Packing List for Tanzania, Africa Safari

I hope this packing tips page for travel on the Tanzania, Africa Photography Safari will be helpful as you gather gear for your trip. I only recommend brands and gear that I use myself. Some companies allow me to be a dealer or affiliate, so in those cases, I am very grateful if you buy the product directly from me or follow the link so I earn a commission on the sale. You do not pay any more for the product, but these sales help to support my small business and pay for the upkeep of this website.

For products for which I am a Dealer, I can also often match other advertised prices, so if you do see a better price for the same new gear, please let me know and I will do my best to match.

All of the links show up as yellow text or a picture/banner. Simply click on the link to be directed to the product page.

Some companies also offer coupon codes or special gifts that are listed near their link. Thanks in advance for your support!

Any special offers or coupon codes are typed in RED.

To use my Amazon affiliate links, you may sign up for a trial membership if you are not already a member. With two day shipping, you have plenty of time to get anything you need for the trip. Prime also comes with their video streaming service that I use all the time at home. Some purchased videos can also be downloaded to your device so you can watch them offline while traveling. I try to pick out a couple movies to take along in case I get stuck at the airport longer than expected.

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Other links are just provided for your convenience. Please feel free to email me at info@cherylopperman.com if a link does not work or you have a suggestion to add to the page.

Airline Baggage Size & Weight Restrictions

As you pack for your trip, please keep in mind the baggage policy of all the airlines you will use during your trip. Each airline’s baggage size and weight restrictions can be found on their website, but here are the guidelines for Delta and KLM. Usually Delta has the best flight options for Tanzania if you are traveling from the US, but the connecting flight to Tanzania will be on KLM which has much stricter weight guidelines.

Delta Airlines

Carry-on Bag (for the overhead bin): 9” x 14” x 22” (including handles & wheels) No defined weight limit

Personal Item (for under the seat): No defined size or weight limit, but must fit under the seat

Checked Baggage: 62 inches total (length + width + height) 50lbs maximum

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Carry-on Bag (for the overhead bin): 9.84” x 13.77” x 21.65” (55 x 35 x 25 cm – including handles & wheels)

Personal Item (for under the seat): 5.9″ x 11.81″ x 15.74″ (40 x 30 x 15 cm)

26.45 lbs max for the combined weight of BOTH CARRY ON BAGS

Checked Baggage: 62.2 inches total (length + width + height) 50.7 lbs maximum

Internal Airline

We usually have one internal flight on this trip, so it is a good idea to keep your bags as lightweight as possible. The guidelines vary quite a bit, so please try to pack as little as possible or you may have to pay additional baggage charges for the internal flight. We normally do have to put the camera gear in the cargo area since these planes are very small, so please read the camera bag section carefully for packing suggestions. We do try to get all of the camera gear on top, but it can’t be guaranteed.

Checked Luggage

It is much easier to just use a duffel bag for your checked luggage to Africa. First, duffel bags are much easier to pack into the back of the vehicles. The duffel bags also usually only weigh a few pounds which doesn’t use up much of the weight limit. Most airports have carts for your use, but in a pinch, there are duffel bags that also have hidden emergency backpack straps or wheels. I’m listing a couple good options below if you don’t already have something that will work (I have provided my Amazon™ Affiliate links below. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):

PLEASE ONLY BRING ONE CHECKED BAG!

Osprey Sojourn Shuttle is a good option.

Eagle Creek Migrate Wheeled Duffel Bag 110L is also excellent.

I use packing cubes in duffel bags which makes it much easier to keep gear organized!

Eagle Creek also makes great packing cubes. I like the Specter series as they are very lightweight. For Africa, I use the clean/dirty cubes and pack one complete outfit in the clean side of each bag (pants, one short sleeve shirt, one long sleeve shirt, underwear, & socks). At the end of the day, I pack my dirty clothes into the “dirty” side of the pack until I have time to hand wash them myself or have them laundered. I bring 3-4 outfits total, plus the outfit I wear on the plane.

I do bring extra underwear as some camps will not launder underwear, so you have to hand wash them in the sink. It’s also a good idea to pack an extra set of underwear in your carry-on, just in case your checked luggage gets delayed.

I then use single Packing Cubes for other items such as shoes, hat, jackets, pajamas, toiletries etc. I always choose tan, white, or light gray colored cubes.

Camera Gear

When traveling, I always recommend taking at least two camera bodies. In Africa, it can be helpful to bring three so you NEVER have to change lenses. If you don’t have two, consider buying a used camera as your backup. There is nothing worse than having your only camera body break down on the trip of a lifetime! (If you need a backup Canon body, I have a couple used bodies I am selling, so feel free to email me for more info at info@cherylopperman.com)

I use Canon camera gear and will list links to the gear I take to Africa below. Every trip is different, so these are the lens ranges that I use most often to photograph the scenery and wildlife on safari. Please use the list as a guide to compare to gear you own.

The weight of gear is an issue in Africa because of the flights, so please be selective in what you take. I’ll explain how I pack my gear in the Camera Bag section below.

For new photography gear purchases, I always advocate that you consider purchasing Camera Gear from your Local Camera Store. In Colorado, I work with Englewood Camera. Englewood Camera has also been a big supporter of my photography workshops and tours, so your support of them is greatly appreciated.

For international or out of State travelers, I have listed some other affiliate links below.

If you are considering the purchase of a new Canon camera for the trip, I highly recommend the Canon R5. It is a full frame mirrorless camera with excellent image quality and very useful features. Canon may be releasing a newer model of this camera in 2024, so you might want to check with me before making the purchase so I can give you updates on the newest model available. I can still use all of my EF lenses by purchasing an adapter. In fact, I almost prefer the EF lenses as I can use an adapter with a drop in filter that makes it easy to change filters quickly in the field. My filter recommendations are listed below in a separate section.

