When creating safari packing list, the brief is to blend functionality and a modicum of style into about 15 kilograms – roughly the luggage allowance on the bush planes that whisk safari guests to lodges, though it might be even less. By all means splash out on fancy gadgets or study stills from Out of Africa to create a mood board for a capsule wardrobe, if that sparks joy. (For specific suggestions on the items below, browse our fashion editor’s 'what to wear on safari'.)
What luggage should I take on safari?
To carry the clobber, choose a soft-sided suitcase or duffel bag, nothing with a hard shell. “Even though it’s tempting to take your much-loved wheelie,” says writer Harriet Compston, “this can fit into the light aircraft much more easily.” Conservation writer Sarah Marshall goes everywhere with fabric or tarp-based water-resistant luggage from Eastpak or Osprey, especially the latter’s Rolling Transporter 60. As a day bag, safari writer Jane Broughton swears by the Sealand moonbag made in her hometown Cape Town from recycled nylon and sailcloth. “It’s just big enough for my passport, purse and phone while travelling, then great for game drives and walks to store sunglasses, lip balm, SPF and tissues close to hand.” Those carrying extra lenses for cameras or binoculars will need a larger day pack.
What better time to embrace the belt bag trend than on a trip like this, when going hands-free is, well, freeing. Artipoppe’s cotton-linen design is more spacious than it looks, worked well for the airport as well as on drives, and has become my trusty go-to at home since returning, too. Sarah Bannerman
I’ve always been a hard-shell suitcase fan, and the thought of packing a holdall for a longhaul trip feels so unfamiliar that it’s almost unnerving, so I wanted to find something that would pass all checks and regulations, but still felt relatively in-keeping with how I’ve always packed. Kipling is a brand I hadn’t come across before, but its collection of soft, lightweight luggage meant I had a choice when it came to safari-appropriate bags. I chose the Spontaneous design in Medium, and I’m confident it was the right size for my 15kg allowance on the small plane from Nairobi to Kenya. Sarah Bannerman
What clothes should I pack for a safari?
Comfort is crucial, and these days, as Jane Broughton notes, “stylish athleisure wear is perfectly acceptable”. She means leggings rather than tracksuits, but overall a safari wardrobe is a simple capsule of comfortable layer items in shades of neutral earth tones, creams and greens that will traverse the gamut of chilly mornings in an open vehicle, blazing midday sun, and everything in between. Avoid camouflage (associated solely with the military in some countries) and bright colours. Also, avoid dark colours, metallic fabric and blues - the tsetse fly is attracted to them.
These are the must-have clothing items to pack for a safari holiday
- On the savannah, stretchy trousers, jodhpurs, cargos, utility trousers or soft drawstring trousers in khaki or earthy muted shades can be matched with t-shirts – “Those that contain polygiene are great,” advises Sarah Marshall.
- UPF40 Patagonia tops and long-sleeved linen shirts (that don’t require ironing and can be hand washed in cold water) in similar colours. “I love zip-off cargo trousers, which are shorts and trousers in one,” says Sarah Marshall.
- Sunrise and sunset will demand a light, neutral-coloured safari jacket as the temperature will drop. A lightweight fleece or cashmere hoodie is handy for nippy moments, and should aboslutely make your Safari packing list. A thin Uniqlo puffer jacket or primaloft jacket that scrunches up to nothing. Safari maestro Lisa Grainger takes a water- and wind-proof thin jacket that rolls into a ball.
- Necessary accessories include a roomy but lightweight scarf as an easy and versatile accessory that can be draped over shoulders during game drives for sun or dust protection, used for coverage when a cool breeze sets in or for al fresco eating in the evenings, or wrapped around hair to protect it from dust. Alice Gully, co-owner of Aardvark Safari, is a fan of the kikoy – that sarong-like wrap-around ubiquitous on the Swahili coast of East Africa, especially Kenya. “These are so useful and multipurpose – as a scarf if you are cold, a wrap on the beach, a makeshift towel, or something to mop up child-induced incidents. They also wash and dry quickly.”
