From Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, to Serengeti National Park, the best national park in the world to go on a safari, Tanzania really is a country that has it all for travelers like us. And if you are looking to explore this wonderful country and see everything it has to offer, you are going to need this backpacking guide.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to travel through Tanzania for 10 days or 2 weeks, including visits to the beautiful island of Zanzibar, Serengeti, and other national parks for an unforgettable safari trip, and an optional hiking trip of a lifetime: the hike to the summit of Kilimanjaro, all within 2 weeks.
Without further ado, let's take a look at where this itinerary will take you in Tanzania in 10 days to 2 weeks on the map in the next section.
- 10 Days - 2 Weeks Tanzania Itinerary Map
- When to Visit Tanzania?
- 2 Weeks Itinerary for Tanzania
- Tanzania Travel Video
- How to Get to Tanzania?
- How to Get Around Tanzania?
- How Much Does It Cost to Travel To Tanzania?
- Is It Safe in Tanzania?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Tanzania?
- What to Pack for Tanzania?
- Further Reading for Tanzania
10 Days - 2 Weeks Tanzania Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1: | Arusha |
| ☀️ Day 2-6: | Climb Kilimanjaro |
| ☀️ Day 7: | Arusha Rest Day |
| ☀️ Day 8: | Tarangire National Park |
| ☀️ Day 9: | Serengeti National Park |
| ☀️ Day 10: | Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater |
| ☀️ Day 11: | Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha |
| ☀️ Day 12-13: | Stone Town, Zanzibar |
| ☀️ Day 14-15: | Nungwi and Matemwe, Zanzibar |
When to Visit Tanzania?
The best time to visit Tanzania is in the dry season from late June to late October, which is the optimal period to visit all the places we will be recommending here, from the safaris of Northern Tanzania to Kilimanjaro to the coasts of Zanzibar.
During this period, the safaris are teeming with wildlife, often congregating around water holes due to high temperatures, making them much easier to track down and spot.
The period also coincides with the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, one of the greatest wildlife shows in the world, and you will be able to witness it if you align your visit carefully.
If you are planning to climb Kilimanjaro, this period is also great, as the temperature is a little more manageable and you won't see as many rainy days as in other periods. This makes it much more comfortable. And trust me, you are going to need all the comfort you can get up there.
For Zanzibar, you will also see fewer rainy days during this period, which will allow you to really enjoy what you are there to enjoy: its stunning beaches.
All in all, if you are planning to spend more than 10 days in Tanzania, visiting all the great attractions of the country, I highly recommend visiting between June and October for the best experience.
2 Weeks Itinerary for Tanzania
Day 1: Arusha (1 Night)
Our journey begins in Arusha. If you flew into Kilimanjaro International Airport from your home country, it should take about an hour to get from the airport to the city of Arusha, where your trip begins.
If you have organized a tour company for Kilimanjaro and/or Serengeti, the tour should pick you up at the airport and transport you to a hotel in Arusha free of charge. Then, they should brief you on what to expect during your tours the next day.
If you are going for a 2-week itinerary of Tanzania, which includes climbing Kilimanjaro, you can continue reading the next section. If you are going for a 10-day itinerary for Tanzania without climbing Kilimanjaro, you can skip the next 2 sections and jump directly to the "Tarangire National Park" section.
- 6-Day Midrange Private Safari ($1,870 pp USD)
- 7-Day Luxury All-Inclusive Epic Safari ($3,240 to $3,867 pp USD)
- 6-Day Majestic Tanzania - Mid-Range ($2,650 to $3,340 pp USD)
Day 2 - 6: Climb Kilimanjaro (5 Nights optional)
For those of you who are looking to climb the highest mountain in Africa, your tour company should put you in a hotel in Arusha, where they will brief you on what you should be packing for the hike, what to expect for the next 6 days in the mountains, and other information you might need to know to hike Kilimanjaro.
Why did we start this itinerary with a hike as tough as Kilimanjaro? Its difficulty is exactly why I would recommend you start your itinerary with this because while you are on a safari in the Serengeti, you will likely be on the safari jeep most of the time, going on one game drive after another for 4 days.
That is perfect for you to rest your sore legs after Kilimanjaro without getting bored. And after the safari, you can then spend the last few days relaxing on the stunning beaches of Zanzibar. Trust me, you are going to need a few days of rest after a hike like Kilimanjaro.
