What to pack for your Safari
Thank you for using our safari packing list to help you plan and pack for your safari. We are confident that by following this list you will make the most of your incredible safari experience.
For more information on this packing list and on what to pack for your safari please use the links below:
⊙ Safari packing list introduction >
⊙ How to use this safari packing list >
⊙ Read the top safari packing list tips from our experts >
⊙ View our handy safari preparation timeline >
⊙ Download our interactive safari packing list pdf here.
Safari packing list introduction
⊙ This is the ultimate safari packing list and we believe offers the best response to the frequently repeated question "What should I pack for my safari to Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa".
⊙ This safari packing list has been a decade in the making and has been made by our safari packing list experts to ensure that you pack the correct safari clothing and gear for just about all types of safaris: game drive safaris, walking safaris, canoe or paddling safaris, horse safaris, gorilla safaris, and mountain trekking safaris. In a sentence: we are dedicated to ensuring that you have the most incredible time on safari and packing the right safari clothing, safari luggage, safari binoculars, and all the other important safari accessories is key to this.
⊙ As a general introduction to the safari experience, most safaris start early in the morning and will be on open safari vehicles with little protection from wind and rain. The rule of thumb is to dress in layers for all activities. For more in-depth information on what to pack for your safari - and why - we recommend that you read through our safari clothing advice, safari luggage advice, safari binocular advice, and our safari accessories advice pages.
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How to use this safari packing list
⊙ This packing list calculates the total number of items you will require for the number of men, women, and children you have indicated above. Simply divide by the number of men, women, and children should you wish to work out the number of items required on a per person basis or, of course, set the number to one for each in the form above.
⊙ Please also note that if your safari is longer than 12 days - and if you will have a laundry service available on your safari - that you should only take the recommended number of items for a 12-day safari or you will run out of space in your safari luggage.
⊙ To find out what our experts have to say about each recommended item, please simply click on "more info" and following the advice link. We have also included accessories you may need for add-on safari activities such as gorilla safaris, plus everything else you will need to remember to pack in your bag.
⊙ Please also read our guidelines for packing for a safari by visiting our expert safari packing advice pages too.
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Top safari packing advice from our safari experts
When packing for your safari, select safari clothing which offers some or all of the following six key travel garment technologies:
1. Safari clothing which is easy to pack, dries quickly, and wicks moisture away from the skin;
2. Safari clothing which offers a built-in insect defence. Insist on seeing proof that the built-in anti-insect treatment has been proven to work by asking to see the laboratory test results;
3. Safari clothing that offers protection from the sun. This will be shown as an SPF rating. 50+ is the highest rating available today;
4. Safari clothing that is lightweight, but which also has built-in ripstop for added strength;
5. As we all prefer to smell fresh, select safari clothing that uses an anti-microbial or anti-bacterial fabric. This also means that you will be able to wear the same safari clothing for longer and so pack less and travel lighter.
6. Add to the protective performance of the safari clothing which you take on safari by packing a wide-brimmed, packable safari hat, an effective sunscreen, and insect repellent which has been proven to work to spray onto your safari clothing, safari hat, and skin.
Use our safari clothing packing advice guide image above for quick, handy tips on what clothing to pack for your safari. Click on the image or click here to view a larger version of the image.
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Safari Packing List Pre-Departure Timeline
2 to 3 months before departure
⊙ Visa: If you require a visa and want to get it beforehand, make sure that you apply for the visa as soon as possible.
⊙ Passport: Check that your passport has sufficient pages as most African countries require two blank pages or more, and that your passport does not expire within 6 months. Apply for new passport if needs be.
⊙ Medication: Ensure that you visit your doctor and tell him where you are going. He will then advise you on malaria prophylactics, and other injections or medication that is necessary for your trip
8 Weeks Prior to Departure
⊙ Pay: Make sure that you have settled your balance due for your holiday with your tour operator.
⊙ Safari supplies: This is a good time to also contact The Safari Store for advice on what to pack, and to obtain your safari essentials (as above) in good time.
⊙ Re-confirm: If travelling independently, you must go through your itinerary, check that all flight times (including dates) coincide with your holiday dates, and contact all lodges, camps, hotels, transfer, private guides & car hire companies to re-confirm your holiday details
⊙ Pets, houses etc: Make sure you have made arrangements for your pets, booked a house sitter, and any other arrangements you may need to make for post, services and so forth.
