Packing for a Zanzibar day safari

Passport and papers

Your passport is the one item the booking page asks you to bring, and the operator sends a form link to collect passport details before the day. The UK government says a passport should be valid for at least six months after you arrive and have a blank page, and that you may be refused entry without the mandatory travel insurance. Carry the passport in a small bag you keep with you, not in a hotel safe you have left behind, and check that the name on it matches the name on your booking, since the operator collects passport details by form.

Clothes for bush and sun

The operator of the Selous day trip recommends long clothes, and the US CDC advises long sleeves, long trousers and hats for bite prevention. Pick light, breathable fabric in neutral colours, closed shoes for dusty ground and a layer for early mornings. A raincoat is useful, and the operator says raincoats are available for showers. Expect the vehicle to be covered, as guests note, so the heat is bearable, but dust and wind still find you.

Sun, insects and health

The CDC advises sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, protective clothing and shade between ten in the morning and four in the afternoon, and repellent with 20 percent or more DEET against ticks and mosquitoes. It lists all areas of Tanzania below 1,800 metres as malaria transmission areas and says to start any prescribed medicine before travel. Ask a clinician about malaria cover well before your trip, and use repellent on exposed skin during the drive and at lunch. The CDC also warns that heat illness, including heat stroke, can be deadly, so drink water regularly and eat at lunch.

Camera, phone and small comforts

A phone with a charged battery and a spare power bank cover most needs. A camera with a zoom helps, because the guide keeps the vehicle at a respectful distance from animals. Guests describe guides who are careful not to stress the wildlife. Bring a small bag that sits on your lap, tissues and hand sanitiser, and any travel-sickness remedy you normally use. Leave bulky luggage at the hotel.

Food, water and money

Drinking water comes in the safari jeep and at lunch, and the bush lunch with fresh juices is part of the fare. Tips for the guide and driver are optional and not included, so carry a little cash in a small note denomination if you plan to tip. If you eat a restricted diet, read what your option includes and tell the operator before you book, because a bush lunch is a simple meal in a remote place.

The list in one place

Everything above fits in a small bag. Check the list before you leave the hotel, and pack it the night before, because the pickup time arrives only the day before.

• Passport, kept in a small bag you carry.
• Light long sleeves and trousers, closed shoes and a hat.
• Sunscreen and insect repellent for exposed skin.
• A charged phone and a spare power bank, plus a camera if you have one.
• A little cash for tips, and any medicine you take.

What to leave alone

The CDC says not to touch or feed animals you do not know, and some wildlife in Tanzania carries rabies. A different operator that flies to Mikumi lists drones, flash photography, littering, feeding and touching animals as not allowed, and the same rules are sensible on any day safari. Keep your voice low at sightings, stay in the vehicle unless the guide says otherwise, and follow the guide's lead on distance.