Serengeti Safari PackagesWhat to Wear on Safari
Knowing what to wear on safari in Tanzania comes down to three things: neutral colours, layers you can strip as the day warms and shoes that close at the toe. Mornings on game drives can dip below 10°C (50°F) while midday reaches about 30°C (86°F), and the Ngorongoro rim is colder still. This guide covers the colours to pick and skip, how to dress from dawn to dark, how many outfits you need for a 3, 5 or 8 day trip, and how to dress in villages and on Zanzibar. For a bag-by-bag checklist, see the full safari packing list, and compare Serengeti safari packages once you know what you are carrying.
Neutral layers and wide-brim hats for the Serengeti.
Quick answer The short answer on safari clothes
Wear neutral earth tones in medium-weight fabrics, in layers, because dawn drives can start below 10°C and midday reaches about 30°C. Skip blue and black because they attract tsetse flies, skip white because dust stains it, and leave camouflage at home because publishers including Duma Explorer say it is illegal for civilians in Tanzania. Long sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes cover you against sun, dust and insects.
Key takeaways
- Pick khaki, olive, tan and muted brown. Tanzania Specialist says these blend in, stay cooler and hide dust. The colour reasons are set out in the colours table.
- Pack three layers per Tanzania Specialist: a moisture-wicking base, a fleece or softshell and a windproof shell. See the full day plan under dressing for game drives.
- Three to four outfits can cover even a long trip because camps wash and line-dry clothes, often same day. Compare the 5-day camping safari and the fly-in safari to see what suits your packing style.
- Avoiding bites matters as much as colour. How the insects pick their targets is explained on the tsetse fly page, and seasons and weather sit in the seasons section of the homepage.
Colours to Wear and Colours to Skip
Colour is the single most quoted rule in safari clothing advice, and the reasons are concrete rather than fashion. Some colours attract biting flies, some show dust and one pattern is against the rules.
The Colour Table
The table below collects the colour advice of the main publishers. The tsetse reasons come from the CDC, which says the flies are drawn to bright colours and very dark colours and advises neutral clothing. The dust and animal reasons come from Tanzania Specialist, Expert Africa and Foot Slopes Tours. The camouflage rule is reported by several publishers, including Duma Explorer, which says camo-patterned clothing is illegal in Tanzania with an exemption for military personnel on official business, and Born Wild, which says offenders may be fined and lose the clothing.
For fit, cut and specific garment advice, this page stays general and the detail lives on the dedicated pages for safari clothes for women and safari clothes for men.
| Colour | Wear it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Khaki | Yes | Tanzania Specialist lists khaki among earth tones that blend in, stay cooler and hide dust |
| Olive | Yes | Tanzania Specialist names olive as an earth tone, Expert Africa names green as ideal for a walking safari |
| Tan and muted brown | Yes | Expert Africa recommends brown and dark beige for walking safaris, Tanzania Specialist includes tan and muted brown |
| Green | Yes | Expert Africa says brown, dark beige, khaki and green are ideal for a walking safari |
| White | Avoid | Tanzania Specialist says bright white shows dust, Foot Slopes Tours says white gets dirty quickly on dusty plains roads |
| Blue | Avoid | CDC says tsetse flies are drawn to very dark colours and Wikipedia says blue is the key attractant used in tsetse traps |
| Black | Avoid | CDC advises against very dark colours, Expert Africa and Tanzania Specialist say black attracts tsetse flies |
| Bright colours | Avoid | Foot Slopes Tours says neon, bright red, pink and orange can disturb the natural environment and stand out in photos, Born Wild says bright reds and oranges can startle animals |
| Camouflage | Never | Duma Explorer says camouflage clothing is illegal in Tanzania for anyone but military personnel, covering jackets, pants, hats, bags and even backpack straps with camo accents |
Why Blue and Black Are the Worst Picks
The tsetse fly is the reason behind the dark-colour rule, and it is worth understanding. Both male and female tsetse feed on blood, per Wikipedia, and research traps for the insect are made of blue cloth. Duma Explorer ranks attraction as blue and black first, followed by red, green and yellow, and notes that movement, heat, dust and carbon dioxide also play a role, so neutral clothing reduces attraction but does not prevent bites. The CDC adds that the flies bite through thin material and advises medium-weight fabric, long pants, long sleeves and socks.
