• 1. Yellow Fever Health Card
  

  It is required for travel into Tanzania to show a yellow fever health card and you will be asked for it immediately upon arrival. Even before you’re asked for your passport. You can obtain a Yellow Fever Health Card by visiting your primary care physician prior to your trip.

• 2. Cash

  You won’t find credit card machines in the African bush and you’ll likely visit at least one village where you can pick up some unique souvenirs. Some of the airstrips also have coolers with drinks for purchase and you’ll want to tip your awesome guides and porters. But note that in Tanzania only crisp US bills newer than 2006 are accepted. This is because banknotes produced prior to 2006 were very easily forged. We definitely ran into this when a bill older than 2006 made it into our mix and was refused.

• 3. Clothing in earth tones
  

  Clothing in earth tones is essential. Africa has a fly called the tsetse fly, which is a biting fly. They are attracted to blue and black and tsetse fly traps are a blue or black cloth strung up in the trees where they are active. Wearing blue or black makes you a tsetse fly trap and they can (and will) bite right through your clothing. Insect repellent is not effective in keeping them away and the tsetse fly has been linked with a disease called sleeping sickness.

• 4. Pants and long sleeves
  

  Even though we traveled in February, Tanzania’s hottest month, pants and long sleeves were essential in minimizing the number of bites, sun exposure, and scrapes during bush walks. Shorts, skirts, and tank tops can be fine around the camp or lodge, but for game drives and bush walks you’ll be glad to have pants and long sleeves on.

  Tim and I both love Northface’s collection of water resistant pants for both men and women. They are lightweight so both easy to pack and you won’t get too hot in warmer temperatures.

• 5. Fleece
  

  As I said, we traveled during Tanzania’s hottest month. Tim mocked me for bringing the fleece, though I was so happy I did. Ngorongoro Crater was much cooler than Tarangire and Serengeti and a rainy day can seriously drop the temperatures. I wore my fleece more than once and stuffing it in my bag definitely paid off.

• 6. Waterproof bag
  

  Dust is a problem and hard on your camera equipment; and if you have any rainy days like one we had, you’ll be combating both rain and sticky mud. Having a waterproof bag large enough to stick your equipment and anything else you want to stay dry or dust/mud free will definitely come in handy. It folds down small and weighs basically nothing, so is easy enough to pack.

• 7. Sports bra
  

  Ladies, this one is for you. Trust me. The roads are bumpy and you will thank me for adding a sports bra to your safari packing list essentials.

8. Plug convertors

One of the things I love about Elewana is that all of their camps and lodges provide several universal plug convertors for your use in your room or tent. But we always bring one of our own just in case. Plus having an extra means we can charge up all our electronic devices and camera batteries without having to pick and choose.

9. Insect repellent with Deet

Another thing Elewana was terrific about was providing both a fogger for the room in case you needed it (we never did on safari) and insect repellent in the safari vehicles. I would still encourage you to pack your own though. We were definitely diligent with spraying ourselves on both skin with an all-natural citronella repellent and then again on our clothes every couple of hours.

10. First Aid Kit

Remember that you are in the African bush and the nearest town or village might be hours away by plane. Be sure to pack a first aid kit with medications like aspirin, cold medicine in case you do catch a bug, an antihistamine like Benadryl for reactions to insect bites, diarrhea medication like Immodium, sunscreen, and cough drops or throat lozenges.