The Ultimate Packing Checklist for USA Travellers for African Safaris

The Ultimate Packing Checklist for USA Travellers for African Safaris

What to pack for an African safari 

The most difficult decision has been made; you're going on your dream African safari holiday! We don’t blame you. Africa is home to incredible animals, beautiful beaches and the cuisine is truly sensational; what’s not to love? However, the question now is - what to pack for safari? do I need a vacation packing checklist? Well here you can discover the essentials of what to bring to Africa for your trip of a lifetime. Simply tick everything off our luxury safari packing list and you’ll be good to go!

Camera
One of the first things to take to Africa should always be a camera. While you’ll no doubt have your smartphone with you, it won’t quite have the same effect as a decent camera.

If you’re embarking on an African adventure, you’ll want to capture those amazing wildlife experiences with a digital camera, not a smartphone snap. Just remember to pack extra batteries and memory cards!

Sun Protection
You don’t want to be without sun protection in Africa. The scorching sun will spoil your holiday if you’re unprepared so always pack sun cream, sun protection lip balm, sunglasses and sunhats.

Don’t skimp on lotion; it’s better to have too much than too little. You can always save a bottle or two for your next trip away.

Long Sleeve Clothing
Although you’ll want to pack clothes with the African sun in mind, it’s important that you pack long sleeve garments too. Light blouses and shirts are ideal for protecting you from the sun and perfect for evenings when it’s feeding time for mosquitos.

Always pack a few long sleeves. You’ll be glad you did, especially if the temperature fluctuates. A lightweight shirt is perfect for throwing on over a t-shirt or vest top.

Neutral Garments 
The colour of your clothing is extremely important on an African safari holiday. Why? Well, if you want to experience close encounters with wildlife then it’s important to opt for colours that will help you to blend in with the surroundings. Choose neutral colours, including khaki and stone, and stay clear from bright hues to avoid startling the animals.

Comfortable Footwear
While you might think it’s a good idea to splash out on new footwear for your trip, this isn’t always the case. Generally, new shoes need to be broken in so if you pack a pair you’ve never worn before, you could spend your holiday suffering. There’s nothing worse than walking for hours in shoes that give you blisters. Be sure to pack comfortable footwear that’s suitable for walking. If you do want to treat yourself to safari boots, break them in before you go!

Swimwear
Africa is home to fresh water lakes, natural rock pools and stunning beaches. So, while you’re no doubt visiting the vast continent for its rich diversity of wildlife, don’t leave swimwear out of your suitcase. In between the exciting game drives, you can enjoy thrilling water sports, such as surfing, kayaking and snorkelling, on Africa’s coast or simply take refreshing dips to cool off!

As long as you follow this holiday checklist, your trip will run smoothly; your African safari holiday will be everything you dreamed of and more.

What to wear on safari

A safari is an essential element to a memorable holiday to Africa. Make sure that you are packing correctly to get the most out of your adventure.  The experts at Africa Travel have been sending people on African adventures for 30 years. They have shared their advice so that you know what to bring, what not to bring, and what to bring back.

The type of clothing to take on your safari holiday will depend on the time of year and what type of safari you are going on. Nevertheless, there are some essential tips to note for any packing list for safari clothes.

The best way to get close to the wildlife is to blend in with your surroundings as much as possible by going neutral. Wear greens, browns, and khakis so as to not attract unnecessary attention. For Africa, khaki is the recommended colour. Light-weight, breathable fabrics minimise noise when walking. Layers are a great way to pack light but stay warm. Temperatures can be cool on morning game drives, hot in the afternoon and cold at night. Layers allow you to remove clothing to make yourself comfortable as temperatures fluctuate.

