What Should I Bring On A Safari In Tanzania?

What to bring when going on safari? It's a seemingly simple question. In answer you would expect a long checklist of items that any would-be safari traveler to Tanzania should bring. A better answer to that question would be to ask, "What kind of safari experience are you looking for?" Are you looking for an unencumbered trip? Are you interested in taking as many photos and videos as possible as souvenirs and to show your friends? Something between those two? Something else?

On my first safari to Tanzania I actually only took a large carry-on that was stuffed with clothes and one Canon Rebel SLR camera. That was it. I had an unforgettable vacation and really was able to enjoy the trip as a meaningful experience without a lot of stuff weighing me down. I took only a few pictures, compared to how many I take nowadays, but all of them were well chosen and looking back on each I can feel like I remember exactly what I was doing and how I felt when I took the shot. Taking fewer pictures meant we could spend as much time as we liked standing up through our Land Rover's roof hatch and just take it all in; take the time to absorb this very different world.

Later on, my trips to Tanzania took a more ordered turn. On my last trip I took, among other things, 2 bags of clothes, 2 camera batteries, a car battery charger, a digital SLR camera. I even took my laptop to download the photos onto! I came back with almost 1500 digital photos. Needless to say I spent plenty of time clicking pictures and not enough time simply relaxing and enjoying the animals and the scenery.

What, and how much, you bring depends on what you are looking to get out of your trip. The more you ponder that question and prepare accordingly, the more rewarding your trip will be.

No matter how much you think about it there are still some common items listed here to at least consider bringing that are relevant for any safari in Tanzania. Think of it as more of an ideas list rather than a checklist. No matter what you bring please be sure to set aside plenty of time to put down the camera and video camera and simply enjoy the beauty that will be all around you. You won't regret it.

* Enough clothes and underwear to last the trip.
* A sun hat
* A neck scarf
* Sunscreen
* Extra pair of shoes
* A good camera with enough rolls of film or memory to last the trip
* A telephoto lens if you are using an SLR camera
* Video camera
* Extra batteries and a battery charger (Most hotels and lodges have places to plug in)
* Sunglasses
* Your malaria medication
* A good book to read
* Lightweight long sleeve shirt
* Binoculars
* Mosquito repellent
* Towel (Hotels and lodges always provide towels but it doesn't hurt to bring one.)
* Some spending cash for buying drinks and souvenirs

and of course … your family, friends, and lovers!