription medications and anything you absolutely cannot afford to lose for a day or two.
I would also keep my phone charger, power bank, one change of clothes, basic toiletries and anything valuable in my carry-on.
And don’t put every method of accessing money in the same place.
Travel is easier when one lost bag doesn’t immediately become a crisis.
What About Toiletries, Sunscreen and Mosquito Repellent?
Bring the personal products you’re particular about. That’s my rule.
Basic toiletries can be bought in Tanzania, especially in Dar es Salaam, so I wouldn’t fill half a suitcase with shampoo.
But if there is a particular skin, hair or beauty product you know you need, bring it.
The same thinking applies to sun and insect protection: plan for the activities and areas on your itinerary rather than treating the entire country as though the conditions are identical everywhere.
For medication, vaccines and malaria-prevention decisions, get current advice from a qualified travel-health professional rather than relying on somebody’s packing blog — including mine.
What I Wouldn’t Pack
I wouldn’t buy an entirely new wardrobe just for Tanzania.
I wouldn’t bring four pairs of heavy shoes.
I wouldn’t fill my suitcase with things that are readily available in Dar.
And I definitely wouldn’t arrive dressed head-to-toe like I’m going on safari if I’m spending my first three days having coffee and dinner in Masaki.
Tanzania has luxury hotels. Beach bars. Coffee shops. Forests. Nightlife. Local neighborhoods. Hostels. Restaurants. Islands. National parks. Traffic. Lots of traffic.
And some of the most ordinary days here can become the days you remember.
My Simple Tanzania Packing Checklist
- Passport, travel documents and copies
- Prescription medications
- Phone + charging cables
- Power bank
- International plug adapter
- Luggage tracker
- Packing cubes
- Lightweight, breathable everyday clothes
- A few modest/longer options
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sandals
- Swimwear
- Light scarf or shawl
- Sunglasses and sun protection
- Insect protection appropriate to your trip
- Small day bag
- Binoculars if you’re going on safari
- Waterproof phone pouch/dry bag for beach and boat days
- Microfiber towel if you’re backpacking or hostel-hopping
- Hiking footwear only if your itinerary actually calls for it
- Digital luggage scale
That’s really the heart of it.
You don’t need to bring your entire life with you.
The Thing I Hope You Leave Room For
After living in Tanzania for almost five years, I think one of the mistakes people make before coming here is trying to prepare for every possible situation.
You can’t. And maybe you shouldn’t.
Leave a little room in the suitcase. You’ll probably find something here you want to take home.
But more importantly, leave a little room in your plans.
One day might be safari. Another might be walking through Stone Town. Another might be eating somewhere you didn’t know existed because somebody you met told you to go. Another might just be sitting near the ocean doing absolutely nothing.
Those are often the best days.
Tanzania doesn’t need you to arrive perfectly prepared.
Just prepared enough to enjoy it.
Karibu Tanzania.
