Tsetse Flies and Other Insects on a Tanzania Safari

Insects are part of any wild place, and most you meet on safari are harmless or fascinating. The one guests ask about most is the tsetse fly, a biting fly found in certain woodland areas of Tanzania. Its bite is sharp, and in some places tsetse can be persistent.

Knowing where to expect them and how to dress makes a big difference. Here is what our guides have learned from many hours in the bush.

Where you will meet tsetse flies

Tsetse flies prefer wooded and bushy country rather than open grassland. On the northern circuit, they can be noticeable in parts of Tarangire and in wooded areas of the Serengeti, such as the western corridor and some northern sections. In the south, parts of Ruaha and Nyerere National Park can also have tsetse.

The open short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater usually have few. Numbers vary with season, vegetation and even the time of day, so one drive may be fine and the next more annoying.

Colors to avoid

Tsetse flies are attracted to dark blue and black. That is why you may see blue and black cloth traps hanging in some parks. Leave navy and black clothing at home for game drives and choose neutral shades instead.

Very bright colors are also best avoided on safari, as they can stand out to wildlife. Khaki, beige, olive and light brown are practical choices.

This advice also applies to camera bags, backpacks and seat covers you bring along.

Reducing bites on game drives

Repellents are less effective against tsetse than against mosquitoes, so clothing does most of the work.

• Wear long sleeves and trousers in light, neutral colors made from a reasonably thick weave.
• Close windows when driving through known tsetse areas, and ask your guide to lower the roof if needed.
• Keep a small fly swatter or folded map handy in the vehicle.
• Still apply repellent on exposed skin, as it helps with other insects.
• Avoid wearing dark hats or bags in wooded areas.

Are tsetse flies dangerous?

Tsetse can carry sleeping sickness, but the risk to visitors on the northern safari circuit is considered very low. For most people, the bite is simply painful and itchy for a while.

If you develop a painful swelling at a bite site, unexplained fever, headaches or unusual tiredness during or after your trip, see a doctor and mention where you traveled. As always, any fever after visiting Tanzania needs prompt medical attention because of malaria as well.

Bites can swell and itch for a day or two. Avoid scratching, keep the area clean and ask your pharmacist or doctor before you travel about simple remedies for insect bites that suit you, so you have them on hand in your daypack.

Other insects worth knowing about

Mosquitoes are the most important insect from a health point of view, mainly between dusk and dawn, so use repellent and nets. Safari ants can bite if you stand on their trails, so look down when stepping out at a picnic spot. Bees occasionally gather around water in dry periods. Insects are attracted to light, so keep tent flaps closed in the evening and switch off lamps you are not using.