Trip Finder
Tanzania + Zanzibar
Information for Enrolled Students

Packing List

We’ve provided packing recommendations below; however, equivalent items work just fine. We also offer many items for sale via our online store. Keep in mind that June and July are winter months in Kenya and Tanzania. Warm layers are very important, as evening temperatures can dip down into the 50s. Daytime temperatures range between 60°-85° F. We ask that you be respectful to cultural sensitivities and cover your knees/shoulders during the community service projects and while traveling in public with your group.

Duffel Bag

45-60 liters, with shoulder straps, MUST be small enough to carry on the plane

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55 L, North Face Base Camp Duffel S 50 L
Buy in our gear store

Daypack

20-30 Liters Daypack/Backpack to carry your rain jacket, water bottle, and snacks

Qty: 1
Patagonia Refugio Pack 26L, School Backpack

Sleeping Bag Liner

Highly recommended. Silk, cotton, or synthetic. Used as a “lightweight sheet” in warm climates in lieu of a sleeping bag. Used when staying in hotels/ hostels as a personal sheet.

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Expander Travel Liner

Trail/Tennis Shoes

A pair of comfortable, closed-toed, sturdy, lightweight shoes (able to get dirty)

Qty: 1
Brooks, Salomons

River Shoes

These can be open-toed, but do need to have a back strap - no flip flops!

Qty: 1
Chaco, Teva, Keen - NO FLIP FLOPS

Socks - athletic

Regular, comfortable athletic socks, can be cotton

Qty: 2
Bombas, Footjoys, Champion

Socks - lightweight

Non-cotton, lightweight hiking socks

Qty: 2
Darn tough or Smartwool

Socks - medium-weight

Non-cotton, medium-weight hiking socks; warmer socks

Qty: 2
Darn tough or Smartwool

Long Pants

Synthetic, loose, appropriate pants that can get dirty to be worn during community service. These pants must be loose to be culturally appropriate. Leggings are NOT acceptable, but looser joggers would suffice.

Qty: 1

Quick Dry Shorts

Synthetic, non-cotton shorts

Qty: 3
Patagonia Baggies, Lulu Lemon Speed Up Short, Nike Dryfit
Buy in our gear store

Bathing Suits

Boys: your quick dry shorts can double as a bathing suit

Qty: 2

Underwear

Synthetic, non-cotton are best (but a couple cotton pairs are permitted)

Qty: 8

Insulating Jacket

Synthetic or Down insulation, non-cotton. This can be a synthetic or down "puffy" jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia Nano Puff, Patagonia Down Sweater, North Face Thermoball Jacket, or an additional heavyweight fleece

Rain Jacket with Hood

100% Waterproof Rain Jacket with Hood - NO ponchos!

Qty: 1
Marmot Precip, Patagonia Torrentshell

Lightweight Warmer Top or Hoodie

Synthetic, non-cotton. This can be a fleece pullover, sweater or a full-zip jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia R1 Fleece, Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan, Moondance Hoodie
Buy in our gear store

Long Underwear Top

Medium-weight long-sleeved (polypropylene or Capilene, NOT Cotton)

Qty: 1
Patagonia Capilene Midweight Crew or Zip Neck, North Face Wander Sun Hoodie, SmartWool Merino 150 Base Layer, Marmot Polartec (Baselayer Long-Sleeve Crew)

Long-Sleeved Rash Guard

For sun protection and comfort in the water

Qty: 1
Patagonia Unisex Long-Sleeved Rashguard

Sun Hoody

Lightweight sunshirt with hood to protect arms and neck from sun

Qty: 1
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody, Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoody

Sports Bras

For Girls

Qty: 4

T-Shirts - cotton

For travel days

Qty: 2
Classic Shortsleeve Moondance tee
Buy in our gear store

T-Shirts - synthetic

Synthetic, quick-dry, non-cotton t-shirts

Qty: 3
Patagonia Capilene Cool Shirt, Marmot Windridge, TASC Performance Carrollton Performance Crew
Buy in our gear store

Bandana/Buff

For additional sun and wind protection. Buffs are tube-like and can be worn up to 12 different ways providing versatile sun protection. Can even be worn as a headband!

Qty: 1
Moondance Buff
Buy in our gear store

Baseball or Wide-Brimmed Hat

For sun protection

Qty: 1
Buy in our gear store

Work Gloves

An inexpensive pair of basic work or gardening gloves for the community service project

Qty: 1

Headlamp

With Fresh Batteries + 2 Sets of Spare Batteries; This is very important!

Qty: 1
Black Diamond Spot, Black Diamond Storm, Black Diamond Astro

Stuff Sack

Nylon or mesh stuff sack (sleeping bag size) for dirty clothes, etc.

