What to pack for your safari

Tips from the Across Africa Team:

• Baggage on safari should be carefully considered. One soft-sided bag and one smaller piece
  of hand luggage (such as a backpack) per person is recommended, weighing not more than
  20kg.
• Days on safari are generally hot and call for shorts and t-shirt. In the mornings and evenings,
  long-sleeved shirts and pants are better and will also protect you from mosquitoes. For
  those sensitive to the sun, a loose cotton shirt is a good bet during the day, as is sunscreen.
  For colder mornings, layering clothing helps keep you warm and is a convenient way to
  ensure you’re wearing what you need as the day heats up.
• Dull and/ or neutral colors are suitable for safari, especially for gorilla & chimp tracking; you
  want to blend in as much as possible with nature. White is not practical. It is best to pack
  hardy, durable clothing. Best stay away from “camo”, as in many places in Africa only the
  military wear camouflage clothing and – in those areas – you might be arrested for it.

What to take:

• Sun block, sunglasses, wide brimmed hat, lip balm with an SPF of at least 15
• Blouses/ shirts with long sleeves (even in summer, they will protect you from the sun and
  from mosquitoes)
• Khaki, green, beige and neutral colors
• T-shirts; shorts; cotton pants and/ or zipper safari trousers
• Fleece and/ or a warm jacket for early morning game drives (necessary, even in summer)
• Sandals and rubber flip flops (for showers) and boots as you’re going to want to protect your feet from poisonous snakes, ants, thorns and rocky terrain.
• Comfortable hiking or walking shoes (well worn in!)
• Light, compact raincoat is a good idea, maybe even rainpants if you're going Gorilla Tracking
• Swimsuit, for the properties that have swimming pools
• Binoculars and a camera are a must

We also recommend: 

• Cellphone 
• Chargers (for your cell phone, camera, video camera, etc.) 
• Spare batteries for small electronics and cameras 
• Flashlight/ torch/ headlamp 
• First aid kit 
• Personal toiletries 
• Tissues (for when the dust gets up your nose on a game drive) 
• Insect repellent and malaria tablets, depending on where you’re going

The Nitty Gritty:

• Credit and ATM cards – check to see if your bank has international ATM locations to avoid high fees, and let your bank know you’ll be traveling abroad before you leave 
• Leave behind contact information for the family 
• Health-insurance card 
• Local guidebooks, bird and animal guidebooks 
• Passport and photocopies of passport (stored separately) 
• Photograph of luggage contents in case of loss 
• Print outs of reservations and general travel documents 
• Travel journal

We hope that this helped you a little. If you can't wait to pack and go on a safari - contact us!