The lenses I take to Africa (Affiliate links):

RF lenses worth considering in place of the lenses above

Third Party Lenses available for Canon, Sony, and Nikon:

The distance to animals in Africa will vary a lot. Sometimes the animals will walk right up to the vehicles and other times they will be further away. I like to start with my 600mm lens and put the 70-200mm or 100-400mm on my extra camera body. If I want a wider angle shot, I will switch lenses in the field, but I try NOT to change lenses very often as there is a lot of dust from driving around.

If you don’t have a super-telephoto lens, a teleconverter is an excellent and inexpensive way to increase the magnification of the lenses you already own. Also, keep in mind that the sensors are so good these days, you can crop quite a bit and still get a decent image or use software to increase the file size after cropping (see suggestions in the Software section below).

If you would like to use a longer focal length lens than what you own, but do not want to purchase something new, renting is a wonderful option. Often times, your local camera store has gear that can be rented. 

Be sure you take extra lens and body caps and extra camera batteries. There will be several times during the trip when we stay out all day, so you may not be able to recharge batteries until we get back in the evening. I usually take three sets of camera batteries per camera body. If you have Canon or Nikon Cameras, I’ve also found a really nice case to use for carrying my extra batteries along with my memory cards. Follow this link for more info. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

Extra Camera and Lens Caps

Extra Batteries

It’s also important to use a camera strap when you are hand holding. I prefer binoculars straps as they help take the weight of the camera off my shoulders. If you don’t want a strap that stretches like the binocular straps do, this solid strap in the same style works well to take the weight off your neck.

Small binoculars are optional, but may allow you to help us spot wildlife in the distance.

Flash & MagMod

Unlike other wildlife locations, flash is very useful in Africa. It can be used to illuminate the colorful birds in the dark forest or add some fill light to a pride of lions resting under the shade of a tree. We will not use flash for any action or use it in circumstances where it would disturb the wildlife.

Because we will be using telephoto lenses, it is necessary to use a fresnel to focus and increase the range of the flash. If you don’t already have these items, be sure to purchase:

MagMod products use POWERFUL MAGNETS, so be sure NOT to pack them near spinning hard drives.

Lens covers

Neoprene lens covers are not a necessity, but if you like to use them to help protect the body of the lens from scratches, it’s also helpful to choose light colored covers. If you have black lenses, light colored covers will also help to keep the bugs away from the lenses. We do bounce around in the vehicles a lot, so you are more likely to get scratches on your equipment than on other trips.

I don’t necesarrily use all of the pieces. It’s most important to cover the hood and any major front sections. I only use the pieces further back if they don’t interfere with anything. I do like protecting the lens from scratches as much as possible, but some section pieces can be more trouble than they are worth.

Camera Bags

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE SECTION CAREFULLY as I will explain how best to pack camera gear.

Packing camera gear for Africa can be a challenge because of the weight restrictions. It is basically impossible to get all of the camera gear into one bag and keep it underweight, so I divide it between two bags and pockets:

  • One roller bag as a main carry-on (600mm f/4, R5 with battery grip, & Flash)
  • The tan PRVKE LITE as my personal item that goes under the seat (R5 with no grip, 100-400mm, 24-70mm, 16mm). I would suggest purchasing a PRVKE WAIST BELT to make it easier to carry

It’s also a good idea to print out the bag dimensions along with the airline allowances (which are linked above) and put them in the bags just in case you need to prove that your bag dimensions comply with the allowance. If you are buying a bag new, just keep the original tag with the specifications and put it in a pocket of your bag.

Detailed bag descriptions are below.

Roller Bag

The roller bag should carry at least one camera body, your bigger lenses, and your flash. The lines at the airport can be very long, so it’s much easier to roll a bag than to wear a heavy backpack.

If you are taking a super-telephoto lens that is very large, such as the 600mm f/4, I recommend going to a luggage store or discount store and finding the smallest roller bag that will fit the lens. I use a discontinued eagle creek roller and can get the 600mm with one detached camera body with the battery grip in that bag. I stuff the empty space in the bag with soft items such as a fleece jacket, travel pillow etc to keep the gear protected.

If you are traveling with smaller style telephoto lenses or zooms, I would suggest going with something like the ThinkTank roller bag described below.

ThinkTank™

ThinkTank™ makes my favorite roller bags for camera gear. For Africa, I recommend their smallest roller the “Airport Advantage™”. This bag will work well for everything except very large lenses such as a 600mm f/4. It is designed specifically for regional planes, so it is lighter and smaller that other bags. It only comes in black or graphite, but if you want to use it in the safari vehicle, it could be covered with a light grey rain cover.

ThinkTank™ makes some nice battery cases as well.

I am an affiliate for ThinkTank™ and they give you a free gift if you order through my link.

Personal Item & Packed Backpack (Optional)

Wandrd™

Wandrd™ also makes great bags and their PRVKE LITE is the bag I like to use as my under the seat bag on airplanes. It is the under the seat bag I use for all of my international trips now as it adheres to most airlines’ size limitations (be sure to check your airline for weight restrictions as well). It’s also a great small camera backpack that can be used in the field. It does not fit mirrorless bodies with a battery grip or a DSLR very well, but it is perfect for the Canon R5 without the battery grip. I usually carry my back-up Canon R5 (without the grip) attached to the 100-400mm lens and my 24-70mm lens in this bag. I can also fit a couple of additional small lenses in the upper compartment, but it does not have padding in that section, so those lenses need to be protected in a lens pouch. It’s also helpful to buy the WAIST STRAPS for more support.

