Tanzania Packing
List Suggestions
Packing for your two year assignment is a highly personalized process and
no one list will be able to answer every packing question or ease every
anxiety. This list is meant to help
guide you and are suggestions while you decide what to bring with you. This list is the most up to date. If it contradicts the Welcome Book
guidelines, defer to this list.
For Women
- Three to
five cotton or polyester dresses or skirts (below the knee or longer).
- Two or three blouses or dressy shirts
(no bare shoulders)
- One extra-nice dress for official
functions (no bare shoulders, below the knees)
- Socks* (Tanzanian women generally do
not wear pantyhose. White gets
dirty quickly and cotton does not dry well.)
- Two-year supply of underwear* (For
women: bras and slips)
- One pair of lightweight, quick-drying
ankle pants for travel and when riding a bike or exercising
- Five or
six short-sleeved T-shirts
For Men
- Three-to-five
cotton or synthetic, dark-colored dress or casual pants
- Six or seven button-down shirts (mix
of short and long sleeved)
- Two-year supply of underwear* and
socks*
- Three short-sleeved T-shirts
- Two pairs of lightweight,
quick-drying pants for travel, bike riding, and exercise
- One jacket and tie for official
functions (you will use these)
- One or two
pairs of shorts
**Many
common clothes items can be baught cheaply in country. Pants, tee-shirts and some shoes can be found
in all large banking towns. You will
need a few articles of clothing for the first few months of training before you
go to your banking town.
Shoes
- One pair
of nice but comfortable shoes (to wear with professional clothes)
- Durable walking shoes or hiking
boots*
- Sandals, e.g., Teva* brand or chacos*
brand. Strongly recommended (a must for environment Volunteers). Inquire
on websites about Peace Corps Volunteer discounts.
- One pair of sneakers or running shoes
- Closed-toe
shoes or dressy sandals
Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items
Most toiletries are readily
available in Tanzania, but you may not find your favorite brand. Deodorant is
in limited supply in Tanzania.
Hairbrushes or toothbrushes are available in shops at different quality
and certain items will be comparatively expensive. Women should bring tampons
or a diva cup.
Kitchen
Most household items are readily
available. If you like to cook, consider bringing some of the following items,
or mail them to yourself. - Plastic
ziploc storage bags of various sizes (a must to keep out unwanted crawling
critters)*
- Good kitchen knife*
- Mexican or your favorite, unique
spices* (most other spices are available especially Italian and Indian
spices)
- Various powdered mixes (e.g.,
soft-drink mixes, salad dressings, soups, and sauce packets) 4
- Vegetable
Peeler
Entertainment
Volunteers often have downtime,
so bringing some of the items suggested below can make a difference. But
remember that most rural areas do not have electricity. Consider bringing a
good supply of batteries, especially solar-powered batteries or rechargeable
batteries and a charger. Please note that in Tanzania the electricity that is
used is 220V. - Ipod or Kindle
- Shortwave radio
- Digital Camera
- Binoculars
- Musical instruments (plus extra
strings, reeds, etc.)
- Sport, hobby, and art equipment and
supplies
- Games (e.g., cards, dice, hacky sack,
yo-yos, Frisbee, juggling balls, dominoes)
- Camping gear (tent, backpack,
sleeping pad, etc.), if you are interested in camping
- Books
- How-to-books
(for working with kids)
Miscellaneous
- A small
current converter (if you bring small appliances like a shaver, etc.)
- English dictionary and/or thesaurus
- Multi-purpose knife (e.g., Swiss Army
knife, Leatherman or Gerber; a must for environment Volunteers)
- Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
(Note that AAA batteries are hard to come by)
- A solar battery charger and
rechargeable batteries
- A small amount of seeds to plant,
especially herbs for the garden
- Combination padlocks of various sizes
(good key locks can be found in-country)
- Sewing kit
- Photos of your home and family (your
neighbors will love them)
- Sturdy water bottle (e.g., Nalgene)
- Money belt (critical for traveling on
public transport)
- Travel alarm clock
- Duct or packing tape
- Day pack
- Hand held UV water sterilizer (good
for traveling, make sure you have quality batteries)
- Journal or diary
- Fly swatter (they can be irritating)
- Visa Debit Card (easiest way to
access emergency money from home)
- USB drive or larger portable hard
drive
Women: Loose-fitting skirts are best because you will be jumping gullies and riding bikes in them. Cut back on blouses, too. Substitute one pair of pants with a pair of Capri pants.
Men: At most, bring three button-down shirts.
*Tip- When packing make three
piles: Things you think you need, things you think you want, and things that
are luxury. Take half the things you
think you need a quarter of the things you think you want, and a few of the luxury
items.
