What not to pack on a Tanzania Safari
What not to pack on a Tanzania Safari : It can be difficult to prepare for a Tanzania safari, and knowing what not to bring/pack can be just as important as knowing what to bring. When going on a beach vacation or an urban adventure, you already know what to wear. But what about going on a Tanzania safari? In this article, I’ll go over 13 outfits you should never wear on a Tanzania safari, along with the reasons you should avoid bringing them. Below are the 13 things you should refrain from wearing when going on an African safari in East Africa.
- Pack light-colored clothing.
Since the majority of the year in Tanzania is warm and sunny, you should dress in light, airy clothing in a color scheme that will keep you cool. Leave bright white clothing at home; safari parks are frequently dusty; and stay away from wearing black or dark blue clothing (both colors attract tsetse flies).
- Don’t wear animal prints.
On a Tanzania safari, you want to see wildlife, not act like it! Since these prints are believed to confuse animals, many zoos and wildlife refuges have prohibited visitors from wearing them. This isn’t about fashion preferences; it’s about protecting wildlife. Although there is only anecdotal support for this, it’s better to be safe than sorry because you don’t want a large pride of lions to mistake you for their dinner when you’re in a Tanzania safari game drive or walking safari.
- Camo or military-style clothing
African governments have a strong tendency to be suspicious of people wearing military attire. If you wear any camouflage clothing or anything else that gives you a military appearance, you run the risk of running into legal trouble. In most African nations, wearing anything that even remotely resembles military attire will get you into trouble. Recently, the Tanzania government issued a warning that anyone caught wearing military gear would be detained.
- Expensive jewel
On your Tanzania safari, it is unwise and dangerous to wear anything of great value. The first step is that you will either have to carry it with you wherever you go or ask your hotel or camp to store it safely. Additionally, you run the risk of losing your watch, earrings, or necklace to pickpockets who will target you because you are a foreigner if you are walking through any urban areas. Don’t wear much jewelry; leave it at home.
Wearing pricey jewelry will only make matters worse by signaling to those nearby that you are wealthy, which is not a smart move when traveling to a foreign country. I don’t mean to scare you with what I just said. My goal is to steer you clear of simple mistakes that could tarnish your vacation. This is not to say that you will be mugged if you wear expensive jewelry or that all tourists face these risks.
- White Clothes
White clothing is unsuitable for an African safari. This is due to the high levels of dust in many African safari destinations. The fine dust itself is made from red volcanic soil and has a strong staining effect on white clothing. Keeping any clothing white is a difficult task, and you should avoid doing so.
- Bright colors like yellow and Red
Your main objective when out on a Tanzania safari game drive will be to blend in with the surroundings so you can observe the wildlife’s typical behavior in their natural habitat. When you approach and attempt to take pictures of wildlife on your safari drive, very bright colors like yellow and red may attract the attention of animals easily and be disruptive.
- Very warm underclothes
Many of the locations for African safaris can experience temperatures between 16°C and 28°C. It’s crucial to layer your clothing with light undergarments and warmer outer garments so that you can stay warm in the chilly mornings and cool during the day when it gets hot. This will guarantee that your last layer of clothing won’t be uncomfortable when it becomes extremely hot.
- Heels
As a safari shoe, heels are both uncomfortable and unpractical. The majority of safari locations lack evenly paved paths that make wearing heels comfortable. This means that if you plan to wear heels on the African Safari, you will need to walk very carefully.
On an African safari, heels are unpractical and uncomfortable. The fact that you will be seated for extended periods makes heels a poor choice for an African safari, in addition to the other reasons stated previously.
- Non-absorbent clothing
As I’ve already mentioned, temperatures in the majority of African safari destinations can reach as high as 28°C. As a result, you will probably perspire a lot, which your clothing choices will help to control. Avoid wearing clothing made of non-absorbent materials like nylon.
- Dresses or skirts
While appropriate for your Tanzania safari, skirts and dresses might not be the most practical or comfortable option. If you’re wearing a dress or skirt, getting on and off some tour vehicles that are high may be uncomfortable for you.
- Don’t Wear Baseball caps.
You should pack a hat for your Tanzania safari. A wide-brimmed hat is a much better choice for a safari, even though a baseball cap will protect your face. Your face, ears, and neck will all be protected by a hat with a wide brim. The same advice we gave you for clothing applies when choosing a hat: light and brightly colored.
- Very revealing clothing
As I mentioned in the article about whether or not shorts are appropriate in Tanzania, many African cultures consider very revealing clothing to be unsuitable. If you wear very revealing clothing, you run the risk of upsetting the local populations of the places you’ll be visiting. This will be especially true if you plan to interact with numerous locals.
- Don’t: Wear loads of perfume.
Everyone enjoys having a clean, zesty scent, but in the African bush, insects will want to be as close to you as possible. Yes, if you cover yourself in perfume and leave the house smelling like flowers, the “mozzies and miggies” (mosquitoes and tiny flying insects) may be all over you.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SHOES FOR AN AFRICAN SAFARI?
When going on an African safari, the best footwear should be light, breathable, flat, and easy to clean. If you won’t be doing much hiking, a regular pair of well-ventilated sneakers would be appropriate.