For Africa, be sure to order a Yuma Tan bag which stays cooler in sunlight and won’t attract as many bugs as a black bag will.

You could just use your roller bag in the vehicle, but if you would rather bring your regular camera backpack, just pack it in your luggage full of clothes and switch the gear out of the roller bag once we get to the first lodge.

Wandrd™ also makes handy accessories such as packing cubes, an inflatable lens bag, and an inflatable camera bag.

I am an affiliate for Wandrd™ and they have great sales on some holidays. Keep an eye out for announcements.

Wandrd Travel + Camera Pack

Accessory Bags

I try to pack as many accessories (batteries, card, cords etc) in my primary 2 bags as possible without adding too much weight and pack the rest in either my jacket/vest pockets or checked luggage.

ANYTHING WITH A BATTERY MUST BE PACKED IN CARRY ON LUGGAGE

I like to use a travel vest that I wear the entire trip which holds extra batteries, memory cards, etc. If you don’t like vests, a jacket with a lot of pockets is helpful for accessories. Choose tan or a light tone.

It’s also a good idea to carry valuables, money and your passport with you AT ALL TIMES in a fanny pack, money belt or neck pouch.

Filters

There are two types of filters I never travel without. A polarizer and neutral density. Both are available as a screw on filter or a drop in filter for lenses or adapters that have that option. I am a dealer for a great filter company, so please just give me a call at (303) 829-9453 or email me at info@cherylopperman.com to order. There are so many options, it is best to communicate before you purchase to make sure we select the right products and sizes.

A polarizer is good for eliminating reflections, darkening the blue sky (at certain angles to the sun), and enhancing the colors of rainbows.

Neutral density allows you to slow down the shutter speed for creative motion effects with waves, waterfalls and clouds. I do take my neutral density filters on every trip, but there is not usually a need for them in Tanzania as most of our photography will be done from beanbags in the vehicles.

Tripod & Bean Bag

I do take a tripod on every trip! You will not use a tripod very much in Africa, but it can be useful when we are on solid ground at the lodges or in the camps. If you are looking for a new tripod some suggestions are below.

Beanbags

There are beanbags provided at every window location in the vehicle, but it is a good idea to bring your own empty beanbag along so that you can stack on top of the others to make height adjustments. Our guide will fill them with rice once we arrive.

If you do not have a beanbag, please email me at info@cherylopperman.com as I do have some reasonably priced bags you can purchase from me.

Really Right Stuff Tripods

There are a lot of tripod options on the market, but my favorite brand by far is Really Right Stuff. It is well worth the extra money to buy a good tripod. Unlike cameras, a good tripod will last your entire photographic career. If you buy cheap tripods, you will likely end up having to continually upgrade. One of my clients had a great quote: “Buy a good tripod and cry once, or buy cheap tripods and cry many times.”

I’ll provide links below to the Really Right Stuff tripods I prefer. (I do NOT earn commissions on links to the Really Right Stuff website, so they are provided for your convenience. Sometimes their gear is available on Amazon, where I will earn an affiliate comission)

I always suggest choosing the “long” version. A tall tripod allows you to extend one leg down a hill so that you can keep the overall height at eye level (the most comfortable position for tracking birds in flight). I also suggest you avoid center columns. Raising a center column for additional height severely reduces your stability and also gets in the way when you want to use your tripod at ground level.

It’s also game changing to add a leveling base to your tripod if you will be using gimbal style heads (discussed below). Leveling bases ensure faster set up as you no longer have to painstakingly adjust each leg to make the tripod level (for straight horizon lines). You can ball park the leg heights and then make one final adjustment with the leveling base to ensure the tripod head is level to the ground. The leveling base for each tripod type is listed below.

For Africa the Ultralight Tripod will be more than sufficient with the Universal Leveling Base. It is bigger than you might need in Africa, but it will work well in other locations too.

The Ascend Travel Tripod is a smaller option that would also work well and would be good for backpacking trips too. Just be sure to remove the center column. This can also use the Universal Leveling Base.

Leofoto

I also just became a dealer for Leofoto. They make good tripods and accessories that are an excellent option if you can’t afford RRS. I can order any of their products for you, so please just email or call with the item number. I can also offer a special discount on most of their products to my clients.

Gimbal Style Tripod Heads

For wildlife photography, and especially when tracking birds in flight, a gimbal style head is the best choice. In fact, I use gimbal heads for all of my landscapes as well. They make composing and stitching multiple frames extremely easy.

If you are going to use a short lens that does not have a tripod collar on the gimbal style head, you will need a plate so that you can attach the camera facing forward. I like this Plate made by Really Right Stuff.

All the tripod heads I use fit Arca Swiss style plates. I sell plates for lenses, but recommend L-style plates made by Really Right Stuff for your camera body.

These are the only 3 tripod heads I use:

For larger and heavier lenses, the Wimberley Head is the best choice. I am a dealer for Wimberley, so please contact me at 303-829-9453 or info@cherylopperman.com if you would like to order. $595.00 Wimberley also makes a sidekick option for $250.00 (that turns your ball head into a gimbal).

The Fotopro E-6H Gimbal head is another excellent option for all lens types. It’s also a very versatile head if you record video in addition to stills. It has a lot of nice features for both formats and is relatively small to pack. I am a dealer for Fotopro as well and can offer my audience a special discount. Please call or email me for details. $529.00

Another great option is the Panoramic Head from Acratech. It is a much smaller and lighter head, but still capable of holding a 600mm f/4. Its smaller size makes it easy to pack and it has good measurement markings, so I use it a lot on landscape trips and as a wildlife back-up for the larger heads above. I am also a dealer for Acratech, so please contact me to purchase. $479.95

This is the tripod head I will take to Africa because of its small size and weight.