There are several routes you can take to get to the top of Kilimanjaro, but I highly recommend you go with the 6 or 7-day Machame Route, which is considered to be one of the prettiest routes to take and one that has a more reasonable acclimatization profile.
The Machame Route begins at Machame Gate, 1,743 m above sea level, and you will start your hike from there. On the first day of Kilimanjaro, the trail climbs steadily up the side of the mountain, and it will take you about 5 hours to reach Machame Camp where you will spend your first night.
Every day, for 6 days, you can expect to spend around 5-8 hours on the trail, hiking up and down in a high-altitude mountain, so be sure that you have some high-altitude hiking experience and are in good shape.
The Machame Route will take you from Machame Gate to Machame Camp (2,835 m), to Shira Cave Camp (3,750 m), to Barranco Camp (3,900 m), to Barafu Camp (4,673 m), before hiking to the highest point of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), and then coming down to High Camp (3,950m), and eventually to Mweka Gate (1,653 m) on the 6th day where your tour company will pick you up and take you to a hotel in Arusha.
The hardest day out of all the 6 days on the mountain is the summit day, or should I say, the summit night, as you will begin your hike as early as 12 AM and hike through the night, up at an elevation of 5,000+ m, for more than 6 hours before you arrive at Uhuru Peak.
Even after you have reached the goal you have been working for the past 4 days, you still have to walk back down, which takes another 3 hours. It will then take another 3 hours to get down to High Camp, where you will spend your last night on the mountain. The total hiking time for the entire day is a whopping 12 hours!
The summit day is by far the toughest hike I have ever done. The mountain is punishing at night, and the cold is extreme to the point that my face was swollen up so much, I can barely recognize myself. It will be one of the most challenging things you will ever do, both mentally and physically.
That said, climbing Kilimanjaro is also the most memorable and emotional thing I have ever done. If you like hiking and challenging yourself, you won't be disappointed with Kilimanjaro.
The Machame Route is a camping route through and through, so you will be spending all 5 nights on the mountain, sleeping in a tent rather than a mountain hut. Therefore, make sure you prepare accordingly.
The tent can get quite cold at night, especially the higher you go. The tent and all the other camping equipment will be carried and managed by your porter team, provided by your tour company, so you can just focus on getting to the top safely.
Although climbing Kilimanjaro is not cheap (1,300+ USD), they really do treat you well up there with a massive tent, freshly cooked food, and whatever comforts your porters can carry; they will provide them for you.
There are many tour operators offering Kilimanjaro trips out there, and the tour is often priced between $1,300 and $3,000+ USD, depending on how luxurious you want your experience to be. I suggest you take a look at the Kilimanjaro tours offered here and find the one you like the most.
Day 7: Arusha Rest Day (1 Night optional)
After spending the first week hiking Kilimanjaro, your tour company should pick you up from the trail end, take you to Arusha, and put you in a nice hotel before you continue your journey in Tanzania. This time, we are heading to the savannahs to track down the Big Five in the Serengeti.
If you are doing the Serengeti safari tour with the same company, which I highly recommend if you want to save some money, they should organize a transfer for you, and you will be hitting the road again towards Serengeti National Park in no time.
If not, you can simply let the other tour company know where you are staying, and they will come and pick you up early in the morning the next day.
Day 8: Tarangire National Park (1 Night)
For a safari trip in Serengeti, I highly recommend you go with a 3-day itinerary where they will also take you to Tarangire National Park, as well as Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, allowing you to experience unique wildlife outside of the Serengeti ecosystem.
The first place you will visit on your safari trip is Tarangire National Park, a great park to begin your journey. Here, you will be able to learn a bit more about wildlife behaviors, how to track them, and what kind of protocol you should follow while you are doing a game drive.
Tarangire National Park is named after the Tarangire River that runs across the park. The place is known for its abundance of Baobab trees, long-lived alien-looking massive trees that are native to Africa and Australia.
Tarangire National Park is also known for its high density of elephants; many of them often congregate along the river. You will also see a ton of zebras, wildebeests, water buffaloes, and other species scattered around the park.
There are also over 550 bird species living in the park, making it a great place for bird-watching. Additionally, there are predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. However, we only saw a few lion cubs on a tree, so they must be pretty rare here.
After spending the entire day in Tarangire National Park on a game drive, you will then be taken to a nearby lodge to spend the night before continuing your journey to Serengeti National Park the next day.
