While you can physically wear blue in Tanzania, it is strongly advised that you avoid wearing dark blue or black, especially if you are going on a safari in areas like the Serengeti or Tarangire. This is because these specific dark colors are a primary attractant for tsetse flies, which are large, biting insects common in East Africa. Tsetse flies have a painful sting that can cause significant welts and, in some cases, transmit African Sleeping Sickness. Scientists believe these flies are attracted to dark colors because they mimic the shadows or hides of large animals like buffalo. In fact, many tsetse fly traps used by rangers are made of bright blue and black fabric to lure them in. To stay comfortable and safe, safari veterans recommend wearing "safari colors"—muted earth tones like khaki, olive green, beige, or light grey. These colors not only keep you cooler in the sun and help you blend into the landscape to avoid startling wildlife, but they are also much less attractive to the biting flies and mosquitoes that congregate in the bush.