Safari Packing List: The Ultimate Guide For Your First African Safari

Looking for the ultimate safari packing list?

Packing for an African safari can feel overwhelming. I remember spending hours searching forums before my first trip, trying to figure out what to bring. After visiting 7 safari parks across Africa, I’ve learned exactly what’s worth packing—and what you can skip.

Whether you’re bouncing through the bush in safari vehicles, trekking on a walking safari, or relaxing at safari camps and safari lodges, the right gear makes all the difference.

While park regulations may vary slightly, most safari tours follow similar guidelines when it comes to safari clothing, luggage restrictions, and must-have essentials.

This ultimate safari packing list covers everything from camera gear and medications to clothing and day packs, ensuring you’re fully prepared for the wild adventure ahead.

Important Safari Packing Notes

• Do not use plastic bags. Plastic bags are banned in many African countries, including Kenya and Tanzania. Instead, use reusable bags like these snack bags or these leak-proof toiletry bags.
• No camouflage clothing. Camouflage is illegal in some African safari destinations and is only permitted for military personnel.
• Bring USD cash.
  • Tipping safari guides: $10–$20 per person per day
  • Tipping Hotel Staff: $20 per person per day. There is a shared tip box in the hotel lobby, where you can add tips at checkout. Here is a more detailed guide on tipping in Africa.
  • Street souvenirs
  • Visas: if obtaining them at the border

• Pack light. Most bush flights have strict luggage allowances, typically 15 kg (33 lbs), including your carry-on bag. Safari vehicles also don’t offer much storage. We recommend soft-sided luggage bags that can be stacked with luggage from your group.
• Figure out your mobile phone plan. Check with your phone company for SIM card or eSIM options. The Wi-Fi at the camps in Kenya and Tanzania was spotty. Most camps had the strongest Wi-Fi near lobbies. We recommend using Airalo for an eSIM plan.
• Buy a VPN – Our trusted VPN for travel is NORD VPN.
• Print your travel documents, including visas, your yellow fever vaccination card (if needed), and any required permits.

If you’re taking hopper flights within the country, be mindful of weight limits—most have a maximum of 15kg (33lbs), including carry-on luggage.

Check with your tour operator or airline for weight limits.

Camp staff often carry your bags to and from your tent, so pack only what you need to make their job easier.

1. Soft-Sided Luggage

If you’re looking for a four-wheel suitcase, we highly recommend the Osprey Ozone 4-Wheel 85L/27″. It has an ultralight aluminum frame yet is incredibly sturdy, making it effortless to roll through the airport, even when packed to full capacity.

On our safari, this luggage was stacked beneath five other bags and held up exceptionally well, aside from collecting some dust. It’s a solid choice for those who prefer a compact wheeled option without compromising durability.

2. Day Pack or Backpack

A day pack is essential for carrying everything you’ll need while on a safari. Game drives can last for hours, so having a lightweight backpack to store snacks, chargers, sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, camera gear, and other essentials will make your experience much more comfortable. Look for one with multiple compartments to keep everything organized and accessible.

3. Compression cubes

With limited space in safari vehicles, packing smart is key. We always pack in Monos compression cubes, and they make a huge difference when maximizing space. These cubes help compress clothing to fit more efficiently in your soft luggage while keeping everything organized.

4. Laundry Bag

A laundry bag is a must-have for keeping dirty clothes separate from the rest of your luggage. Safari drives are dusty, and your clothing will quickly pick up dirt, so having a designated dirty clothes bag prevents the dust from transferring to your clean clothes.

5. Shoe Bags

If you bring more than one pair of shoes, shoe bags are a must. Shoes will get extremely dusty on game drives, and without a proper bag, that dust can easily spread to your clothing in soft-sided luggage. This YAMIU set has been our go-to shoe bag for years.

1. Binoculars

After testing multiple pairs, we chose the Hontry 8×42 Roof Binoculars. They’re slightly heavier than others we tested but provide excellent clarity for spotting wildlife on wildlife safaris.

Some tour guides, like Spirit of Kenya, offer one complimentary pair of binoculars per vehicle. However, the complementary binoculars provided were, in our opinion, difficult to use and pretty worn out. We recommend packing your own binoculars for the best experience.

2. Safari Hat and Beanie

A wide-brim sun hat protects from the intense African sun. Most safari camps recommend one with a chin strap to prevent it from flying off in open-air vehicles. If you are going in colder months, be sure to pack a beanie for cold morning drives.

Here are the two safari wide brim hats we recommend. Both are easy to pack and wash, providing comfort on our trip.

4. Soap Sheets and Hand Sanitizer

We found that most of the public restrooms in East Africa didn’t have hand soap, even in the national parks, so it’s best to carry your own soap and hand sanitizer.

