Packing for trip to Tanzania

Old May 2nd, 2017, 02:01 PM
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Packing for trip to Tanzania

I'll be on safari in Tanzania the first two weeks of July. It's my first trip to Africa and I'm mulling over the clothing I should bring. I think the temps should be fairly moderate during the day, maybe a bit cooler at night.Capris & jeans with short sleeve shirts are my basics, with tennis shoes and sports sandals and of course a hat. Is some sort of jacket and/or long sleeve shirt necessary as well? I realize the plane will be chilly and plan to bring a shawl.There's no dressy occasion on this tour so I'm not packing a cocktail dress.Any practical advice would be welcome.
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Old May 2nd, 2017, 02:16 PM
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If you are going to stay at the Crater rim, I think you could find it cold, not just cool. It is also cool in early mornings. Make sure to have a jacket like a mid-weight fleece, maybe a scarf. Have layers is best advice. Even in the sun, I often wear long sleeves as sun protection, and you definitely want long sleeves and/or a jacket in evenings as meals are sometimes outside. I never wore sandals because it is dusty and with the need to get out into the bush for "personal reasons", so I'd mostly stick with sneakers.
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Old May 3rd, 2017, 03:57 AM
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The cold, can be quite a bone-chilling experience.So early morning game drives would require you to wear moderately 'heavy' jacket, which can be removed once the sun is up. Likewise as the sun dips the mercury drops,early evening.The reverse applies.Dress in layers,easy to remove as and when required. Neck warmers/Warm cap/woolen ear muffs and a pair of gloves a must.Wind-chill could be leave you with a red nose.

This advice holds good only till the sun is up.Within an hour it could get dusty and very very hot.Out comes the glares, sun-block and chap-stick.Good possibility of Tse-tse flies out in the plains.They love human blood ( over the Gnus ) and their vicious stings are like a jab with a red hot needle.Carry a spray,but its of little help.Ask your guide to burn elephant dung in a can tied to the front bumper.Reasonably effective.Consult your doctor to prescribe a Hydrocortisone for tropical insect bite.

Full sleeve recommended, no white,dark blue or black.Light earthy colors.Try not to stand out in the bush, save it for the night, around the fire.

A comfortable pair of sneakers would suffice.
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Old May 3rd, 2017, 04:47 AM
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For a frame of reference, "bone-chilling cold" to me in Boston is 10 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of 15 below. 50 or even 40 degrees Fahrenheit here and a fleece or sweatshirt will do. I'd consider where the traveler is coming from before issuing "bone chilling cold, dress like it's Antarctica" types of advice. If they're coming from Miami in June, then maybe that's accurate...
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Old May 3rd, 2017, 12:18 PM
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I was there in August and found it quite cold at night and in the morning. When I was there is was also very windy. Traveling in the vehicle with the roof up gets quite cold in the mornings. I recommend a fleece and something that can break the wind. I found the crater and the Serengeti at night the coldest. As a reference I am from Alberta so I know what cold is.
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Old May 3rd, 2017, 07:24 PM
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Amy,I'm sure Bobbye7 would certainly not pack a Parka/Anorak.All I meant to say was it could get uncomfortably cold and windy so a ' moderately heavy ' jacket should suffice.

Me too. Have lived in colder climes. How ever tolerant one is to the cold and which ever cold part of the world one comes from, at 10 deg F, would be scurrying for cover.
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Old May 4th, 2017, 01:27 AM
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I pointed this out only because I was told that the area around Mt. Kenya was "extremely cold" in the mornings in February, so I packed a sweatshirt, leggings for under safari pants, etc. Got there and it was 55, which is quite literally light jacket, maybe a fleece. I run outside in shorts as soon as it hits mid 50s! Then it was 80 by late breakfast time. I packed a lot of extra weight for nothing. Had I asked someone to put into perspective, I would have just taken the fleece. It's always funny to see the guides who have never left the area in their sweaters and scarves until it hits about 70 though!!
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Old May 4th, 2017, 02:10 AM
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I should have clarified, I'll be traveling in the Serengeti, the crater and Tarangire, not around the mountain. As far as temps go, your information has been helpful. I'm just bummed now about the color of my clothes attracting tse-tse flies.
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Old May 4th, 2017, 06:13 AM
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It is the luck of the draw. There may or may not be Tse Tse flies that may or may not be attracted to you. Some report having numerous bites regardless of what you wear, now the other consideration is that safari is not a fashion event. If it is within your comfort zone, consider buying some lighter items at the used clothing store and leave them at your last lodge as donations. You only need a few extra pieces as not all parks are tse tse territory.Mostly Brown its a best colour.Thanks
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Old May 6th, 2017, 04:45 AM
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Great advice as to "not a fashion event". I wore some items particularly trousers more than a couple days. Unless doing major walking but in vehicle most of time, will stay fairly clean. And, many lodges/camps offer laundry services at reasonable prices. Varies, but some will not do lady undies.

One veteran travelers says "pack what you think you will need" and then unpack maybe half and leave it home. Nice idea of leaving quality clothing at lodges/camps as you travel. Lightens the load and make rooms for souvies. As we have done might want to leave a note saying such clothing is a gift so management will know staff did not steal while cleaning room.

On the plains we never encountered tse-tse flies but in some brushy habitats did but not consistently.
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Old May 12th, 2017, 04:58 AM
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We have just returned and while it was a different season, we could have even packed lighter.