4 Weeks Prior to Departure:
⊙ Departure-day planning: A smooth departure day takes 3/4 of the stress out of your holiday. Make sure that you arrange parking at the airport, start looking into taxis or trains, and book where necessary.
⊙ Travel money: Work out what you are going to do to pay for tips, purchases, extra tours etc while travelling.Arrange cash, credit & debit cards, travellers cheques accordingly (travellers cheques tend to be a pain to use in most parts of Africa - cash and credit cards are best! Take small denominations in cash in US Dollars - US$1, 5, 10 & 20 for tips and sundry purchases).
1 to 2 Weeks Prior to Departure
⊙ Pack: If you are organised, this is a good time to start packing for your trip. Ensure that you have all the correct safari clothing and luggage from The Safari Store. If you require any further supplies, contact The Safari Store or use the links at the top of this page to shop with us online. Also work out what you are taking as hand luggage, and what will go into the hold.
⊙ Check: Check again that you have your passport with visa, correct travel documentation, travel vouchers, confirmed itinerary, tickets, etc
⊙ Tell: Tell your bank & credit card provider that you are going away so they know to expect transactions from outside your home country; Let your mobile phone company know too, and set up your preferred setting for roaming; Remind friends and family that you are going away - passing on your itinerary, with hotel/lodge/camp contact details to people involved in managing your affairs while you are away is also a good idea.
⊙ Confirm: Taxis, train times, pet & house sitters. This may also be a good time to check on exchange rates for the country you are going to.
strong>Departure Day
⊙ Nice & relaxed: With the proper preparation this should be as simple as picking up your luggage and travel documents, locking the front door, jumping into your taxi, or walking to the train station, checking in and taking off. Allowing yourself sufficient time to check in at the airport is vital in reducing the stress of travel. Arrive early, rather than late.
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Women's Safari Clothing to Pack for Your Safari
Men's Safari Clothing to Pack for Your Safari
Kid's Safari Clothing to Pack for Your Safari
Safari shoes and socks for children
More info
As a general rule children usually do not usually go on walking safaris. While the minimum age varies, usually children under 12 to 14 years old are not permitted on true nature or big game walks. Children over the age of 12 to 14 years old should fit into adult sized shoes for
men and
women. As a result we do not yet stock safari shoes for younger kids. Having said that we are still able to offer advice on shoes for younger kids. Most safari camps will take your kids around the camp area to look for small grubs and insects and to show then tracks and trees. As with adults, therefore, wearing closed shoes is important for kids when on safari. This is especially true at night when there may be scorpions and other crawling animals active on the ground. Also smaller sizes of
safari socks should fit your kids, and the
safari gaiters provide an added level of protection around the camp.
Safari Luggage
Keeping all your travel documents, money and cards in a travel wallet makes good sense - especially as the more disorganised the border the more organised you want to be. As always be savvy and keep some money and cards in another location just in case your travel wallet goes missing.
Click here to view our range of Travel wallet
Safari Binoculars
Safari Accessories
Keeping your various devices fully charged is key to recording, sharing and staying in touch with loved ones on safari. Make sure to work out how many devices you need to charge and take enough adaptors and usb cables with you to simultaneously charge all your devices.
Click here to view our range of Travel Adaptors
3 x Spare batteries, chargers, memory
More info
Always take spare batteries and make sure you pack chargers for your smartphone, torch, camera, laptop, tablet computers, and any other electronic devices. Our rule of thumb is to always take more batteries than you think you will need - and the same is true for memory cards for your photographic devices. It would be very sad to run out of power and memory on your camera halfway through your safari. Also investigate what power source will be available to you for charging devices while you are on safari.
Specialist Safari Clothing And Gear To Pack
6 x Anti-chafe tights for walking & active safaris
More info
Bad chafing - as with bad blisters - may make your walking or active safari very uncomfortable. We recommend that you wear a pair of anti-chafe running tights under your safari trousers or safari shorts just to make sure that your inner thighs do not chafe.
