11 Essential Tips for a Camping Safari in Tanzania

Last Updated on November 2, 2025

A group camping safari in Tanzania is one of the most memorable ways to experience Tanzania’s national parks like the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater.

I’ve camped plenty of times at home in Ontario, so I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect when I headed to Tanzania for a camping safari.

But camping in the middle of the Serengeti and other Tanzanian parks is an entirely different experience! At home, the biggest worry is raccoons getting into your snacks.

On safari, it’s hyenas sniffing around your campsite at night. One even made a meal out of my sandals after I left them outside my tent! I learned pretty quickly that everything, even your shoes, needs to stay zipped inside.

The camping itself is exciting, and the wildlife viewing is incredible, but there’s so much more to it. On a camping safari you’ll learn about animal behaviour and conservation from your guides, swap stories over dinner, learn about life in Tanzania, and take in some of the most stunning sunsets and landscapes you’ll ever see.

A camping safari is one of the more budget-friendly and lower-impact approaches to seeing wildlife in Tanzania, and it gives you the chance to experience camping like you never have before. 

Keep reading to find out what a camping safari in Tanzania is really like, plus key tips to help you plan your own.

Group Camping Safari in Tanzania: What to Expect

Wondering what to expect on a camping safari in Tanzania? Here’s what my husband and I’s experience was like. 

We booked a 5 night, 6 day camping safari through G Adventures. The safari started and ended in Arusha, Tanzania. We chose to go with G Adventures because we wanted to join a group versus doing a private safari, and we appreciate their attention to responsible tourism practices.

The first day of the safari was orientation. Everyone in our group arrived in Arusha, and checked into a lodge where we had a short introduction with our lead guide, and then a group dinner. 

The following day, we officially started safari. There were 10 tourists in our group. We were split between 2 safari vehicles, both of which had a driver. Our lead guide, Moses, switched between the two vehicles every day. 

There was also a 3rd vehicle that carried our camping equipment, food, and water. In this vehicle was a support team of three. They took care of setting up and tearing down our tents, and cooking meals.  

Our days started early in the morning – we were typically on the road by 7:00 AM – and ended in the early evening. We always had breakfast and dinner at the camp, and a packed lunch in the middle of the day. 

It was quite an operation but it ran very smoothly! All our meals were hot and delicious, and our tents were spacious and dry.  

11 Tips for Going on a Camping Safari in Tanzania

Let’s get into 11 essential tips for planning a camping safari. I’ll cover what to pack and bring, how tipping works, and the signs of unethical safari practices to look out for, along with plenty of practical advice to help you make the most of your experience.

1. Know the Signs of an Unethical Camping Safari

A good safari should respect wildlife, local communities, and the environment. Before booking, choose a company that is locally run or co-run, as they’re often more invested in protecting local ecosystems and supporting nearby communities.

Once you’re on safari, keep an eye out for signs of unethical behaviour. Guides should never drive off designated paths, get too close to wildlife, or interrupt natural animal behaviour just to enable better photos for tourists. If you notice something that doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to speak up! You can politely and respectfully set expectations with your guide.

And remember: never base your tip on which animals you see, or suggest that it depends on sightings. Instead, tip based on your guide’s professionalism and how much you’ve learned during your time together.

As I mentioned above, we went on our camping safari with G Adventures. I didn’t notice any unethical practices or red flags on our safari, and I was really happy with how much time our guides spent educating us about the wildlife we were seeing. However, if I were to do this trip again, I would consider booking with a local operator.

While G Adventures partners with local guides and suppliers, it’s a large international company based in Canada. This means that the profits don’t stay within the Tanzanian community. Choosing a safari company that’s locally owned or co-owned helps ensure that more of your money supports local jobs, conservation efforts, and community development directly on the ground.

2. Bring a Zoom Lens or Binoculars

If you’re investing in a camping safari in Tanzania, make sure you’re prepared with the right camera gear. While on safari, animals often wander surprisingly close to your vehicle. On ours, a group of elephants strolled right past us on the road!

But that isn’t guaranteed to happen. Some animals, like rhinos and cheetahs, tend to keep their distance, so being ready for both near and far encounters makes a big difference.

I brought my Sony A7RII with a 24–70mm lens, which was great for landscapes, camp life, and close-up moments. But in hindsight, I really wish I’d brought a stronger zoom.

For wildlife photography, a telephoto zoom lens with a focal range of 100–400mm is ideal, while a 70–200mm works well for closer subjects. If you want to photograph birds or distant animals, a 400mm or longer lens is best.

