What to pack for your safari adventure - Part One

Written By Stephan Olivier

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I’m in the mist of last-minute organizing of my upcoming safari and one question that I repeatedly are being asked by some of my guests is “What do I have to pack for my African Safari”. 

Packing for your first safari can be a big ordeal, but it does not have to be like that. This should be an exciting time and most certainly should not stress you out.  I thought to maybe go into a little bit of detail regarding things to pack for an African adventure.  Maybe it can help you or somebody you know in their preparation for their adventure of a lifetime.   

The list of potential things one can pack is as long as the distance to travel to Africa.  They are not the end all be all but I’m hoping it will help you having an stress-free experience.  Therefore, using my own experience and some other research I will try and guide you as much as possible so that you will be excited rather than overwhelmed.

These are just a few of my favourite things or items that I use my self or that I would highly recommend.  I will split this into two parts This is part one as I don’t want to bore you with too long of a blog post.

Packing Tip:

If I must only give you one tip it would have to be this one:

Don’t over think it too much.

 Luggage:

To start this off we must obviously pack our stuff into something so why not start with Luggage or suitcases.

This will entirely be specific according to your airline and modes of transportation but typically speaking majority of international flights will hand you the opportunity to have two pieces of checked in luggage between 20-23 kg’s per bag and one checked in bag of 20 kg on most domestic flights.   If you are however traveling with a small Cessna or bush plane for example you might be really constricted to what type of luggage you can bring as well as weight limits per person.  It is important to make sure you know these beforehand as nobody wants to find out at the airport that you can’t bring your luggage along.

  • Suitcases.

In my opinion a hard sided bag is a great choice for us as a family as we are always bringing gifts back for friends or things for ourselves.  We know that we will only be travelling with large airplanes so that has never been a problem to us.  Luggage can get man handled on airports and knowing that our gifts etc. is safe and securely packed and stacked between layers of clothing always brings peace of mind.  Maybe you are not intending to buy gifts or memorabilia and therefor most likely in no need for a large hard-sided suitcase.   A small foldable duffle bag could always be packed in with your other belongings if you are planning to do a little bit of shopping.  

  • Carry on and personal Items.

Common Carry-on luggage or back packs that measure around 22” x 14” x 9” or less are acceptable at most major airlines as long as they can fit safely in the overhead compartments.  In addition to your carry-on most airlines allow a personal item such as a laptop bag, briefcase, purse, diaper bag or even a beach bag.  Since I am a photographer, I carry all my camera gear in a camera backpack along with my laptop or iPad.  This however does not leave a lot of room for extra clothing etc. so just make sure you bring something extra in a soft bag if you feel the need to do so.  Once again, I would advise to double check with all airlines before travelling.

  • Duffle Bags

For smaller planes and on the fly packing and travelling a larger duffel bag will most certainly be your better bet.  Duffle bags comes in all shapes and sizes, even the legendary all leather safari style bags of old.  Over years duffle bags have come a long way in terms of quality and ergonomics and they can have many uses away from travelling - like being a gym bag, a kid’s sport equipment bag or winter clothing bag that you leave in your vehicle as example.  Many uses from a one-time investment is typically how I shop around. 

Personally though, I have always found that I don’t enjoy carrying big heavy duffle bags when travelling unless you can find something with wheels or maybe have good backpack straps to make it easier on your shoulders and back.    But when packing for a safari they are most certainly very handy especially if you don’t carry large amounts of clothing or extra camera equipment like I do.   

When it comes to travelling everyone has their preferences and with the vast variety of duffle bags, hard and soft suitcases, there is something for everyone.   At the end of the day, you just need to make sure that the airlines or other modes of transportation can accommodate your luggage in all their shapes and forms.

 

Travel tip: 

Unfortunately, some suitcases sometimes do get lost or left behind in the departing airport and it is therefore recommended to pack an extra set of clothes and some mini travel toiletries in your backpack, carry-on or personal item. That way you are covered at least for a day or so until your suitcase arrives safely.