• Soap Sheets we recommend.
• Refillable Hand Sanitizer with loops to attach to day pack.

5. Toilet paper

Like handsoap, most public restrooms in cities and national parks lack toilet paper, so we recommend carrying a small roll. We grabbed this from our camp restroom before heading out for the day.

8. Reusable Water Bottle

Some African countries ban plastic bottles, so a reusable water bottle is essential. We use the Owala Free Sip on every vacation!

Read our review on the best travel water bottles.

9. Sunglasses and Strap

Bring cheap sunglasses since they can easily get scratched or lost on safari. The sun is intense, and the glare can be harsh, so they’re essential for game drives.

A sunglass strap or chain is also useful, as we constantly took them off to use binoculars. Without a strap, they slide around the jeep and are easy to misplace.

General Clothing Tips

• Wear neutral colors. Tan, olive green, and beige help you blend in and avoid attracting insects.
• Pack layers. Early mornings can be cold, while midday temperatures rise significantly. Some hotels provide blankets or hot water packs to keep you warm, but it’s always best to dress in layers.
• Avoid bright colors. Some parks may require you to change if your clothing is too distracting.
• In areas with tsetse flies, like parts of Tanzania and Zambia, wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts made from thicker fabric helps protect against bites during daytime safaris. Tour guides recommend avoiding blue or black clothing, as these colors attract tsetse flies.

Other travelers to Africa told us that lodges offer free laundry service, but that wasn’t our experience. One lodge charged $1 per piece of laundry—including $1 per sock—so we only had a few things washed. Another lodge did offer laundry service, but prices were slightly higher, with socks and underwear costing up to $5 per piece and shirts as much as $15.

Note: Many safari camps do not wash women’s underwear, including bras and panties, due to cultural reasons. Some provide washing powder so you can do it yourself in your room, while others have designated wash lines for guests to hang their undergarments. Policies vary, so it’s best to check with your camp in advance to understand their laundry service options.

Fortunately, there was a bathtub at one of our camps where we could use laundry sheets and hang clothes to dry.

If you plan to do laundry, it’s best to check the pricing in advance or bring quick-drying clothing to wash yourself.

Clothing Essentials

1. Loose-fitting t-shirts (short and long sleeves)

Quick-drying, lightweight shirts are best. We brought a mix of short and long sleeve t-shirts that we could mix and match. Unbound Merino and Buck Mason are our favorite places to buy basic, high-quality t-shirts for men and women.

2. Loose-fitting pants and shorts

Comfort is key. We recommend wearing lightweight, breathable shorts and pants that keep you cool. Avoid jeans or any shorts and pants that feel restrictive, as you’ll be sitting in a car for hours during game drives, and comfort makes all the difference.

We found great safari-friendly pants from Quince, Z Supply, Vuori, and UNIQLO.

Lightweight, breathable fabrics with built-in UPF protection help prevent sunburn and keep you comfortable on long game drives.

4. Lightweight Rain Shell

The rainy season varies depending on the region, but unexpected showers can happen year-round. Most safari camps recommend bringing a lightweight, packable rain jacket to stay dry without taking up too much space in your luggage.

5. Zip-up Jacket

A zip-up jacket is a must for safari drives, especially in the early mornings when it’s chilly year-round. It’s easier to take on and off without messing with your hat, sunglasses, or camera gear.

I wore this Amazon jacket on every morning drive, and it was the perfect lightweight layer.

6. Swimsuit

Some safari lodges have pools, which can be a great way to cool off in the afternoons. Check with your tour company or directly with your luxury camps and lodges on whether or not you have pool access.

Our favorite couple’s swimwear brand is Kenny Flowers!

7. Comfortable Lounge Clothes

After long, dusty game drives, having comfortable lounge clothes is a must. Pack a set of soft, breathable outfits for relaxing at camp, enjoying meals, or unwinding before bed.

8. Socks & Underwear

With so much dust and long hours spent sitting in safari vehicles, fresh socks and underwear are essential. Pack at least two pairs per day unless you plan on doing laundry. Quick-drying options are best if you need to wash them between wears.

9. Sports Bras

The roads in East Africa, especially inside the parks, are rough, with potholes and long stretches of unpaved terrain. A supportive sports bra is necessary for bumpy rides—you’ll be glad you packed one.

10. Pajamas

Evenings and early mornings on safari can be surprisingly cool, especially in open-air camps. Pack comfortable pajamas warm enough for chilly nights but breathable enough for warmer temperatures. Long sleeves and lightweight pants can also help protect against mosquitoes while you sleep.

