Detailed Africa Safari Packing List

Clothing Color Tips

There is an actual reason people wear neutral colors while on safari. For one, natural colors tend to be cooler in hot weather. They also blend in better with the environment, which helps not to disrupt animal behavior. Additionally, in certain areas, there are biting insects that are attracted to blues and black. Camouflage colors (Army) are not recommended and even banned in some countries.

Furthermore, make sure whatever you pack is comfortable enough to sit in for 4-8 hours a day. This will not be the time to wear super tight (but cute) pants. You will be miserable.

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Long Sleeve Safari Shirt

Regardless of whether it is winter or summer, I always recommend having a couple of long-sleeved safari shirts. You can find these for both men and women. The main reason I like them:

• They are lightweight
• Protect your skin from the sun
• Add a little bit of warmth on cool mornings and evenings
• Unbutton easily to let extra airflow
• Reduce the risk of bug bites.
• You can easily take off if you’re too hot

I pack 3-4 with me. I have three from REI and one from Amazon. The REI tops feel like the quality is much better, however, they are a little heavier. The Amazon one feels lighter, but the quality is just ok. I also have them for my husband, and he likes both but has more from Amazon– REI Men.

Long Pants

If you’re anything like me and don’t like getting bit by bugs, long pants are a necessity. I’ve worn pants on every safari I’ve ever been on – no matter how hot it was. As a photographer, I also like the extra pockets. Because I am petite, I found it a little difficult to find outdoor pants that would fit me.

I wanted to go with the REI Pants, but they were too big for me. So, I got these pants by Old Navy that I really like. I also got these pants from American Eagle, and these for my upcoming safari. The original pair I had from AE felt better than this new version, but it’s still fine.

I must admit, the AE are not great if you’re sweating a lot, but they are cute, have lots of pockets, and are comfy. I also noticed some at BassPro Shop but didn’t try them on.

I tried a couple of popular pairs from Amazon, but I was not impressed.

Alex, on the other hand, really liked the Amazon pants options. He has this brand in different colors, and you can unzip them to shorts if you want to – he never did.

Shirts and Tanks

Of course, you will need some lighter shirts and tank tops to add to your safari packing list. Cotton is best, and I found some great options for a good price at Old Navy. Note that they will shrink in the dryer.

• Tank Old Navy ( I really like this one)
• Shirts
• Quick Dry (Alex liked this)
• Fruit of Loom basic T’s

Jackets and Hoodies

Again, this is going to depend on what season you’re visiting and the African country you choose. Winter in South Africa is cold; like winter jacket cold. Our time in Tanzania during the winter was pretty cold in the morning and at night, but not as cold as South Africa. In the photo below, you can see Alex wearing two hoodies. He eventually took them off as the day warmed up.

Even when we visited South Africa at the beginning of their summer, there were days that got a little cold – especially during the morning game drive. So, I recommend at least one jacket or hoodie – regardless of the season.

I bring my Columbia Fleece. I don’t think they make it anymore, but I am sure you can find something similar. I got Alex safari-colored hoodies from Old Navy.

Shorts

We didn’t pack any, but during the summer months, I know some people will definitely want a pair or two. Please note some bushwalking safaris will require pants. Again, like the rest of my advice, I would lean towards neutral colors. Maybe you will wear these around the lodge.

Shoe Options

I choose to wear my Blundstone boots with two reasons in mind. One, I knew I wanted to do bush walks, so I wanted a higher boot. Two, they are weather-proof, so if it rains in the open safari jeep, my feet will not get wet. Also, they are cute and go with all my safari outfits.

Alex chose sneakers. If you know you are mainly doing game drives and you will be in the car most of the time, sneakers are fine. I would not recommend open-toed shoes on game drives, but I do recommend them for the room.

True story: even at a 5-star luxury lodge, we were greeted with a scorpion in our room. If you get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, the last thing you want to do is step on one of these barefoot.

Additionally, I recommend Darn Tough socks. They are sweat-wicking and designed to keep your feet warm on cool days and ventilated on hot days.

Safari Hats

Technically, I only really recommend a hat for your packing list if the African country you visit uses open safari jeep. We were extremely happy to have our hats in South Africa. However, in Tanzania, we brought them and never wore them. This is because it was a pop-up jeep. You will want to make sure whatever hat you get fastens on tight for the wind and has ventilation. These are the hats we got: My hat – Alex’s hat.

Bathing Suit

Many of the safari lodges have pools, so I suggest packing a bathing suit. There are also lodges with outdoor showers, too.

Underclothing and Nightwear

You will want to make sure you have sweat-wicking undergarments for hotter months in Africa. During our summer trip in South Africa, I wore sports bras, but regular bras for Tanzania in winter.

If you are visiting during winter months and happen to be staying in any tents, I would bring warmer bedtime wear.