3 x Pair of gardening gloves for gorilla safaris
More info
The forests of Rwanda, Uganda, and eastern Congo where the last remaining mountain gorillas are found can be challenging, thickly-vegetated places to go trekking. As this vegetation is made up of all sorts of plants with thorns, serrated leaves, and sword-like fronds, it is advisable to pack a pair of gardening gloves so that you do not cut your hands as you scramble up steep slopes and pull back bushes to make your way in search of these elusive great apes.
3 x Dry-bag for water-based safaris
More info
For water-based safaris such as canoe safaris, boating safaris, green-season safaris, and dugout/mekoro safaris, pack your valuables into one of our smaller safari bags and then pack that into a waterproof dry-bag to keep your essential safari gear dry. We recommend that you first test your dry-bag by filling it with tissue paper, closing it, and submerging it under water in your bath or a pool. If the tissue gets wet, then try re-sealing your dry-bag or get a better dry-bag.
3 x Pair of ankle gaiters for walking safaris
More info
General Clothing To Pack For Your Safari
6 x Non-safari shirts for travel and around the camp
More info
While safari-coloured clothing is ideal to wear when travelling to your safari and relaxing around camp, sometimes nothing beats a crisp white shirt to wear around camp or to dinner at night. When our founder, Steve, used to work as a safari guide, this is exactly what the guiding team used to do for dinner. After a long hot day in the sun, take a long bath or refreshing shower and put on a crisp white shirt or a stylish blue travel shirt for the evening to look and feel great.
Packing extra safari shirts will, of course, depend on how much space you have left in your safari luggage once you have packed the essential safari clothing and gear.
View our range of non safari-coloured shirts here.
Note: If space is limited, only take an extra non safari-coloured shirt and wear it with your safari trousers or shorts.
6 x Casual trousers and/or shorts
More info
While safari clothing doubles well as everyday clothing to wear when you travel and relax around the camp in the evenings and during the day, pack casual trousers and/or shorts if space allows.
7 x Casual shirts and/or t-shirts
More info
While safari clothing doubles well as everyday clothing to wear when you travel and relax around the camp in the evenings and during the day, pack casual shirts and/or t-shirts if space allows. Also see "non-safari shirts for travel and around the camp" on this packing list.
3 x Swimming costume or trunks
More info
Many lodges have a pool and it is great to be able to take a dip during the day.
The estimated underwear quantity to pack is based on being able to wash underwear quickly and easily.
If you sleep in pyjamas, pack one or two pairs. Most top-end safari lodges do provide gowns should you opt out of wearing pyjamas on safari.
3 x Kikoy or Sarong
More info
A safari-coloured kikoy is very useful to pack for your safari simply as they are very versatile. Wear your kikoy as a scarf, on your head, or even as a skirt or dress. They are very useful for around the pool too.
Gym gear or Sportswear
More info
If your safari camp or lodge has a gym, then by all means pack your gym clothing to stay fit on safari - and to counter all that delicious safari food and drink you will be served.
If you enjoy running, then some lodges may be able to take you for a run with one of their fitter guides - at your own risk of course. The way this would usually work is that you would drive in a safari 4x4 game-viewer to a big open plain or to the airstrip and then your guide would run with you while someone drives the safari 4x4 game-viewer close behind you.
Be sure to drink lots of water whenever you exercise in Africa as safari areas are often high above sea level and, if you exercise at midday, then pretty hot too. It is also a good idea to take some rehydration sachets or drink tea before and after exercising.
Seasonal Safari Clothing To Pack
3 x Waterproof Safari Jacket for the rainy season
More info
Read our expert advice on why you may need a waterproof safari layer for your safari, when it rains in Africa. View our range of waterproof safari layers for
men,
women, and
kids.
Important Items To Pack For Your Safari
Passports with any required visas
More info
Safari Packing Advice for Passports:
For your safari, always ensure that your passport has two blank pages and is valid for 6 months after the end date of your safari.
Double check visa requirements and find out whether or not you are easily able to get visa on arrival at your safari destination or if getting visas beforehand is advisable.
Leave yourself with enough time before your safari to obtain visas should they be required.
Keeping a certified copy of your passport with your travel documentation and separate to your passport may come in handy should you lose your passport.
If you have more than one nationality and passport, we advise that you travel on safari with both just in case one goes missing so that you are able to prove who you are.
If you have another form of identification such as an identity book or driver's license, then travel with this also. Keep this separate to your main passport.