Image storage and backup

I use Sandisk for my image storage and back-up. (I have provided my Amazon™ Affiliate links below. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):

I try to buy fast cards (which are more expensive), but can make a difference if you have a high end body and are shooting at fast frame rates. It is also very helpful to have a fast card if you are going to shoot video. I usually buy 126GB cards (The number of Gigabytes determines how many images the card can store, which varies from camera to camera depending on the megapixel count, RAW/jpeg settings etc). My camera, the Canon R5, uses SD Memory Cards and CFExpress Cards, but you will have to check you own camera body to find the right type of card. Many DSLR’s take Compact Flash Memory Cards. The fastest SD cards available are 300 MB/s. CFExpress Cards are typically much faster at 1200 to 1750 MB/s. Keep in mind the camera has to be able to write at those speeds to take advantage of the faster cards, so if you have an older, slower camera, you may be fine buying the slower, cheaper cards.

I use the following card readers for travel:

I also use Sandisk external drives for the backup of my images. I always make 3 sets of backups and keep each in a different location during the trip. If you take enough cards and don’t erase them, that can serve as one backup. The hard drive of your laptop can also serve as a backup. Personally, I take 3 drives and one drive is in a pocket with me at all times. I use Sandisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD Drives or the older generation Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD (a bit less expensive) that are very small and easy to carry. They come in 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB capacities. I would get the largest size you can afford as it’s easy to take A LOT of photos on this trip. SSD (Solid State Drives) are the best choice because they don’t have any moving internal parts (other drives spin). This makes them more durable and not susceptible to magnet damage either.

At home, I use larger capacity spinning drives to store and back-up my images. I use a RAID (redundant array of independent disks) so that I can make two copies of the images at the same time (called mirroring). Most drives have to be configured in order to mirror, so be sure to read the instructions carefully when your drive arrives. I use a 40TB G-RAID drive, but they come in smaller capacities as well. Keep in mind if you are mirroring, that you will have half of the listed space (i.e. 40TB = 20TB when mirroring).

computer equipment & Software

I do recommend taking a laptop Computer on the trip. I think it is important to be able to at least look at your images to check for sharpness and make sure everything is working properly. This could also be done on a tablet. A laptop will be a better choice if you want to do a lot of editing or work on processing techniques.

It’s also important to make sure you have the software you want loaded onto the computer. I’ll provide affiliate links below to the software I use so that if you want to purchase it before the trip, you can.

Adobe

My primary image processing software is Adobe Photoshop. It’s a very powerful program that is really the industry standard. They have a very reasonable subscription package for photographers that you can find through my affiliate link below.

Topaz Labs

I use Topaz Labs software a lot. They have several options and they are all excellent. I primarily use the individual programs as I feel I have more control. I use all 3 programs listed below and choose which one to use based on what is most needed to improve the image (after following the link, scroll to the bottom of the page to find pricing information).

  • Sharpen AI improves sharpness in the image
  • DeNoise AI removes noise from the image
  • Gigapixel AI upscales images for better resolution (This can come in very handy when you are cropping a lot, but still want to make a large print.)

Topaz Photo AI is all of the above built into one program and designed to be more automated and user friendly. It works well for most images, but I still hold on to the individual programs above as sometimes they do a better job. It is very image dependent and does require some experimentation, but is all well worth the investment of time and money.

I also like Topaz Studio for creative effects, but unfortunately it is no longer supported. It can still be found under download legacy programs if you purchased it in the past.

Skylum

Skylum also makes very useful software. I’ve been using it for years and they’ve added a lot of new features and AI.

Luminar Neo has lots of fun features like sun rays, sky replacement, background removal, focus stacking, HDR etc. You may need the extensions pack to access all of the features you want.
You can find the link here: skylum.evyy.net/xePY1

DxO Software

I’ve been using the Nik Collection plug-in filters for many years as well. The Collection includes 8 different filters for a range of creative effects including HDR, B&W Conversion, Color enhancement, local adjustments, perspective control and much more. The software is easy to use and is an essential complement to the other software programs in my tool kit. Please just click on the image to follow my affiliate link.

Clothing, Bug Bite & Illness Prevention

Unfortunately there are biting bugs in Africa. Sometimes there are a lot and sometimes not so many, but fortunately there are several things we can do to minimize bites and protect ourselves from insect borne illness.

It’s also important to have an adequate supply of other medications you may need as we will be in remote locations for much of the trip. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases through the following links.)

Clothing

Clothing color choice alone can make a big difference. Mosquitos and tsetse flies are attracted to some colors more than others, so choosing lighter, less colorful clothing is best. Look for TAN, LIGHT GREY, or even WHITE (although it will show more dust and dirt). Please don’t bring bright or vivid colors.

DO NOT WEAR BLACK or BLUE, including denim. Also, it is ILLEGAL TO WEAR CAMOUFLAGE CLOTHING in Tanzania, so please choose solid, neutral colors.

I have my clothing professionally treated with Permethrin by ordering these easy to use “send in your clothes” bags. It does take several weeks to get the clothes back, but it is much easier and longer lasting than spraying clothes on your own. I would suggest ordering two bags if you are going to treat everything you are taking. Do not send in waterproof items, such as rain jackets, as the treatment will not work on those types of fabrics. Also, some fabric may shrink during the process.

