Preparing for an African safari presents a unique set of challenges when it comes to packing, especially for first-time safari goers. Unlike most other trips, there are weight restrictions on bush flights, typically allowing a total of 15 kilograms or 33 pounds per person, including camera equipment and carry-ons. Additionally, selecting appropriate clothing for the safari adds to the complexity. Having been on safari in Tanzania and Kenya twice, we have gathered valuable tips on what to pack for an African safari. However, it’s important to note that preparing for an African safari extends beyond clothing. There are various peculiarities and policies specific to Sub-Saharan Africa that we either received in advance from the safari companies we traveled with or discovered along the way.
Getting Ready for an African Safari
Planning for an African safari involves more than just packing clothes. There are several peculiar aspects of traveling to Sub-Saharan Africa that it’s crucial to be aware of before embarking on your journey. We gathered helpful advice in advance from the fantastic safari companies we chose to travel with, and we also learned about different regulations and policies as we went along.
1.Prepare your travel documents
When planning a trip to Sub-Saharan Africa, it’s important to ensure that your travel documents are in order. Many countries in the region have specific entry requirements that you need to comply with. Firstly, check the validity of your passport – it should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended dates of travel in Africa. Additionally, make sure your passport has an adequate number of consecutive blank pages as some countries require this. To stay updated on the entry requirements, US citizens can visit travel.state.gov.
Apart from your passport, you will also need to obtain a Yellow Health Card. This card serves as an internationally recognized record of vaccinations, endorsed by the World Health Organization. Certain countries may require visitors to have specific vaccinations as part of their entry requirements. Make sure to complete these vaccinations and have them certified by your doctor. The certification should include the date of administration, the validity period of the vaccination, and be stamped and signed by your doctor.
When we flew to Tanzania, all passengers were required to present their Yellow Health Cards to an official who boarded the plane upon arrival. Some countries may even prevent you from disembarking if you cannot produce this card. Therefore, it is equally important to have your Yellow Health Card with you, alongside your passport.
Another crucial aspect to consider is visas. Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa require visitors to have a visa for entry. While some countries offer visas upon arrival, it’s advisable to be prepared with the necessary cash to pay for your visa. Electricity can be unreliable for card machines, so it’s best to have cash on hand. US dollars are widely accepted, but ensure that your bills were printed after 2006 and are in excellent condition. Bills with tears or writing on them may not be accepted.
2. Cash is essential in Africa
In Africa, credit card machines are not commonly found, especially in remote areas. During your travels, you may have the opportunity to visit villages and purchase unique souvenirs. US dollars are generally accepted in many places, and you can also withdraw local currency from ATMs upon your arrival at the international airport.
Tipping is a common practice throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, so it’s essential to have cash available to tip guides and service staff. Your safari company should provide guidance on tipping etiquette and answer any questions you may have. Based on our experience with luxury safaris, it is recommended to tip your guide between $20 and $30 per day per couple.
Some airstrips may have coolers with drinks available for purchase. However, if you opt for a luxury safari, typically all drinks are included in the package.
Keep in mind that particularly in East Africa, only crisp US bills printed after 2006 are accepted. This is because older banknotes were prone to forgery. We personally experienced this when a bill older than 2006 was refused during our trip. It’s important to take this requirement seriously and ensure your US dollar bills are in the specified condition.
What to Bring for an African Safari
When preparing for an African safari, it’s important to pack practical and comfortable clothing, as the primary activity will be going on game drives to spot wildlife. While there may be other activities available, such as walking safaris, most of your time will be spent in safari vehicles with your guide. Here is a breakdown of essential items to include in your safari packing list, regardless of whether you’re going on a 2-day or 2-week safari:
- duffel or soft-sided bag
- TSA approved clear toiletry case
- 2 pairs of pants in a breathable fabric in earth tones
- 1 – 2 long sleeve shirts in chambray or earth tones
- 3 layering tanks or tshirts
- utility jacket
- light scarf
- hoo-rag
- sports bra
- wide brim hat with chin strap
- closed toe shoes like trail runners or fashion sneakers with good traction
- waterproof dry bag
- moisturizer
- sunscreen
- insect repellent with Deet
- conditioner
- lip balm
- plug adapters / convertors
- USB flash drive
- Memory cards for your camera
- first aid kit
1. Luggage and Packing Essentials:
You will likely arrive at safari destinations like the Serengeti or Masai Mara via a bush flight, which usually has strict weight limits. These flights also require passengers to have soft-sided luggage that can fit easily into compartments.
