ccipups

I'm hoping to hear from those people who are often a bit chilly in anything but hot weather. The people whose family memebers always ask, "Why are you taking a jacket? It's not cold!"
That's my partner, but I've learned not to comment on the necessity of a jacket.
We'll be in Tanzania July 30 through Aug 10. I would expect the early morning and late evening hours and the Crater rim, to be a bit cool. We'll also have several nights in tented camps.
What do you pack to keep you warm?
We have minimal camera equipment and I'm really hoping to get by with carry on luggage. This idea is being met with considerable skepticism by someone who is never more than arm's length from a jacket and who happily overpacks, because "you just never know..."
Your suggestions will be much appreciated. And perhaps even used!

Denbasking

Hi ccipups!

From someone coming from the hot n’ humid mid-Atlantic US of A, I was deliciously chilly in Tanzania’s late June and July evenings – but my Guides were f r e e z i n g, even during the day (they wore fleeces when I was quite moist but their skin was dry)! If your mate tends to be chilly just be prepared with layers. East of the crater you will still have tropical humid weather but once you are west of the crater you will have dryer warm days with cooler nights.

I am curious how your travels plans fleshed out…

Coincidently we just inherited two dogs this evening; a golden and a large corgyish… they were in front of our property and a young lady drove up our driveway with these dogs following behind thinking they were ours. Nope! Then she wanted to know if we knew our neighbors pets and I had to admit no -- but I could tell her the names of the dogs and cats of friends of mine in Tanzania! Even their roosters and goats, cows etc. but not one of the neighbors nearby!! Of course, then she had her own Africa story…

Anyway, I hope these dogs have a chip to scan in the AM as they only have collars that say Kutztown and Lincoln University, no ID’s! This actually night be a Romeo and Juliet runaway situation as one of them seems to be quite frisky!

Den

atravelynn

You are talking directly to me. I have goosebumps right now.

Wool hat and gloves is what I have taken and used at the crater.

I like the layers idea. I don't use long underwear because as I strip off the layers, I don't want the final layer to be an unmentionable that requires another layer over it. By midday that can get too hot. My regular trousers are the last layer next to my skin with fleece sweat pants on the outside.

Same thing on top, I want the last layer next to my skin to be something I can expose in the heat.

In the tented camps you'll also have each other for warmth.

Good luck with the canines, Denbasking. I hope it is not Romeo and Juliet because of that ending.

Poppins

Like atravelynn says, make sure that you have shorts on underneath as it will get hot at some stage.

I also freeze and always take woolen hat, gloves and a scarf. If you are staying at a fancy lodge, why not ask for a hot water bottle. They help massively.

roadwarriorafrica

My friend uses the hot water bottle from the beds in the room. Keeps her warm.

sandi

While I don't necessarily get cold, I know it's much cooler in the mornings and nights, so include thermal-t for under my jackets or heavy sweater during those hours. Also have a scarf and gloves and socks. It's a matter of being prepared.

Most mornings, you can peel off whatever overclothing as the temps warm, around 9am; then back on they go as the sun dips below the horizon around 5:30pm.

Most camps, and even lodges (on the crater rim) have extra blankets and use hot water bottles under the bed linens at foot of bed. Just be aware these are often wrapped in a fabric/fuzzy cover, so NO it's not a creepy-crawly that has joined you in bed.

July/Aug/Sept are the winter months, so mornings/nights are somewhat colder than the cool at other times of the year.

Gritty

On one of my night drives in Kruger in late April (which is supposedly warmer than July-Aug.) I wore a t-shirt, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a long-sleeved nylon travel shirt and was still a tad cold because of the speed-induced wind. I thought I was overpacking when I brought all of this, but I'm now glad I brought warmer clothes.

Dana_M

ccipups,
I am usually the person who is hot, yet I was extremely cold at certain times/altitudes in TZ in July. I think you will find evenings on the Crater rim more than just "a bit cool."

As others mentioned, wear lots of layers. I do travel with long underwear. The silk long underwear weighs virtually nothing and takes up almost no space. I primarily wear them to sleep in and under my clothes in the evening at the tented camps. I agree you don't want long underwear under your pants during game drives! I also take fleece hat and scarf, plus warm gloves and socks.

