What To Pack for a Safari to Nxai Pan National Park

The Packing Essentials You Need for Nxai Pan National Park

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What To Wear on Safari To Nxai Pan, Botswana | Nxai Pan, Botswana Safari Luggage Guide | Nxai Pan Accessories Guide | Nxai Pan Safari Packing Checklist

What To Pack For Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana

The fossilised lake bed of Nxai Pan National Park has contrasting wet and dry seasons and a desert-like climate. Whether Nxai Pan is part of a Southern African safari epic or is your one-and-only destination, following a few basic safari packing rules will ensure you have everything you need to make the most of your safari experiences.

From game drive essentials to the best clothing for San-led interpretive walks in Nxai, we've developed and tested our clothing, luggage, and gear to be the best for your African adventure. Find out about what to wear, luggage, accessories, and footwear - and and use our comprehensive, intuitive safari packing list tool for a comprehensive checklist before you travel.

What To Wear on Safari To Nxai Pan

Whether you travel over the moderate dry season or the hot and stormy wet season, a good baseline of high-performance safari clothing is a top priority for Nxai Pan. The number one rule is to dress in layers, with conditions that can change dramatically throughout the day.

Get top tips on the essentials, with a checklist of items below - and feel free to contact us for customised packing advice for your safari.

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What To Wear on a Safari To Nxai Pan

• Sun Protection is a Key Feature: Whether you are rolling along sandy roads on the back of open game viewers or on a San-led interpretive walk, you can expect to be out in the sun during activities in Nxai. Our UPF50+ clothing is lightweight enough to cover up in hot conditions and our BUGTech and SAFARITech fabric is highly effective at wicking moisture for cooling. Make sure to add UPF50+ accessories like wide-brim hats and the Vintage Print Head&Neck Scarf - and always wear a reliable sunscreen.


• Layer Up: It can get cold on the back of an open game viewer before dawn and after dusk on game drives. This is especially the case if you are travelling over winter months or are commuting from outside the park, when wind chill will be a factor. A packable waterproof jacket is an excellent outer layer for windproofing (and obviously this will be a must if you are travelling over the rainy season from about November and tapering off in March). A fleece is a safari packing essential all year round - and we recommend adding warming accessories like the Thermal Head&Neck Scarf and a beanie for extra warmth during winter in Botswana. We always recommend long-sleeve technical shirts with roll-up sleeve tabs and convertible trousers for flexibility while you are out on activities.


• Clothes for Insect Defence: With a risk of malaria, you need to do everything you can to avoid getting bitten. Cover up BUGTech™ anti-insect clothing and apply and re-apply a reliable insect repellent throughout the day and during the evenings. Speak to your medical practitioner about malaria prevention before you travel.


• What To Wear for Walks: If you're planning to go on a walk during your trip to Nxai Pan, make sure you're prepared with the walking essentials. This starts with anti-blister socks, which are worth packing whether there is a walking activity on the cards or not. A blister makes walking any distance painful and these wicking, high-performance socks are the answer. For walking in grass, pack a pair of ankle gaiters to keep ticks off your ankles and debris out of your shoes. Pack comfortable, closed, worn-in shoes.

Nxai Pan Luggage Guide

• Light Air Charter Luggage Restrictions: If you are flying by light aircraft between camps on your Botswana safari, find out about luggage size and weight restrictions before you travel. The limited space and small hold on these aircraft make a soft, squashable duffel bags the best choice for travel, so the airline can squash your luggage into the hold. This is also the best type of luggage for mobile safaris, where your luggage will often be transported by trailers with limited capacity.


• Satchels: Taking a satchel ensures you have all your small, personal essentials with you at all times. When you go out on game drives, the right satchel is the perfect way for you to keep your binoculars, insect repellent, phone, and other items on hand. Choose from our range of safari-styled satchels.


• Luggage Accessories: The right luggage accessories provide peace of mind around the weight and safety of your bags. Travel scales, travel trolleys for your duffel bags, and travel locks are handy accessories for your African travels.




Safari Accessories to Pack for Nxai Pan

• High-Quality Binoculars: With wide open spaces aplenty in Nxai Pan, our top packing essential is a pair of safari binoculars from reputable brands. We recommend taking one pair per person so everyone can watch the action.


• A Torch: For every safari, we suggest taking a rechargeable torch. Safety at night in wild places starts with having a light at the ready. While lodges will usually ensure you have a torch-wielding escort for the walk to your room at night, we always like to have our own torch just in case.


