What to take & What to Wear

1) Luggage and Bags

  • Main Bag

  • Soft-sided duffel or soft suitcase

  • Light-aircraft flights typically allow 15–20 kg total, including hand luggage

  • Avoid hard-shell cases on fly-in safaris

  • Daypack

  • Small backpack for camera, sunscreen, hat, water and layers

  • Choose something comfortable and lightweight

2) Clothing

  • Neutrals: khaki, olive, beige, taupe

  • Avoid bright colours and white on drives. If your destination has Tsetse flies avoid blue as they are attracted to blue

  • Dark colours attract heat and insects

Essentials

  • 2–3 lightweight shirts

  • 1–2 long-sleeved shirts (sun and mosquito protection)

  • 2 pairs lightweight trousers

  • Shorts or zip-offs for warmer afternoons

  • Skirts and dresses good for safaris in vehicles rather than walking

  • Light jumper or fleece for early mornings and evenings

  • Warm jacket for early morning drives

  • Comfortable closed shoes

  • Sandals or flip-flops for camp

  • Wide-brimmed hat or cap

  • Swimwear

  • Lightweight scarf (dust protection)

  • Pashmina for dinners

  • Socks suitable for walking

Safari packing essentials including neutral clothing, hat, binoculars, camera, and travel documents laid out before trip
Man wearing safari clothing seated on a safari vehicle, surrounded by a natural landscape

3) Tech and Optics

  • Camera or phone with good zoom

  • Extra batteries and memory cards

  • Power bank

  • Hard drive if you want to empty photos off the memory cards and have a laptop with you

  • Binoculars (one pair per adult ideal)

  • Universal plug adapter

  • Head torch or small flashlight

4) Health and Personal Items

  • Basic first-aid kit (plasters, painkillers, rehydration salts)

  • Prescription medication

  • High-factor sunscreen

  • Insect repellent including mosquito bracelets

  • After bite

  • After-sun or soothing lotion

  • Hand sanitiser and wipes

  • Lip balm with SPF

  • If applicable:

  • Malaria medication (region dependent)

  • Motion-sickness tablets for boat safaris

  • Cash in USD to tip and in general to pay with. Accepted almost everywhere although you will often be given change in the local currency.

Travel map with binoculars and visas used for planning an international safari trip

5) Documents

  • Passport (valid 6 months with at least two blank pages)

  • Printed or digital copies of your itinerary

  • Travel insurance details

  • Vaccination documents (if required)

  • Credit and debit cards

  • Emergency contacts

6) Comfort Items

  • Lightweight gloves and beanie hat for winter mornings

  • Travel pillow (useful on long transfers)

Traveler packing a suitcase with safari clothing and gear for an African wildlife adventure

7) What to Leave Behind

  • Drones (often restricted in parks)

  • Camouflage clothing (illegal in some countries)

  • Excess jewellery

  • Hard suitcases (on fly-in safaris)

  • Hairdryers (often unnecessary and limited by camp power systems)

8) Packing Tips

  • Roll clothes to save space

  • Pack layers rather than heavy items

  • Keep cameras and essentials in your daypack

  • Use packing cubes to separate clean and dusty clothing

  • Check your luggage weight before leaving home

Contact us to design your tailor-made safari