WHAT TO WEAR ON SAFARI IN TANZANIA.
Bringing the right personal items including clothes on a safari in Tanzania keeps you safe, comfortable and hence increasing your chance of enjoying many adventurous activities during the trip. What to wear can be a risky task but with this guide you will be able to dress perfectly for your vacation and ready for your life changing adventure. The most important thing to put in mind when on safari in Tanzania is comfort for the days will be long and you will be doing a lot of travelling so it is important to dress-up in casual, comfortable and as well travelling with easy to wash clothes.
Generally, you should stick to neutral or Khaki colors and avoid wearing dark blue, white or black clothes as these colors tend to attract tsetse flies. Also wide brimmed hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, swim suite, insect repelient, long pants, long sleeved shirts, socks and shoes are some of the clothes you should consider too. However, deciding the kind and right type of clothes to wear varies and depends on what time of the year, what part of the country, the sort of climate, type of safari activities, gender and what time of the way. They are classified and elaborated as follows;
WEATHER CONDITION.
Tanzania has two seasons of the year and this includes the dry and wet season.
- The dry season is mostly experienced from the late June to October and the average high temperature in the country during the dry season ranges from 300c to 950 This is the best moment and chance for viewing the great animal migration in Serengeti.
During the dry season or the day time it is always hot whereby the right clothes to be used are
- T-shirt.
- Tank top.
- Long sleeved shirt.
- Long light pants/convertible short pants.
- Flip flops.
- Sandals and hat/headband for protection from the sun.
- The wet season is mainly influenced by the rainy season which roughly ranges from March to May, the monthly rainfall ranges from 39 inches to as high as about 11.42 inches. Also the temperature changes are experienced most especially at the higher altitudes like in Arusha, Karatu as well as the Ngorongoro Crater Rim when conducting morning game drives because it is cold.
During the wet season and in the early morning the temperature is low therefore making it sensible to pack and wear heavy clothes. The kind of heavy clothes include;
- Warm fleece.
- Pullover/jacket.
- Cotton socks.
- Under wears.
- Heavy sweater.
- Rain coats.
- Lightweight waterproof poncho and light weight scarfs to keep you warm on sunset as well as sunrise game driver.
DESTINATIONS TO BE VISITED.
- If you are conducting your trip to various destinations in Arusha or Moshi you might find yourself in the attractions like National parks, game reserves, forests, towns and villages where a number of activities can be done in the appropriate outfits. Many of those attractions can be visited while you are well dressed in casual or with light clothes although there are some changes when climbing Mountains where you will need to wear hiking boots.
- For those making a trip to Zanzibar it is best to dress modestly. This includes wearing clothes like;
- Capri trousers
- Knee length shorts.
- Sneakers
- T-shirts and many more light clothes and because Zanzibar is full of beaches and islands it would be better if you carry a swimming suite with you.
ACTIVITIES ON THE SAFARI.
Safaris in Tanzania are conducted differently, in all most all attractions especially the national parks and game reserves the common activity is game drive and walking safari. In those destinations which include Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara, Tarangire and Arusha National parks it will give you comfort when you dress-up lightly.
Hiking is an activity conducted in Mountains and hills therefore when hiking on Mountain Kilimanjaro, Meru, Oldinyo Lengai and the alike you will need hiking boots and light clothes.
GENDER DIFFERENCES.
There are two classes of gender in this category and they both have a different way of dressing up during the safari.
- As for women; you are free to wear;
- T-shirt.
- Comfy trouser.
- Vest top.
- Under ware.
- Swim suit and loose fitting blouse/button down dresses that can be worn in the evening at the hotel.
- For men; you can wear;
- A trouser.
- T-shirt.
- Shirt and many of the alike.