The bite itself is painful. Classic Africa Safaris compares it to North American deer and horse flies, and Nomad Travel's author, who met tsetse in Serengeti National Park, calls the bite particularly painful and reports fellow travellers in navy being bitten. CDC says no vaccine or drug prevents sleeping sickness, the disease the flies can carry, though it also says most tsetse in rural areas do not carry the parasite. The full picture, including the disease risk numbers, is on the tsetse fly page.
Sources: CDC, Tanzania Specialist, Expert Africa, Duma Explorer
Dressing for a Day on Game Drives
A safari day runs hot to cold and back again, usually from an open vehicle. Tanzania Specialist puts morning drives below 10°C (50°F) and midday near 30°C (86°F), and Foot Slopes Tours adds that mornings and evenings feel colder still on open vehicles and at altitude such as the Ngorongoro rim.
One Day, Three Layers
Tanzania Specialist recommends a three-layer system: a moisture-wicking long-sleeve base, a mid-weight fleece or softshell, and a windproof water-resistant shell. Foot Slopes Tours gives the same structure, a breathable base layer, a long-sleeve shirt and a warm fleece or windbreaker, removed as the day warms. Expert Africa advises light summer clothing for the midday heat and warm layers for cool mornings and nights even in summer, and says warm clothing matters most for the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti from June to the end of August.
The table maps that system onto the day. Temperatures quoted are only those the sources state. Discover Africa says Ngorongoro temperatures seldom rise above 25°C by day and more often than not drop below 10°C at night, and that the altitude gap between the crater floor and rim usually causes a significant build-up of mist in the early mornings.
| Time of day | What to wear | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-dawn drive | Base layer plus fleece plus windproof shell, warm hat and gloves if needed per Expert Africa, long trousers and closed shoes | Tanzania Specialist says morning drives can dip below 10°C (50°F), and open vehicles make it feel colder per Foot Slopes Tours |
| Midday | Strip to the long-sleeve base layer, light summer clothing per Expert Africa, shady hat, sunglasses and sunscreen | Midday can reach about 30°C (86°F) per Tanzania Specialist, and UPF 50 long sleeves reduce how often arms and torso need sunscreen |
| Evening in camp | Add the fleece back, long sleeves and long pants against mosquitoes, closed shoes or sandals around camp | CDC advises covering exposed skin at dusk and using a repellent with 20 percent or more DEET, |
| A night on the crater rim | Warm layers plus a windproof shell and a warm hat, warm sleeping clothes | Discover Africa says Ngorongoro nights more often than not drop below 10°C and early mornings bring mist from the altitude gap between floor and rim |
Fabrics and Shoes
CDC advises medium-weight fabric because tsetse flies can bite through thin material. Born Wild recommends loose, fast-drying synthetics and says tightly woven fabrics such as canvas or nylon protect from sun, while advising a spare pair of socks in case shoes get soaked and a light waterproof jacket even in the dry season. Tanzania Specialist advises skipping jeans because they are heavy and slow to dry, a real cost when laundry is hand-washed and line-dried.
On feet, Ultimate Kilimanjaro advises closed-toe hiking shoes or boots over flip-flops and sandals, citing poor traction and the risk of feet being stepped on in the vehicle. Kandoo Adventures says to avoid brand-new shoes that cause blisters and suggests a hat, buff or scarf against sun and dust. Tanzania Specialist suggests one pair of comfortable walking shoes and one pair of sandals or flip-flops is enough.
