Quite some distance from the United States, Tanzania is not familiar to most American travelers. Even many dedicated globe-trotters visit the country only once. I’m fortunate to have explored Tanzania several times — I love the country — and I’ve learned a few things during my stays there. Perhaps most important is that certain common ideas and pieces of advice about Tanzania are misleading or quite simply incorrect.

MYTH 1: Getting to Tanzania is hard.

It is time-consuming to reach the country from the U.S., but we did it with only one plane change. After flying nonstop to Amsterdam, we took a couple of days to relax before going from there straight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. On the way home, we did the reverse but with no Amsterdam overnight. It’s not an onerous itinerary, especially if you fly business class.

MYTH 2: “Reconsider Travel”

Following the October 2025 election, the Tanzanian government violently suppressed protests in Dar es Salaam. The State Department then raised the level of Tanzania’s travel advisory from 2 to 3, where it remains as of early 2026.

The State Department tends to err on the side of caution and can overstate the risks to travelers. There was no unrest in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater or any other national park. Dar es Salaam, where you likely won’t go in any case, also quickly calmed down. The distressing crackdown on protesters had limited impact (or no impact) on safari areas even at its height.

MYTH 3: You need special safari clothes.

It’s easy to find safari-specific garments, but before you buy a week’s worth of new clothes for the trip, check your closet. Lightweight khaki pants work well for both game drives and dinners. Earth-toned cotton or linen tops (ideally long-sleeve) of various types can be suitable; it’s not necessary to buy safari shirts. I do recommend following the advice to avoid white, black/navy and red, which dirties easily, attracts flies and scares animals, respectively. Bring a warm hat, scarf and jacket, because mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cool.

MYTH 4: You’re limited to 33 pounds of luggage.

The small planes that take you from lodge to lodge can carry only so much baggage, and they do weigh it in advance. If you have a duffel bag and four days of clothes — most camps and lodges have free laundry service — you’re unlikely to have too much trouble with the weight restrictions. While I encourage sticking to the limit, it’s not impossible to fudge matters a bit. On this trip, I put my heavy camera, laptop, e-reader and journal in my small backpack, which they never weighed. It was a risk, but I got away with it.

MYTH 4: Go only where the Great Migration goes.

My safari-savvy friends wondered why we’d visit the far northern and far western Serengeti in January-February, when the Great Migration was in the far south. If we’d only gone to the south, we would have missed an array of extraordinary experiences. By the Grumeti River in the west, we saw 34 lions in a single day. In the north, by the Mara River, we passed signs warning that a maximum of 40 safari vehicles could congregate here, 60 vehicles there. But over the course of three days, we saw a grand total of two other vehicles. That meant we shared our wildlife sightings — zebra and topi herds, prides of lions and even a wary leopard — with no one else.

MYTH 5: You need a two-foot-long telephoto lens.

A big lens can certainly be helpful, but it’s also heavy and expensive. On my past few safaris, I’ve brought a more versatile Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV. It doesn’t look like it has much zoom, but the lens is deceptive. The autofocus is quick and accurate, making it easy to get crisp images of, say, a leopard’s face. But even if you just have a recent phone model, you’re sure to get some good pictures. It’s not uncommon for animals to pass within a few feet of a safari vehicle.

MYTH 6: You need big binoculars.

These are also heavy and expensive. Bring them if you have space, but at most luxury safari lodges, your guide will have a pair of binoculars available to use.

MYTH 7: It’s like a nature documentary.

Some people seem to think that every game drive will involve a kill, or at least a major predator or two. But seeing a kill is extremely rare, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Watching one can be harrowing. Seeing predators in repose is much more common, but sightings of wild animals are never guaranteed. That said, it’s also extremely rare to be skunked.

MYTH 8: Seek out the “Big Five.”

I have the most fun when I’m open to seeing whatever we see. If we happen to come across something hard to spot, like a cheetah or leopard, that’s wonderful, but I don’t count on it. It’s thrilling to watch lions walk right past your open safari vehicle, or to have an elephant approach within a few feet to give you a once-over. But I take great joy in the smaller sightings as well. I love seeing mongooses scampering atop a termite mound, or a warthog trot away with its odd dignity. The birding, too, can be surprisingly engaging. The Serengeti is home to everything from lilac-breasted rollers — avian jewels — to marabou storks, which rank as the most hideous birds I’ve ever seen.

As far as I’m concerned, going on safari is like going fishing. There’s no such thing as a bad day.