In short: pack for a safari with a soft-sided bag, because bush planes usually cap luggage at around 15 kilograms. Wear neutral tones such as khaki and beige, and avoid bright colours as well as blue and black, which attract tsetse flies. Bring layers for cold dawns, your own binoculars, a hat, strong insect repellent, and check malaria and vaccination requirements with a travel clinic.
When I think about safari, I do not only picture lions in the tall grass or the rust-coloured dust rising behind the jeep. I also think about packing. Not the most romantic part of the journey, I know, but an essential one. A safari is not like other trips. The bush planes that carry you into the heart of the savannah usually allow just 15 kilograms of luggage, sometimes less. So your packing has to balance practicality with a little style, and yes, I admit I once built a mood board inspired by Out of Africa.
I have shared my safari stories on the blog before, from Sri Lanka to Kenya’s Tsavo East, that first safari that left me breathless and homesick for Africa ever since. This time I want to give you something more practical: how to pack when the safari itself is the whole trip. No city stopovers, no detour to the coast. Just the bush, the animals and you.
Luggage: soft and simple
Forget your beloved hard-shell suitcase. For bush planes you need a soft-sided duffel or holdall, something that squashes into small compartments. I have often travelled with a Cabinzero backpack that is water-resistant and easy to carry, even as hand luggage on low-cost airlines. For day-to-day use, a small crossbody or bum bag is perfect: just enough for sunglasses, lip balm, tissues and sunscreen on a game drive. If you carry heavy camera gear, a slightly larger daypack will save your back.
What to wear
Safari style has moved on a long way from the stiff safari suits of old. These days it is all about comfort, layering and neutral tones. Here is what always makes it into my bag.
Trousers: cargos, stretchy trekking trousers, or zip-off styles that double as shorts. Tops: breathable T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts in khaki, beige or muted greens. Avoid bright colours, which spook animals, and especially blue and black, which attract tsetse flies. Layers: mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cold, so bring a light fleece, a thin down jacket or a windproof shell that folds up small. Accessories: a large, lightweight scarf is my secret weapon, for sun, dust, wind, or thrown over the shoulders at dinner. And a hat is non-negotiable, whether a Panama, an Akubra or a simple crushable wide-brim. In the southern African winter, from May to August, add a beanie and gloves.
I will never forget one June morning in Tsavo when the air bit far colder than I expected. I would have paid gold for an extra pair of wool socks.
Footwear
Shoes divide people, but here is my rule. For game drives and short walks, light trail shoes are perfect. They dry quickly and keep you nimble. For longer walking safaris, go for proper hiking boots with ankle support. Around camp, sandals or flip-flops.
Whatever you choose, do not underestimate socks. Merino wool blends (Smartwool are my favourite) keep your feet warm in the morning and dry in the heat of the day.
Gadgets worth carrying
A safari is partly about switching off, but a few things really do lift the experience.
Binoculars are my number-one essential. Do not rely on borrowing your guide’s. I use these light and compact 30×50 binoculars for crisp, clear views. For camera gear, if you are serious, bring a telephoto lens, though even a good mirrorless camera will do wonders. And pack a torch or headlamp: lodges are dark at night, and nothing beats hands-free light when you are fumbling for your toothbrush.
Toiletries and first aid
Do not overload your wash bag, since most lodges provide eco-friendly toiletries. Still, a few things always come with me: insect repellent with at least 30 per cent DEET; an insect-bite healer, life-changing after a tsetse sting; rehydration salts for hot days or dodgy stomachs; aloe cream, my miracle for sunburnt skin and cracked lips; and a small first-aid kit with plasters, antihistamines and motion-sickness tablets, handy for bush flights. And do not forget sunscreen. High-altitude parks like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro can be deceptively harsh on the skin.
Packing lessons I learned the hard way
Pack light and bright, because bush planes will weigh your bag. Bring extra underwear, since lodges often will not wash it. Pack a swimming costume, because many camps have a pool, perfect after a dusty drive. Sort out travel insurance, which is essential for remote destinations. And check malaria tablet and vaccination requirements well before you travel, with your doctor or a travel clinic.
Why packing right matters
I will never forget my very first safari. I was still learning, still romanticising Africa through the Wilbur Smith novels I had devoured as a teenager. I brought the wrong shoes, too many dresses and not enough practical layers. But Africa forgives you. Even shivering on a dawn drive, watching elephants cross the Galana River in Tsavo, I knew I was hooked.
Over time I have come to see packing not just as preparation but as a ritual. The moment you start folding those earthy-toned clothes and slipping the binoculars into their case, you are already half into the bush. Packing for safari is not about perfection. It is about balance: ready for chilly mornings and scorching afternoons, light enough for the planes, thoughtful enough to be comfortable, prepared and, yes, a little stylish. And when you are out there, remember the most valuable thing you can carry is curiosity.
Frequently asked questions
Bush planes into remote reserves usually cap luggage at around 15 kilograms, sometimes less, and almost always require a soft-sided bag rather than a hard suitcase. Check your specific operator’s limit, since it varies, and pack accordingly.
Stick to neutral tones: khaki, beige, olive and muted greens and browns. Avoid bright colours, which can spook wildlife, and especially blue and black, which attract tsetse flies. Camouflage is also best avoided, as it is restricted or frowned upon in some countries.
Beyond neutral, layered clothing: your own binoculars, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and strong insect repellent, warm layers for cold dawns, a headlamp, a small first-aid kit, and any malaria tablets and vaccination certificates. Confirm health requirements with your doctor or a travel clinic before you go.
Yes, more than people expect. Early-morning game drives can be genuinely cold, especially in the southern African winter from May to August, so pack a fleece or light down jacket, and a beanie and gloves in the cooler months, even if the afternoons are hot.
Further reading
If you want the stories behind the kit, read about Kenya’s Tsavo East and my safari in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. For the general principle, see my guide to packing light, and for the camera side, my travel photography packing list.
A note on the links in this post: some of the product links above are affiliate links, mostly to Amazon. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep this blog running. I only ever link to gear I have genuinely used and would recommend to a friend.
