So, you’re wondering what to pack for a safari. It’s not like you go on these everyday, so this may seem a bit daunting at first. You’ll get to adventure into the bush or open savannah, visit villages, and experience local cuisine. The more prepared you are from a packing standpoint, the more you’ll be able to enjoy all of these activities.
We took a look at the different types of equipment and clothing you shouldn’t forget to pack so keep this list handy as you prepare for your trip!
ELECTRONICS
CAMERA
Be sure to bring your camera’s large memory cards as well, as you’re bound to fill those up pretty quickly with all the exciting things you may encounter.
IPAD
This will be helpful when it comes to researching the different types of wildlife and cultures you might interact with on your trip.
PLUG CONVERTERS
These are an essential when traveling to Africa, especially if you want to charge your other electronics!
CLOTHING
SANDALS
You’ll most likely be wearing hiking boots or sneakers during your day-time excursions, so slipping into a pair of sandals or flip-flops to rest your feet at the end of the day is a great option to have.
WATERPROOF BAG
This is helpful when it comes to protecting your more valuable items and should be used as much as possible during your time there.
HAT
Definitely try to bring a hemp hat on your trip, preferably with draw strings on the bottom so that it stays on in case it happens to be windy that day. This will protect you from the sun’s harsh rays.
SPARE GLASSES
This is mostly for contact wearers as oftentimes the dust you may encounter on your trip makes it difficult to wear contacts. Ensure that you have some back-up!
CLOTHING IN EARTH TONES
Wearing bright clothing actually makes you extremely attractive to certain insects in Africa, so it’s best to wear neutral colors. This is important, so be sure you’ve packed the right stuff!
LONG SLEEVS AND PANTS AS PEAK GAME VIEWING IS AT DAWN AND DUSK
While it might feel counterintuitive because you expect heat, you can find the game drives downright chilly. You’ll also avoid excessive bug bites, sun exposure, and cuts and scrapes.
EQUIPMENT
FLASHLIGHT
Because you’ll often be in the wilderness, it’s important to have a flashlight on you at all times. Your guides are likely to have these as well, but it might come in handy when you least expect it.
BINOCULARS
Bringing quality binoculars will help you get the most of your safari so be sure to purchase a pair.
FIRST-AID
ANTISEPTIC GEL
While your guides will have most of this covered, it’s nice to have some of the smaller things, like antiseptic gel, handy for your own use.
INSECT REPELLANT
This is a must and should be kept on-hand at all times. Granted, if you’re dressed in the pants and long sleeves that we recommended before, you shouldn’t suffer from too many bites, but it is still a great thing to have handy.
BAND-AIDS
Whether it’s from a blister or a scrape, it’s nice to have these with you at all times.
We’ve gone over what you need for your safari – but do you have all the details of your trip 100% figured out? That’s generally where a travel agent can step in and take the reigns for you. Get started planning!