11. Shoes

Shoe recommendations for safari can be all over the place, but in reality, you don’t need heavy-duty safari boots unless you’re doing extensive walking safaris or trekking. Since you’re in the car 90% of the time, comfortable and lightweight shoes are the best option. My family wore On Cloud 5 and Allbirds, and they worked great.

I recommend closed-toe shoes for game drives to protect against dust and insects. Around the lodge, we switched to Tevas and other packable sandals. We did a short walk up a hill in one of the parks, but no serious trekking, so bulky hiking boots weren’t necessary.

1. Motion sickness medication

The roads on safari can be extremely bumpy, especially outside the parks. If you’re prone to motion sickness, bring medication to stay comfortable during long game drives.

2. Insect repellent

Mosquitoes and other biting insects are common in certain safari areas. We used Repel 100 Insect Repellent and Para’Kito Mosquito Wristbands, which worked well to keep bugs away.

3. Pepto-Bismol and anti-diarrheal meds

Food and water changes can sometimes lead to stomach issues while traveling. Bringing Pepto-Bismol and anti-diarrheal medication is a wise precaution. Our doctor was able to prescribe us anti diarrheal medication before leaving for our trip.

4. SPF lip balm and moisturizer

Strong sun, wind, and dry conditions can be harsh on the skin. An SPF lip balm and a good moisturizer help prevent dryness and sunburn. Our go-to SPF chapstick is Tizo.

5. Nasal Spray and Eye Drops

The dust on safari is intense, especially during game drives. After one ride without covering our faces, our boogers were black from all the dust. A saline nasal spray helps clear out dust and keeps your sinuses hydrated.

6. Steroid Cream

Mosquito bites can swell badly, especially if you have sensitive skin. A prescription-strength steroid cream helps reduce itching and inflammation. You can talk to your primary care doctor to prescribe this.

7. Medications

Your doctor can prescribe the best medications for preventing malaria and other region-specific diseases based on your travel destination. Be sure to take medicines as directed before, during, and after your trip to protect against illness.

Schedule a consultation with your doctor or a travel clinic several months before your trip to Africa. We used Costco’s travel health consultation and saved a significant amount of money on necessary vaccines. My primary doctor in the U.S. quoted me $500 more than Costco for the same required shots. Costco provided Yellow Fever and Typhoid vaccinations and sent in prescriptions for malaria medication and any other necessary travel medications.

We’re not professional photographers, so if you’re looking for expert advice, this isn’t it. That said, phone cameras are so advanced these days that most of our group just used their phones for close-up shots of the wild life. We were lucky that many animals walked right up to our jeep, making it easy to capture great photos without extra gear.

However, there were times when a longer lens was essential. We packed our Canon DSLR with an EFS 55-250mm lens, allowing us to capture clear shots of animals too far away for a phone camera.

2. Camera Bag

A camera bag is a must to protect your gear from dust and keep it secure on bumpy drives. Look for one with a strap to tighten around a seatback so it doesn’t slide around the Jeep. We also recommend packing lens-cleaning wipes.

3. Extra SD Cards & Camera Batteries

You’ll take more photos than you expect, so bring extra SD cards and batteries. Game drives can last 6–10 hours, and batteries drain fast with your camera on constantly. Some camps will turn electricity off in the middle of the night or have limited charging hours, so having backup chargers is essential.

4. External Power Bank

Many lodges turn off power at certain times. We brought two Anker battery packs for day trips, which came in handy since our jeep’s charging ports didn’t work. Better to have a backup just in case.

5. International Chargers

We used the MINIX 66W Turbo 3-Port GaN Wall Charger since it works for phones, cameras, and laptops. All of our camps had international outlets, but it’s worth checking with your lodge before your trip.

6. Books or Kindle

There’s plenty of downtime at safari camps, especially between game drives. We spent a lot of time reading and relaxing by the pool. Bringing a book or Kindle is a great way to unwind during the quieter moments.

Donations and Giving Back

The average monthly salary in Africa is approximately $796 USD, and it was heartbreaking to see so many people, including children, begging for money or necessities on the side of the road. If you have extra space in your luggage, consider packing a small bag of donations. Items like working electronics (phones, tablets, headphones), coloring books, school supplies, backpacks, snacks, and English learning books can make a real difference.

Our guide advised us not to give money directly to children begging, as it encourages them to leave school to beg full-time. Instead, you can give donations to your guide to distribute in their village or arrange a visit to a local orphanage to drop items off with staff who can distribute them properly.

At the end of our trip, we also donated hats, jackets, t-shirts, and sunglasses, which were all appreciated by people we met along the way.

This ultimate safari packing list covers everything you need for a comfortable and stress-free African safari, from essential safari clothing to must-have gear and laundry service tips. Pack smart, travel light, and enjoy every moment of your first safari experience!

This post shares the best safari packing list.