The Complete Packing List for a Safari Trip

Are you planning your first ever African safari trip and you have absolutely NO idea where to get started with your safari packing list? Luckily for you, I went through the same thing recently, googling every single article to see if I was missing anything important to pack for my trip to Kenya. Having experienced it myself. I have written this guide for you as the ultimate packing list for safari so you don’t forget to bring the essentials.

This was my packing list for Kenya so if you are planning to visit there then make sure to check out my 7 day Kenya itinerary.

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Things to Keep in Mind

• It is important to keep in mind the time of year that you are going and the destination. Make sure to check the weather forecast beforehand to ensure that you are packing correctly.

• You should also be aware of the luggage restrictions. Some internal airlines in Africa that take you to safari only allow you to take a 15 kg soft shell bag. Make sure to check this before going. I made sure to bring a carry on for this and it worked just fine.
  
• Pack according to your itinerary. If you are planning to visit the beaches, make sure to also bring some non-safari clothing too.
  
• When on Safari stick to khaki and beige colours for good camouflage, bright colours can startle wildlife. It is also a good idea to avoid clothing that rustles when you move in it.
  
• Look up the adapter types in the country you traveling to. Kenya had the same adaptor as UK so this was really handy for me to know.
  
• Check for any necessary vaccinations and medication that you may need to bring on your trip. Some places require you to get a yellowfever vaccination, and in some regions of each country you will also need to take malaria tablets with you.This is an essential one to remember for your packing list for safari.

The Essentials

• Passports, visas, and travel documents: These are probably THE most important items to bring. Make sure you have your passport, any required documentation, and any visas you may need to enter the country. Most African countries require a visa or an e-visa, and sometimes you may also be required to show proof of your yellow fever vaccination.

• Cash & cards: Do not forget to bring your wallet and your cards as you will most likely need to take cash out if you choose to buy some souvenirs while there.

What to Wear to a Safari

When putting together your packing list for safari, It is best to pack clothes in neutral colors, such as khaki or beige. These tones help you blend into the environment, making wildlife encounters more seamless. Make sure to avoid bright colours such as blues and blacks, which are known to attract tsetse flies. Here are some ideas on the types of clothes that you can pack.

• Thin long-sleeved tops: you will need these to protect against the UV rays as well as keeping you warm during the evenings or early mornings. These tops are comfortable and look stylish too.
  
• T-shirts: you will always need these, to wear as layers or to dress up your safari outfit.
  
• Versatile long trousers (thin): I found that these were one of the most useful items on my trip. They are comfortable, and perfect to wear daily as well as on the safari. I packed some beige coloured trousers from Uniqlo for the safari. Something like this is very easy to wear whether you are going on a game drive or lounging at your camp.
  
• Leggings / hiking pants: if your itinerary includes some sort of hiking or activities, I would recommend packing hiking pants. Otherwise, if you are already bringing leggings for sports those are a great alternative for hiking pants.
  
• Shorts: for the safari during the day game drive or on a hot day, I would suggest packing some shorts that are khaki or beige coloured. You can also bring some shorts for daily wear, such as to hotel breakfast or when you are out in the town.
  
• Light dresses: now this will depend on whether you are a dress person or not but I am the type of person that mostly only wears dresses, so I brought about 10 dresses with me…about 2 of these were khaki/beige colours and the rest were colourful dresses as those look great in pictures. This will completely depend on your style how many you will choose to bring, but they are very easy to wear especially if it is hot weather at your destination. If you are looking for some nice ones to wear on safari, I really love this one and this one.
  
• Hiking & ankle socks: bring some high ankle socks that you can wear with hiking books if you are planning to wear those on the safari. Make sure to bring a couple of those as you will definitely be needing them. You can buy them here.
  
• Hat: I would strongly suggest brining a hat for your safari. Not only do they make you look much cooler, but they are also great at protecting you from the sun. If you are planning to wear one on your game drives, you can get a hat with a strap that attached to your chin for ease. This is one I quite like for safari.

• Sunglasses: sunglasses are an obvious one. They are great for protecting you against the dust during the game drives and of course prevent the sun from glaring into your eyes.
  
• Nightwear: don’t forget to bring your pyjamas!
  
• Hiking Boots / sturdy shoes for nature activities: while it is not necessary to wear hiking boots during safari, it is highly recommended as you may be required to walk through some mud and tall grass. On my game drives in Kenya I did not really need hiking boots. However, wearing them was great as I was prepared for anything. Others also chose to wear high boots which work just as well. I love these ones from Dolomiti as they are extremely comfortable.
  