Sources: Tanzania Specialist, Discover Africa, CDC
What to Wear on Safari: Essential Clothing Explained: Altezza Travel
The essential safari clothing explained, item by item. Third-party video by Altezza Travel. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
How Many Outfits for Your Package
You need fewer clothes than you think, because most camps and lodges offer laundry, per Tanzania Specialist. Tanzania Specialist says three to four outfits can cover a two-week trip, and Kagera Safaris says most camps and lodges offer free same-day laundry with washing usually taking up to 24 hours.
Laundry Decides Your Bag
Tanzania Specialist says most lodges and camps offer same-day or next-day laundry, often included in the rate, and that clothes are hand-washed and line-dried. Kagera Safaris adds that clothes are air-dried so drying time depends on the weather, and that some camps iron with irons heated by hot coals. Two customs matter for packing. Kagera Safaris says guests may be asked to wash their own underwear due to local customs, especially at small remote camps, with eco-friendly detergent provided, and Travelpander reports the same and advises packing enough underwear for the whole trip plus travel-size detergent.
That means the same short clothing list works for a short camping trip and a long lodge trip. What changes is how you carry it. On fly-in trips a scheduled flight is part of the itinerary, as on the Serengeti Fly-In Safari at $2,750.77 per person and the Zanzibar to Serengeti Safari at $1,875 per person, so soft bags are the practical choice. Confirm the baggage limit with the operator before you book.
| Package | Duration and style | Card price | What it means for your bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Serengeti Camping Safari | 3 days camping from Arusha, 2 nights at Seronera and Simba campsites | $770 per person | Pack the three-layer set and enough underwear for the whole trip, and ask the operator whether the campsites offer laundry. The listing does not state whether park fees are in the price, so ask |
| 5-Day Serengeti Camping Safari | 5 days camping from Arusha through Tarangire, the Serengeti and the crater, with a free Arusha hotel night before and after | $1,320 per person | Five days of dust over three parks. Bring the spare socks Born Wild advises and a buff or scarf against dust per Kandoo Adventures. All fees and taxes are listed as included |
| 8-Day Serengeti Migration Safari | 8 days private mid-range from Arusha with 7 lodge and camp nights including 2 at Heritage Mara Camp in the north | $4,257 per person | A longer trip, and laundry is offered at most lodges and camps. Three to four outfits suffice per Tanzania Specialist. Park fees and taxes are included |
Packing for the Vehicle, Not the Wardrobe
On every package above the game drives run from a safari vehicle, so what you wear inside the vehicle matters as much as what you carry. Game drives expose you to sun and dust for hours, which is why Expert Africa lists sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, a shady hat and insect repellent as essentials. Duma Explorer advises DEET at 25 to 30 percent mainly at dawn and dusk, in cream or roll-on form rather than aerosol, while CDC recommends a repellent with 20 percent or more DEET and lists picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus as options.
CDC also advises treating clothing and gear with permethrin, never applying permethrin to skin, and says tsetse flies are attracted to moving vehicles, so check the vehicle for tsetse before getting in. A soft duffle beats a hard suitcase on every one of these trips, and the full checklist of gear and documents sits on the safari packing list page.
Sources: Tanzania Specialist, Kagera Safaris, Duma Explorer
A grass airstrip in the Lobo area of the northern Serengeti. Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Villages, Zanzibar and the Plastic Bag Ban
Safari clothes that work on the plains do not always work in town. Tanzania is largely conservative per Aza Fashions, Zanzibar is a conservative predominantly Muslim society per Go2Africa, and the country has had a plastic bag ban since 2019.
Dressing in Villages and Stone Town
Go2Africa advises covering shoulders and knees in Stone Town and local villages, and says swimwear and shorts are fine at a resort or on the beach. Aza Fashions advises carrying a scarf for mosques and markets and putting a cover-up on before walking into Stone Town or coastal villages. Tanzania Specialist says Stone Town visitors should avoid short skirts, thigh-high shorts, sleeveless shirts and revealing tops, and that capri trousers, knee-length shorts and long dresses are fine.