If you want to spray your own clothing, you can also order Permethrin Spray that you can apply to fabric and clothes yourself. It is an insecticide, so you will want to wash your hands very well with soap and water every time you come in contact with it or the treated clothes, especially before eating food. This is what my travel health clinic has recommended to treat fabric, but all chemicals need to be handled carefully.

If you plan on purchasing some new clothes for the trip, it is also possible to purchase pre-treated clothing as well. You can find some options by following these links (just make sure to read the fine print to ensure the item has been treated with Permethrin): Insect Shield, Bugstopper/Women, Bugstopper/Men or Bugs Away.

Please read the EPA safety data on treated clothing to help you make the best decisions for you. The video below from the CDC explains how to use the spray, but I would also suggest wearing a mask while spraying.

Even though it can get hot, it is a good idea to keep your skin covered as much as possible, so I take long sleeve shirts and long pants. Bugs really love me (which may help keep them away from you if you are sitting close to me), so I even take along sun gloves that I spray with bug repellant. They are not perfect, but it is one more layer to try to protect my hands and they also prevent sunburn. I have not found any that are great for larger hands, but I use these: Grey Sun Gloves or Beige Sun Gloves. White golf gloves or white gardening gloves would be other good options and are made of thicker material. Thicker material would make it more difficult to operate the camera, but would be an good choice when we are driving around or sitting by a campfire.

A good hat with netting is also a must. Again, choose a tan or light gray. I have a couple different brands that have worked well for me: Hat Option 1 or Hat Option 2. Neither one is treated with insecticide which it what I prefer. I don’t like to use treated products near my face. If you already own a hat you like, a treated net can be used over that instead. If you prefer to avoid insecticide treated fabrics, this head net is an untreated alternative.

I also take along an insect repellant treated sun gaiter in case I want to cover more of my neck without having to pull down the netting in my hat. You can also purchase an untreated neck gator. If you want coverage over your head a balaclava would work too.

In some locations, such as Ngorongoro Crater, it can be quite cool in the mornings, so you will want a lightweight fleece jacket and and maybe something to keep your legs warm as well (that is easy to take off when it warms up). It’s also a good idea to have a rain jacket and pants which can also be more difficult material for the bugs to bite through. Please pay attention to the color of your outerwear too. Same rules as above apply.

I would also suggest bringing one pair of warmer pajamas and one pair of lightweight pajamas.

Shoes

We will not be doing a lot of walking in the bush, so you can wear comfortable walking shoes. They do not have to be heavy hiking boots unless that is your most comfortable shoe. I have a very narrow foot and have had very good luck with Oboz Shoes & Hiking Boots. They have different widths, men & women’s styles, and also have a lot of light colored, tan shoes to help deter the bugs (and yes, I spray my shoes myself with Permethrin or deet). I have the Oboz Sawtooth X Low B-Dry Hiking Shoe. This is what I wear through the airports and around camp.

Make sure you bring comfortable, treated socks or untreated socks (if you are trying to avoid chemicals) in a tan, white, or light gray color as well that extend a bit up your leg under your pants. You can also stuff your pant legs into your socks.

Make sure your shoes are easy to slip on and off as you must REMOVE your shoes to stand on the seats in the vehicle to get a higher angle. If you want to wear thicker socks for standing on the seats that bugs cannot bite through as easily, you could consider a pair of neoprene socks or wading socks. In the vehicle, I use the Oboz Women’s Whakata Trail Sandal (with a wading sock). They also make a men’s sandal.

A pair of room slippers may be nice to have as well. I also always wear shower shoes.

You might also want to bring a gardening pad or knee pads to make kneeling on the seats in the vehicle more comfortable.

Bug Spray & Lotion

There are a lot of bug sprays on the market, but not everything works well for everyone. Some are simply not effective. There are also different kinds of bugs and there is no spray or lotion that is universally effective. As a result, I take a couple of options.

DEET is still proven to work quite well for mosquitos and can be purchased as a lotion or a spray. Keep in mind though, that it can melt the plastic on your camera, so it has to be used very carefully so you don’t damage your gear. I apply DEET in the room before I go out so that I can wash it off my hands. 100% Deet is best to repel the tsetse flies, but it must be handled carefully around camera gear.

I also take along Picaridin lotion as a second option as it doesn’t damage plastics. This is what I take in the vehicles and use on my hands that will be touching camera gear.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is another option that is deet free.

There are also natural fragrances that some people swear work, but I have not found one yet, so I stick with the types listed above.

I DO NOT USE any bug repellants on my face as many of them can be irritating to the eyes. I use my head net hat or pull up my neck gaiter instead if the bugs are around my face.

Bed Netting

Some of the lodges provide mosquito netting over the beds, but not all, so if you are particularly worried about bug bites while sleeping, you may want to bring your own bed netting. On most trips, I do not need the netting at all, but if it was a particularly bad bug year, I like to bring one for piece of mind. I have the pop up net which is easy to pack, but the others are options too:

Pop-up Mosquito Net – This was designed for a sleeping bag, but does work well and is more compact than other options. It is also the only one in this list treated with insecticide which has been proven to be more effective than netting alone if you don’t mind the chemicals.

Over the Bed Tent – This is the closest item I could find to the product I use. It assembles more like a tent and sits on top of the bed. They offer different sizes, so be sure to measure before ordering. It is more difficult to pack that the pop-up option.

Bivy Tent – If you really want to be completely enclosed at night, you could bring a bivy tent. You would probably want to bring along a sleep sack with this option and try to fit the provided blanket at each lodge or camp inside. It would be the most difficult to pack and is probably more extreme than necessary.

CDC bug bite prevention Recommendations

Please also read these CDC recommendations for more information and advice.

