Going on a safari is a true adventure and if you haven’t gone on one before, you may be taken by surprise with just how much fun they are as well as surprised with how many necessities you’ll need to pack to make your safari is as comfortable as possible. I’ve pulled together a few of my must have’s when going on safari to help you pack for your next adventure. These are items you wouldn’t know to bring unless you’ve been on safari and have learned the lesson first hand.
- Eye drops – great for when you are in dusty safari environments. Many safari vehicles have open sides to them and as they drive on dirt or sand roads, having eye drops on hand is a huge relief.
- Laundry bag – your apparel will get dusty. To prevent your other clothes from getting dirty before wearing them, keep worn clothing separate.
- Boot or shoe bag – dust, sand, mud are elements best kept away from everything else.
- Chapstick – cracked lips are no fun when in a desert environment. Chapstick is always in my pocket.
- Tilley hat with chin strap – the days can be windy and even if they aren’t, the safari vehicle can go at a speed that can pull your hat off. A tilley hat with a chin strap is easily packable, dries quickly and stays on well.
- Phone stabilizer – most of the roads are unpaved. If you want to get stable video footage of animal life or the scenery, a gimbal stabilizer is a must.
- Thermal vest – mornings and evenings are cool. Keep your core warm with an easy layering garment.
- High top boots – it’s inevitable, sand, dirt and dust will enter your shoes or boots but when you have boots that go over your ankles, the volume will lessen.
- Flashlight – save your battery for photos and videos and pack either a small flashlight or make sure you lodge has one on hand to take with you for evening walks. Some lodges will have armed escorts to and from the main lodge depending on wildlife activity nearby.
- Battery pack in case charging doesn’t work – lodges being as remote as they are have limited electricity capabilities. This means your lodge may only have a handful of plug in locations. A battery pack will help in the evening but also during the day when you are wildlife viewing. There’s nothing worse than running out of battery when one of the big five
- Nasal spray/tissues – absolute MUST. The first four days of our safari I had a dry, bloody nose. Breathing and sleeping were slightly uncomfortable and after a few days, you feel as if you are coming down with a cold from inhaling so much dust. A nasal spray or lubricant will help reduce this discomfort.
- Which brings us to the last recommendation, a face cover for dust. Wind conditions will play a big part in just how much this is needed but it is always better to be more prepared than under prepared when you are in a remote lodge with no shopping opportunities nearby.
Unexpected surprises …
Some of the lodges offer laundry service so time your outfits accordingly.
White will get dirty but it is so worth it to wear in the hot sun and makes for stand out photo ops against the iron oxidized sand dunes.
Flights between lodges are hit or miss, dramamine is key. One of our pilots called turbulence ‘butterfly kisses’ and they were a bit more like a bat hitting you in the face, hard and abrupt.
On the charter flights you’re only allowed up to 44 pounds of total packed weight. A small duffel and a small carry-on (backpack) brought me to 39 pounds leaving room for souvenirs along the way.
Have cash on hand for local handicrafts. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, AMEX not so much.
I hope these tips and tricks prep you for your next safari adventure! The most important thing to pack after all is a sense of adventure because in Africa, you never know what the day will bring.