• Airy, long-sleeved shirts with a collar will keep the sun off your arms and neck.
• Combat trousers are perfect with plenty of pockets to store your camera, sunscreen, and binoculars.
• A light jacket or fleece is great for an extra layer of warmth in case you need it. Fleece is great because it dries quickly too
• Comfortable trainers are suitable for most safaris, even walking safaris. You can expect to be climbing in and out of the safari vehicle frequently and some light walking around the bush.
• Hats are a fantastic way to protect your head and face from the sun in an open-top safari vehicle and they have the added benefit of reducing glare for better game viewing
• Sunglasses should be worn to block out harmful rays and polarised glasses will cut through the glare to make sure you don’t miss a thing
• Don’t forget to bring a swimsuit if your lodge has a pool
• For your evening meal, light colours are recommended so as to not attract mosquitoes. Linen trousers are the perfect way to look smart, stay cool, and prevent mosquito bites

What NOT to wear on safari

Whilst you now know what should be on your packing list for African safaris, it’s worth noting what shouldn’t be on your vacation packing checklist.

• Don’t bring bright-coloured clothing or busy patterns. This will draw attention to you and scare off the wildlife. 
• Avoid camouflage clothing as some African countries reserve this pattern for military personnel only
• Dark colours attract Tsetse flies, so stay away from dark blue or black clothing – they have a painful bite!
• White coloured clothing will quickly show dirt and dust, so try to go neutral instead
• Formal wear is not necessary as most lodges and camps have a relaxed dress code. Bring a smart, clean outfit to wear to dinner, but there is no need to go too formal
• Heavy hiking boots take up too much room in your suitcase and aren’t necessary for most safaris unless you have been told that your itinerary includes walking through the rainforest or harsh terrain

How much to bring

Be aware of bringing too much clothing! Pack light – most safari lodges offer laundry facilities. You can also save space with convertible clothing like zip-off trousers that turn into shorts or a zip-off fleece that turns into a gilet. Now that you know what to wear, make sure you know how to pack. Most safari operators will ask that you only bring one suitcase, one overnight duffle bag, and one day pack. You might think you need more, but you won’t. Less is more on safari and you won’t even feel like you are roughing it – you will be well looked after at your lodge. If you are on a fly-in safari, you must pack in a soft-sided bag.  Large, rigid suitcases don’t easily fit on the light aircraft, which means that your luggage could be refused or delayed. Limit the risk of your luggage going missing by packing essentials and one safari outfit into your daypack, which you can bring as hand luggage on the flight or ground transfer to your safari lodge or camp. The last thing to remember when packing is to leave extra space in your luggage for souvenirs. Africa offers so many wonderful mementoes for you to remember your trip, you don’t want to have to worry about how to bring them home.

What to bring back

Having a checklist for packing for your holiday is important, but remember to leave some room for the inevitable souvenirs which you will want to bring home with you.

South Africa is famous for its wines, so you will want to bring back some to enjoy once you get back home. Some wineries allow you to blend your own wine, create your own labels, or cork your own sparkling wine. Most countries allow you to bring back two bottles of wine per person, but it is best to check with your local authorities. Brandy lovers will be spoiled for choice in South Africa. Brandy is the largest selling spirit in South Africa and is subject to the most stringent production regulations in the world. It is aged for at least 3 years in French oak casks to produce the unique flavour.

Amarula cream liqueur is also a popular souvenir in East & Southern Africa because it has a wide appeal and features an elephant on the bottle.

Ostrich eggs, intricately carved and turned into lamps are quite durable and very unique.

Various wood carvings in the form of sculptures, bowls, and masks are great keepsakes and make unusual gifts

Why book your safari to Africa with Africa Travel?

Now that you have your vacation packing checklist and know exactly what to pack for a safari, what are you waiting for? Contact Africa Travel - with over 30 years’ experience in creating tailor-made and bespoke holidays to Africa, there is no one more qualified to organise an unforgettable safari holiday to Africa than Africa Travel. We have a wealth of specialist resources to help you book your perfect safari and are trusted by more and more USA customers to create a memorable experience which is not just another holiday.

All of our staff have travelled extensively and you can trust that our personal recommendations will deliver the African safari tour that you have always dreamed of. We can recommend the best places for you to stay, organise exclusive and private tours, and arrange for the finest guides to escort you.