What to Pack on a Safari
Are you about to go on your first African Safari? Deciding what you need to pack and what you should definitely leave behind can be quite daunting for first-timers. Many of you will be flying into your various Game Lodges by charter aircraft, and thus restricted to a very small amount of luggage in terms of both weight and dimensions, so it is essential to do some forward planning …
Documents
- Passport (with visa if necessary) and a couple of photocopies
- Proof of required vaccinations
- Health and Travel Insurance … make sure you have local contact numbers
- Credit Cards – remember to notify your bank that you will be travelling abroad
- Email address and local contact numbers for your Tour Operator
- Cash – ATM’s are hard to come by in the wilderness! Please note that USD notes dated before 2004 will not be accepted, so bring some nice new notes with you!
Toiletry Bag
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Malaria medication (check with your GP what you need!)
- Prescription Medication – enough to last you for the duration of your holiday
- Meds for motion sickness, diarrhoea, colds and flu and aches and pains
- Insect repellent
- Antihistamine cream
- Sunscreen (at least SPF30 and preferably unscented)
- Deodorant
- Lip Balm (with sunscreen)
- Body Lotion (preferably unscented)
- The Lodges all supply basic toiletries but bring your own if you are fussy – try to find travel sizes of everything to save space
Other Essentials
- Comfortable walking shoes (hiking or trainers are best)
- Spare spectacles or contact lenses and lens solution
- Sunglasses – good sunglasses are essential
- A hat with a brim
- A good pair of binoculars per person
- Camera with lenses, spare battery and extra memory cards
- Chargers and adaptors for your electronics find travel sizes of everything to save space.