I took:
2 pr. shorts
2 pants - one cotton khaki, one nylon hiking pants
3 ss shirts
2 lightweight dri fit sweatshirts
2 long sleeve shirts (one of these I used to sleep in)
a fleece
3 pr shoes - one hiking-ish, one sneaker, one flip flop. (you know... a pair of each!)

I only wore 1 pr of shorts and wished I had a second pair of hiking/nylon pants. Since it was chilly when we left in the am, and would be getting cold for the evening drive, I only wore pants for the game drives. Sometimes I would throw on a pair of shorts hanging about, but not always.

I found it wasn't the clothes that was the problem... it was everything else - the chargers, the extra camera batteries, etc. Spend more time minimizing what you need and that will lighten your load more than a shirt or two.
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Old Jun 16th, 2017, 05:31 AM
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When packing for a trip to Africa, make a travel packing list of things that are utilized on a normal daily basis and determine what is available at the destination. This includes factoring in the cost of buying these essentials there as well as ease of obtaining them. Here are some important things to take into account.

Travel Clothes for African Safaris:

Pack comfortable clothing that allows the skin to breathe and cool down but is not too revealing due to the conservative culture in some African destinations. Ensure the travel clothes help to protect the skin from the sun during the day and from mosquitoes at night.
Pack a suitcase of clothing that does not show dirt easily as laundry services are not readily available and charges for these services are extremely high.
Make sure to pack sturdy shoes, preferably boots that are comfortable for walking and will not wear out easily. These may be quite expensive at the destination if the intent is to purchase them there.

Sanitation and Skin Care for Foreign Travel:

Africa is a sunny continent and it is vital to carry sunscreen to protect the skin from the harsh effects of the sun. Make sure to pack some rolls of tissue paper, soaps, and personal toiletries as not all destinations and facilities provide these.
To save on space when packing a suitcase, take out the cardboard roll in the middle of toilet rolls and flatten the tissue paper to reduce bulk for easier packing and to save on space. Keep a roll of tissue in a handbag or the side pocket of hand luggage for easy access when needed.

Sustainable Snacks and Water Purification Tablets:

Pack some favorite non-perishable snacks for late night hunger pangs when it may not be possible to get a snack. Many stores do not stay open at night and for those that do, given the security situation in some destinations, making late night shopping trips may not be a safe idea.
Finding clean bottled water in the more rural areas when vacationing in Africa may be challenging. Water purification tablets are handy when unsure about the source of water.

Electronics, Electrical Appliances and Travel Adaptors:

Pack a camera to capture the breathtaking and unforgettable place that is the African continent. It may be best to carry a smaller digital camera for ease of transport and safety. Camera with film is also a good backup for times when you may not be in a position to charge your digital camera if it runs out of battery power.
Carry hair dryers and shaving kits as these are not provided in many hotels and accommodation places. The electrical outlets in African countries have a different voltage. To avoid causing damage to electrical appliances, remember to pack an electrical travel adapter.

Medical Travel Advice:

For those on any kind of prescription medication, it is important to make sure an adequate supply for the trip is packed. Medications vary in different countries and generic brands found elsewhere may not work well for every individual. A basic first aid kit is also highly recommended.
When doing Africa tours in Malaria-prone countries, a trip to a travel clinic a few weeks prior to the travel dates is important. Carry Antimalarial drugs and get all the necessary vaccinations for the travel destination.
It is important to put extra thought into what needs to be packed for travel to Africa in order to avoid leaving behind essentials that may not be readily available at the destination. Brands for various personal use items also vary and they may not necessarily work out for everyone’s needs.

You can read more here : www.africansahara.org
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Old Jun 16th, 2017, 10:36 AM
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There are a lot of points in the previous post that aren't necessarily accurate.

Laundry service is available in camps I've stayed at, for free. I take less clothing once I confirm the service is available.

I'd never wait to buy anything in the way of clothing or toiletry products when I get to Africa. There are no Boots chemists, CVS or Walgreens drugstores to readily walk into and shop. And who wants to waste their time doing that?

The "small digital camera for safety" suggestion is ludicrous. For many, safari is a photographic journey and the bigger and more gear people take is commonplace. I would not warn anyone off taking whatever camera they want to use there, not in the least. A camera with film as a backup is probably the LAST thing I'd take. I instead have my iPhone and a small point and shoot camera as backup. Who even shoots film anymore? Take a few extra batteries, fully charged when you leave home, and recharge as needed either in camp at night or in the vehicle during the day.

Hair dryers and shavers are completely useless if you're staying in tented camps where there is no electricity at all.

For travel vaccinations, a few weeks before you leave may not be enough. I had one round of vaccinations that were over a month apart (one of the Hepatitis shots). You should book the travel clinic as soon as you have your safari dates, in case you have a longer incubation period.

Ultimately, anyone booking a safari should check with their safari planner and/or the camps/lodges they are staying at for particulars. Following a guide like this is foolhardy.
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Old Jun 19th, 2017, 12:35 AM
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Hi bobbye7,

I'll quickly wrap up with some of the most important things that you must not miss carrying with you.

1) Binoculars, because you cannot get too close to wildlife for an up-close look
2) Battery powered flashlight. Please don’t expect power in the jungle.
3) Mosquito repellent. African mosquitos are real blood-thirsty.
4) All-terrain shoes
5) A sturdy water bottle

All set? Have a happy and safe trip!
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