Bed Bug Test Strips

I have not encountered bed bugs in Africa, but they can be anywhere. Even the nicest hotels can have them. There is not a lot you can do to stop them if they happen to be in the room, but you can test for them if you are concerned. These bed bug traps for early detection may give you piece of mind or let you know if you may have been exposed. If you do find them, her are some links with suggestions on how to deal with them:

CDC Bed Bug FAQs

Mayo Clinic Article

Terminix Article

Orkin Article

VACCINES & MEDICATION

Be sure to visit your Doctor or local travel health clinic to make sure you get the inoculations and medications you need for the trip. There are currently no required immunizations to enter Tanzania (except Yellow Fever if you have been traveling to a country where Yellow Fever is endemic, i.e. Kenya), but it’s still strongly recommended that you consult a Doctor to make sure you are adequately prepared and protected for the trip. I’m not a Doctor, so I can’t advise you on what to take, but I will provide a list of some of the things you may want to discuss so that you and your Doctor can make the right decisions for you. This list is not complete, but your Doctor or travel clinic will be able to advise you on any other medical considerations. Be sure to take a copy of the itinerary with you to the appointment.

  • Malaria Medication – I had an allergic reaction to the malaria medicine I took on my last trip to Tanzania, so I now carry two options with me just in case I need to switch during the trip. This may not be necessary for you, but I tend to react badly to some medications, so I often take more options than I will actually use.
  • Yellow Fever Vaccine – One shot is valid for life and may be required if you are coming from or have traveled in other countries where Yellow Fever is endemic.
  • Hepatitis A Vaccine
  • Hepatitis B Vaccine
  • Typhoid Vaccine
  • Rabies Vaccine
  • Tetanus and other Routine Vaccines
  • Covid-19 Vaccine/Treatment Medications/Testing Kit
  • Flu Vaccine/Treatment Medications such as NyQuil
  • Travelers diarrhea medication (Hopefully won’t be needed, but sometimes just a change in diet can cause issues.)
  • Diarrhea prevention options such as DiaResQ or Pepto Bismol have been recommended to me by my travel clinic
  • Motion sickness medication if you get air or car sick
  • Allergy medication and/or EpiPen

BE SURE TO BRING EXTRA OTC AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION you take just in case your trip home is delayed.

Also, be sure to ask about drug interactions, including any supplements or OTC medicines you take, so you don’t combine medications that should NOT be taken together.

Be sure to bring a PHOTOCOPY OF ALL YOUR MEDICAL PAPERWORK, ORIGINAL IMMUNIZATION CARDS, AND PRESCRIPTION RECEIPTS. Also keep all medications in their original, labeled containers through customs.

If you have any medical equipment that requires power, be advised that NOT ALL LODGES OR CAMPS SUPPLY ELECTRICITY FOR THE ENTIRE DAY.

Masks

Masks are no longer required by the government, but I would strongly suggest wearing an N95 mask through the busy airports. CLOTH MASKS DO NOT WORK, and N95 masks do not block everything, but hopefully they help cut down on the viral load if you are exposed to something during your travels. If you do get sick during the trip, but are still well enough to travel, we will isolate you as much as possible and require you to wear a mask around others, so please bring an adequate supply.

First Aid Supplies

We will have first aid kits, but it is a good idea to bring your own small supply of basic first aid supplies. A small travel first aid kit will work well. Make sure you have something for blisters too.

I also recommend bringing some electrolytes in case you do get sick and need to rehydrate.

I also add a ZAP-IT Mosquito Bite Relief device to my first aid kit. It sends a little electrical charge through the bug bite on your skin disrupting the itch. It might not work well for everyone, but it does work for me to stop the itching.

Rain & Dust protection

The roads get extremely dusty in Africa, so it’s very important to protect the camera gear as much as possible from the fine dust particles. Whenever possible, we will keep the gear packed in our bags until we are ready to photograph, but the rest of the time, we need a fast way to cover the camera gear quickly. All of these are also good for rain protection.

One option is a large shower cap. This won’t work for long lenses, but it can be a fast way to cover a camera body with a short lens.

A rain cover can also be used quickly to cover up the camera with a longer lens. They are so inexpensive, it’s a good idea to buy a few different sizes. These also work well to cover the bag if your gear is packed. I do usually treat my inexpensive covers with extra waterproofing sealant to get the best waterproofing possible.

One of the best options is to use a large stuff sack. A grey color stuff sack will work well too. Be sure to get one that is large enough to easily fit over your lens and camera body. I buy several for each lens/body combination. The 20 liter works well for a 100-400mm. Once we start moving, I just slip the bag over the lens and camera (while wearing the neck strap or binocular harness) and cinch it down tight until we stop and the dust settles. It’s fast, easy, and lightweight to pack. For my very large 600mm lens, I use a white laundry bag.

If you want to photograph in the rain, buying a camera rain cover is a good idea. ThinkTank™ makes some good rain covers that can be found under the accessories tab on their website.

I am an affiliate for ThinkTank™ and they give you a free gift if you order through my link.

Chamois cloths are also nice for covering gear and wiping off dust or water. A set of soft make-up brushes are great for cleaning the OUTSIDE of the camera body and lenses. These car cleaning brushes are great for dusting off the OUTSIDE of the camera body too. DO NOT use brushes on the lens surface unless you buy a brush specifically designed for cleaning lenses.

Also be sure to bring a rain jacket and rain pants for yourself. Rain is unlikely in September, but can still happen and is very common at other times of the year. A compact umbrella is also a good idea to have as the vehicles are open and it can take a few minutes to cover them if a storm comes up fast. Umbrellas can also be used to block the sun if we are sitting in one spot, like when we are waiting for the wildebeest to cross the river.