• Sandals: sandals are also great to bring for daily wear, around the hotel or to wear for the sundowners.
  
• Light rain jacket: the climate in Africa can be unpredictable, so pack a rain jacket just in case. This is particularly useful if you are planning to travel during April/May. This is considered rainy season and it may rain a lot more than the rest of the year. But again this also depends on the country so it may be worth checking the forecast. Something like this is great as it is also very compact.
  
• Sleeveless lightweight underlayer: I bought this thin gilet from Uniqlo and it was one of the best things I brought. It was so versatile and came in handy at 5 am during the early morning game drive when it was freezing outside. It is perfect if you plan to do any evening game drives as well. It is also very easy to roll up and store and barely takes up any space!

Toiletries & Health Must-Haves

• Medication: Paracetamol, Anti-Septic Cream, Rehydration Salts, Imodium, Anti-
  Inflammatories, Anti-Histamines, motion sickness tablets & Band-Aids are all
  good to take. 
  
• Insect repellent: this one is a must, especially if you are planning to travel to the coast. I found that the insect repellent I brought with me still did not protect me from getting eaten alive by mosquitoes but hopefully you have better luck with this. I highly recommend this one.
  
• Anti-malarial medication (if needed): this is a very important one. Make sure to research where you are going and if it is a malaria zone. For example, I was advised that if I traveled outside Nairobi (which I did), then then malaria medication was necessary. It costs about £50 and you can get it as your local pharmacy or travel clinic.
  
• Shampoo and conditioner: most camps provide this, but if you are planning to stay in camps and lodges, it may be worth packing your own travel sizes shampoo and conditioner in case they do not. I love using these small bottles for toiletries.
  
• Hand sanitiser / hand wipes: you will need these more than you think! The hand wipes are great to take with you on game drives and are ideal for daily use too. The Wet Ones are my favourites to choose.
  
• Sunscreen: do not forget about those UV rays. Sunscreen is super important to bring with you even if you do not see sun on the forecast. I would suggest bringing a face SPF (this one is super light and feels like wearing nothing) and one for the body too.

Safari Gear & Tech

• Portable Charger: this is definitely something I cannot survive without. When you are out all day taking photos and videos on game drives, the battery on your phone will drain a lot faster than usual. Make sure to charge this beforehand! This is the one I use. It is a great one to throw in your bag and use at any time.
  
• Camera: when making the packing list for safari, a camera is one item you do not want to forget. There is a lot of wildlife to be captured, and you will witness some unforgettable moments that will need to be documented. I use the Sony a7 iv camera which is a great camera and easy to use.
  
• Camera Lens: if you don’t already own one, I recommend hiring a telephoto lens. I hired mine from Lenses For Hire, which I highly recommend. It was a very smooth process to hire a lens from here. They delivered the lens to my house and collected it to take it back. I hired the 100-400 mm lens and it was ideal for getting close up shots of wildlife. You could also go up to 600 mm to capture those detailed shots.
  
• Go Pro: if you are planning to do any activities or go snorkelling, it may be worth bringing a Go Pro. I brought a Go Pro Hero 12 with a chest strap which was great for rafting.
  
• Spare Battery: don’t forget those spare batteries for your camera in case it dies. This can happen in a day if you are using it a lot. The ones I use are here.
  
• Memory Cards: there is nothing worse than running out of space on your memory card and having to delete photos while missing some key moments on your game drive. Make sure to bring an extra one with you always, just in case. The ones I use for my Sony camera are linked here.
  
• Chargers & Cables: this is another important one. Don’t forget your phone chargers, camera chargers, and any adapters you may need.
  
• Hard drive: I highly recommend investing in a good hard drive in case you need to free up some space on your phone/camera. I use this LaCie one and I love it.
  
• Universal adapter: I cannot go anywhere without this universal adapter.

Accessories (optional)

• Belts: to add a small touch to your safari outfits, you can choose to add a belt. I chose to wear a leopard print belt which elevated an all-beige outfit quite a lot.
  
• Scarves/bandanas: these are also a fun addition to add to your outfit. Something like this can take your outfit from boring to fun in seconds.
  
• Small bag: you can choose to bring a small waist bag to keep your valuables close at all times which can be quite handy during a safari.
  
• Water bottle: when making your packing list for safari, think about staying hydrated as the game drive can be quite long. In the heat you get dehydrated quickly so it is good idea to always carry a bottle of water with you.

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Hope this helps to put together your packing list for safari. Have the best time and don’t forget to take lots of photos. Those are the memories you will get to keep forever!