What to wear on Safari in Tanzania

Friday, 30.Sep 2022

Safari packing list Tanzania is the most essential topic to keep in mind before starting your Tanzania safari Tours as you simply do not want to miss any essential item on your Safari. Apart from looking stylish, you want you Safari outfit to work for you in other ways, namely protecting you from the elements and insects. We discuss what to wear, as well as reveal the surprising reason why blue is no-go on Safari.

Bringing the right clothing and personal items on your Tanzania Safari not only keeps you safe and comfortable, but also increases your enjoyment of the many adventurous activities available during your travels. As a general rule, you should pack lightly and make wise choices in what types of clothing is not necessary, and can even be burdensome while in Tanzania.

Whether you are planning a trip to Tanzania or just dreaming about it, you are probably wondering what to wear on Safari. Tanzania is known diverse wildlife and stunning landscape, so there are a lot of options when it come on what to wear on Safari in Tanzania you’ll want to bring comfortable clothing that will help keep you cool in the heat and still be able to protect you from bugs- and we’ve got some great tips for you.

1.    Choose neutral and earthy colors.

The Idea on a Safari is that you spot wild animals – not that they spot you. So you want to blend in with the environment as much as possible to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. That is especially true for cycling or walking Safari, where there’s the chance to get really close to certain animals.

Avoid camouflage clothing, as some African nation reserve that for the military. But good choices include earthy tones and neutrals like brown, khaki and grey, you probably want to avoid white, crem and other light colors as they’ll show up any dust and dirt. Black isn’t great for keeping you cool, and blue can actually attract tsetse flies!

2.    Wear long sleeves and pants.

Long pants and long – sleeved top keeps your skin covered and so protects you from the cold and wind, sun and insect bite. While many place in Africa can get really hot, remember that some can also get downright chilly! This is especially true of many inland places when you’re out on Safari early in the morning or at night.

Long pants are especially useful if you’re going on a walking Safari or on a game drive where you’re allowed to sometimes exit the vehicle. This is because they help to protect your legs from being scratched or bitten.

3.    Wear closed shoes 

Closed shoes are especially important if you’re going on one of the kinds of Safari where you get out of the vehicle, like on a Walking Safari. The ground can be uneven, thorny, and there are snakes and other critters so please make sure you protect your feet. Good worn in hiking boots, worn with hiking socks, are the best for walking safari. Some even like to wear gaiters on Safari walks to ensure they wont suffer a snake bite.

4.    Bring a proper sunhat

You need to wear a sunhat on Safari in order to prevent burning and also possibly heatstroke. A hat with a full brim is far better than a sports cap as it protects the back of your neck in addition to your face. A crown-less peak or visor isn’t a great idea as your head can burn badly, especially if you have a parting or some hair thinning or balding.

5.    Avoid strong perfume or cologne

You don’t want the wildlife to move away from you because they’re bothered by your foreign-smelling perfume or cologne. Rather let the animals and your fellow Safari goers enjoy the smell of the great outdoors. 

Also note that; game drives often happen early in the morning and around sundown, as this is a good time to see the animals since they like to move about and hunt in the cooler parts of the day. Depending on your location and the time of then year, these morning and evening game drives can be chilly, even downright cold.

We recommend stashing a raincoat jacket in your backpack or the vehicle even if its hot, cloudless day just to be safe, the weather can turn, and you don’t want the cold or went ruining your adventure. 

Safari dress is casual and your wardrobe does not require any “special purchase” items. The emphasis should be on cool, loose and good coverage if you are sensitive to the sun. in a few areas like Ngorongoro highlands, it can get quite chilly at night so be sure to bring warmer layers. It is preferred that your day time clothing be in neutral color to blend in with the surroundings.

Please note that while camping you will have no access to electricity for shavers or hair dryers. In hotels, you will occasionally fine 240volt AC/55- cycle with three pin square ‘British’ type sockets so you will need to bring an adaptor for your appliances. In some camps you will have access to inverters to charge phones and cameras batterie only.

   Important Considerations When Parking for a Safari

When planning your Safari packing list and especially when thinking about what to wear on Safari, there are a few things that that you need to be keeping in mind. My general tip, which is actually valid for all trips anywhere in the world, is to pick versatile items that can be easily mixed and matched together in terms of colors and fabrics, in order to create a good number of outfits with just a handful of items and which with the right accessories, can be used either as casual wear or become more-dressy.

Look for Comfort

Both men and women can look stylish on a Safari, and yet stay comfortable.  That’s why we wholeheartedly recommend to pick clothes that are breathable, in neutral colors and that can adapt to the changing temperatures throughout the day.

Another thing to consider is that Safaris hardly involve any physical exercise - most of the day is spent sitting in the car, looking for animals. Yet getting on and off the jeep for the occasional bush stop, or stretch the legs, calls for comfortable attire.

Driving around the bush all day in an open car, you are bound to get covered in dust. T-shirts pants and weather else you may be wearing will get dirty and dusty. Game drives are usually timed to follow the lifestyle of animals. This means that the typical Safari will have two game drives per day: one starting soon after sunrise, before the animal find a hiding sport from the afternoon heart; and one in the late afternoon with some private game reserves allowing drivers to linger on a bit after dark. Thus, wearing layers is essential.