Packing for a trip to Africa can be a daunting task. The fact that it’s a whole different culture may make you anxious about what kind of clothing is appropriate. I have lived in East Africa all my life and this gives me an interesting perspective: that of a local. So the question I would like to help answer is: What is the most appropriate clothing for Tanzania?
The most appropriate clothing when traveling in Tanzania is khaki trousers and a polo or dress shirt for men. For women, maxi dresses or loose fitting trousers with equally loose fitting tops are appropriate. In this article, I will break down the most appropriate clothing for men and women traveling to Tanzania in different situations.
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Learn MoreWhat do Tanzanians Wear?
Tanzanians are conservative and their dressing reflects this. They are quite religious, with the majority of the population being either Christian or Muslim. Tanzanians also value modesty in dressing and this is reflected in their dressing.
What Tanzanian women wear.
Most Tanzanian women wear skirts or dresses that go below the knee with tops that do not expose their cleavage.
People living in cities are more liberal about what they wear but the general rule is wearing clothes that do not expose too much.
What Tanzanian Men Wear
Men in Tanzania wear pants and dress shirts. Jeans and T-shirts are common with younger people in towns. Shorts above the knee for men are frowned upon since they are considered clothes worn by young boys.
Appropriate clothes in Tanzania for tourists
What to wear as a female tourist in Tanzania
You want to err on the side of caution when out in public places in Tanzania. Wear clothes that do not expose your thighs or torso. This means that avoiding shorts and skirts cut above the knee. It also means wearing tops that do not expose your shoulders or cleavage.
Loosely fitting pants and tops are a safe bet when you will be going to the Tanzanian streets and public markets. When visiting a religious building like a church or mosque, you will need to be extra careful since the rules are more strict here. You don’t want to be kicked out for being inappropriately dressed.
If you are within your hotel or in your tour van, you can let loose and not worry since you will no be running into many locals in this setting.
What to wear as a male tourist in Tanzania
Pants and a polo shirt is the best choice as a male tourist in Tanzania. Shorts are ok if you are within the hotel or in your tour van. However, it would be inappropriate to wear shorts as men. This comes from the fact that being considered a boy in the African culture is one of the worst insults you can give to a person. For this reason, shorts are considered childish and therefore beneath the man.
What to wear to a Safari drive in Tanzania
When out on safari, you want to avoid wearing colors that do not occur naturally in nature. White, black, blue and other bright colors attract the attention of the animals and you might easily spook away the animals if you are in close range.
You may also expose yourself to mortal danger by drawing the attention of more dangerous animals. Elephants and rhinos are known to topple over trees and vehicles when they are upset.
In addition to this, dark colors like black and blue attract TseTse flies and expose you to a higher likelihood of being bitten.
How to dress in the Evenings in Tanzania
Tanzania has very diverse weather and it will probably get cold in the evenings if you will be going out. Carry a light jacket or sweater for these cold nights.
To protect yourself from mosquitoes, carry long-sleeved tops and pants that cover your ankles. These keep the mosquitoes from biting you too much when you are outside in the evenings
Are shorts appropriate in Tanzania
The answer to this question depends on the length of the shorts and where you will be wearing them. Shorts that cut above the knees are inappropriate for both men and women when you are out in public. The rules are stricter if you will be visiting a religious building.
You want to avoid shorts when on busy Tanzanian streets and in markets. They will attract a lot of negative attention from the locals who are more reserved and traditional.
When in the hotel and traveling, shorts will be appropriate and there are no restrictions there. However, if you will be on a game drive, you may want to wear long pants to avoid tsetse fly bites. Khaki pants are the best option in this. case.
Are Short Skirts appropriate in Tanzania
Again, the answer to this depends on where you are. You will find a lot of urban women in Tanzania wearing short skirts since the urban areas and cities are more liberal than the villages.
While short dresses are not taboo in Tanzania, they are not very widely accepted and wearing them may upset some people in Tanzania. I would advise that you carry skirts that reach below the knee and are not too fitting.
What to wear to the beach in Tanzania
Tanzania does not allow topless swimming on its beaches and very revealing swimsuits may be frowned upon by the locals.
Most places that have tourists in Tanzania are used to seeing people wearing revealing bathing suits. However, they generally still hold on to tradition and the culturally acceptable ways of dressing.
Do women need Head Covering in Tanzania
For the Muslim women, wearing head covering is common and you will see many women either in hijab or having a scarf covering their heads. Many women wear full Muslim covering and are very careful not to wear revealing clothing.
On the other hand, the Christian population of women does not regularly cover their head. They only do so for function or fashion.
As a tourist, you are not required to cover up your
Photos by Martha de Jong-Lantink >>https://www.flickr.com/photos/marthaenpiet/