When we got caught in a downpour mid evening dive on our first night at the lodge, I was grateful for having packed a shower-proof coat (with a hood), and I was confident that Barbour’s all-weather reputation would mean any one of its lighter designs would suffice, and I was right. What’s more? The colours lend themselves naturally to the unwritten rules of safari dressing. Sarah Bannerman
WNU Chamonix Jumper
Layering is key, no matter what time of year you travel, but when you’re packing light, there’s probably no need for more than one jumper, and an oversized crew-neck is the way to go. This cream style from With Nothing Underneath was my in-flight insulation, and I threw it around my shoulders when the alarm went off at 4.30am each morning to take to the roads in the dark. Sarah Bannerman
WNU The Boyfriend
Linen separates are a non-negotiable, and no-one does it better than With Nothing Underneath, the British brand whose original product offering centred around the linen shirt. The sage-green colourway is undeniably perfect for this kind of adventure, and there’s a matching short that makes prep effortless. Sarah Bannerman
The oversized Imelda trousers by Barbour were the pair I wore on repeat during my stint at a Kenyan safari lodge in October. They’re made from a super lightweight shell fabric so they added no extra bulk to my luggage (a huge positive and my favourite thing about them, despite how much I love the aesthetic), and were breezy enough to wear on the daytime drives when the sun was out. They’re also cut to ankle length, so they didn’t drag on the ground during bush walks, and skimmed the top of my walking boots meaning my entire leg was covered – crucial in the evenings when the bugs come out to play. Sarah Bannerman
- A safari hat is obligatory – a panama, wide-brimmed leather hat or Akubra is nice, but if space is at a premium, any wide-brimmed hat that can be crushed to fit luggage. Or as Will Bolsover, founder of Natural World Safari puts it, “a cap or beanie – whether it’s hot or cold, just cover your head!”
- Safaris can get cold! In the winter months of May, June, July and Aug, a beanie and a cashmere scarf can replace the wide-brimmed hat and linen scarf, and lined gloves and thicker socks come into play. Africa Travel Centre co-owner Frances Geoghegan packs thermals and a torch for early winter mornings – and if you’re cold-blooded Australian travel writer Chloe Sachdev you bring a hot water bottle everywhere, too (the best lodges do tend to pop them into the vehicle every morning in winter).
- Footwear seems to divide opinions. Some favour ankle boots for support and protection: many prefer trail shoes (more nimble for hopping in and out of vehicles and for bush walks, they dry quicker and are less hot). Depending on personal preference, hiking boots work for walking safari that involves hours trudging through the bush but aren’t necessary for quicker tracking experiences. Don’t, says Nairobi-based travel writer Wendy Watta, bother with trainers. “I packed them once in the rainy season and they got ruined, plus trekking through thorny bushes my skin got pricked the entire time”. Pack different shoes for camp – breathable sandals or flip-flops for hot days.
- Don’t overlook socks. Lisa Grainger recommends Smartwool socks, which are a stretch-blend of merino wool from New Zealand.
- High-quality polarised sunglasses cut down on glare and eye strain when peering into the bush.
- Don’t forget your swimming costume if the lodges have pools.
- Bring extra undies. Lisa Grainger warns that many lodges won’t wash them so she always brings a little packet of powder for an overnight wash and dry.
A small silk scarf might just become the most hard-working item in a safari wardrobe – not only did I fasten this Toteme style around my neck on every excursion and hide my skin from the bugs, but I also used it to shield my face from the sand and dust when the roads got bumpy. Sarah Bannerman
A good pair of walking boots is a worthy investment for endless reasons, but on safari it’s almost essential. These Salomon X Ultra 360’s might be made from leather and suede but they’re surprisingly lightweight, and supremely comfortable. I wore mine on every drive – we stopped for coffees and breakfast every now and then, and jumping down from the truck and wandering through the grass required something fairly protective. But I’ve also had a lot of wear out of them on home turf, too – I recently took them on a long weekend in Norfolk to embrace the beach in autumn. Sarah Bannerman
What gadgets should I take on safari?
- Dust off the SLR camera and telephoto lenses. Sarah Marshall suggests a mirrorless camera: “These are the lightest and have a really high frame rate per second, so you can catch all the action. I’d recommend a Nikon Z6i with a 100-400mm lens. I use a Z9 but that’s more of a pro level.”
- A GoPro is also a fun addition to a game-drive, and has a stabilisation tool which works well on bouncy game drives.
- Binoculars are key, especially in parks where off-roading is banned. “Whilst a limited number of lodges do provide individual binoculars, the majority do not. This invariably leads to guests having to rely on borrowing their guides’ pair for a few seconds of snatched clarity. Much better to bring your own pair and be able to fully appreciate truly wonderful sights like the face of the white headed vulture,” advises Frances Geoghegan. “The best in the business are Swarovski Optik, but try to make sure that the pair have specifications of 8x40 and 10x42. They will be the one item of kit you will not regret."