Lens cleaning supplies

Your lens can get quite dusty if you don’t have it covered. While the dust on the lens will not show up as distinct spots in your image, a large amount of dust on the lens can soften the image much like a diffusion filter and can also cause problems with the autofocus. It’s best to keep the lens as clean as possible for optimal performance and image quality. (I earn commissions on the following product links. Thanks in advance for your support.)

If it is just loose dust, an air blower works well. It’s best not to touch the lens surface any more than necessary, but a soft antistatic brush also works well for dust. For fingerprints, water drops, or larger smudges, a microfiber cloth works well. And then, if all else fails, using a liquid cleaner (that you spay on the cloth, NOT directly on the lens) is helpful. Zeiss makes a great kit that includes many of the items in one compact set, or you can just buy the cleaner. Optical is also a great liquid cleaner.

Headlamps & Flashlights

Lodges and camps provide guides to walk with you in the dark, but having your own light will make it easier to see. You will also want to bring a headlamp or flashlight on the trip for your room as some camps may turn off the electricity or have an outage during the middle of the night. I just keep a mini flashlight by my bed at all times.

MONEY

US Dollars can be used in Tanzania, so it is not necessary to exchange money. Just be sure any bills you bring have an issue date of 2009 or newer.

Small denominations (1s, 5s, 10s, and 20s) are best for tips at the lodges, while larger bills (50s and 100s) can be used for tipping the drivers at the end of the trip and shopping in Arusha.

Most credit cards are accepted at the Cultural Heritage Center where we will stop on the final day of our safari so you can purchase souvenirs.

Again, be sure to carry valuables, money and your passport with you AT ALL TIMES in a fanny pack, money belt or neck pouch.

I also carry some emergency cash in a thin money belt that I wear throughout the trip.

Laundry

There is laundry service available at most of the lodges and camps for a fee, however some will not wash underwear for you. I suggest you bring some laundry soap with you that will work for hand washing your clothes.

EarthBreeze

Earthbreeze makes environmentally friendly laundry sheets that I use at home as well. It’s basically compressed soap that does not require plastic bottles. It lathers up extremely well and is easy to carry in a ziplock bag to use in a washing machine or in the sink for hand washing clothes. It does not take up much space and you can cut the sheets into smaller sizes when only washing one or two items at a time.

I am an affiliate for Amazon, so I will earn a commission if you follow my link. Thanks for the support!

Travel Laundry Line

I’ve been traveling with this simple travel laundry line for years and it works very well for small items like underwear, plus it is easy to pack.

Fast Drying Underwear

It does help to have fast drying underwear if you are going to do some hand washing. Women may want to look at the section below and bring a combination, but otherwise here is some men’s underwear that was recommended to me. Here is an option for women’s underwear too (although I usually wear the type recommended below during the day). I also suggest packing a couple pairs of underwear in your carry-on so that you have some extra in the unlikely event your luggage is delayed.

Women’s Underwear

This section is only for the ladies. I found great underwear that can be used instead of pantyliners, pads, or bladder control products. It is on the expensive side, but more environmentally friendly, easy to hand wash, and more convienent than the disposable products. They can also be used with a disposable product for an extra layer of protection, which is especially nice when traveling. Speax is for bladder leaks and Thinx is for that time of the month. Click on the product you want on the top left of the site. There are many different styles from which to choose.

You will get $10 off if you order through my link.

I’d also suggest wearing a sport type bra with extra support as we do bounce around a lot on the bumpy roads. I found a great supportive bra that was recommended to me after pulling a muscle and it has improved my posture and well as reduced my back pain. It is on the expensive side, but well worth the investment in my opinion. I chose the Revive Bra, but there are several different styles. They can be a little challenging to get on and off if you are on the busty side, so be sure to order up for adequate space.

Click on this link to get $25 off your first order of $200.

Plastic bag ban

Tanzania, like many other African nations have banned the import and use of plastic bags. You can read the official government letter here.

Please DO NOT BRING PLASTIC BAGS into the country as it is now ILLEGAL. There are a few exceptions, such as ziplock bags that will be taken back home, but it’s just best to bring non-disposable bags. I like these reusable bags for small items and toiletries.

Water Treatment & Bottles

It is NOT safe to drink the water in Tanzania for people who were not born there. You should not even brush your teeth using the tap water. In almost all locations bottled water will be provided or can be purchased, but it’s also a good idea to bring along water filters as well. It’s no fun to get sick on a trip, so I am very careful about water use. I’ll provide several treatment options below:

One of the easiest things to bring for drinking water is a bottle with a built in filter. They also make good attachable filters that screw on to a standard plastic water bottle. Both do a good job and I typically bring one of this type of filter. It is harder to get the liquid through the straw, so if a straw is difficult for you to use anyway, you may want to choose the UV light options below.

It’s also possible to kill germs in the water with UV light. You can buy UV water bottles or UV pens. If I’m extremely concerned about the water, I will filter first and then treat with UV light. How careful you want to be depends a little bit on how sensitive your stomach is to foreign bugs. I like to be extra cautious if the water is questionable, but most of the water we will get is bottled.

If you like to flavor your water after filtering, feel free to bring powdered drink packets.

If you want to take coffee in the vehicle, be sure to pack a travel mug. I also bring some hot chocolate packets along since I don’t drink coffee.

