What is a safari? The word “safari” is a Swahili word for journey, but is used today to describe the observation of animals in their natural habitat. Regardless of what your itinerary entails, or if you’ll be venturing to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, or anywhere in between, here are some expert tips on what to pack and what to leave at home:
Before you travel
- Before you even plan your trip, confirm what season it will be when you go. You will kick yourself later if you book a safari during the intense rainy season and rely on a plastic poncho purchased at a gas station for your trip.
- Bring layers: many game drives on safaris start very early in the morning when things are much cooler, but by the time the mid-day sun hits your Land Cruiser, you’ll want to shed some layers
- Consult a travel doctor: Depending on where you are going, you may need certain vaccinations like Yellow Fever, or take Malaria medication. For more information, consult the CDC travel portal to learn more about your destination.
Footwear:
- In rainy seasons, you’ll need waterproof hiking boots or study water-proof sneakers.
- In dry seasons, Land Cruisers (safari vehicles) kick up a lot of dust, and your shoes will start to turn a shade of orange. Bring sneakers that you don’t mind getting dirty or even destroyed. I learned the hard way that the red clay soil found throughout sub-Saharan Africa is incredibly difficult to wash out of leather or faux leather sneakers.
Tops
Did I say safaris get very dusty? Pack shirts that you don’t mind getting dirty. After my last game drive, my white tank top was a visible shade of orange from the dust and dirt kicked up by land cruisers.
- T-shirts: Buy a 5-pack of cheap, washable T-shirts. Choose white or another light color to help keep you cool.
- Thin linen or cotton button-down shirts: These can be worn as a layer over tank tops and help protect from the sun.
Bottoms
Do not bring your $200 jeans on safari. Lions do not care what you look like.
- Linen pants: Great for cooler mornings that transition into hot days. Linen pants are also a great option for evening hours, as they are versatile and, importantly, protect from mosquitoes.
- Shorts: Shorts are not very common in Africa, but they may be necessary for hot days.
Expert Hacks
- Small backpack: This will hold your layers and anything else you may need. Look for a foldable backpack that is easy to clean when you get home.
- Safari Hat: I must admit, these come in handy, as the sun is intense. If you want to go all-in on one piece of safari gear to look like Steve Irwin, a hat should be it.
- Sunscreen & mosquito repellant
- Tissues & hand sanitizer: rest stops in rural areas often lack these.
- Portable charger: On safari, you will often be out for hours without the chance to return back to your hotel to recharge. I love this portable charger from Amazon since it’s compact and you don’t need to carry any additional wires.
- Binoculars: These can help you spot animals from afar, zoom in on an interaction like elephants rearing their babies at the watering hole. Even a simple pair like these from Amazon (under $40) will work wonders.
- Camera with Zoom lens: Let’s face it, our smartphones don’t always have the best zoom capabilities. While DSLR cameras can be a pain to travel with, safaris are a great occasion to practice those photography skills. You don’t need a camera that will win a National Geographic photo contest – just one that can zoom further than your iPhone.
- Neck pillow: for your long drives in Land Cruisers, you may want to tune out your surroundings for a while and take a nap. This is my favorite from Amazon.