A perfect setup for safari photography is to bring both a mid-range zoom like a 24–70mm or 70–200mm for wide scenes, and a longer telephoto like a 100–400mm or even 150–600mm for wildlife.

Binoculars are also a must, especially for spotting animals that are further away. Some safari vehicles provide them, but it’s worth checking in advance. Ours had two pairs shared among six people, which worked out fine because we were all good about sharing. But in the future, I would consider bringing my own pair.

3. Pack a Headlamp

A headlamp is absolutely essential for a camping safari, since many camps have little to no lighting after dark. You’ll rely on it for everything from finding your toothbrush to making your way to the washroom at night.

While you can get by with your phone’s flashlight, I found a headlamp much more practical. It keeps your hands free for zipping up tents, sorting gear, or brushing your teeth in the dark.

Ours came in especially handy on those early mornings when we had to wake up and pack before sunrise. Crawling out of the tent at 5 a.m., trying to find socks and roll up sleeping bags would’ve been nearly impossible without our headlamp!

4. Prepare for Dust and Mud

While on a camping safari in Tanzania you’ll be driving on mainly dirt roads. During the dry season, this means lots of dust, and during the rainy season, it means dust and mud. 

Because safari jeeps typically have windows that open and a pop-up roof, a lot of dust and mud ends up inside the vehicle… and all over you. 

To stay comfortable, you’ll want to prepare for this by packing hand wipes (or baby wipes), a microfibre towel for showering, a bar of soap, and flip flops for showering. 

Hand wipes are useful throughout the day if you’re feeling the need to clean up your hands or face. We brought a package of wipes with us and often found ourselves handing them out to the rest of our group for a little midday refresh!

At the end of a long day of driving, you’ll be ready for a shower. Some of the campsites we stayed at only had cold showers, but still, we wanted one every night. It feels really good to rinse off after a dusty day! Make sure to bring a bar of soap because we found that they weren’t always provided.

A microfibre towel is easy to pack and dries quickly, and flip flops are comfortable to wear walking to and from the shower, and while showering. 

5. Pack Plenty of Warm Clothing

Tanzania’s national parks sit at different elevations, which means temperatures can swing quite a bit throughout your camping safari.

Early mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cold, while afternoons often get hot, sometimes uncomfortably so if you’re still bundled up from the morning. Depending on the season, you might also get a mix of sun and rain in a single day.

I often started the day bundled up in socks, leggings, a sweater, and a light jacket, only to be peeling off layers by midday as the heat kicked in. By the time we returned to camp in the evening, I’d be adding them all back on again.

You’ll want to pack layers that are easy to mix and match: breathable shirts, lightweight pants, and a few warm pieces for early mornings. A good-quality, lightweight raincoat is also key, especially if you’re visiting during the rainy season.

And don’t forget sunscreen! The sun near the equator is strong, even on cloudy days, and you’ll be spending most of your time outdoors.

Some of my outfits while on our camping safari.

6. Be Ready for Long Drives

The main parks that are part of a camping safari itinerary in Tanzania are Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park.

The distances from Arusha to these parks are quite long, and you’ll also be on daily game drives that are typically 3+ hours long. The roads can be quite rough (most of the are dirt roads) and so this adds driving time as well. 

Daily drive times will vary depending on the tour operator you book with, and their itinerary, but it’s safe to assume that you’ll be driving for several hours a day. 

While the amount of driving sounds tiring, it’s all part of the experience. I found that the driving wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected it would be because there was always so much to see. Even when driving between the parks, you’ll spot tons of wildlife. 

Prepare for these drives by doing a few stretches in the morning before hopping in the jeep, and downloading some travel podcasts to listen to (like my podcast, Curious Tourism!). 

7. Take a Power Bank Along

While on a camping safari, you’ll have two main options for charging your devices. Safari vehicles are usually equipped with charging outlets that you can use while driving between parks or on game drives.

However, these ports are shared among everyone in the vehicle, so if all are in use, you might need to wait your turn.

Campsites also tend to have a few outlets available, usually located in shared areas like bathrooms or cooking shelters. Access can be limited, especially when everyone’s trying to charge at the same time.

Because of this, bringing a good-quality power bank is essential. I used mine often, especially to recharge my phone in our tent overnight or when all the vehicle ports were occupied.

It’s a small item that makes a big difference on long safari days. You never want your camera or phone to run out of battery while on safari!

