Packing for an African safari? Here's all you need to know

Whether you’re heading on holiday for a once-in-a-lifetime safari in Africa, a city and cultural break, or for some beach serenity (or a combination) there’s always the temptation to overpack and take much more than you need. If you are doing a multi-destination holiday such as a safari followed by a few days exploring a city or relaxing on the beach – try to pack mindfully so that items are useful for more than one purpose or occasion.

Top Tips

Weight limits: Check your routes – international airlines have varying weight limits with some having a much greater allowance that others so it’s definitely worth checking their website for the most up-to-date baggage weight restrictions.

If you are taking internal flights in small, light aircraft, remember to check the total baggage weight limit (often between 15-20kg per person), so try and keep your packing to a minimum if taking this kind of flight.

Read about what it's like to fly in bush planes here.

Another way to save a little weight and space in your luggage is to wear your heaviest and bulky items when you travel such as walking shoes or hiking boots.

Temperature: Africa is generally a very warm continent but can be very seasonally dependent. At times of the year it can get cold, especially at night, so don't forget to pack some warm clothing too.

Baggage: Soft bags such as duffel bags are preferable to suitcases, especially if you're flying on smaller aircraft between safari camps as they will pack more easily. Please make sure your checked bags are within preferred dimensions. Some airports are placing restrictions on this due to oversized bags are too large for airport conveyor belts and will not be accepted on the flight. Or you may be expected to pay an extra charge for oversized bags.

Hand luggage: Always pack some essentials like underwear, toothbrush etc in your hand luggage, in the rare event that your checked baggage is lost or delayed.

It’s always better to carry items such as laptops, tablets, cameras (and lenses), and binoculars in your hand luggage as air carriers will often not accept responsibility for items that go missing or are damaged if you pack them into your checked baggage.

Currency. Make sure to take some local currency but also USD$ are widely accepted for tipping and gratuities.

Essential Travel Documents and Money

Before setting off on your safari, ensure you have all the necessary documents. A valid passport, visa (if required), and travel insurance details are essential. Flight tickets and itineraries should be easily accessible, and it's a good idea to carry both digital and printed copies of important documents. Bringing local currency and a travel-friendly debit or credit card will ensure smooth transactions during your journey.

• Passport, visa (if required), travel insurance details.
• Flight tickets and itinerary.
• Local currency and a travel-friendly credit/debit card.
• Copies of important documents (both digital and printed)

Personal Items

The African bush can be harsh on the skin and body, so taking the right personal care items is crucial. Insect repellent with DEET will help keep mosquitoes and other bugs at bay, while a high-factor sun cream and lip salve will protect against intense sun exposure. A basic medical kit with essentials like antihistamines, antiseptic cream, and prescription medication ensures you're prepared for minor ailments. Opt for biodegradable toiletries to minimise environmental impact.

• Insect repellent (with DEET for maximum effectiveness)
• Anti-malaria prophylactics (if recommended for your destination)
• High-factor sun protection cream and lip salve
• Basic medical kit (aspirin, plasters, Imodium, antihistamine, antiseptic cream)
• Prescription medication (ensure you bring enough for the whole trip)
• Personal toiletries (biodegradable where possible)

Essential Gear

Bringing the right equipment will enhance your safari experience. Binoculars are a must for spotting wildlife at a distance, while a good-quality camera ensures you capture incredible moments. Extra batteries and memory storage will prevent running out of power in the bush. A strong torch or headlamp is useful for navigating in dimly lit areas, and a multi-tool or Swiss Army knife can be handy in various situations. A reusable water bottle helps you stay hydrated throughout your adventure.

• Journal and pen if you'd like to record your adventure – don’t forget to join the Far and Wild Community!
• Day bag or small rucksack to carry handy items on safari or whist walking through the bush. This could double up as your hand luggage bag.
• Binoculars
• Torch/headtorch – useful if you’re heading on safari
• Camera and lenses, spare memory cards, chargers – here’s our handy guide to Top Tips For Wildlife Photography on safari should you have any questions.
• Weatherproof bag to protect camera if travelling during the rainy season
• Mobile phone and charger
• Appropriate power/plug adaptors – Top tip - why not take a mini extension lead. Then you only need one adapter and can plug everything else in.
• Playing cards, book/Kindle
• Guidebooks – see our reading list
• Lightweight travel towel
• Refillable water bottle – why? It may help reduce the use and waste of plastic bottles whilst you’re on holiday.
• Combination lock for your luggage.

Top Safari Packing Tips

There’s a whole host of different types of safari holiday, whether you’re going to Botswana for a luxury safari, Zimbabwe or Zambia for walking safaris or Rwanda to trek for mountain gorillas, there’s so many variations it can be hard to decide what and what not to take but here are some of what we know are the essential clothing items you’ll need. Generally, layering of clothing works best if you’re going someplace where temperatures can drop also check when the dry, green and rainy seasons are likely to occur as this can play a big part in your packing choices.

• Sun hats, sunglasses, prescription glasses/contact lenses.
• Clothing in neutral colours if possible (avoid bright colours for better wildlife viewing, especially if you're doing a walking safari, and avoid dark colours (which can attract the flies).
• Lightweight jacket/fleece for cooler mornings and evenings.
• Lightweight rain jacket if travelling during the rainy season - also useful for cooler mornings and evenings.
• Comfortable short and long-sleeved shirts, t-shirts and tops.
• Shorts and long trousers. Zip-off trousers are a great option to keep weight and space minimised.
• Swimwear/beachwear – if your safari property has a pool.
• Flip flops – useful for showers or by the pool depending on where you’re going on safari.
• Comfortable walking shoes or boots depending on the terrain you’ll be walking and hiking through. Top Tip – make sure these are broken in as uncomfortable footwear can become painful.
• Comfortable lightweight pyjamas – some nights in Africa be cool.
• Comfortable dress or shirt for the evening meals. These don’t have to be too smart but sometimes people like to make an effort for meals or meet new-found friends around a welcoming bar. Some properties do have a dress code for dining, so it is worth checking.

A note on plastic bags: It’s preferable not to take any with you. In the African continent there are currently 34 countries with many more countries following suit - putting stringent regulations in place to ban plastic bags so it’s certainly worth checking with a country’s specific travel advice page so you can avoid any awkward situations when arriving at your destination.

Pack Greener

By this we don’t mean that the majority of belongings you pack need to be green in colour – we mean pack responsibly and sustainably.

• Pack responsibly - Even making small adjustments to how much you take can have an impact on the environment. The more you pack, the heavier your luggage and the more fuel it takes to get you to places.
• Pack sustainably - Be mindful of what disposable items you take with you. For example: a plastic toothbrush – your home country might have better plastic recycling facilities in place than at your destination. If you throw your plastic toothbrush away in another country, it can be much more of an environmental problem to dispose of correctly. There are so many greener and sustainably minded alternatives to those that appear easy.
• Pack For A Purpose – This wonderful organisation works with others around the world to benefit local people through those who travel. Their mission is to positively impact communities around the world by assisting travellers who want to make meaningful contributions to the destinations they visit.

Read more about their awesome work here and see how you can help – Pack For A Purpose

If you would like to learn more about how to make your holiday more sustainable – we’re in the know and have jargon-busting, easy-to-follow info on how you can make a difference when you travel sustainably – Read more