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It’s never too early to start planning your next safari. Having worked out where to go on safari, the next question is what to take on safari. I’ve already covered the basics of what to wear on safari, and so I won’t repeat the same information again here.
Instead, this guide is intended to be the only safari kit list you’re ever going to need. Maybe you worry about forgetting some safari must haves. I know I do.
To try and prevent this, below you’ll find a list of all the safari gear you’re likely to want.
Safari must-haves
– Passport. This will generally need at least six months remaining validity from the date of your arrival in Africa
– Visas. As well as knowing what to pack for a safari in Kenya or anywhere else, you’re also going to need to sort out a tourist visa before departure. Probably. It all depends on the nationality of the passport you’re going to travel on. And where you’re going. The good news is that some countries offer visa-free travel for tourists. Other countries, like Kenya, have switched to an evisa system, meaning no more trips to their embassies. Here’s hoping yet more nations follow suit soon.
– Spending money. US dollars are usually the best currency to take on African safaris. Euros and British pounds are a good second bet if you’d otherwise have to go to a currency exchange.
– At least one credit or debit card. Credit and debit card payments are still limited in much of Africa welcoming safari tourists. However, they can be used to withdraw local currencies from ATMs. Fees will usually apply.
– Travel insurance details. Should the worst happen, the emergency contact details of your insurance provider are next to your passport in their importance. Don’t go anywhere without them, and don’t rely on having internet access to find them.
What clothes should you pack for a safari?
Safaris are pretty relaxed affairs, so you’re not going to need anything special for evenings, unless you fancy dressing up.
The key aim is staying cool and comfortable on game drives and walks which can last several hours.
The same applies when deciding what shoes to wear on safari. You’ll want covered shoes rather than sandals or flip flops. These will protect your feet from dust, stones, and biting insects.
At the same time, you’ll want to choose a pair you’ll be happy wearing all day.
I’d suggest packing a minimum of three days’ worth of clothing if you’re practiced at travelling light. More if you’re not.
Many lodges have laundry facilities, where you’ll be able to wash clothing for a small fee.
If you’re wondering what to expect from a lodge, my guide to when & where to see the great wildebeest migration links to some of the Serengeti’s best. These include Ngorongoro Wild Camp and Asanja Africa.
These are your must have clothing items.
– Comfortable underwear. No judgements, but the less scanty the better.
– Socks. Just promise not to wear them with sandals.
– Shirts/blouses. Shirts and blouses tend to be cooler than T-shirts, and more protective than vest tops.
– Pair of long trousers. Long trousers are also more protective than a skirt or dress against thorns and other irritants. They’re also useful for defending bare flesh against biting insects after sunset. Jeans are best avoided due to the heaviness of the material.
– Pair of shorts
– Belt. Well worth taking even if you don’t usually require one, just in case.
– Swimming costume. Many lodges have swimming or plunge pools, others outdoor showers. You may well fancy a half day’s sunbathing too.
– Sun hat
– Sunglasses
– Sunglasses case. I’ve broken way too many pairs of sunglasses to not recommend a sunglasses case.
– Sweater. Early mornings and evenings can see a slight chill in the air.
– Flip flops. A good lightweight alternative to shoes, and a godsend in some shared bathroom facilities.
– Pair of trainers, walking shoes, or hiking boots. You’re going to live in these, so make sure they’re comfortable.
Sleeping and carrying on safari
The list of what to take on safari when it comes to sleeping and carrying will largely depend on how you’re tackling your safari.
If you’re on an organised tour (and there are literally thousands to choose between on sites like Viator and Get Your Guide) and staying in a lodge, you won’t need anything more than a backpack or holdall for your clothes.
It’s generally not worth the hassle of bothering with a day bag.
But if you’re camping independently, the list of items you’ll need for a safari will be longer. The following list is mainly intended for those safari goers.
– Tent
– Inflatable rollmat
– Inflatable pillow
– Sleeping bag liner. If you get particularly cold at night you may want a summer sleeping bag instead, but I’ve never felt the need.
– Impregnated mosquito net
– Travel towel
– Camping stove, pots and fuel
– Metal crockery/mess tin
– Cutlery
– Sponge for cleaning kitchenware. See the medical kit section for cleaning fluids.
