What to pack for an African safari
What to pack for an African safari : First-time safari visitors may find it challenging to pack for an African safari because it differs substantially from packing for practically any other excursion. In addition to the difficulty of knowing what to wear on safari, most safari travellers are constrained by the weight limits of bush aircraft (15 kilogrammes or 33 pounds total per person, including carry-on luggage and photographic equipment). We have put together our recommendations for what to bring after safari experience in Tanzania and Kenya.
Additionally, packing for a safari involves more than simply clothing. You should be aware of a number of odd tiny details before travelling to Sub-Saharan Africa. We either received advice in advance from the fantastic safari companies we travelled with or discovered different policies along the road.
Preparing your Documentation
Majority of Sub-Saharan African nations demand that your passport be valid for six months after your intended trip dates to Africa. Additionally, there are limitations like having a specific number of consecutive vacant pages in your passport. Therefore, be sure to have your passport out well in advance of your vacation, and carefully go through all the regulations for entering each nation you’re visiting. On travel.state.gov, US citizens can find the latest recent admission criteria.
You should also obtain a Yellow Health Card and have your doctor complete it in addition to having a valid passport. The World Health Organisation has authorised the Yellow Health Card, an internationally recognised record of immunisations.
Some governments demand specific vaccines from visitors as a condition of entry. These immunisations must be documented with the date of administration, the expiration date, and a stamp and signature from your doctor attesting to their validity.
All travellers on our journey to Tanzania had to show their Yellow Health Cards to a representative who boarded the aircraft to check the documentation as soon as we landed. This card is just as crucial to have as your passport because certain nations won’t let you exit the plane if you can’t show it.
Visas are another issue that requires close attention. Visas are needed to enter many Sub-Saharan African nations. A visa upon arrival is frequently available, but you should be ready to pay with cash because electricity is provided by the grid and connections for card readers can occasionally be problematic. Though your US dollar bills should have been produced after certain years, US dollars are generally accepted. Make sure your invoices are in perfect condition as well. Dollar bills from the US that have writing or tears on them won’t be accepted.
Carry some Cash
In the African jungle, there are no credit card machines, but chances are you’ll stop in at least one village where you can find some interesting items. When you arrive at an international airport, US dollars are fairly widely accepted, and you may quickly withdraw local cash from an ATM.
Recognise that tipping is customary across Sub-Saharan Africa, and bring cash with you to give to tour guides and waiters. Your safari business ought to address inquiries and offer a tipping etiquette manual. In our experience, you should budget to tip your guide $20 to $30 a day per couple if you’re taking a luxury safari.
Things to pack for Safari
Game drives, which are what safaris are known as in Africa, are the main activity of an African safari. Although walking safaris and other optional activities are frequently available, the majority of your time will be spent sitting in safari vehicles with your guide searching for the many animals you’ve come to see. Your African safari attire must be both functional and comfortable for this reason.
Your safari packing list should include the following necessities, regardless of whether you require a 2-day or 2-week safari packing list. We break everything down for you below with additional information.
Documents
- Passport
- Yellow Health Card
- Printed Travel itinerary
- USD Printed after 2006
Essentials
- Clear Toiletry
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- First Aid kit
- Camera Equipment
- Camera
- Extra SD card
- Lens cleaning cloth
- Tripod
- Extra batteries
Safari clothing
- T shirts
- Long sleeve shirt
- Layering tanks
- Utility jacket
- Casual dress
- Sports Bra
- Light scarf
- Comfortable flat closed toe shoes
- Underwear
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Socks
You’ll probably take a bush aeroplane to reach to safari locations like the Serengeti or Masai Mara. These are tiny aircraft with stringent weight restrictions, frequently merely a Cesna Caravan. Additionally, they mandate that travellers bring soft-sided luggage that fits neatly into compartments.
For a modest cost, some airlines, including Air Kenya and SafariLink, provide luggage storage. If you’re going to be flying out of the same airport, this can be a practical choice. Simply carry a duffel bag and leave the rest of your luggage at home before departing on your safari. But you’ll need to bring everything with you if you’re moving on to another safari location.
Be aware that the 15 kilo weight restriction quickly adds up. If you’re spending time in the African wilderness, comfort should come before anything else when choosing what to dress in Africa. Sensible packing, however, should not equate to being dowdy.
Laundry service
Laundry service is provided at the camps and resorts of luxury safaris, which is an additional benefit. You will be able to reduce our packing for our 10 days safaris in Tanzania and Kenya safaris by relying on the washing service.
You only need to bring two pairs of jeans, two long sleeve shirts, and one set of pyjamas because laundry service is available. Since it is considered taboo to include your pants in your laundry in Africa (and certain camps or lodges like Loisaba Lodo Springs would not wash them), we advise either packing enough pants for your entire trip or washing them yourself. Typically, soap flakes are offered so that you can wash everything in your tent or room yourself.
First Aid kit
Keep in mind that you are in the African bush and that it may take hours by plane to reach the closest town or village. Aspirin, cold medicine in case you do get sick, an antihistamine like Benadryl for allergic reactions to insect bites, diarrhoea treatment like Immodium, sunscreen, cough drops, and throat lozenges should all be included in your first aid box.
Try Travelan if you wish to take something to prevent diarrhoea from starting. As a dietary supplement, you take it an hour or so before meals to help avoid traveller’s diarrhoea. It’s a wise precaution to take, especially while visiting Africa where your body may not be prepared to withstand substances that can be present in treated water.
Safari Hat
You also don’t actually need a specific hat for an African safari. Keep to hats with a chin strap and a wide brim. The broad brim will assist shield your face and neck from the sun. When your guide hears on the CB radio about that leopard or rhino sighting and rushes off to make sure you see it, the chin strap will prevent the hat from flying off.