• Insect Repellent: Pack a reliable insect repellent - and make sure you pack enough to apply throughout the day and at night. Add to your defences by covering up in BUGTech™ anti-insect clothing.


• Sunscreen: Sunscreen is an essential part of any sun protection strategy. Again, make sure you have enough - and a high enough SPF - for the sun on safari. Cover up in sun protective clothing, a wide-brimmed safari hat, and accessories like the head and neck scarf and sunglasses.


• Tubular Scarf and Knitwear: With eight ways to wear it, the Vintage Print Head&Neck Scarf is a handy safari accessory. There are eight ways to wear it, with benefits for UPF50+ sun protection, windproofing, and to protect your mouth and nose from dust. This is also available in a thermal nanoweave fabric if you are travelling during winter - and we recommend packing a beanie for extra snugness too.




Nxai Pan Safari Packing Checklist

Made for Africa and adventure, our safari clothing, luggage, and gear is tested to be the best for your trip to Nxai Pan National Park. Every item has been safari and expedition tested™ in Botswana and around Africa to ensure they meet our performance standards. For a customised safari packing checklist, use our safari packing list tool.



BUGTech™ Clothing
With built-in UPF50+ sun protection and an anti-insect finish, BUGTech™ clothing is the best safari clothing. This feather-light fabric is highly effective at wicking moisture for cooling and comfort, making it the perfect match for safari conditions. Make sure you pack long-sleeved safari shirts with roll-up sleeve tabs and zip-off safari trousers.
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Non-Technical Safari Clothing
Mix and match technical and non-technical clothing to build the best safari wardrobe. In safari-friendly colours, our range has been designed for comfort from tested fabrics. Pack a selection that includes the Serengeti T-Shirt, joggers and shorts for women and Savute T-Shirt, Cargoes, and Shorts. Our non-technical range has been designed and tested for Africa - and everywhere.
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Wide-Brimmed Safari Hat
A wide-brimmed safari hat gives you 360-degree sun protection for the face and neck without impeding visibility. Wear your hat together with a reliable sunscreen, SAFARITech and BUGTech™ clothing and accessories like the Vintage Print Head&Neck Scarf.
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Safari Jackets and Fleeces
A warm layer is a safari essential all year round. Combine a fleece with a packable waterproof jacket to be rain-ready if you are travelling to see the zebra migration during the wet season and to beat wind chill during the colder months of the year.
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Insect Defence
Prevent bites, stings, and the irritation of bugs by pairing BUGTech™ clothing with a reliable insect repellent. Make sure you apply insect repellent frequently throughout the day to reduce your chances of getting bitten and to repel flies and other insects.
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High-Quality Binoculars
A pair of high-quality binoculars is an investment in great game-viewing on safari. From viewing wildlife in detail to scanning the distant horizon, this is our top safari packing must-have. If you're based in the UK, check out our binoculars rental service (UK only).
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Shoes for Safari
On every safari, make sure you have a pair of closed shoes to wear around camp at night. If you are planning to go on a walk with the San at Nxai Pan, pack comfortable walking shoes that have been worn in before your trip.
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Anti-Blister Socks
There's no room for the pain and discomfort of a bad blister on a holiday. Our anti-blister socks not only reduce the friction that causes blisters; they are also made from wicking, quick-drying, high-performance yarns that are made to keep your feet relatively cool and dry.
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Safari Luggage and Bags
Soft, squashable duffel bags are the best luggage choice for safari. For air transfers by light aircraft or mobile safaris with limited luggage capacity, make sure your bag meets luggage restrictions and is the practical choice for your Southern Africa safari. Take along a daypack or backpack to keep essential safari accessories and personal belongings by your side during activities.
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Botswana Links:
Chobe National Park | Chobe Riverfront | Savuti | One Night In Linyanti | What To Pack For Chobe, Savuti, and Linyanti | Quick Travel Tips for Chobe National Park | The Magic of Nowhere: Destination Inspiration from Mabuasahube in Botswana | Moremi Game Reserve | Khwai Concession | What To Pack For The Okavango Delta | Okavango Delta | Quick Travel Tips for the Okavango Delta | The Okavango Panhandle | Steve's Off The Beaten Track Safaris: Okavango Delta | Mokoro on the Okavango Delta | Great White Space: Makgadikgadi Pans | What To Pack for Makgadikgadi Pans | Quick Travel Guide to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park




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