Clothing:

Dressing for an African Safari requires practicality all while staying light, breathable and comfortable that is both, casual and adaptable to changing conditions.

Here is a general guide to help you choose the best clothing:

  1. Neutral or Earth colored tones like brown, green, khaki, olive and tan or beige are recommended on game drives as bright colors may scare or in worst case scenarios attract animals and insects.  Colors like blue or black could attract Tsetse flies for example and black would also be very hot during the summer months.  White is also not a great choice while on the safari drive as it will attract a lot of dust and dirt from riding on the back of the vehicle. These color recommendations are not set in stone and serves as a basic guideline only. Whatever makes you the most comfortable, will be the right choice.

  2. Opt for light and breathable clothing that is also moisture -wicking like quick dry synthetic blends

  3. Mornings and evenings can sometimes be cool while midday temperatures can be hot.  Layering helps to adapt to these changes.

Some essential clothing options:

  • Shirts:

  • Long-sleeved shirts for both men and women that are lightweight and breathable with added UV protection to protect you against sun, bugs, and scratches.

  • Short-sleeved shirts for warm midday conditions.

  • Often shirts made for the fishing industry ticks all the boxes.

  • Golf T-shirts are also very comfortable and practical to wear around the swimming pool.

  • Pants:

  • Lightweight, durable trousers (convertible ones with zip-off legs are versatile).

  • Cargo or Jeans for cooler days. 

  • Jacket/Fleece:

  • A lightweight sweater, fleece or jacket for chilly mornings and evenings.

  • A waterproof or windproof shell for unexpected rain.

  • Swimwear:

  • Ideal for cooling off on a hot summers day.

  • Hat:

  • Wide-brimmed hat or cap with a neck flap for sun protection.

  • Footwear:

  • Comfortable or Sturdy hiking and or walking shoes or boots for walking safaris.

  • Sandals or other lightweight shoes for wearing around your room or the pool area

  • Socks:

  • Pure Merino Wool socks or merino blends have long been a favoured for travelling since its typically comfortable, they dry easy when wet and they fight odor.  They are also great in wicking moisture away from your body especially in summer when you are bound to sweat.  They also reduce friction that means less blisters to worry about. They will keep you cool and dry in summer and warm in winter.  A good fit for any active traveller.

  • Accessories:

  • Buff or scarf to protect against dust during drives but can also keep your ears and neck warm during those chilly days.

  • Sunglasses with UV protection.

  • Lightweight gloves for chilly mornings (optional).

Clothing Tip:

Whatever makes you the most comfortable, will be the right choice.

Personal Caring Products and general medication.

Personal toiletries and general medication are not something I can really recommend as its as unique as any individual traveller.  I can however make some suggestions regarding staying organized while still staying functional.

Generally, these are the things that I would pack for a safari.

  • Toiletries: 

Keeping all your personal toiletries organised and separated from your clothing is always a great idea.  A hanging Toiletry bag is often a great way to keep organised as it tends to have various sections for storage while still staying small and compact.

  • Travel size shampoo and conditioner of your choice. 

  • Razor and shaving foam.

  • Soap or bodywash

  • Deodorant or antiperspirant

  • Moisturizer

  • Toothpaste, and toothbrush.

  • For flights I keep a small separate bag (that will be in my carry on) with necessary toiletries handy in small travel bottles.  Just be sure they are not more than 100ml/bottle.

  • These super convenient His and Her kits, is a handy way to just grab and go.

  • General Medication:

Travel Pouches or packing cubes are very handy to keep your suitcase or backpack organized with some of the essentials listed below:

Personal Care Tip:

Staying well organized with all your different personal care products and essential and non essential medication will help reducing stress while travelling.

This is just a summary of some of the things that I myself pack for any African adventure or would recommend to anybody travelling to South Africa or other parts of Africa. In Part two we discuss more travel accessories that will make travelling a breeze, and off course, I will discuss Camera Equipment.

Stephan Olivier
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Welcome to my first blog post.