Dinner Clothing

You may also want to pack some jeans or nice dinner clothing. Please note, many times dinner is outside. If bugs are very attracted to you, like they are to me, you might want to go with outfits that cover most of your skin.

Safari Accessories to Pack

Now that we have the basic clothing covered, let’s discuss other accessories you should consider bringing.

Bug Spray

You can ask if your lodge has bug spray, but if not, make sure to bring some with you! I have done the wipes and made little travel bottles with the spray since I only travel carry-on. If you go this route, make sure to put them in a couple of ziplock baggies, just in case it leaks. We only had one leak, and because we put them inside zip locks, it was no biggie.

Binoculars

We didn’t find so much of a need for binoculars in South Africa, but they were definitely needed in Tanzania. This will also be true in Kenya and any other area where you are required to stay on designated roads. You can always ask your tour operator for a pair. If they can supply one, just know these usually are not the best.

Camera

Will your cellphone work on Safari? Sure. Will the photos be amazing? Maybe, but probably not. If you have already spent so much money on the trip, you might as well come home with some good photos. You can see my camera gear here, but if you’re not a dedicated photographer, at least consider a point-and-shoot.

Universal Adaptor

I never travel without a universal adaptor. This is the one I use. Note that technically, it does not work for South Africa’s standard voltage; however, our South Africa lodge had several options, so we were still fine using it.

Small Medical Kit

I always travel with a small self-made medical kit. This includes things like Pepto, Tums, Allergy medicine, Sudefed, Bandaids, Airborne, a Z-Pack, Vicks, nauseous medicine, etc. I travel a lot, and I’ve experienced all kinds of things happen. When you’re in the middle of nowhere, it becomes impossible to get things if you start feeling unwell. So make sure to bring a small kit. I say to myself, “If I got sick, what would I want?”

Sunscreen

You won’t want to forget your sunscreen, especially if you are visiting during the spring or summer months. I personally love using Juice Beauty. It is a reef-safe sunscreen and is carry-on size. I am allergic to the chemicals in regular sunscreen and have been using this one exclusively for years.

Sunglasses

Also, don’t forget your sunglasses. They can help with the sun in your eyes, but also with dust. Some of the reserves can be extremely dusty during the dry season.

Face Covering

We experienced a lot of dust during our visit to Tanzania. To be fair, it was the dry season, so dust is expected. Some type of face covering or handkerchief would have been awesome to have. Each day, I felt like I was washing pounds of dirt out of my hair.

Backpack

I always like to bring a little drawstring backpack to act as a purse and hold my personal items. Think of extra toilet paper for the bathroom. Bonus if it also has a spot for water bottles. I recently got this bag. I must admit that the inner pocket is starting to rip after 5 months, but it’s cheap enough that I don’t care.

Reusable Waterbottle

I always bring a reusable water bottle with me. In South Africa, it really came in handy since they had drinkable water for us. In Tanzania, we didn’t need them because only water bottles were provided. However, I still like having it just in case.

Luggage

If you’re planning on taking small bush planes, there are strict rules about the kind of luggage and weight you can have. Overall, I recommend traveling with a carry-on-size suitcase and backpack. If you’re taking a bush plane, the bags need to be duffle bags. They are very strict about weight with planes, too.

Vacumn Packing Bags

My favorite way to fit a lot of things in a small bag is with these plastic compression bags. You simply put your items in the bag, seal it, and roll it. I keep my bags and luggage closed to keep any critters from getting in, and these bags make it extra easy. It also allows me to easily separate dirty clothes.

This is also a good time to mention that many game lodges offer laundry for free or a small price. Don’t feel like you need to pack a lot of clothes.

Snacks

If you are a picky eater, you may want to bring some snacks. This came in handy for our long game drives in Tanzania. If your itinerary is long days spent in the car, trust me on this. This will be a little less necessary for places like South Africa, where you do 2 game drives a day instead.

Additional Items

Here are some other items to complete your packing list.

• Mini hairbrush
• Most lodges will have a blow dryer, but I sometimes bring this one.
• Airtags (I put these in all my bags)
• Extra bags for dirty clothes or shoes
• Earplanes (helps if you have issues with cabin pressure on the plane)
• chapstick
• Wipes for bathroom use (many guides will have tp for you)
• Kindle or a type of entertainment for long drives through towns.
• Travel Insurance – I use Allianz, but there are other reputable brands out there. I’ve had to use this more times than I would like to admit, and so thankful I had it.

Additionally, ladies, wear a romper at your own risk. If you have to use the bathroom in the bush, it’s hard to get them off. Talking from experience. Oh, and many times, you’re not really behind a bush. Make sure to have a tank top on!

Wrap-up

There you have it! I hope you have the most incredible experience and get to see some epic wildlife sightings.

If you have any questions at all on what to pack for your Africa safari, feel free to reach out! I love talking about all things safari!

If you found this packing list helpful, I would love it if you could share it below!