Personal Hygiene & Toiletries

In addition to basic toiletries, such as toothpaste, deodorant etc, you may want to bring along some of the following items:

Shampoo, conditioner and body wash may be provided at some locations, but I always bring some of my own. I do look for either no fragrance or essential oil fragrances that are not supposed to attract bugs. I also either bring refillable bottles that I will take back home or products with compostable packaging so I am sure not to contribute plastic waste to the country. Some options to consider are linked below (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):

Please DO NOT BRING PERFUME at it attracts insects.

Also, DO NOT BRING A HAIR DRYER as they will either be provided and if they are not, it is because the electricity is not capable of handling the amps necessary to run them.

There are days we will take a sack lunch, so having a way to clean and sanitize your hands in the vehicles will be necessary. Some of the products I use are listed below:

Not all bathrooms will be well equipped, so it’s a very good idea to pack the following bathroom supplies:

  • Travel toilet paper
  • Soap sheets for hand washing in sinks
  • Pocket Kits that give you lots of supplies (seat covers, wipes etc) for use in public restrooms
  • Adult diapers in case we have to travel on a day you are not feeling well
  • Foldable Female Urinal can come in handy in the woods for women who have difficulty squatting.
  • Compostable paper bags to hold used toilet paper if you have to go in the field (we call it checking the tires). I then put these inside a zip lock bag that I label for this purpose and take back home and throw out the paper bag when we get back to camp.
  • Compressed hand towels or washcloths and a bath towel can be nice to have if you want an extra towel or two without taking up much space. I just remove the plastic from the compressed towels before leaving home and store them in a ziplock bag. They work well for travel, but are not thick and soft. Nomadix makes some nice travel towels that are thin and absorbent, but heavier and bulkier to pack. They come in different sizes and I only usually take the mini size (40 Inch x 16 inch) on an international trip. Use my link to get a discount on your first Nomadix purchase. The third towel option is a plush microfiber towel from Norwex that is very lightweight and soft. You can purchase single towels or sets. Find them under the Family Care tab, choose Towels, and choose any of the Ultra Plush. This is one of my favorite towels to take along so I have an extra towel of my own for my hair, face etc.
  • I also like to have some Bamboo travel size tissues that are better for the environment (but more expensive than traditional tissues).
  • Mouthwash which can also be used to sterilize your toothbrush in case you accidentally put it under the tap water. All teeth brushing should be done with bottled water.

If you have long hair, you may want to bring hair ties to prevent hair blowing in your face.

Sun Protection

While it can be cool in the mornings and evening in some locations, it can also get very hot during the day. Because we travel in open vehicles, you will get a lot of sun exposure, so packing the following items will be helpful.

Sunglasses are a must and will also help to protect your ever from dust as we are driving around. I would suggest bringing two pairs. I also bring a cheap pair of transition glasses, just to wear to keep the dust out of my eyes on cloudy days. If you use regular glasses or reading glasses, please bring two pairs of those as well.

Sunscreen is also very important. Wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants will help, but you will still need to cover your face, neck and hands. I like to purchase tinted sunscreen for my face as well as a body sunscreen. Also bring lip balm with sun protection. Always apply sunscreen first with bug repellant on top.

You might also want to consider bringing a cooling towel, neck fan or misting fan if you are very susceptible to the heat. Just be sure not to spray your camera gear with water! I take this portable fan that is easy to pack in my carry on bag. Also the neck fan must be packed in your carryon because of the built in battery. I have not tried the neck fan, but my hairdresser swears by them.

Worldwide Travel Plug adapter

You will need to have a plug adapter so that you can plug in your US devices and charge your batteries etc. I use a universal adapter so that it has every plug type you might encounter. When you are traveling to multiple countries that might have different plug types, it gives you everything you need in one compact accessory. I can’t find the exact brand I have, but this Worldwide Travel Plug Adapter is rated well. I recommending bringing Two of these. Also, be sure to check that the devices you plan to use are dual voltage (100-240 volt) as this is not a power converter. Most laptop computers, phones, and camera chargers are dual voltage, but check your manual to be sure.

It’s also a good idea to have a Travel Power Strip with extra plugs that is suitable for 220V.

Pillow for sleeping on the plane

I have a terrible time sleeping sitting up in a plane, but I’ve starting traveling with this unique Travel Pillow that sits on top of the tray table and it has helped tremendously. It looks a little silly, but it works for me and is much better than leaning against the window. I use a tiny Battery Powered Air Pump to blow it up, but you can use your breath too. (Amazon affiliate links)

Earplugs for sleep

If you do not know your roommates, you might also want to consider taking some earplugs just in case they snore. You can always get the foam kind at your local drug store, but I like to take Smart Sleep Earbuds that are noise blocking with soothing sounds (ocean waves, chirping birds, white noise etc). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases through my links.

Watch with fitness tracker

Whenever I travel, I try not to wear anything that is or looks expensive. I leave jewelry at home except for a cheap watch. The best option I have found is only around $50! It’s not big or bulky, but it does the job and has lots of great features including world clocks that can be programed for your destinations through an app on your cell phone. Best of all, the battery actually last for days – you read that correctly – DAYS! No more charging every single night (which is a real pain when traveling). This amazing Amazfit device can be ordered here. The only thing I don’t like is the band which can come apart easily if it catches on something.

They have a more expensive version (that I have not tried) with what looks like a more secure band that may be worth considering: Amazfit GTS 4 Mini Smart Watch.

Be sure to check phone compatibility before ordering. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases through my links)

MISC

You may want to bring a small notebook and a pen to take notes. We do have birding books in the vehicles.

It’s not a great idea to keep food in your room, especially in the tented camps, so if you do have food or other scented items, consider bringing smell proof bags in which to store them. You can bring ziplock type smell proof bags or cloth smell proof bags. Be sure to take any ziplock type bags back home with you!

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