Going on a luxury Serengeti safari is on your bucket list. You’ve researched your destination down to the last detail, and you’ve finally booked your much-anticipated safari of a lifetime.
Now, it’s time to pack. For numerous first-time safari goers, this is the most overwhelming part of the adventure. What to pack for a luxury safari, what to wear on a safari, what not to bring, etc. are all valid questions. Packing for your safari should bring anticipation and excitement. Therefore, let’s eliminate the unnecessary stress of packing for it.
A safari is a type of trip that necessitates some specialized packing. Remember, you can’t just stop by the store to get any forgotten items when you’re in the jungle.
Essential Safari Packing List
These are the most crucial items to bring on your safari. Don’t leave home without them.
- Passport with all the necessary visas for each country in your African safari trip.
- Bank cards, credit cards, and cash. Use e-wallet apps to avoid carrying cards and cash.
- Vouchers and air tickets for any pre-booked safari tours.
- Updated vaccination cards (yellow fever, COVID-19, etc.) where required. Some vaccinations must be taken in advance. Check well beforehand what vaccinations are required for your safari.
- Medication: malaria prophylactics if advised and any prescription medication. It’s wise to take your prescription as well in case your meds get wet or lost.
- Travel insurance policy. Make sure to jot down your travel insurance company’s phone number, your policy number, and contact details in case you lose your travel policy.
- Cell phone. You need your cell to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, connect to the wi-fi, and for any emergencies.
- Copies of all your important documents like vaccination cards, passports, visas, prescription meds, airline tickets, and travel insurance policies.
- A paper copy of your most vital contact numbers in case you lose your cell phone.
Crucial Items to Pack for Your Safari
Make sure to carry the following items to have the best African safari experience.
Sun Protection
Sunblock – an organic 30 SPF (or higher) sunscreen.
Sun hat – A wide-brimmed hat, preferably one with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) that shields your neck, ears, and face from the sun. Try to get a hat with a chin strap or drawstring so your sunhat stays in place on windy drives.
Sunglasses – Excellent for protecting the eyes from the sun, dust, and insects.
Insect Repellents
Eco-friendly insect repellent spray or lotion, as well as citronella products to discourage the creepy crawlers. When choosing a Bug spray, pick Dee-based products. For instance, DEET mosquito repellent is the most effective in killing mosquitoes and a host of other biting insects.
Head Torch
Take a light source for getting around the campsite without accidentally stepping on the toes or tails of any wild animal. It gets really dark out in the bush at night so you need a light source to help you move around after dark. A head torch works best because it leaves your hands free.
Backpack
A backpack for day trips is a must. You might want to also consider taking a money belt, fanny pack, or crossbody anti-theft travel bag for going into the cities.
Facemask and Hand Sanitizer
Due to COVID-19, hand sanitizer gel or spray is a vital item to pack for a safari or any traveling. Many places you go will have hand sanitizer, but you should bring your own just to be safe. Sanitizer is excellent for keeping healthy and fresh while on your safari, particularly if access to clean water is limited.
Additionally, in many African countries, it is required to wear a facemask in public, including the airports.
Hygiene Kit
“Behind the green door” is the saying for the bathroom while out on a safari. It indicates a good thick bush. Bringing a hygiene kit and an appliance for these needs is an excellent idea. These items can be found on Amazon (portable female urination devices).
Luggage for Your Safari
When deciding on the luggage type for your safari, choose a soft-sided suitcase or duffel bag. Tarp-based water-resistant or fabric luggage works since they can fit easily into a light aircraft.
The bag type is just as important as the weight. Hard-shell cases are not recommended and typically, soft-sided bags are a requirement to fly on a smaller aircraft. If you plan on participating in more active adventures, like a gorilla trek, you’ll need a waterproof, durable backpack. It’s also important to note that you should leave your wheeled luggage at home. These pieces add unnecessary weight when each pound counts.
As for a day bag to carry around with you, as mentioned earlier, try a backpack or saddle bag. You need a bag that big enough to carry your:
- Passport
- Cellphone
- Medications (prescriptions)
- Lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Cameras and binoculars
- Tissues
If you plan to bring extra lenses for cameras or binoculars, you’ll need a bigger day pack.
Choosing the right luggage is critical and can make or break your safari. Be sure to completely study the luggage restrictions for every flight you will be boarding. While international flights have huge luggage allowances, note that there are exact size and weight limitations for the smaller aircraft that fly out to the remote safari sites.
The precise weight allowance differs, but usually between 33 and 44 lbs. are permitted per person. Besides clothing and toiletries, you must have room for camera equipment and any additional carry-on items. If you’re wondering, yes, they check. So pack lightly to guarantee a stress-free journey.
Clothes for Your Safari
Comfort is everything when it comes to choosing clothing to pack for your safari. This is where leisure wear comes into play. Overall, a safari wardrobe is a simple collection of comfortable layer items in earth-tone shades, greens, and creams that will work whether you’re taking a ride in an open vehicle on a chilly morning or taking pictures of the animals in the hot sun.
Shoes for Your Safari
Pack a pair of comfortable closed shoes. The African bush has an enormous amount of rugged terrain, so you need sensible shoes that are great for walking around in rocky, dusty places.
After a long day in your safari boots, you’ll want a pair of slip-ons or sandals to wear around the camp. Leave your expensive sneakers, platforms, and high heels shoes at home.
Laundry
Most hotels or resorts offer laundry service (some may charge for the service). However, it is vital to remember that clothes will have to dry naturally. Allow 24 hours for your clothes to be washed and dried completely.
Color is Key
The general rule is to wear natural, neutral tones (brown, beige, gray, khaki, and green). Even though it’s not required on safaris, it is the preferred dress code and a requirement for nature walks. So, leave the colorful prints and loud colors at home. Or you can wear them around your villa, suite, or the pool area.
You might want to leave the whites at home as well. Besides white standing out from the neutral color palette, it is basically impossible to keep white clothing clean while on a safari. You will get dusty while on your safari and it will get on your clothing. Why deal with unnecessary grief if you don’t have to?
Dark colors absorb the heat and light colors are cooler. When you’re packing for your safari, another suggestion is to avoid royal blue or navy clothing. It is assumed that tsetse flies are drawn to this hue. Many guides will give out flyswatters on the safari vehicles to help deal with the flies.
Additionally, be cautious about wearing camo print. Camouflage clothing isn’t a good idea to pack for your African safari. It is illegal for civilians in some African countries.
Know Your Travel Itinerary
Maybe the most vital tip for your safari is to read your travel itinerary completely. It tells the passport and visa requirements clearly, and the medications you should bring besides your regular prescriptions. They mention the shortage of working ATMs and the need for cash. There isn’t much they don’t cover, so all pertinent info is front and center, making it unnecessary to search online for answers to any questions you might have.
Plan and Pack for Your Safari Today
Think of Unique Safaris as your African safari godmother. Our safari team goes beyond the pre-packaged tours you see online to create a customized excursion based on your unique travel preferences. We know the only way to arrange the best experience for you is to have complete knowledge of your cares and interests.
Africa isn’t a one-size-fits-all destination. We use our expertise to make you a “bucket list” itinerary that perfectly aligns with your travel dates and budget. Contact us today and let’s start planning your African safari adventure.