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Stuff Sack, Sea to Summit Mesh Sack

Sunglasses

With 100% UV Protection

Qty: 1
Goodr, Smith, Oakley, Sunski

Sunglasses Holder

Qty: 1
Croakies or Chums

Water Bottles

32oz Water Bottles

Qty: 2
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Water Bottle
Buy in our gear store

Dopp Kit

Contains: toothbrush, toothpaste, travel shampoo & soap, deodorant, sunscreen

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L-M

Small First Aid Kit

Contains: Insect repellent, waterproof sunscreen, Band-aids, Moleskin, Chapstick w/ sun prevention, Wet Ones wipes, Dramamine (if prone to motion sickness), personal hand sanitizer.

Qty: 1

Prescription Glasses + Contacts

If your child wears glasses and/or contacts, please bring at least one spare pair of glasses/ lenses. Contact lens wearers should bring a pair of glasses as backup in addition to contacts.

Qty: 2

Blister Pill Pack or PillBox

The best way to send medication is with PillPacks by Amazon or a Pill Box.

Qty: As needed
Consider https://pharmacy.amazon.com/pillpack

Personal + Travel Medications

Please bring any personal medications and travel medications as advised by your Physician.

Qty: As needed

Carabiner

Non-plastic

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Large Accessory Carabiners

Pack Towel

Absorbent & quick to dry, large or extra-large works best

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel

Whistle

Small, pea-less plastic will do; most backpacks/daypacks have whistles on their sternum strap which would suffice!

Qty: 1

Wallet

Personal wallet with $200 spending money and valid identification; be mindful of international exchange and certain credit card restrictions

Bank card or credit card; NO cash, except for $20 to be collected Day 1 and returned on departure day

International Travel Authorization

Original signed and notarized international travel authorization form; N/A for students 18 at the start of the trip

Qty: 1

Passport + Copies

Passport (valid for 6 months after the last day of your trip) + 2 additional photocopies of your passport

Qty: 1 + 2 copies

Tanzanian Visa

Inside passport. Directions on how to obtain to follow

Qty: 2

Zanzibar Insurance Fee

If you do not pay online in advance, make sure your student has $44 for Zanzibar insurance fee

A Good Book

Paperback books are less bulky; NO kindles or e-readers

Notebook with Pen

For journaling

Binoculars

Compact and lightweight for wildlife viewing; HIGHLY recommended

Qty: 1

Camera

With charger, extra battery, and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1
Canon Powershot G9 X

GoPro

With charger, extra battery, and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1

External Charger

Portable charger/power bank to charge camera and GoPro

Qty: 1

International Adapter

Country-specific power adapter for charging cameras

Qty: 1

Packing Tips

We encourage parents and students to check the local weather the weeks and days leading up to departure for their trip. For some locations, weather can vary significantly between early June and late July, and students going on a later session of a trip may not need an extra layer.

 

In the event that your luggage is delayed or lost in transit, we want you to be prepared. Therefore, wear tennis or hiking shoes on the plane. Plus, pack the following items from this packing list in your daypack / school backpack carry-on:

  • A change of clothes (underwear + t-shirt + shorts or pants)
  • Your rain jacket
  • Prescription medications & toothbrush
  • Passport, ID, money
  • Completed International Travel Authorization form

These items are already included in the packing list – they are not additional items!

Lodging

Sleeping

During your trip you will stay in a variety of accommodations: large canvas tents for community service, camping tents for the Great Migration safari, lodges, and hotels/hostels (all single gender).

Eating

Eating utensils (plates and cutlery) will be provided throughout the trip.

If you have any special dietary restrictions/ considerations, please contact the Moondance office for further information.

Immunizations

Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis

Required; must be within 10 years of the trip

Routine Vaccinations

Moondance adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. They state that routine vaccines are those recommended for everyone in the United States, depending on age and vaccine history. Please consult with a physician for specific recommendations based on your health history and continuously check the CDC website for updates.

Routine vaccinations related to travel may include the following:

  • COVID-19
  • Chickenpox (Varicella)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Influenza
  • Measles, mumps, Rubella
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal
  • Polio
  • Rotavirus
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Tanzania take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Meningitis

Recommended for travelers 2 months old or older traveling to areas of Kenya that are part of the meningitis belt during the dry season.

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Check the map tab on this page to view a map of where Moondance groups will be traveling throughout Tanzania + Zanzibar. Provide this information to your physician of choice (primary care physician, travel clinic, etc.) in order to get the most accurate suggestions for immunizations and vaccinations.

Click here to see what the CDC recommends for travelers in Tanzania + Zanzibar.

Map

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