- A Leatherman is always handy. “It doesn’t matter whether you have a flat tyre, or need to open a beer, this is essential,” argues Will Bolsover. “But remember to take it out of your hand luggage, as it’s not popular with airport security.”
- A powerful torch for deep dark nights in the bush is essential. “The Fenix LD30 torch is the best compact torch with five brightness settings,” Will Jones, founder of Journeys by Design, enthuses, “And reassuringly solid and metal in your hand.” Lisa Grainger is a head torch fan – that classic scout accessory. “It means you have your hands free in a tent to unpack and can see what you are doing.”
- If going entirely off the beaten track, a satellite phone is tempting, and more than useful. Will Jones uses the Thuraya phone for jaunts into the wilds of Sudan, Chad and Eritrea.
- Most top-end lodges provide yoga mats but just in case Sarah Marshall brings a travel mat from Lululemon.
What toiletries should I take on safari?
- “Instead of filling my wash bag with newly-bought boxes of endless travel medication like Dioralyte or Imodium, I take my St John’s Ambulance first aid kit,” says travel writer Harriet Compston. “I’ve had it for 20 years and just keep on restocking it. It’s more compact and squashable in suitcases and it contains some serious plasters.”
- Will Jones never goes anywhere without rehydration salts. “Nine times out of ten the wobbles on the road are resolved with a good salt and sugar rebalance,” he believes. Alice Gully, co-owner of Aardvark Safaris, seconds that and adds dissolvable paracetamol.
- For “tired travel skin, dry lips, and too much sun”, Alice Gully also loves Elizabeth Arden Eight-hour cream or Bio Oil as an all-purpose salve.
- Contact-lense-wearer Will Bolsover swears by Optrex Eye spray – “an essential for minimising eye problems”.
- For those who need to go into battle against insects, Wendy Watta advises a fly-swatter. “Nothing prepares you for the tsetse flies, and how hard they sting. In my experience, insect repellent only takes you so far.” Travel writer Mary Holland has started travelling with an insect bite healer. “It’s a small battery-operated device that takes the itch out of bites. It’s life-changing!” Either way, don’t forget to pack 30-per-cent-Deet repellent.
- When it comes to bathroom goodies, “try and think sustainably when packing,” implores Jane Broughton. “Top lodges have gorgeous carefully chosen eco-friendly bathroom products that are biodegradable. To bring one’s own high-end products, like hair masks, is disrespectful to the environment and owners and staff who are trying to keep soak-aways to a minimum and the environment around camp unpolluted. For a few days, everyone can make do with the in-room supplied shampoo and conditioner. Bring your own earth- or ocean-friendly sun lotion, as well.” Australian brand Ultra Violette makes SPF50 mineral-based formulas that protect, nourish and hydrate skin but don’t contain oxybenzone.
- Other useful first-aid items include motion-sickness tablets for bush planes and anti-histamine tablets.
This bug spray might just be my new favourite product, bar none. One thing I was so nervous about on travelling to Africa was being bitten, but a daily dose of this and I didn’t so much as spot a mosquito near my skin. It’s designed for the jungle, but I’m convinced I’ll pack it every time I go abroad from now on. Sarah Bannerman
Extra pro tips for your next safari
- Check the requirements for anti-malarial medication (check the NHS’s Travel health and vaccinations web pages for the malaria maps of each country) and an International Certificate of Vaccination (Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania may require one, especially to show you’ve been vaccinated against yellow fever).
- To help those who are stuck on which clothing brands would be best for safari, some operators have launched their own range of safari clothing. Dereck and Beverly Joubert’s D&B Explorer Collection, includes a lightweight bamboo scarf, men’s linen shirts, a button-down linen dress, military-style jackets and more.
- The savannah can handle a khaki safari suit, but when tracking chimpanzees or gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda, as Praveen Moman, founder of Volcanoes Safaris says, “the cliché of safari wear doesn’t work”. High-altitude forest – up to 9000 feet – can be glaringly sunny or extremely, and suddenly, damp, requires different sorts of layers – moisture-wicking base layers, thin fleeces and rain jackets and decent waterproof hiking boots with a grip (Sarah Marshall recommends Merrell’s range with Goretex). “The weather can change, it can rain at any time, it can be cold and it can be sunny. The UV light at high altitude can be very strong and can burn those with sensitive skin, so the right sun cream with a sun hat and sunglasses is essential. It’s also critical to have strong footwear that allows you to walk through mud and exposed roots and it gives you a grip in slush.”