ShayTay

I also get cold easily. My safari jacket isn't all that heavy, so I use a fleece vest under it. Even when the jacket comes off, the vest keeps the trunk of my body warm. I don't find the area east of the Crater to be "tropically humid" unless you're on the Coast. Of course, my frame of reference is the Texas Gulf Coast where I grew up. I would say that the areas around Arusha may be greener than, say, the Serengeti, but still cool. You'll be there during the dry season, so you shouldn't encounter high humidity anywhere.

lbodem

This might be a silly question. We are not packing any black or navy colored clothes for previously discussed reasons. However, our knit hats and gloves are black. Do we need to buy new ones? Also, we plan to pack a windbreaker and a fleece jacket. This combination is quite warm and lightweight.

ann_nyc

A fleece and a windbreaker is a perfect combination.
In my opinion, you don't need to worry about the black hat and gloves, but if a tse-tse fly expert adds a comment, I'll stand corrected.

Kavey

Yup, that's me.

I have a very narrow temperature band in which I'm perfectly comfortable. Otherwise I'm too hot or too cold.

I simply pack lots of layers such as thin T-shirts, long-sleeved tops in same fabric, fleeces and then a waterproof/windbreaker if needed.

Kavey

Oh, and a warm hat and scarf and gloves incase the mornings are COLD. Then again that's been for safaris where we've been in completely open vehicles so the wind in early morning (or late evening) really chills when you're racing along.

Denbasking

Diane, it is a great thing you asked this question on behalf of your mate as it looks like there are many folks out there that find this time of year in TZ cold (besides the locals). Hats and gloves BLOW MY MIND! If I had a chilly mate, he would be very blue if he took only my layering advice!

ShayTay [Sharon I think?], I am truly a novice traveler to the continent of Africa and defer to your expertise as I have only spent two weeks of my life east of the crater, and did not sleep or pass any significant time in Arusha, just a one day visit to a private home. It was a tad green but not a green city in my book.

No, Tanzania’s winter does not compare to the humidity in Texas and is not TEXAS TROPICAL but perhaps, since I have loved ones in TX and know it VERY WELL -- we can call TZ *ropical* and *umid*?

Besides, MY HAIR SAYS SO and I have the pictures to prove it! A n d there are people walking around with freshly picked bananas on their heads!! That is purrrty *ropical* n’ *umid* n’ no *ush uppy* can change my mind!!

atravelynn

I wouldn't buy new hats or gloves if they are dark colors.

ShayTay

Hey, Denbasking, I hope you didn't think I was ragging on ya! I didn't want the OP to think that the weather near Arusha and Tarangire was "Zanzibar" tropical and humid. During the dry season, it's quite pleasant, both from a temperature and humidity standpoint. I think it's like a southern California spring.

The hat and gloves will probably feel good on the Crater Rim, but I don't think you'd need them elsewhere, unless you get some really cool nights in a tented camp. I don't think you'll need to worry about the colors because I can't imagine you using them during the day.

ccipups

Hi all,

Thanks very much for the helpful replies! I was thinking along the lines of layering with a wool component and using a knit cap. I hadn't thought about gloves or a scarf though. And we'll definitely request a hot water bottle for the beds. Lots of votes for fleece. I guess I'll have to surrender on that one.
I was planning to bring a long sleeved shirt and a light jacket for myself. Based on Dana's comments, I think I'll add a knit cap and some gloves.

ShayTay and Den, I spent my first 18 yrs in Dallas and New Orleans and the last 30 yrs in the high mountain desert climate of Denver. I'll probably notice a bit of humidity in Arusha, then!

Den, thanks for asking about our trip. I'd forgotten that I hadn't posted anything here, once we got it all set. I'll start a new thread in the morning: "TZ 7/30-8/10". But the tea's ready and we're watching another episode of Planet Earth, so it'll have to wait.

Kavey

Sorry, I should clarify, my experiences have not been in Tanzania but in other countries in which we have enjoyed safaris during their winter season.

cybor

Rather than the bulk of wool you may want to think about something like a buff. You can use as a headband or scarf. I'd also add a thin micro fiber top.
As said, a windbreaker in a thin material travels well. Mine works double duty as it's water proof and wicks moisture from the body.
Thin layers that I can peel away for me are key.
If your too Michelin like you'll not only be encumbered but you'll need your own seat -

Oh and don't forget your feet - I'm in love with cashmere socks. They're thin, nicely insulated for cold or hot and so comfy and soft.

ccipups

Hey Den,

Whatever happened with the the Golden Retriever and the corgyish dogs?