Day 9: Serengeti National Park (1 Night)
After your first day being introduced to Tanzanian wildlife and the ecosystem, you are now ready to visit the big league. On your second day, you will spend the first half of the day driving to Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti National Park is pretty far, but once you arrive, you will find yourself in the middle of an expansive plain so large that you cannot see its boundaries. The Maasai people called this place Serengeti, which means an endless plain - a fitting name for such vastness.
With such an expansive and unobstructed terrain, you can easily spot all kinds of animals on both sides of the road, scattered throughout the plain, from impalas to zebras. If you are lucky, you might find a family of lions resting under the few trees they have here.
The terrain in Serengeti is great for hunting, so you will find many lions and cheetahs here, although seeing them on the hunt is not as easy, as these predators are not known to be very active, and you will often find them resting most of the time. At the end of the day, cats will be cats. 😅
You will likely spend the entire afternoon on a game drive in the Serengeti, spotting all kinds of animals, before they take you to a campsite where you will spend the night inside the park.
Spending a night inside the Serengeti is another highlight of the trip. You will be hearing all kinds of animals at night, from elephants roaring to hyenas howling.
In fact, you might even see them wandering around near your camp at night. Just make sure not to spook them, and always be accompanied by a ranger if you want to go somewhere at night.
Day 10: Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater (1 Night)
After a night in Serengeti National Park, you will be woken up at sunrise, where you will then be ushered off on an early morning game drive, which is the best time to see rare animals as they are most active during this time.
We saw a cheetah and her cubs playing with each other during sunrise, several hippos relaxing by a pool of water, and a leopard slowly stalking something under tall grass, all within a span of 3 hours in the morning.
In the early morning, you might also be able to see some hot air balloons dotting the sky. If you are there during the Great Wildebeest Migration, you are going to want to go up in the hot air balloon.
After spending the first half of the day in the Serengeti, you will then be taken to the ridges of Ngorongoro Crater where you will be spending the night before heading down to the crater floor for some game drives the next day.
Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha (1 Night)
Ngorongoro Crater is a large volcanic caldera formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago. What makes Ngorongoro Crater so special is the richness of the vegetation on the crater floor, which is not common for a volcanic caldera.
In the early morning, you will once again be woken up extremely early to begin a morning game drive down in the crater. Your guide will take you on a winding road down to the crater floor where you will be able to see tons and tons of animals congregating around the lake.
What makes a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater so special is the fact that the terrain there is completely different from the one you saw in Serengeti or Tarangire.
In Serengeti, there are a lot of animals, but they are often scattered out, and it is not so easy to see them in big groups, unlike in Ngorongoro Crater where all the animals are gathered around the lake within a boundary you can actually see.
You will be spending about 5 hours driving along the floor of Ngorongoro Crater, spotting animals until noon. After that, you will have lunch at the lodge near Tarangire National Park before the guide takes you back to Arusha, ending your safari tour.
Most safari tours include a drop-off service, and you can utilize that by letting your guide know what time your flight is the next day. They will come to pick you up and drop you off at the airport free of charge.
Since we will be flying domestically to Zanzibar, you can tell your tour company to drop you off at either Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport, so you don't have to pay for a taxi there.
Day 12 - 13: Stone Town, Zanzibar (2 Nights)
After arriving at Zanzibar Airport, you can catch a taxi in front of the airport terminal for 10 USD, and they will take you to Stone Town, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with a history dating back to the 15th century when it was the capital of the spice trade. This is where you will be spending your first and second nights in Zanzibar.
Exploring the crisscrossing streets of Stone Town, surrounded by colonial buildings, is probably one of the highlights of visiting Zanzibar. Due to its strategic importance as the capital of the spice and slave trade back in the days, Stone Town has been ruled by many powers, from the Portuguese Empire to the Sultanate of Oman to the British Empire, and eventually independence.
From one corner, you might find a little Arab/Persian influence, and from another, a bit of Portuguese/British influence, as well as some Indians all scattered throughout Stone Town, waiting for you to explore.
There are many gems hidden between these crisscrossing streets, like the 17th Century Old Fort built by the Omani Arabs, St Joseph's Cathedral, a Catholic church built by the French, and many more. So be sure to keep an eye out for them.
Stone Town is also known for its elaborately designed wooden doors, dubbed the Zanzibar Doors, which you will be able to find throughout the city. These doors are often more than a century old and are decorated with Swahili-style carvings and/or Arabic scriptures, as well as brass studs, an element borrowed from Indian fortresses that used these studs to prevent war elephants from battering down fortress doors.
