Your Essential Safari Packing Guide

East Africa has a tropical climate influenced by its proximity to the equator and varying altitudes. It experiences two rainy seasons and two dry seasons, making it a year-round destination.

  To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to weather.com by clicking here.

South Africa's climate is more varied due to its vast size and diverse geography, from semi-arid deserts to Mediterranean-like coastlines and subtropical regions. 

 

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to weather.com by clicking here.

Due to the nature of your journey, we recommend soft-sided luggage—it's durable, flexible, and easier to load into safari vehicles and small planes.

On select tours, Tauck provides a duffel bag for use during all or part of your trip, including on intra-tour flights. If a duffel is included in your journey, details will be provided in your tour documents and can also be found in the "Important Info" section of your specific itinerary on tauck.com. In addition, you are allowed a small carry-on. Please be sure to review and comply with all airline baggage restrictions for your international flights to and from your Tauck journey.

Important Note for Safari Travelers: Tanzania has banned single-use plastic bags. To comply with local regulations, please ensure your luggage does not contain plastic shopping bags.

The most important tip we can give for all guests joining us on our African safaris is to pack light. Prioritize practical, lightweight, and versatile clothing that can be used for game drives and times of leisure. Packing earth-toned colors such as khaki, olive, and tan can help with the heat and dust, but are not required. Layering is important as temperatures can change throughout the day. Laundry services are available at all accommodations for very reasonable fees.

We Recommend Packing:

• A pair of comfortable walking shoes - sturdy, worn-in sneakers or lightweight hiking shoes are ideal. We do not recommend heavy hiking boots
• Lightweight, breathable shirts – both short- and long-sleeved for sun protection and layering
• Convertible or lightweight long pants and shorts – quick-drying is ideal, but not necessary
• A light jacket, fleece, or windbreaker - perfect for early morning game drives and cooler evenings
• A sun hat - highly recommended for protection against the sun (be sure the hat is practical and will stay on during windy situations that may arise on tour)
• Formal evening attire is completely optional – while safari lodges are informal, you may wish to dress up slightly for welcome and farewell dinners
• Swimsuit (optional) – many lodges feature pools to enjoy during downtime

Tips and Things to Avoid:

• In Tanzania, dark colors such as black and navy should be avoided. Not only do they absorb heat, they also attract tsetse flies. However, these colors can be worn during the evening hours
• White can be worn, but is not recommended as it can get quite dirty
• Clothes should be comfortable and washable—game drives can be dusty
• Laundry services are available at all accommodations for very reasonable fees
• Remember that formal and resort attire is not required

Tauck Tip: Packing cubes can be a huge help in packing and organizing clothes, as well as saving space!

Still don't know where to start? We've partnered with Necessary Gear, a trusted source for expertly curated travel essentials, to make preparing for your safari seamless. Click here to explore their tailored recommendations.

Important Note Regarding your Safari: Tanzania has banned single-use plastic bags. Please ensure your luggage does not contain plastic shopping bags to comply with local regulations.

Preparation is key. When packing, we highly suggest bringing a travel-size personal kit filled with medication for any common ailment you may experience including, but not limited to, upset stomach, headaches or allergies.

Here is a list of items you shoulder consider packing on your safari:

• Prescription medications – be sure to bring enough for your trip along with a copy of your prescription from your doctor
• Insect repellent with DEET is highly recommended for protection against mosquitoes and other insects
  o It is not necessary to treat your clothes with repellent prior to going on safari
• Sunscreen (SPF 30+) – the African sun can be intense, even on cloudy days
• Lip balm with SPF protection – to prevent chapping from the sun and protect against wind exposure
• Antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer – for hygiene during game drives and excursions
• Travel-size first aid kit – include pain relievers, allergy medication, and remedies for an upset stomach
• A lightweight daypack – perfect for carrying your camera, water bottle, and personal items during game drives
• A mask or buff to protect your face from particularly dusty game drives
• Binoculars (7x50 highly recommended) – for close-up wildlife viewing
• Reusable water bottle – stay hydrated while reducing plastic waste
• Collapsible umbrella or rain poncho – useful during the rainy season
• Sunglasses with UV protection – to shield your eyes from the bright sun
• Travel alarm or phone with alarm function – many lodges may not provide alarm clocks
• A neck pillow perfectly doubles as a pillow to sit on during bumpy game drive
• Copies of all important personal travel documents – Before leaving on your journey, be sure to make multiple copies of all personal travel documents you'll be using on your journey. These include your passport and visa information for the countries you'll be traveling to. We strongly recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen 

In many accommodations on your journey, the electrical current is between 220 – 240 volts. It is highly recommended to bring an electrical converter and an adapter. Please reference the guide below to determine which adapters you will need for the countries you will be visiting. Having the appropriate adapters is key to ensuring your devices are charged and ready to go at all times.