The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism has issued Ramadan guidelines asking visitors to dress modestly in public areas, with beachwear and revealing clothing confined to beaches and hotel compounds. If your itinerary pairs the bush with the beach, as the Zanzibar departure point on the Zanzibar to Serengeti Safari does, your safari layering system already covers most of it. The 5-day camping safari visits the village of Mto wa Mbu on its last day.
The Plastic Bag Ban
Duma Explorer says Tanzania's single-use plastic bag ban took effect on 1 June 2019 and covers all plastic bags regardless of thickness, including for tourists arriving at any airport per the Climb Mount Kilimanjaro travel advisory. Zip-lock bags for hygiene kits or documents are exempt provided they are not discarded in the country, per Duma Explorer, and the same advisory notes an update saying Tanzania is officially allowing ziploc bags into the country. Practical effect for your packing: do not wrap shoes or toiletries in plastic shopping bags, use packing cubes or the exempt zip-locks instead, and leave plastic packaging at home before you fly.
Treat the ban as strict.
Sources: Go2Africa, Duma Explorer, Tanzania Specialist
Safari Clothing Dos and Don'ts
Do
- Do wear neutral earth tones such as khaki, olive, tan and muted brown because Tanzania Specialist says they blend in, stay cooler and hide dust.
- Do pack a three-layer system of base layer, fleece and windproof shell because Tanzania Specialist says morning drives can dip below 10°C (50°F) while midday reaches about 30°C (86°F).
- Do wear medium-weight fabric with long sleeves, long pants and socks because CDC says tsetse flies can bite through thin material and lists this as the main bite prevention.
- Do bring closed-toe shoes because Ultimate Kilimanjaro warns flip-flops offer poor traction and risk feet being stepped on in the vehicle.
- Do use camp laundry and pack only three to four outfits because Tanzania Specialist says camps offer same-day or next-day washing, often included in the rate.
Don't
- Don't wear blue or black because CDC says tsetse flies are drawn to very dark colours and Duma Explorer ranks blue and black first in attraction.
- Don't pack camouflage clothing, including camo bags, hats or backpack straps, because Duma Explorer says it is illegal in Tanzania for anyone but military personnel.
- Don't wear white on the plains because Tanzania Specialist says it shows dust and Foot Slopes Tours says it gets dirty quickly.
- Don't wear jeans because Tanzania Specialist says they are heavy and slow to dry, a problem when laundry is hand-washed and line-dried.
What to Wear on Safari: Questions
What should I wear on safari in Tanzania?
Wear neutral earth tones in medium-weight layers: a moisture-wicking base, a fleece and a windproof shell per Tanzania Specialist, plus long trousers and closed shoes. The colour rules behind this are set out in the colours table.
What colours should you not wear on safari?
Avoid blue and black, which attract tsetse flies, white, which shows dust, bright colours, which can startle animals, and camouflage, which is illegal in Tanzania per Duma Explorer. The fly behind the dark-colour rule is explained on the tsetse fly page.
How many outfits do I need for a safari?
Three to four outfits can cover even a two-week trip, per Tanzania Specialist, because camps offer same-day or next-day laundry. How that works on a real itinerary is shown with the 5-day camping safari.
Is it cold on early morning game drives?
Yes. Tanzania Specialist says morning drives can dip below 10°C (50°F) and Discover Africa says nights on the Ngorongoro rim more often than not drop below 10°C, so wear your fleece and shell until the sun climbs. The full hour-by-hour plan is in the game drive section.
What shoes should I wear on safari?
Closed-toe hiking shoes or boots, because Ultimate Kilimanjaro warns sandals and flip-flops have poor traction and leave feet exposed in the vehicle. Bring one pair of comfortable walking shoes plus sandals for camp, per Tanzania Specialist, and the full footwear and gear list sits on the safari packing list page.
What do I wear in villages and on Zanzibar?
Cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and local villages, per Go2Africa, and keep beachwear to beaches and hotel compounds per the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism's Ramadan guidance. The full rules, including the plastic bag ban, are in the villages and Zanzibar section.