What to pack for Tanzania

Start with the local rules that affect your bag, then pack for the trip you are taking: towns, parks, the coast or the mountain.

Last checked: 1 November 2026. Rules, fees and advice change, so confirm them with the official source named at the end of this page before you book and again before you fly.

Rules that affect your bag

  • Plastic bags are banned. Air passengers must hand them over on arrival. The clear zip-lock bags used for airport security are allowed.
  • Do not pack accessories made from animal skin. Taking wildlife items out of the country, including horns and seashells, needs an export permit.
  • Some herbal and CBD products are illegal, including some skincare products and vape refills.
  • Medicines that are legal at home may not be in Tanzania. Check before you pack and keep them in their original packaging.

Documents

  • A passport valid for six months from your arrival date, with at least one blank page.
  • Copies of your visa, your return or onward ticket and your inbound insurance certificate.
  • Copies of your passport photo page and visa to carry every day. Police and immigration officers can ask for them at any time.
  • Your yellow fever certificate, if your route needs one.
  • Your travel insurance details, including its emergency number.

Clothing

  • Modest clothing for Zanzibar and the towns. Away from the resorts, especially in Stone Town, shorts and sleeveless tops can cause offence, and the UK FCDO reports fines of at least US$700 for inappropriate clothing in public.
  • Long sleeves and trousers for the evenings, which also help against mosquito bites.
  • A warm layer for early starts on game drives.
  • For Kilimanjaro or any high trek: warm layers, a waterproof jacket, a hat and gloves. It is cold near the summit in every season.

Health and comfort

  • Antimalarial tablets if a travel clinic prescribes them, and insect repellent.
  • Your regular medicines, with enough to cover delays.
  • A sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Luggage on small planes

Light aircraft on domestic routes often have tight baggage limits by weight and may ask for soft bags. Check the allowance with the airline before you pack.

Check before you travel

Sources: the UK FCDO entry requirements, safety and health advice for Tanzania. Confirm current rules with the FCDO or your own government's travel advice before you travel.