Some airlines, such as AirKenya and SafariLink, offer luggage storage for a fee. This can be convenient if you’re returning to the same airport. Simply bring a duffel bag to take along to your safari destination and store the rest of your luggage. However, if you’re continuing to another safari destination, you’ll need to bring all your belongings with you.
On my most recent safari to the Masai Mara, we chose to bring my spinner hard case and stored it with AirKenya. We recommend the Bric’s X-Bag 22″ Folding Duffel, which is a large duffel bag made from water-resistant materials. It’s sturdy, has a classy leather trim, and easily folds into a small zippered pouch, making it perfect for packing. The pouch also comes with a strap, allowing it to be used as a crossbody purse.
To keep your items organized in the duffel bag and provide extra protection, consider using lightweight packing cubes like the Shacke water-resistant packing cubes, which come in a 4-pack of different sizes. Additionally, the pouch they come in can be repurposed as a laundry bag.
Another essential item is a TSA-approved clear toiletry bag, particularly for your Kenya packing list. Some African countries, such as Kenya and Tanzania, have banned single-use plastic bags, including those provided by airports. Kenya has the strictest plastic bag ban law in the world, where plastic bags are confiscated, and using them can lead to a maximum penalty of $37,000 or a jail term of up to four years.
It’s crucial not to bring any plastic bags into Kenya or Tanzania. Instead, opt for a TSA-approved clear toiletry bag. We recommend the use the Lermende clear toiletry bag, which has been accepted at many airports, and I’ve never encountered any issues carrying my liquids in it when traveling carry-on.
2. African Safari Attire
Keep in mind that the weight limit of 15 kilograms can fill up quickly. When deciding what to wear in Africa, prioritize comfort above all else, especially when spending time in the African bush. However, packing sensibly doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style.
Laundry Service
One advantage of luxury safaris like SkySafari and Angama Mara is that they provide laundry service at their camps and lodges. Knowing that laundry service is available allowed us to pack only the essentials for our 10-day safaris in Tanzania and Kenya.
With laundry service on hand, you won’t need to pack more than 2 pairs of pants, 2 long-sleeve shirts, and one pair of pajamas. We recommend bringing enough underwear for your entire trip or washing them yourself, as it is considered inappropriate to include underwear in the laundry in Africa (some camps or lodges, like Loisaba Lodo Springs, may not wash them). Soap flakes are usually provided for self-washing in your tent or room.
Where to Purchase Safari Attire
You don’t need to visit a specialized store to buy clothes for an African safari. There’s a good chance you already have suitable items in your wardrobe. If not, we recommend checking your favorite outdoor retailer for safari-appropriate clothing.
Personally, we like Columbia Sportswear because their outdoor clothing is made with special materials. Look for pants with Omni-Shield, which repel moisture and stains to keep you dry, and Omni-Shade with built-in SPF 50 to protect you from the sun, such as the women’s Saturday Trail stretch pants.
We also recommend adding tank tops to your outfit, which you can layer under an Old Navy classic chambray shirt. Chambray is stylish and lightweight enough to wear even during the hottest months. Roll up the sleeves to just below the elbow, and you can roll them down if/when you start to get sunburned.
Pants and Long Sleeves
If you’re going on a safari in East Africa, such as Kenya or Tanzania, you’ll be only a few degrees away from the equator where the sun is intense. Despite the hot weather, it’s essential to pack pants and long-sleeve shirts for sun protection. Even Tim learned this lesson when he wore shorts and ended up with painful sunburnt knees after a game drive in the scorching sun in Meru National Park.
Long sleeves and pants also help minimize bug bites and protect you from scrapes during walking safaris. Shorts, skirts, and tank tops may be suitable around the camp or lodge, but for game drives and bush walks, stick to lightweight pants and long-sleeve shirts.
Earthy Attire
It is important to wear clothing in earth tones. In Africa, there is a species of biting fly called the tsetse fly. These flies are attracted to dark blue and black colors, and tsetse fly traps are made of blue or black cloth that is hung up in the trees where the flies are active.
If you wear blue or black clothing, you essentially become a tsetse fly trap, and they can bite through your clothes. Insect repellent is not effective in keeping tsetse flies away, and these flies have been associated with a disease known as sleeping sickness.
Practical Jacket
Game drives usually begin early, with activities starting around 5 am to 6 am. The temperature difference between night and day can be extreme, and you may experience all four seasons in a single day.
