Safari Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for a safari: wear neutral earth tones, khaki, olive, tan and beige, and avoid blue and black, because tsetse flies are strongly drawn to them. Pack long sleeves and trousers for sun, insects and the cold wind on open game drives, warm layers for the freezing early mornings, and a soft duffel rather than a hard case, because bush flights limit you to around 15 kg. Bring binoculars, a good camera, sunscreen, insect repellent and any malaria tablets. Neutral, light and layered covers it.
Safari essentials at a glance
- Neutral earth tones, never blue or black
- Long sleeves and trousers
- Warm layers for the cold dawn drives
- A soft duffel, around 15kg for bush flights
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- Insect repellent and any malaria tablets
- A headtorch and a power bank
Safari packing runs on a few unusually specific rules: the colours you wear, the bag you carry and the layers you bring all matter more than usual. Cold dawns, dusty roads, strong sun and open vehicles all shape the list. Neutral earth tones keep you cool and unbothered by tsetse flies, a soft duffel meets the tight weight limit on bush flights, and warm layers rescue the freezing early game drive. Get the colours and the weight limit right, and the rest of the list falls into place.
What to wear
- Neutral earth tones: khaki, olive, tan, beige, light grey · avoid blue and black for tsetse flies, and white which shows dust
- Long-sleeve shirts and long trousers · sun, insects and warmth in the open vehicle
- Zip-off convertible trousers
- A warm fleece and a windproof layer
- A wide-brim hat and a buff for dust
- A swimsuit for the lodge pool
Feet
- Comfortable closed walking shoes or light boots
- Sandals for the lodge
- Warm socks for the morning drive
The bag
- A soft duffel, not a hard suitcase · bush flights limit you to around 15kg
- A small daypack for the vehicle
- Packing cubes
Wildlife kit
- Binoculars · bring your own, a shared pair is never enough
- A camera with a zoom lens and spare batteries and cards
- A bean bag or support for long lenses
- A headtorch for camp
- A power bank · camps have limited power
Sun, bugs and health
- Sunscreen SPF 30+ and lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Strong insect repellent
- Malaria tablets if prescribed
- A basic first-aid kit and rehydration sachets
- Hand sanitiser and a reusable water bottle
Documents
- A passport valid 6+ months and any visa
- A yellow-fever certificate if required
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover
- Copies of your documents
What not to pack
- Blue or black clothing · tsetse flies are strongly drawn to them
- A hard suitcase · bush flights need a soft, squashable duffel within about 15kg
- Camouflage or military print · it is illegal for civilians to wear in several African countries
- Bright colours and white · they show dirt and stand out to wildlife
- More than the weight limit · light aircraft simply will not take it
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Neutral colours, and never blue or black
Khaki, olive, tan and beige keep you cool and low-key. Blue and black attract biting tsetse flies, so leave them at home, along with camouflage, which is illegal for civilians to wear in several African countries.
Pack a soft duffel, not a suitcase
The light aircraft on fly-in safaris limit you to roughly 15 kg in a soft, squashable bag that fits their small holds. A hard-sided suitcase simply will not go, so pack into a duffel.
Layer for a freezing dawn
Game drives leave before sunrise in an open vehicle, and it is properly cold at that hour. A warm fleece, a windproof layer and a buff make the difference, and you strip back down as the day warms up.
Bring your own binoculars
A single shared pair is never enough when everyone is watching the same lion. Your own binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens are the difference between a distant smudge and an animal you can actually see.
The things people forget
- Neutral colours and no blue or black, for the tsetse flies
- A soft duffel within the bush-flight weight limit
- Warm layers for the freezing dawn drive
- Your own binoculars
What people wish they had packed
- A buff for the dust on the roads
- A headtorch for camp
- A power bank for the limited camp power
- A windproof layer for the open vehicle
Frequently asked questions
What should you wear on a safari?
Neutral earth tones, khaki, olive, tan and beige, in long-sleeve shirts and long trousers for sun, insects and warmth, with a warm fleece and windproof layer for the cold morning drives. Avoid blue, black, white and camouflage.
Why can't you wear blue or black on safari?
Tsetse flies, whose bite is painful, are strongly attracted to dark blue and black, so much so that the traps used to catch them are made from those colours. Neutral earth tones keep the flies away and keep you cool.
What kind of bag do you need for a safari?
A soft, squashable duffel, not a hard suitcase. The light aircraft used on fly-in safaris have small holds and strict weight limits, typically around 15 kg, so a duffel that packs down is essential.
What do people forget to pack for a safari?
Neutral colours instead of blue or black, a soft duffel within the weight limit, warm layers for the freezing dawn drive, their own binoculars, a buff for the dust, and a power bank for camps with limited electricity.