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Safari Tour June 2026

Malia808

First Safari for this world traveler and I am nervous. Anyone has any advice other than the "use common sense" and "have your vaccines in order"? Anyone else going on this tour? Would be nice to connect beforehand. Also about the luggage I am so confused. Can we bring a suitcase to the first leg and then leave it there (in Tanzania), start the tour with our assigned duffle bag and then recuperate the suitcase in Kenya? Will it be sent there? The reason I am asking is because we also travel before and after the safari and I cannot just have a duffle bag for all my pre and post destinations. Thank you in advance to anyone who will reply :-)
Malia

Comments

Wan

Hello Malia, bring your suitcase. Bring the duffle bag folded and put it inside your suitcase to use later, or you can usually use it as a carry on (check dimensions and airline rules.) Around day 3 of the tour you will pack the duffle and that gets carried on the planes, while the suitcases travel by truck. You will be reunited with your suitcase at various times. The duffels hold more than you would expect. I suggest you use the search function in the upper right of your screen and search everything written by Sealord who has done this tour many times.

Sealord

Malia: I’m assuming you are doing K&T. You can do a search for the details, but I will give you the Readers Digest version. All you need for the safari is three sets of safari clothes plus the basics. Todays safari clothes, tomorrow’s safari clothes, and one set in the laundry. It may seem strange cuz you spend all day in a safari vehicle, but you get really dirty. Lots of dust. You also need a puffer jacket, gloves, and a stocking cap. It is really cold in the morning and at night. You are on the equator but at high altitude .It might get into the 80s during the day but the mornings and evenings are really cold. You will see your large luggage several times, but we never even opened outs. Our evening wear was tomorrow’s clean safari clothes.

British

I’ve taken the tour twice but been on nine safari tours. Personally, I take a few more safari outfits because you do have to be organized to get your laundry ready as soon as you get to a hotel with just a two night stay to be sure it gets back in time. I was on a tour where someone’s safari shirt got lost at the laundry. Otherwise, SeaLord is correct, clean safari clothes for dinner that you wear the next day. In my opinion, Safari vacations are by far the easiest to pack for.

OurTravels34

Both Sealord and British are correct. I’m also on the side of British to pack just a little more. What size is the duffle or what are the measurements. If it’s the same as I had for Botswana, Zambia which was 30” - that is a huge duffle and that’s all you would need plus a backpack.
I’m in gorgeous Yosemite now. It’s April
and it is crowded.

Goddess

My favorite spot in the world. Used to go camping every summer as a child......................

British

Although the duffles have changed in style over the years, they are still huge. We don’t just travel with a duffel from home because they can be heavy to carry as the ones for K and T don’t have wheels. I know SeaLord has some sort of wheeled thing he uses to transport his.
Years ago, we went on safari with another company and we were not allowed to have any other bag at all apart from a wheeled duffel they provided. I read on their forum that the bags got holes in the bottom because they sagged in the middle when wheeled along. Tip for that was to take a black plastic bag to line the duffel, we took one along ( this was before a plastic bag ban). Sure enough, our bags got holes and were awkward to drag along.
Of course Tauck handles all the bags while on tour so it is not a concern.

Sealord

We checked one duffel with the liquids. The other duffel was a carry on but lived on top of a traditional wheeled rollaboard which served as a cart for the duffel. The two duffels plus the one rollaboard provided all the space we needed. We travelled in safari clothes to make certain that we did not end up going on safari in travel clothes … which I have seen happen several times.

British

Yes, we also travel in safari clothes and have been with peoples who’s luggage got delayed for as much as four days and they had to safari in theirs travel clothes. The Delta/KLM flight often arrives without people’s bags, it’s happened to us once.

CLangon

The duffle holds so much, my husband didn't even need the larger suitcase so I borrowed a little space in his. Trip is over the top amazing every day. The luggage in the end was no issue at all, you have enough room in the duffle to fit anything you'd need for 3 days. They will have your luggage at your next location when you get there. We were there in January/February it's a wonderful trip, and I see now why so many people have done it more than once. Enjoy!

Malia808

WOW thank you SO MUCH everyone for replying, helping and advising. I am so excited for this tour and again truly, thank you to everyone for taking the time to answer.

Tschechinger

Which dates are you going on - We are on the one that leaves June 24th - this will be our second time on this tour and our 4th time to Africa. I agree - less is more - you do not need a lot of clothes - but I would add to bring a had and some thing to tie your hair back. I use the ultra thin neck gators - you will love this trip

Ellen26

Curious about paying for things with currency instead of a card. I read that there could be a 10% surcharge for cards. Do you do find that to be true. If paying cash, I understand US$ is accepted in smaller bills. For change, do you get US currency back or do you get local currency?

PF606590

You get cash back in local currency...Also, you will jet a very poor exchange rate from ,a local merchant.

I think you are better of getting $100 in local currency from an atm. Whatever you don't spend, give to the TD as part of his/her tip.

British

I don’t recall a surcharge on credit cards when we last went, but you don’t need any local currency, they prefer dollars.

PF606590

Some credit cards do charge a surcharge.

Goddess

some businesses are also adding a surcharge for using credit instead of cash

British

Yes, but don’t get local money, use dollars, no marks on them, in good condition and recent. Also no big denominations as they are suspicious as fakes. I’ve never used local money in East Africa.

Malia808

This answer is for Tschechinger. We leave on June 6.