There are so many other things you can do in Stone Town, like spending a day visiting Prison Island, learning about the history of the slave trade on the island at the East Africa Slave Trade Exhibition, or going on an eating spree at Forodhani Market.
Just be sure to watch out for the seafood scams there. They are prevalent, and they will try to lure you into eating at their food stalls before they rip you off. The rule of thumb here is to get food from stalls that have prices clearly labeled on their menus.
Day 14 - 15: Nungwi and Matemwe, Zanzibar (2 Nights)
After spending 2 nights in Stone Town, it is time to explore the other parts of Zanzibar. We are heading north from Stone Town to the beautiful white sand beach of Nungwi and the peaceful, quiet beach of Matemwe.
Nungwi Beach is known for its soft and powdery sand. The tide level doesn't affect Nungwi Beach as it does other beaches, so the water is perfect for swimming. Additionally, since there is no low tide, you won't see any dead seaweed on the beach like you would in Paje, making Nungwi one of the cleanest beaches out there.
That said, Nungwi Beach is not very big, and it might get crowded during the high season. If you want a more spacious and quieter beach, Matemwe Beach is the way to go. It is not far from Nungwi and can easily be reached by car or tuk-tuk.
Matemwe Beach is basically the same as Nungwi Beach but much longer and less crowded. You will also have the opportunity to explore Mnemba island and its surrounding marine life from Matemwe Beach. Snorkeling here is considered to be the best on the island, and you can easily organize a snorkeling tour from here.
Both beaches are great for relaxing, with plenty of awesome hostels and resorts to choose from. You can either choose to spend your days at one of these beaches, or you can do as I did and visit both.
To get from Stone Town to Nungwi, you will either have to rent a car or get on a Zanzibus shuttle bus from Old Fort. It will bring you from Stone Town to Nungwi in 1.5 hours for around 15 EUR.
From Nungwi to Matemwe, you can either hire a tuk-tuk in Nungwi or rent a car from Stone Town and drive the entire way, as I did. If you are traveling as a couple or more and you are used to driving in developing countries, renting a car will be a bit more economical than taking a shuttle bus. Plus, you will be able to visit other tourist attractions around the island like Baraka Natural Aquarium and The Rock Restaurant as well.
How to Get to Tanzania?
For this itinerary, we will be starting our journey by climbing Kilimanjaro so that we can rest afterward, doing safaris and relaxing by the coast of Zanzibar at the end of the trip. So, the best place to start your journey is in Arusha, and the closest international airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
Even if you decide not to climb Kilimanjaro and go straight to the safaris, you will still have to get to Arusha, which is a travel hub for safaris. Therefore, you will still have to fly into JRO to start your journey.
From the US, there are a few airlines connecting big US cities to Kilimanjaro Airport with only one transit, such as Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Swiss, and Kenya Airways, that you can book with.
From Europe, KLM has a direct flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro Airport, which takes about 8 hours. You can also fly from other big cities in Europe like London or Frankfurt via Qatar, KLM, or Kenya Airways with one transit in Doha, Amsterdam, and Nairobi respectively.
From Asia, the fastest way to get to Tanzania is to fly from any big city in Asia to Kilimanjaro Airport via Qatar, where you will only have to transit once in Doha. The journey should take no more than 17 hours.
From Africa, you can get to Tanzania by flying to Kilimanjaro Airport via airlines like Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, which operate a direct route from their headquarters city directly to Kilimanjaro Airport.
To find a cheap flight to Tanzania, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest routes and schedules so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Tanzania?
By Tours: Most of the places we will be traveling are best done with an organized tour, especially all the national parks in Northern Tanzania. The roads in national parks are all gravel roads, and the safari tours often use proper 4WD safari jeeps to take clients around.
It is the easiest and fastest way to get around these remote parts of the country, and I wouldn't recommend doing it any other way unless you know how to drive 4WD and know your way around the national parks very well.
For Kilimanjaro, you will also have to go on an organized tour as you are prohibited from hiking independently without a local tour company accompanying you. Therefore, you shouldn't have to worry about transportation for Kilimanjaro.
For Zanzibar, we will be going independent, and you will likely need other modes of transportation (listed below) to get around the island.
By Plane: Since most of the itinerary takes place in Northern Tanzania, you will only need to travel long distances when you want to go from Northern Tanzania to Zanzibar, and the best way to do that is to take a domestic flight from Arusha to Zanzibar airport.