Mornings can be cool, so wearing a jacket is necessary. A utility jacket not only looks cute but also serves a practical purpose, as the numerous pockets allow easy access to lens cleaning cloths and lenses for your camera. You don’t need to spend a fortune on a jacket; my Old Navy utility jacket worked perfectly.
There’s no need to pack a rain jacket either. Most safari companies provide ponchos for guests in case of rain. The safari vehicles can also be closed up, so there’s no need to carry the extra weight of a rain jacket that you might only need once or twice.
Light Scarf and Hoo-rag
We also recommend packing a light scarf. It can keep you warm during the early morning and protect you from the sun when you shed layers under the scorching midday sun.
In addition to a light scarf, consider bringing a hoo-rag. If you’re unfamiliar with hoo-rags, they are tubular bandanas that outdoor enthusiasts have included in their essential gear for a long time. You’ll definitely find it useful on a safari due to its versatility.
Ladies can use a hoo-rag as a headband to keep their hair in place on windy days. It can protect your head from the intense African sun, regardless of your gender. Additionally, it can be worn as a scarf to keep your neck warm during the chilly early mornings or evenings.
Safari Attire
We recommend bringing along only one casual dress for the evenings at the camp. It’s nice to have one slightly dressier outfit to make the nights feel more special. The Columbia Sportswear Super Bonehead II Sleeveless Dress is made of 100% cotton, making it suitable for casual wear during the day in places like Nairobi, and it can be dressed up for a night out.
Nearly every evening, we would return around sunset and head straight to have drinks around a campfire, a bush barbecue, or socialize in the common lodge areas before dinner. We rarely went back to our tent or room to change beforehand.
Safari Footwear
When going on a safari, there’s no need to carry heavy hiking boots. Not only will they be too hot, but they are also cumbersome to pack. Any pair of sturdy closed-toe shoes will suffice.
Tim was perfectly content with his trusty Merrell Moab hiking shoes with Gortex, even during our bush walk along the Grumeti River in the Serengeti. These shoes performed exceptionally well in muddy conditions and were easy to clean afterwards.
Personally, I prefer wearing fashionable sneakers that I can dress up with a cute dress in the evening. The Reef Cushion shoes are my go-to because they provide anatomical arch support and a cushioned footbed, which keeps me comfortable despite suffering from plantar fasciitis. The tread on the Reef Iris is also suitable for bush walks.
Additionally, I always bring a pair of lightweight waterproof hiking shoes like my Merrell Siren 3. These shoes are invaluable on rainy days, offering excellent traction. Some parts of Africa experience infrequent rain, but when it does rain, the ground can quickly become a muddy river. We encountered this situation during a wet morning in Nairobi at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
In Africa, flip flops are only suitable for wearing around the pool. Bring a pair to use when walking around your tent or going to the pool at your camp or lodge.
Safari Hat
There’s no need for a special African safari hat. Stick to a wide-brimmed style with a chin strap. The wide brim will protect your face and neck from the sun, while the chin strap will keep the hat secure when your guide rushes off to show you a leopard or rhino sighting after receiving a radio message.
We love the Columbia Global Adventure Hat because it’s packable and retains its shape no matter how it’s stuffed into a bag. Additionally, the hat features Columbia’s Omni-Wick technology with a sweatband inside and Omni-Shade SPF 50 protection. It effectively prevents sunburn on my scalp, which is always a concern for blondes like me.
Swim Suit and Casual Clothes for Around Camp
Many camps, especially luxury ones, now have pools. There’s nothing better than relaxing in the pool during the hot afternoons between game drives, so don’t forget to bring a swimsuit.
When around the camp, you can dress more casually with a pair of shorts and a tank top or t-shirt. It’s not necessary to stick to neutral colors, as you would on game drives.
We recommend checking out Old Navy for a variety of linen and linen-blend clothing options at reasonable prices. Linen is the perfect breathable fabric for hot afternoons.
Surprisingly, we still saw numerous people dressed inappropriately for safari. Not only will you stand out among other safari-goers, but packing your favorite jeans or black shirt could also attract tsetse flies. Similarly, brightly colored trainers could disturb animals during bush walks.
Waterproof Bag
Dust can be a problem and is harsh on camera equipment. Additionally, if you encounter rainy days like we did, you’ll need to protect your belongings from both rain and sticky mud. A waterproof dry bag, large enough to hold your equipment and anything else you want to keep dry and free from dust or mud, will prove incredibly useful. These bags fold down small, weigh practically nothing, and are easy to pack.