Another option is to leave your spare passport at home with a trusted family member or colleague for them to courier to you should your passport go missing on safari.
Health card and insurance details
More info
Pack your health card and travel insurance details for your safari - and let your health insurer know that you are travelling to Africa. They will usually ask you for the dates for your trip too. Double check that you are covered for repatriation and medical expenses should anything go wrong while you are on safari.
Air tickets & vouchers
More info
We advise that you take hard copies for your air tickets and hotel and travel vouchers on safari. Paper does not run out of battery life, whereas smartphones do.
We find that Visa is most widely accepted in Africa, but note that not all lodges accept credit cards, so it is best to find this out from your lodge or tour operator before you travel.
Take a calculator on safari or use your smartphone for conversion calculations.
Money pouch with some cash in it
More info
We prefer to use credit cards where possible, but taking some smaller denominations of US dollars is always a good idea for tipping and any emergencies. Opt for mostly US$5, $10, and $20 notes with a few $50 notes just in case. Do not travel with large sums of money, however, and note that many countries in Africa have cash points (ATMs) where you will be able to withdraw local currency too. Again, however, don't overdraw as you do not want to be heading home with a wallet full of a currency you cannot use.
Prescription Glasses & Hard Glasses Case
More info
It would be a pity to travel all the way to Africa but forget to pack your glasses. Pack them in a hard suitcase so that they outlast even the roughest safari transfer or game drive - and also pack an extra emergency pair just in case you drop yours.
Safari reading material
More info
Take along a small selection of good safari guides books, maps, and fiction and non-fiction books which cover areas which interest you. You will add to the enjoyment of your safari by being able to read up on the wildlife you view while on safari - and you will have lots of spare time between morning and evening safari activities. Always keep in mind the luggage allowance and how much you are able to carry on active safaris such as walking safari.
Shop our range of safari books and safari maps.
In our interview with
Steve Backshall, he rated super glue as the one thing he won't leave home without: "I always carry superglue. That's my number one tip because it's fantastic for covering up blisters, for covering quite decent sized wounds - it can be used as a really good dressing - and then obviously you can use it to stick your fingers to your face if you feel like it or stick bits of your gear together or stick the sole of your boot back on if it's coming off".
Note: we are not so sure about the advice to use it as a dressing, so please do not do this. Rather get your lodge to assist you with their full medical aid kit.
Toiletries To Pack For Your Safari
Malaria prophylaxis for malaria areas
More info
As a team, we sometimes do and sometimes don't take malaria medication. We always recommend that you discuss where you are going and the recommended medication to take with your medical doctor.
Motion sickness pills
More info
Only if needed for light aircraft flights on safari.
Only pack lip balm for your safari if you use it regularly. We find that, by using it, you need it but, if you don't use it, then your body does a pretty good job of looking after your lips.
Shampoo/Conditioner
More info
Most safari camps have shampoos and conditioners available in your room, but you may prefer to use your brand of choice on safari.
While some of our safari shirts feature silverplus technology which will keep your shirt smelling fresh for longer - always take deodorant. We usually pack roll-on simply as it lasts so long and is less bulky.
Toothpaste and toothbrush
More info
This isn't usually something which safari lodges offer in their room so pack your toothbrush and favoured brand of toothpaste on your safari.
This is something we always take with us as it is surprisingly useful beyond being great from getting stuff out from between your teeth - it can be used as emergency twine too for repairing safari clothing, safari luggage and so on.
Pack your hairbrush and comb for your safari - and hair straightener should the lodge have electricity. Or take a break from your routine and let your hair go a little bit wild.
Electric / hand razor
More info
If you are not sure about the availability of electricity at your safari lodge, then either find out from the lodge or take a normal razor and shaving cream.
Emery boards, tweezers, etc.
More info
Tweezers on safari are very useful not only for preening - annoying splinters on an active safari could hamper the enjoyment of your safari.
Hand & body lotion
More info
With many safari areas high above sea level - and with all that dry dusty goodness - you may wish to moisturise your hands and body.
Ladies' hygiene supplies
More info
Take sufficient amounts for the length of your stay in Africa on safari.
Contact lenses and fluid
More info
An African safari can be dusty so pack extra contact lenses and fluid.