There are many domestic airlines that fly this route, such as Air Tanzania, Auric Air, and Precision Air, so you should have no trouble finding one. I prefer Precision Air as they have the best track record, but they are also the most expensive.
The flight from Arusha to Zanzibar should take no more than 2 hours and should cost around 100 USD, which is pretty cheap, considering the amount of headaches you have to go through if you want to take the bus inland.
By Bus: For other places not on the usual tourist routes, you can take the bus. However, keep in mind that roads in Tanzania, like most in Africa, are horrendous and in poor condition. Therefore, it will likely take longer than you might think it should take.
Most buses are often simple and basic, but for popular routes like Dar Es Salaam to Arusha to Moshi, Dar Express offers first-class tickets in their air-con buses for a premium price.
Buses in Tanzania aren't as comfortable as those in Southeast Asia or Europe, so I would only recommend traveling by bus if you are an avid traveler and are looking for the cheapest way to get around, regardless of comfort.
By Taxis: Private taxis are a great way to get around short distances in cities, like getting from the airport to your accommodation (if your safari tour company isn't picking you up). However, be sure to negotiate and agree upon the price before getting in.
By Tuk-Tuks/Boda Boda: This is a cheaper alternative to taxis for traveling short distances. Tuk-tuks in Tanzania are often found in Zanzibar, and they are the same as the ones you see in India.
For the rest of Tanzania, you will find more Boda Boda, which is a motorcycle taxi that often congregates around street corners, and they can take you around the city for cheap. They drive pretty fast, though, so make sure to hold on to something when you get on one.
By Renting a Car: Last but not least, you can rent a car to get around places like Zanzibar, which will allow you to visit more places at your leisure. However, keep in mind that the roads in Tanzania can be horrible. I would only recommend this option if you are comfortable driving in a developing country.
You also have to be aware of corrupt traffic police while driving, as they are notorious for extorting drivers, not just tourists. I was extorted for more than 50 USD for speeding in Zanzibar. Apparently, the speed limit outside of urban areas is 60 km/hr, and I had to bribe my way out of it.
It's definitely not easy to rent a car and drive oneself in Africa, but if one is short on time and would like to get the most out of places like Zanzibar, renting a car is the only way to do it.
How Much Does It Cost to Travel To Tanzania?
With this 10-day to 2-week itinerary for Tanzania, we can calculate approximately how much money it will cost to travel to Tanzania as follows:
Accommodation: You will have to pay for around 4 nights of accommodation in Zanzibar, while the rest will be included in your tour company. Therefore, you can expect to pay around 230,300 TZS (100 USD) for accommodation in Tanzania.
Food: Food costs about 15,000 TZS (6.5 USD) in Tanzania on average, so you can expect to pay around 150,000 TZS (65 USD) for this itinerary.
Transportation: Since most of the transportation will be handled by your tour company, you will only be paying for a domestic flight from Arusha to Zanzibar, which costs about 100 USD. You will also be renting a car for 2 days to drive around Zanzibar, which should cost approximately 80 USD + 20 USD for gas. So, in total, you will be paying 460,600 TZS (200 USD) for transportation.
Activities: Now, the most expensive part of your itinerary will be the tours you will be going on for a safari trip in Serengeti and a hiking trip on Kilimanjaro. For a 4-day Serengeti itinerary, it will cost you about 800 USD, while an optional 6-day trip to the top of Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route will cost about 1,500 USD.
Without Kilimanjaro, you can expect to pay around 1,842,800 TZS (800 USD) for 10 days' worth of activities in Tanzania. With Kilimanjaro, it will cost you around 5,298,050 TZS (2,300 USD) for 15 days' worth of activities in Tanzania.
Total Budget for 10 days in Tanzania: 2,683,577.50 TZS (1,165 USD)
Total Budget for 10 days + 5 days on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania: 6,138,827.50 TZS (2,665 USD)
Is It Safe in Tanzania?
Since you will be under the supervision of your tour company for safaris and Kilimanjaro, your safety is their top priority, so there isn't much to worry about here.
For safaris, just make sure you exercise certain precautions, like not putting your hands out the windows when there are predators around or interacting with them in any way other than taking photos.
For Kilimanjaro, make sure you are well-equipped for the cold and remind yourself to stay hydrated at all times, and go slowly. High altitude sickness is the most important thing you will have to worry about when hiking Kilimanjaro, known for its punishing acclimatization profile.