4. Skin and Hair Care
When venturing into the dry African bush, it’s essential to prioritize skin and hair care. While Elewana’s camps, lodges, and Angama Mara provide shampoo and conditioner, I always prefer to bring my own. To ensure convenience and compliance with travel regulations, I recommend using TSA-approved travel containers like the Cool Gear Go-Gear Silicone Travel Containers. These containers are perfect for transferring smaller amounts of your preferred products, such as my favorite L’Occitane Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner, which are also environmentally friendly with refillable options. By utilizing these containers, you can maintain healthy hair both at home and on the road.
For moisturizing my skin, I highly recommend the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream. It effectively nourishes my combination and sensitive skin without causing breakouts, even in the arid Sub-Saharan African climate. Applying moisturizer regularly is crucial to prevent flakiness and dryness. I personally prefer scooping a sufficient amount from the 2 oz jar into my travel containers, as a little of this cream goes a long way.
In such dry conditions, our lips tend to become dry and cracked. To combat this issue, I have discovered Dr. Lipp’s Original Nipple Balm, a renowned ultra-rich moisturizer specifically designed to hydrate lips. It absorbs well and provides excellent relief, making it a must-have for me during my travels.
Another skincare item I swear by is the FOREO Luna Mini. This facial cleansing brush utilizes t-sonic pulsations to cleanse the skin beneath the surface, removing dead skin cells, makeup, and unclogging pores. It’s compact, rechargeable, and lasts around 30 days on a single charge. Incorporating just one minute of use into my daily face-washing routine feels like receiving a mini facial every day.
5. Plug Converters
Elewana Collection and Angama Mara provide universal plug adapters in their camps and lodges, which is a fantastic convenience. However, We still recommend bringing your own adapter as a backup and for charging multiple electronic devices and camera batteries simultaneously.
It’s important to note that Africa operates on 220-240 volt electricity at 50Hz, and plug types can vary by country. Before your trip, verify the plug type required for the countries you’ll be visiting.
Fortunately, many modern electronics are dual voltage, compatible with both the 110 volts used in the United States and the 220-240 volts used in much of the world. For these devices, you’ll only need a plug adapter to connect them. Examples include cell phone chargers, camera chargers, and laptop chargers. However, items like hairdryers and flatirons often require a voltage converter in addition to a plug adapter.
6. USB Flash Drive and Memory Cards
Preserving the memories of your safari adventure through stunning photographs is likely a priority. Luxury safari brands like Angama Mara offer exciting guest experiences, including photography workshops with their resident photographers and the option to rent cameras or lenses.
When borrowing equipment or using your own camera, be sure to bring a USB flash drive to save any photos taken. Alternatively, pack extra memory cards to ensure you have enough storage capacity for all your captures. This way, you can cherish and share your safari memories with family and friends back home.
7. Insect Repellent Recommendations
Both Elewana and Anagama Mara went above and beyond by providing insect repellent and sunscreen in the safari vehicles. However, we still recommend bringing your own supplies.
For optimal protection against the diseases carried by biting insects in Africa, such as malaria, it is best to use an insect repellent containing deet. If you have concerns about deet, an alternative option is an all-natural citronella repellent. Just remember to apply it consistently.
During our safari, we were diligent in applying an all-natural citronella repellent to our skin and clothing every couple of hours. By also wearing appropriate attire, like long pants, and using repellent, we managed to minimize insect bites.
It’s important to note that there is a risk of malaria in Tanzania and Kenya. When traveling to malaria endemic areas, it is crucial to take preventive measures. Before our safari trips, we consulted a doctor who prescribed malaria medication for us. To make this process convenient, we utilized the services of Runway Health. With a simple online questionnaire about our travel plans and health history, we received an online consultation with a physician. Within a few days, the prescribed medications were shipped directly to us.
8. Essential First Aid Kit
Keep in mind that you will be in the African bush, far from the nearest town or village, which could take hours to reach by plane. Therefore, it’s essential to pack a comprehensive first aid kit with necessary medications. Include items such as aspirin, cold medicine for potential illnesses, an antihistamine like Benadryl for insect bite reactions, diarrhea medication like Imodium, sunscreen, and cough drops or throat lozenges.
If you want to proactively prevent diarrhea before it occurs, consider using Travelan. This dietary supplement is taken before meals to assist with traveler’s diarrhea prevention. It’s particularly beneficial when traveling to Africa, where your stomach may not be accustomed to resisting potentially contaminated water. Experiencing digestive issues in the African bush, where bathrooms are scarce, is something you’ll definitely want to avoid.