• Kenya and Tanzania
  Socket Type: Type G
  Voltage: 220 – 240V
  Frequency: 50 Hz
  
  
• South Africa
  Socket Types: Type D, M and C
  Voltage: 220 – 230V
  Frequency: 50 Hz
  
  
• Rwanda
  Socket Types: Type C and J
  Voltage: 230V
  Frequency: 50 Hz

Capturing the awe-inspiring landscapes and incredible wildlife is a highlight of any safari. While not necessary, packing the right gear and equipment will help to make the most of your safari experience. 

Recommended Equipment:

• Binoculars (7x50 highly recommended) – for close-up wildlife viewing
• Camera with extra memory cards and batteries – a 200mm+ telephoto lens is ideal for wildlife photography
• Smartphones are awesome too - if you don't have a fancy camera, no problem! Any smartphone device works perfect for capturing the beauty of safari
• Protective gear for electronics is a must – dustproof covers and waterproof bags are an excellent way to safeguard your devices from the outside elements
• A power bank - to help keep your smartphone and other devices charged throughout the day

When traveling abroad, it's important to know the local currencies of the countries you'll be traveling to as well as if they accept your country of origin's currency. We also advise to tell your bank ahead of time that you'll be traveling aboard to prevent any unnecessary inconveniences when making credit card purchases.

For U.S. residents, U.S. dollars are widely accepted in many African countries and can be used to pay any personal expenses while on tour like laundry, souvenirs, massages and alcoholic beverages. You may wish to carry some cash in U.S. dollars, in small denominations, for miscellaneous use when only a small amount of currency is required. Bills should be crisp and of the newer variety (with the larger presidential portraits). Bills printed prior to 2005 will not be accepted.

For information regarding exchange rates in the countries you may be visiting on safari, please click the links below:

Tanzania -> Tanzanian Shilling
Kenya -> Kenyan Shilling
South Africa -> South African Rand
Rwanda -> Rwandan Franc

In East Africa, Visa and Master Card are all widely recognized credit cards and are accepted at most hotels, shops, and restaurants. Expect to pay surcharges of up to 10% for purchases made with credit cards in Tanzania and Kenya.

In South Africa, Visa and MasterCard are all widely recognized credit cards and are accepted at most hotels, shops, and restaurants. Guests should use credit cards for purchases as often as possible. 

While ATM machines are becoming increasingly popular, they are not widely available at this time. We suggest that you contact your bank in advance of departure to make certain that you'll be able to use your card at locations abroad.

Visa and Master Card Traveler's Checks are widely accepted as well (US Dollars or South African Rand checks are recommended).

As in most countries, we suggest you do not carry large amounts of cash.

To Summarize:

• US dollars are widely accepted; it is not necessary to exchange for local currency, however it never hurts to have a bit of local currency on you.
• ATMs only dispense local currency and are not always widely available. We suggest contacting your bank in advance of your safari if you wish to take out local currency.
• Credit cards are widely accepted, but checks are preferred at some shops to avoid credit card fees.

One of the highlights of your Tauck journey will be your professional Tauck Director. Our Tauck Directors are passionate about sharing their knowledge of local customs, cultural traditions and contemporary topics with our guests, and they choreograph each day's activities and work tirelessly to ensure that you get the utmost enjoyment from your journey.

We have chosen not to include Tauck Director gratuities in the price of your tour because we truly believe that gratuities are an important way for you to express your appreciation and to acknowledge your Tauck Director's genuine, personal interaction and superior customer service.

Unlike most other tour guides, Tauck Directors receive no commissions on your shopping purchases, nor do they earn additional income by selling options to you on tour. Instead their sole focus is on serving you, and making sure you have the best possible experience during your travels.

We ask that you extend gratuities on an individual basis rather than as a group. A guideline can be found in your personal documents to help assist you in determining an appropriate amount.