How to Pack Right for Your Upcoming Safari Trip

When you are heading for holidays you want to make the most of the time you have. This is critical because you want to optimize your holiday time and ensure that you have everything you need with you. Packing your luggage the right way can make a huge difference because when you are enjoying time with your family you want to focus on the experiences and not on pulling and lifting those heavy bags. Knowing what to carry and what to leave behind can be an overwhelming situation.

If you have plans to go for an African safari with your family you need to ensure that you have all the essential things in your bag that would help you make the most of your safari tour. Let’s take a quick look at how you can pack right for a safari trip!

Choose the right travel bag

Choosing the right luggage or backpack for your safari trip can make a huge difference. If you are buying a new backpack or luggage you can look for a medium-sized bag which would be 70X30X30cm when full. It is advisable to look for a duffel bag instead of a suitcase with a rigid frame or internal structure. 

While you can opt for large backpacks and luggage bags but you have to keep in mind that plenty of safari lodges and camps are accessible only by light aircraft and that can cause inconvenience for the pilot to fit in those large backpacks. Also, it would be a problem when you put them in the 4X4 safari jeep. If you carry along large backpacks, it is likely that you would have to fly them separately to your safari lodge and that can add to your overall trip cost.

Always have a carry-along bag

Apart from the main safari luggage you also need to have a light carry-along bag which you would want to have for your walking safaris, or when you are heading out for game drives or meeting the local tribes and people. This would allow you to carry your medicines, toiletries, binoculars, and other accessories that would need while you are moving around locally. You would also need to carry some accessories when you are heading for a boat cruise in Botswana and other destinations. 

Pack the right clothes

When you are heading for a safari trip you want to pack the right clothing. Hence, when you are heading out in the wilderness you want to focus on what colours you should pick. You should choose clothes that have neutral earthy tones like greens, browns and khakis. Keep your clothing plain and simple without any busy or fancy patterns. 

Avoid wearing bright colours that stand out in the wild and draw attention. Also, you want to avoid wearing camouflage clothing because many African countries reserve this pattern for military personnel only. Similarly, you don’t want to pack dark-coloured clothing like black and blue which would attract more flies. On the other end of the spectrum, white colour clothing seems fine but it will quickly pick up dirt and dust. Hence, knowing what you pack for your safari trip can help you keep the luggage weight to a minimum.

Focus on packing comfortable clothing with plenty of pockets and light breathable fabric to help you stay in them for many hours. Always choose long-sleeved tops, and full-length pants to help you stay protected from insects. Use layering to keep yourself comfortable through the cold early morning hours. For females, leggings with an oversized shirt or sweater are a perfect option that you can mix and match.

Pack some headgear

While you are heading for a safari trip with your loved ones and family you also need to have headgear that would keep your hair and head protected. For this, you need to look out for baseball caps that you can wear whenever you are venturing out. However, sunhats are probably even better as they can protect your face from direct sunlight. 

When you are heading out for game-drive experiences you want to have headgear that ensures that you don’t have the sun’s glare and you can enjoy the visuals and the action happening in front of you. You can also wear sunglasses that can help you cut through the glare and safeguard your eyes from dirt and dust. 

Don’t miss the shoes

Being out in the wilderness can be a lot of fun but these terrains are not good for those flimsy beach flip-flops. Hence, you need to pack a good closed shoe that can help you travel all the distance. Choosing a high-rise boot would offer you more advantages as it can safeguard your ankle from insects and reptiles. 

However, you also need to consider the weight of the boots because you don’t want to get tired of them. Also, you need to ensure that the boots are waterproof especially if you are heading for some river safaris. If you are planning to spend more time in your camp or lodge you can pack a flip-flop as well that will keep you comfortable. 

Pick the right camera

It would be hard to keep you from taking pictures of the wildlife and birds while you are on your safari trip. For some, who are into professional photography things can get a bit complicated as they have to pack in more camera gear. Choosing a rugged, solidly built and weather-sealed camera would be the right thing to take along. 

Also, the camera must have an excellent autofocus system to track moving subjects. Always carry a single large aperture zoom lens that can do the trick instead of carrying multiple lenses. While regular iPhones and action cameras can help you capture excellent videos they are not ideal for taking long-distance zoom shots. 

Additional accessories

Apart from clothing, shoes and other essential things to pack for your safari trip you also need to focus on other accessories. For instance, you would want to ensure that you carry along medicines that can keep you from feeling nauseated or having headaches. Also, you want to carry along self-filter water bottles that can help you stay hydrated especially when you are heading for long game drives and other activities. 

When you pack for a safari trip, make sure to bring the best sunscreen lotion that can safeguard your skin from harmful UV rays. Similarly, you also want to pack insect-repellent spray to keep the flies away. If you have connectivity at your lodge you would want to have a travel adapter as well. You must also pack in the best binoculars for wildlife and birding experience. 

Also read: Beyond Tanzania’s African Safaris: Discover Zanzibar’s Sandy White Beaches!

Overall, when you are heading for your safari trip, you want to ensure that you pack light but carry all the essential things that you will need at some point. Keep these tips in mind when you pack for a safari trip to make your experience better and more memorable.