Packing List for African Safaris

Finally booked your South African Safari? Now it's time to make sure you have everything you need to have to most unforgettable trip!

WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR AFRICAN SAFARI

• A camera should be the #1 item on your packing list. If you don’t have a nice camera or don’t want to travel with all the bulky items, there are companies where you can rent. Most private safari lodges will help organize this if you rent camera equipment. You don’t need to be a professional photographer but having at least 1 zoom lens will allow you to get some epic shots. 
  

• Layers!! The mornings can be cool, then will warm up along your morning game drive. The opposite will occur at night. You’ll typically have blankets but I still wore leggings, a tank top, and a jacket in the morning. I’d wear a T-shirt and shorts during the evening game drives and pack a jacket for when the sun went down. We brought raincoats but it only rained one day for a short time and we were given ponchos. If you have space and prefer bringing your own raincoat, then go ahead and pack it. For us, we would’ve been fine without them. (Be mindful if you are going in the rainy season though). 

• Neutral Colors. Aside from looking the part for an African safari, it’s important to wear neutral colors to not scare off animals and blend in with the bush. Our safari lodges reminded us to wear neutral colors with layers but this is another reminder of the importance just in case. 

• Sunscreen & bug spray.  We didn’t have any major issues with bugs but sunscreen was a MUST! We were given anti-malaria medications by our travel clinic before going on this trip and we packed plenty of bug spray. The safari lodges informed us that the region was at low risk for malaria but still, we’d rather be safe than sorry. Sunglasses and hats are also helpful for sun protection. (You are often driving fast in the safari open-air vehicles so keep the wind in mind with what hat you bring to protect from the sun).

• Close-toed shoes. (We preferred wearing our hiking boots). Although you are mostly just being driven around in a vehicle, you will still step out of the vehicle for drinks and snacks in the bush. If you are like me and have a tiny bladder, you will have to walk behind an actual bush to go to the bathroom. It was nice having the hiking boots on when stepping off the path to go to the bathroom. (Your guides will walk behind the bush to make sure it’s safe before you use the restroom). 

• Binoculars (optional). We did not pack these but I saw them on a few packing lists before going on our own Safari. The private lodges we stayed with provided binoculars but if you didn’t want to share with anyone else or are a binocular enthusiast, then by all means, BYObinoculars. 

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For more detailed information about traveling to South Africa, click HERE.

For my detailed itinerary, click HERE.

For my quick-read itinerary, click HERE.

For more information on Mauritius, click HERE.

Questions, comments, concerns? Want assistance with planning your trip? Contact me.

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