What to pack for a safari

A safari needs less than you think. You spend most of the day sitting in a vehicle, you eat dinner at camp and many properties have a laundry service. If anything, the problem is the opposite: the small aircraft that link the parks have strict weight limits. Here is how to pack a light bag without forgetting anything important.

The right colours

Wear neutral colours: khaki, beige, sand, olive green, brown, light grey. They show less dirt, do not draw the animals' attention and cope with the heat.

Avoid dark blue and black. In some areas, for example Tarangire, Lake Manyara and parts of the Serengeti, there are tsetse flies, which are attracted to exactly these colours: it is no coincidence that the traps you see in the parks are blue and black cloth. Avoid white too: after an hour on the tracks it is already dust-coloured, and on the savannah it stands out from a long way off.

No camouflage. In some African countries, such as Zimbabwe and Zambia, civilians may not wear it, and in Tanzania and South Africa it is also reserved for the military or at least discouraged. That goes for jackets, hats, bags and children's clothes.

Layers, because dawn is cold

You picture a hot Africa and find yourself shivering at six in the morning. Drives start before dawn, often in open vehicles, and the moving air chills you. In the southern winter, from June to August, night temperatures in Kruger and Namibia drop below 10 degrees. On the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, above 2,000 metres, evenings are cold all year round.

The answer is to dress in layers and peel them off as the day warms up:

• breathable short- and long-sleeved T-shirts;
• a light long-sleeved shirt, also useful against sun and mosquitoes;
• a fleece or a light jumper;
• a windproof jacket, waterproof if you travel in the rainy season;
• for the southern winter, a hat, light gloves and a compact padded jacket;
• a scarf or neck gaiter for the dust.

On your feet, closed, comfortable shoes are enough, plus a pair of sandals for camp. Pack a swimsuit: many lodges have a pool.

The bag: soft and light

On small-aircraft flights that land on the park airstrips, the limit in Kenya and Tanzania is often 15 kg per person, hand luggage included. In Namibia and on several routes in South Africa it is generally 20 kg, sometimes with a few extra kilos for hand luggage. Cameras and lenses count towards the total.

The bag must be soft, a duffel type, with no rigid frame: it has to fit into a small hold. Maximum dimensions vary from airline to airline, so check them before you buy. If the trip continues to the beach or a city, your large suitcase can usually be left in storage and collected after the safari.

The things you really need

• One pair of binoculars per person: 8x42 or 10x42 is ideal. Sharing one pair between two means missing half the sightings.
• A head torch. In unfenced camps, after sunset, a member of staff usually walks you to your tent, but inside the tent a head torch is handy.
• Sun protection: high-factor sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, lip balm with SPF. Close to the equator the sun is strong even when the air is cool.
• Insect repellent and long sleeves at sunset. Which repellent to use, and whether you need malaria prophylaxis, is something to decide with your doctor; up-to-date advice for each country is on viaggiaresicuri.it.
• Plug adapters. Kenya and Tanzania generally use the British three-flat-pin socket (type G); South Africa and Namibia use the large three-round-pin socket (type M), with type N in newer buildings in South Africa.
• A power bank, in your hand luggage, and a few cloth bags to keep clothes and laundry organised.

Cash for tips

On safari, tipping guides, trackers and camp staff is a widespread custom. Many camps have a shared box for the staff, while the guide is thanked separately. Bring cash in small notes. In Kenya and Tanzania US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, but bring recent notes: in Tanzania those printed before 2009 are often refused. In South Africa and Namibia use the local currency. As for amounts, ask the camp what is customary.

What to leave at home

• Plastic bags. They have been banned in Kenya since 2017 and in Tanzania since 2019, luggage included: if you have them, they may be confiscated on arrival. In Tanzania clear resealable bags for liquids are tolerated, as long as you take them home again. Since 2020, single-use plastic bottles, cutlery, plates and straws have also been banned in Kenya's protected areas: bring a refillable bottle.
• Camouflage clothing, for the reasons above.
• A drone: in the parks of Kenya and Tanzania you cannot use one without permits that, in practice, tourists do not get.
• Perfume and heavily scented creams, which attract insects.
• Smart clothes: nobody dresses up for dinner at camp.
• Valuable jewellery.

In short

Neutral colours, no dark blue, black, white or camouflage. Layers for dawn. A soft duffel, within 15 kg in East Africa. Binoculars, head torch, sun protection, repellent, adapters, cash in small notes. No plastic in Kenya and Tanzania.