For Zanzibar, you will have to watch out for 2 things. One is the seafood scammers at Forodhani Street Food Market, where they will charge you an outrageous price like 50 USD for a few seafood sticks. Go for food stalls that have prices clearly labeled on their menus instead, and you should be fine.
Secondly, if you are planning to drive in Zanzibar, be sure to stick to the 60 km/hr speed limit to avoid getting flagged by corrupt traffic police, who may extort as much as 100 USD from you if you go above the speed limit, even by a little bit.
Other than that, people are very nice throughout the country. Tanzania gets a lot of tourists annually, so they are quite fond of tourists, and you should have no trouble traveling around here as long as you exercise precautions like you would when you travel anywhere else.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Tanzania?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Tanzania without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Tanzania:
There are 3 major carriers in Tanzania: Vodacom, Tigo, and Airtel. All of them have varying prices and coverage. Vodacom has the most coverage and the price to match, Tigo is the second, and Airtel is the third.
I personally used Vodacom bought from an official Vodacom shop in between Terminal 2 and 3 at Dar Es Salaam Airport, and it has worked wonders all over Tanzania, even at some of the camps on Kilimanjaro!
There are many data bundles you can choose from, ranging from 500 MB for 7 days at 3000 TZS, all the way to 50 GB for 30 days at 95,000 TZS. I bought a 10 GB for 30 days at 35,000 TZS (15 USD), and I still had plenty of data left after 20 days in Tanzania.
For more information about Tanzania's local SIM card: Tanzania's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Tanzania?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Tanzania:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Tanzania
I have plenty of articles to help you further with your trip planning for Tanzania. Here is a selection of articles you might find helpful:
- Planning to visit Tanzania for the first time? Here are the 10 best things to do in Tanzania.
- Want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and not sure where to start? Here is A Complete Hiking Guide To Kilimanjaro with all the information you need to hike Kilimanjaro successfully.
- If you plan to hike Kilimanjaro, you are going to have to know what to pack and what not to. Here's The Ultimate Packing List for the Kilimanjaro Hike.
- Serengeti is probably the best place in the world to go on a safari, and it is a must-do if you are in Tanzania. To start planning a safari trip to Serengeti, check out: A Complete Safari Guide To Serengeti, Tanzania.
- Zanzibar is one of the most popular island destinations in Africa, and to truly do the place justice, you are going to need a complete travel guide to help plan the best trip of your life. Here are the 10 Best Things To Do In Zanzibar and a complete travel guide to the pearl of the African Indian Ocean.
- Stone Town is a historical town full of rich history and culture, and it is a place you shouldn't miss when you are traveling to Zanzibar. Here are the 10 Best Things To Do In Stone Town, Zanzibar.
- To truly make the most of your trip to Zanzibar, you have to rent a car and drive to all the hidden gems on the island. Here is 8 Important Things to Know Before Renting A Car in Zanzibar.
- To see all articles about Tanzania, visit the Tanzania Travel Guide page.
- If you are planning an East Africa backpacking trip, make sure to check out all of our East Africa Travel Guides.
- Looking for more travel guides for Africa? You can find more on my Africa Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
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4 Comments
Hi Pete,
With great interest I read your Tanzania schedule and tips. I am planning to do a similar holiday with my girlfriend this summer. I only have one question: since I have an additional week (3 weeks), what would you have added or extended if you had a little more time?
Keep up the good work (informing curious travellers) and thank you in advance!
Best Regards,
Joost
Hey Joost,
Thank you for the comment! I would probably spend more time relaxing at the beach in Zanzibar and spend a few days island hopping around smaller islands in the area. Mafia island sounds very interesting.
You can also go off the beaten path and visit a more remote island called Pemba just north of Zanzibar. That should fill up an extra week in Tanzania.
You can also hike Mt Meru which should take another 3 days if you are still feeling active after Kilimanjaro. :)
Hey Pete,
Thanks for your tips. Do I need to book a safari tour earlier or can I just find one when I get to Arusha?
Secondly, did you use anti malaria tablets in Tanzania?
It's gonna be pretty hard to find one in Arusha as there is no tourist street with tour agencies lining up for you to browse through. You can rely on your accommodation to help find your a tour but you have no control over the tour companies so you are taking quite a risk there especially for multi-day trips. I would recommend you browse through safaribookings.com and get a quote from there.
And no I didn't take any malaria pills while I was there and I came out fine :)