How to pack for an African safari
If you follow my social channels, you’ve likely noticed I have an affinity for all things Africa - it’s been the most life changing place I’ve visited and it’s without a doubt what I love to sell the most!
I spent over 2 months traveling through Southern & Eastern Africa, having visited Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Tanzania, including Zanzibar.
What I love the most about Africa is how ‘surprising’ and ‘diverse’ it is - from the open grasslands of Tanzania to the mountainous sand dunes of Namibia. From the giant elephants in Chobe National Park to the tiny meerkats of the Kalahari. But what can be found across the entire continent is the warmth and hospitality of the people - they will without a doubt be a highlight of anyone’s trip.
With my focus on Africa, I’d love to share probably one of the most frequently asked questions, “What and how do I pack for an African safari!?!” Keep reading below and I’ll give you some great tips!
Be prepared to get dusty and dirty
While a classic Southern or East Africa safari is very easy and requires little to no exertion - you spend hours just sitting on a vehicle - expect to be dusty, dirty, and even muddy at the end of your days. Given that you’ll be far from paved roads, the openness of the safari vehicles means dust gets everywhere, including any camera equipment so be sure to take good care of them!
Travel light
While I might have just scared you about being very dirty, I implore you to travel light! What a lot of people do not know is the lodges & camps do laundry at little or no cost. So only bring a few outfits with you so you cycle them a few times while you’re on safari. Bring the previous days clothing to the main lodge / tent in the morning before you set off for the day and when you return for sundowners, they’ll be waiting for you neatly folded on your bed.
It’s also important to take consideration that you’ll likely be flying between camps on small propeller aircrafts who have a strict luggage allowance of 40 pounds maximum in a soft suitcase (a duffle is actually preferred). So leave those hard-shelled AWAY bags at home for this trip!
Layer, layer, layer
What I personally didn’t expect was the swings in temperature changes. If you are traveling to Botswana in ‘peak season’ which is their winter (June to August), the days are warm and clear, but its down into the 40s at night! And don’t forget altitude - during my visit to the Ngorongoro Crater which is just a few hundred miles south of the equator, it’s very cold at night and then warm during the day because of it’s elevation at 7,000+ feet above sea level.
So it’s always best to dress in layers that can be added and removed easily throughout the day. Start with a light fleece in the morning before shedding to a long sleeve shirt by mid-morning which can then have the sleeves rolled up with the mid-day heat. Light /earth color clothing is also encouraged because it repels the flies and mosquitos.
Use protection!
Get your mind out of the gutter! I’m talking about sun and bug protection. You’ll need to protect yourself from the sun in these air vehicles. Clothing usually has some SPF protection but a wide brim hat will keep the sun off your face, ears, and neck.
To repel mosquitos, use bug spray with DEET. Nearly every lodge and camp site has mosquito netting for added protection and comfort when sleeping which is when mosquitos are most active. As for the flies, be prepared for them…especially if you are following the migration. More animals = more poop = more flies.
Accessorize
Be sure to pack lots of things that you’ll need through the course of the day when you are away from the lodge & camp. Those accessories include:
Technology - Camera (DSLR is great), iPhone, portable USB charger, flashlight, binoculars
Personal care - Sunscreen, bug spray, wet wipes (a lifesaver!!), reusable water bottle, band-aids, tissues
Medicine - Malaria Pills (consult your doctor), aspirin / Tylenol, stomach remedies, antibiotics such as Cipro (for worse case scenarios), small first-aid kit
Miscellaneous - Crisp US Dollars for tipping (small bills are great), swimsuit, bandana, flip flops
A sense of adventure
This is the most important part!!! Travel to Africa with an open mind, open heart, and a great sense of adventure and you will be blown away! From the scenery to sights and to the people, it will leave an ever lasting impression that will be hard to beat and leave you wanting to visit over and over again. I know it has for me!
In summary, always think about the old proverb:
“You may leave Africa but Africa never leaves you”