– Food/snacks. Buying local will lighten your load, and boost the local economy, although choice can be limited compared to supermarkets back home.
When it comes to food while camping, you’ll want dishes that don’t require a lot of cooking. Less cooking time means less fuel needed.
Army rations are a starting point, although you’ll have much more enjoyable mealtimes if you prepare basic dishes yourself.
Small pasta shapes cook more quickly than rice, and can be flavoured with anything from sauces to pesto and sardines (though I’ve never tried the latter two together).
Tinned meats provide a source of protein, as do eggs, which are usually readily available locally.
Safari survival kit items
My safari survival kit items are those I’m loath to leave at home, since they are so useful when on the road, and always fit into a little nook with ease.
– Combination padlock. Make sure it fits any locking mechanism on your luggage or you’re carrying dead weight.
– Water filtration device. There are plenty of ways to filter water instead of drinking environmentally unfriendly bottled waters. I cover them in more detail here in my complete guide to travel in Africa.
– Wrist watch with alarm. For those early morning game drives.
– Battery-operated head torch. A good idea in case you wake up in the night and the generator isn’t running.
– Penknife or Leatherman-style tool.
– Duct tape. Seriously useful for repairing almost anything, wrap around 5 metres of the stuff around an old toilet tube, bottle or walking pole and forget about it until you need it.
– Pen and paper
– Compass. Brilliant for determining the way to everywhere from the restaurant to Lake Victoria.
– Small sewing kit. For repairing all those things that duct tape can’t.
Camera gear for safaris
– Tripod/beanbag. Good tripods are pretty clunky, and travel tripods a little unstable. If you’ve got a relatively flat surface, such as the sides of a safari vehicle, a beanbag can make a lightweight alternative.
– SD cards. Take as many as you can, and swap them around as often as possible. In this way, if you lose or damage a card (and safari dust is a killer), you’ll still have a good selection of images on your return home.
– Standalone external hard drive with SD card compatibility. To back up your images on a daily basis without needing a laptop or other device as well.
– Camera lens brush.
– Camera charger/extra batteries. Charge your camera whenever you can, since power can come and go without warning even in top lodges. Never leave your camera unattended.
– International plug adapter. You’ll need at least one international plug adapter if you’re travelling with any sort of electronics. One with a USB socket is doubly useful. Plug types you’ll find on safari range from British-style square three pin sockets to European-style round two pin sockets. Sites within the same country can have different types.
Medical kit for safaris
– Any medications you take as standard, such as the contraceptive pill.
– Antihistamine cream. For soothing bites and scratches. Hay fever doesn’t usually affect me on safari as it does at home, but you might also want to take a safari’s worth of one a day antihistamine tablets just in case.
– Decongestant tablets. Colds are common after long flights, and these do everything a cold and flu remedy will but at a fraction of the price.
– Sachets of rehydration mix. Widely-available original (red) Coca-Cola makes for a good substitute. Add a pinch of salt if you can. If you can taste the salt, great, if you can’t, you’re already seriously dehydrated.
– Soap. Can be used to wash hair, body, clothes and gear like crockery and cutlery.
– Ibuprofen or other over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs for strains.
– Paracetamol or other over the counter pain relief for aches and pains.
– Anti-diarrhoea tablets, containing loperamide hydrochloride, the active ingredient in brand names including Imodium.
– Plasters for keeping small scratches clean.
– Small bandage
– Alcohol hand gel
– 50% tropical strength DEET insect repellent
– Toothpaste
– Toothbrush
– Toothbrush cover or case
– High-factor sunscreen, with an SPF rating of 30-50+
– Facial/toilet tissues
– Deodorant
– Shaving gear
– Nail scissors/clippers
You should leave medicines in their original packaging, in case customs officials want to take a cursory look at them.
What to pack for a safari in South Africa (or anywhere else!)
While the best safari packing lists can be long, a significant number of those items listed are ones you’d take on holiday anywhere in the world. So don’t panic when the question what should I pack for a Serengeti safari flashes across your mind. Instead, take a careful look at my inclusions, and above all, don’t skimp on the medical supplies.
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