{"id":27620,"date":"2015-11-20T03:00:47","date_gmt":"2015-11-20T11:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travelfashiongirl.com\/?p=27620"},"modified":"2020-11-01T06:11:16","modified_gmt":"2020-11-01T14:11:16","slug":"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelfashiongirl.com\/what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Pack for Kenya and Tanzania: Safari and Island Resort Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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East Africa is one of the most touristed parts of the continent and with good reason. The Masai Mara National Park, Serengeti, Ngorongoro\u00a0Crater, and Zanzibar are just a few of the highlights in this region. Keep reading for tips on what to pack for Kenya and Tanzania!<\/p>\n

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What to Pack for Kenya and Tanzania<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Written by:\u00a0Deborah Conway Read<\/p>\n

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Take a maxi dress.<\/h3>\n

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\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tie Dye Maxi Dress<\/a><\/p>\n

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Maxi dresses are very useful in several ways. I traveled in a maxi dress, with a shrug and a linen jacket for warmth, plus a scarf for style and to make a pillow on the plane.<\/p>\n

In Nairobi I wore the dress and, shrug for sightseeing and having dinner with friends. I wore the dress on its own for dinner on the beach under the stars in my island resort.<\/p>\n

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Versatility is the key to a capsule wardrobe. Learn more in my <\/span><\/i>guide<\/span><\/i><\/a>!<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Do you really need two pairs of shoes?<\/h3>\n

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\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/a><\/p>\n

walking sandals<\/a><\/p>\n

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I took walking shoes in case I wanted to do a walking safari, and black walking sandals. I didn’t really need the walking shoes, as I found them too hot most of the time and didn’t do the walking safari.<\/p>\n

The sandals were invaluable – comfortable and they coped with all sorts of conditions, including wading through seawater to get on the boat for my island resort.<\/p>\n

I bought Maasai beaded sandals at the airport on the way home. I \u00a0could possibly have bought them on arrival if I had known about them. Some safari camps have a small selection, but the Maasai markets are the best place to buy them, if you have the chance.<\/p>\n

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Packing cubes<\/span><\/i><\/a> make the perfect shoe bags to protect your luggage from dirty shoes. Take a look at other shoe bag ideas <\/span><\/i>here<\/span><\/i><\/a>! \u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Keep an outfit for the evenings.<\/h3>\n

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\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/p>\n

Lace Detail Cotton Top<\/a> \/\u00a0Linen Beach Pant<\/a><\/p>\n

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I took a lightweight long sleeved cotton shirt and some linen trousers which I kept for wearing in the evenings. After a dusty day on a safari drive, a shower and a change of clothes is very welcome.<\/p>\n

I had a camisole and a sleeveless T shirt to wear underneath if it was a bit chilly. This outfit was also useful when staying in the island hotel at the end, and , with my linen jacket and scarf, for traveling home.<\/p>\n

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Bring enough safari clothes.<\/h3>\n

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\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/p>\n

BugsAway Tunic<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Himalayan Green\u00a0Pants<\/a> \/\u00a0Pullover Shirt<\/a> \/\u00a0Prana Navy Pant<\/a><\/p>\n

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Two pairs of safari trousers and two-three safari shirts are enough for 7 days if you have the other outfits.\u00a0Trousers with pockets are useful in the jeep for keeping bits and pieces of camera gear, plus long sleeved shirts for fending off sunburn and insects.<\/p>\n

Game drives can be all day, and even though the jeeps are shaded, it’s a long time to be out in the sun if you are not used to it. Wearing shorts can mean you end up with sunburnt knees.<\/p>\n

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Black and blue attract tsetse flies<\/h3>\n

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\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dark Khaki Halle Pant<\/a><\/p>\n

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In areas where tsetse flies are prevalent, you will see black and blue \u201cflags\u201d that are there to attract and kill them. The flies can give you a nasty bite and possibly transmit sleeping sickness.<\/p>\n

So even if it means a new wardrobe (it did for me), ditch those colors on safari, and go for the sand\/stone\/khaki colors. These are better for wildlife watching anyway, as they blend with the landscape colors.<\/p>\n

Bright white is also not a great idea \u2013 the contrast makes it stand out to the animals, and besides it gets too grubby too quickly. I found charity (thrift) shops to be a good source of safari shirts at very reasonable prices.<\/p>\n

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A broad brimmed hat and sunglasses are invaluable to avoid sunburns<\/h3>\n

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\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Packable Fedora Sun Hat<\/a><\/p>\n

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Apart from it keeping the sun off, you can spray the brim of your hat with insect repellent to reduce the number of bites from tsetse flies and mosquitoes.<\/p>\n

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Take half the underwear you think you will need plus a bathing suit<\/h3>\n

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\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Seamless Bikini Panties<\/a><\/p>\n

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You can rinse out the underwear and it will dry very quickly. If you’re really desperate you can wear your bathing suit\u00a0as underwear.<\/p>\n

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Take a lightweight fleece<\/h3>\n

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North Face Fleece<\/a>\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Early mornings and evenings can be cold. You can also sleep in the fleece or wear it on the way home if you are going to arrive in a cold climate. I traveled in October, so had my fleece ready in case it was miserable weather when I arrived back in London.<\/p>\n

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Don’t bring\u00a0jewelry, buy it there!<\/h3>\n

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\"what-to-pack-for-kenya-and-tanzania\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Kazuri Bead Necklace<\/a><\/p>\n

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If you are going to Kenya you can buy the beautiful Kazuri bead necklaces,\u00a0as sold in high end stores in the UK and US, from the workshop in Nairobi or numerous outlets.<\/p>\n

Kazuri means \u201csmall and beautiful\u201d in Swahili. All the beads are made by hand by local\u00a0women. Buy some fun Maasai earrings as souvenirs, or maybe some wooden bangles. Then you don’t have to worry about stuff getting\u00a0lost or stolen.<\/p>\n

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Do you have any tips on what to pack for Kenya and Tanzania? Please comment below!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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For more safari packing tips, please read these:<\/strong><\/p>\n