What to pack for an African Safari

Packing for an African safari isn’t as straight forward as some people think it is! Africa is hot, so just shorts and t-shirts right? Nope! What a lot of people do not realise is that certain African countries get very cold at night and in in the mornings, and if you are heading out on safari before the sun rises or out on a game drive after the sun sets, if you are wearing shorts and a t-shirt you will get very chilly.

So, to help you with your packing, I have included a list of things to pack and also thrown in some info about what not to pack!

What to take on a Safari

• The best way to get close to the wildlife and make them feel as relaxed as possible is to blend in with your surroundings by wearing neutral colours such as greens, browns, and khakis.

• Light-weight, breathable fabrics reduce the noise when you are walking, especially on a walking safari. Layers are a great way to pack light but stay warm. Temperatures can be chilly on morning game drives, hot in the afternoon and cold at night. Layers allow you to remove clothing to make yourself comfortable as temperatures change.

• Airy, long-sleeved shirts with a collar will keep the sun off your arms and neck.

• A light jacket or fleece is great for an extra layer of warmth in case you need it. A fleece is a great idea because it dries quickly too.

• If you are going on safari in the middle of the African winter, you might want to pack gloves and a warm hat - crazy right?

• If you are going in the rainy/green season then a lightweight rain jacket is a must! Make sure it is light so that it doesn’t take up too much space in your bag but also because it can still be very warm.

• Comfortable trainers are suitable for most safaris, even for walking safaris. You will be climbing in and out of the safari vehicle frequently and doing some light walking around the bush, so closed shoes will be more comfortable and avoid your toes getting pricked by the sharp grasses.

• Sandles or flip-flops for when you are relaxing around the lodge and not out on an activity.

• Hats are a fantastic way to protect your head and face from the sun in an open-top safari vehicle.

• Sunglasses are a must.

• A swimsuit for if your lodge has a pool or you are heading to the beach afterward.

• For your evening meal, light colours are recommended to not attract mosquitoes. Linen trousers are the perfect way to look smart, stay cool, and prevent mosquito bites.

• A camera! Make sure you bring your charger as well as spare memory cards as I can guarantee you will be taking lots of pictures and you don’t want to run out of space!

• Any necessary plug adapters.

• Binoculars for those animals and birds that are a little trickier to spot.

• Suncream for any part of your body that isn’t covered whilst on a safari. Even though it can be a little chilly, the sun can be sneaky and burn you when least expected.

• Mozzie spray is likely to be at most of the camps, but it’s a great idea to have some of your own to keep with you. Bite relief might also be a good addition.

• A light bag or backpack to take everything you need with you on activities.

• Any personal medications such as malaria tablets etc…

What not to take on a Safari

• No bright-coloured clothing or crazy patterns. This will likely scare off the wildlife and could possibly draw unwanted attention.

• You must avoid camouflage clothing as some African countries reserve this pattern for military personnel only.

• Dark colours attract Tsetse flies, so stay away from dark blue or black clothing – they have a painful bite!

• White coloured clothing will get dirty very quickly so try and stay with the neutral colours instead.

• Formal wear is not necessary as most lodges and camps have a relaxed dress code. Most people end up wearing the same clothes to dinner as they wore in the day…with a few extra layers.

• Heavy hiking boots take up too much room in your suitcase, are super heavy and aren’t necessary for most safaris unless you have been told that your itinerary includes walking through the rainforest or harsh terrain.

• Too much clothing! Pack light – most safari lodges offer laundry facilities. You can also save space with convertible clothing like zip-off trousers that turn into shorts or a zip-off fleece that turns into a gilet. It is likely that you will wear the same sort of clothes every day anyway, so don’t worry!

• Toiletries such as shampoos, shower gel, and hair conditioners are normally provided by the camps and are usually environmentally friendly. Obviously, it is worth checking that your camp supplies these, but there is no need to take these items when they are already there!

• Towels are usually very big and bulky and unless stated otherwise, the camps usually provide them. No need to fill up your small luggage with these big items.

• Please don’t take hairdryers and straighteners with you! Most of the camps will either have a hairdryer you can borrow or the camp runs on limited or solar power so will not be able to handle the appliance. If you feel like you must take it with you, please check first that the camp will be able to support it. You do not want to be that person who blows the fuse at the camp!!

Whilst on safari it is a must to pack as light as possible. Most safari operators will ask that you only bring one small, soft sided suitcase and this is usually down to space either on the vehicle or light aircraft which have very tight restrictions. Large, hard suitcases don’t easily fit on the light aircrafts, which means that your luggage is likely to be refused.

You might think you need more, but you won’t. Less is more on safari and you won’t even feel like you are roughing it – you will be well looked after at your lodge. Most lodges even offer laundry services!

So I hope that this has given you some ideas for your safari and of course, if you have any suggestions, send them over and I will get them added in!

As always, happy travelling!!