8. Don’t Leave Anything Outside Your Tent

While camping in the Serengeti, I made the rookie mistake of leaving my favourite pair of Teva sandals outside our tent before going to sleep.

The next morning, they were gone…well, almost. I found them a few feet away, the soles intact but the straps completely shredded. When I showed our guide, Moses, he burst out laughing, shaking his head and saying, “Definitely hyenas!” He thought it was hilarious that they’d chosen my sandals for a midnight snack.

A few days later, when we were back in Moshi, we found a small market stall where a local shoemaker was able to restrap them for a few dollars. When we told him about the hyena incident, he laughed just as hard as Moses did.

Lesson learned: never leave anything outside your tent overnight on safari, especially if you’d like to keep it!

Here I am with my sandals the morning I found them, and then in Moshi with the sandals just moments after I picked them up from the street vendor who re-strapped them.

9. Have Cash on Hand for Snacks

Most camping safaris in Tanzania will include all of your meals, and so there won’t be much else to spend money on. But, there will be occasional rest stops where you can buy coffee, tea, and snacks. 

For example, the park entrance gates usually have a small canteen, and we were always happy to grab a coffee there.  

A quick note about our meals on safari! We were really impressed with the food we ate throughout our camping trip. It was always fresh and delicious, and we were fed a variety of dishes, from local cuisine to things like pizza. Some folks in our group were vegetarian, and the cooks accommodated them by prepping separate meals for them.

10. Bring Cash for Tipping Safari Guides

The team that brings you on your safari is working long hours and handling challenging logistics. You’ll want to bring cash with you, so that you’re able to tip your driver, guide, and cooks as a thank you for supporting a great safari experience.

What you choose to give is entirely up to you, but the guidance we learned is to tip your guide and driver around $10 USD per person, per day, and to tip the cooks / chef $5–10 USD per person, per day. 

One important caveat? Don’t tip based on the animals that you see, and never suggest to your guides that tipping will be based on what wildlife is seen. Doing this can create a dynamic where guides feel pressure to chase wildlife, or drive off-road, to deliver the experience that tourists are demanding.

Tipping should be based not on the wildlife seen, but on your guide’s professionalism, and how much they’ve taught you during your safari.

11. Plan For a Rest Day After Safari

After several days of driving and camping you’ll be pretty tired, so you’ll want to plan to have a relaxing day after your safari. 

Not only is your body tired, but you’ll have had such an incredible experience seeing landscapes and wildlife, you’ll need a day to process it all! 

We spent three days in Arusha after our camping safari taking it easy. We spent lots of time journaling, recording what we had seen and experienced, and of course, seeing Arusha.

After safari, consider visiting more of the region around Arusha, or take a Precision Air flight to Stone Town to enjoy sunshine, beaches, and more on the island of Zanzibar.

Camping in Tanzania: Common FAQs

Here are the answers to some common questions about going on a camping safari in Tanzania. 

Responsible Tourism on Safari in Tanzania

If you’re planning a safari in Tanzania, it’s worth taking time to choose an operator that prioritizes sustainability and ethical practices.

Safari tourism can have a big environmental footprint, especially at luxury lodges that require significant resources to run in remote areas. A responsible safari operator will take steps to minimize that impact while supporting local communities and protecting wildlife.

Here are a few things to look for when choosing a responsible safari:

• Locally owned or co-owned operators: This ensures that more of your money stays within the community and supports local jobs.
• Ethical wildlife practices: Guides should never drive off designated paths, get too close to animals, or disturb wildlife for better photos.
• Sustainable operations: Look for camps that use reusable dishware, limit single-use plastics, and pack out all waste. On our camping safari, our team used reusable containers and cutlery for every meal.
• Conservation and community support: Some operators contribute to local conservation projects or community programs. This is a great sign of a company giving back.
• Transparent communication: Responsible companies are upfront about where your money goes, how they operate, and the impact they aim to make.

Camping safaris can be a more sustainable choice, since they use fewer resources than luxury lodges and allow you to experience Tanzania’s parks in a more grounded way. You’ll still get the magic of falling asleep to the sounds of wildlife, just with a lighter footprint.

More From Pina Travels:

• Is Stone Town Worth Visiting? 14 Reasons to Go
• What Not To Do in Tanzania: 20 Essential Tanzania Tips
• Precision Air Review: How to Fly Domestic in Tanzania
• What Not To Do in Stone Town: 18 Essential Stone Town Tips