Packing for your Safari
Your plans are finalised, your Safari is on the horizon - now comes the PACKING phase..... something that many find a little stressful.
No matter which time of year you have planned your African Safari for, it is always advisable to travel with light, comfortable clothes. Muted colours are best, particularly for game viewing (even if you stay in the vehicle, and don’t do any walking). Cottons/ natural fibres are also good, and don't worry about a creased look - comfort is definitely more important.
Don’t worry about not being able to take enough clothing, as nearly all properties do laundry (extremely efficiently!) and most actually include the service in their rates.
Your clothing list should be made up of golf-shirts, T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts/ blouses. Short and skirts, along with one of two pairs of long trousers/ slacks. If you are travelling in winter, a warm jacket/ wind cheater is advisable (you might want to include gloves and a hat too), as although the day-time temperatures are high, the early mornings and late afternoons can be surprisingly chilly. For travel in summer, a light rain coat/ poncho is always a good idea.
Comfortable walking shoes (you won’t need hiking boots per se) and sandals are advisable. Most properties have swimming pools or plunge pools, so a swimming costume is always a good idea.
You will definitely need a good sun hat/ bush hat, and good quality sun glasses (preferably with polarising lenses). If you wear contact lenses, you might also want to bring glasses anyway, just in case the drier/ dusty conditions cause irritation to the contacts.
Safari Lodges are generally not formal at all, so casual clothing is the norm. Should you be staying in hotels, you might want to bring an outfit that is more suitable.
A useful packing list:
• Good quality sunglasses - preferably polarized. Tinted fashion glasses are not good in strong light
• Sun hat
• Golf-shirts, T-shirts and long-sleeved cotton shirts
• Shorts/skirts
• Long trousers/slacks
• Track suit
• Underwear (sports bra recommended on game drives as the roads can be bumpy and uneven) and socks
• Good walking shoes (running/tennis shoes are fine)
• Sandals
• Swimming costume
• Warm winter jersey
• Warm Anorak or Parka and scarf / gloves for the cold winter months (May to September)
• Light rain gear for summer months (late November to April)
• Camera equipment (extra memory cards useful)
• If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you bring along a pair of glasses in case you get irritation from the dust
• Binoculars - an essential (Night vision binoculars are not essential but highly recommended if your safari includes night activities)
• Personal toiletries (basic amenities are supplied by most establishments)
• Malaria tablets (where applicable)
• Moisturizing cream & suntan lotion
• Insect repellent e.g. Tabard, Rid, Jungle Juice, etc
• Basic medical kit (aspirin/ paracetamol, plasters, Imodium, antiseptic cream and Anti-histamine cream etc)
• Tissues/"Wet Ones"
• Waterproof/dustproof bags/cover for your cameras/ phone
• Visas, tickets, passports, itinerary, vouchers, money etc
As no formal clothes are needed throughout most of southern Africa, we recommend that you limit your luggage to the basics. More formal attire is usually required only when staying in the more prestigious city hotel establishments or on any of the luxury trains (Rovos Rail, The Blue Train).
Luggage
Scheduled airlines in Southern Africa generally carry a weight restriction of 23kg per economy class traveller for checked-in luggage and a further 7 kg for a cabin bag. Please ensure that you comply with the applicable restrictions (further details regarding number of luggage pieces and exact dimensions, for the particular carrier can be obtained from your ticketing agent).
Please remember that if you combine scheduled and charter flights in your itinerary, then you need to stick to the charter flight restrictions – unless you have made alternative storage/ transport arrangements for the excess luggage.
The strict weight restrictions in place on any itinerary including light aircraft transfers are in place for for technical reasons, such as the altitude of the airstrip, the fact that much of the flying is done in a very hot climate, and the aircraft themselves are physically restricted in terms of space. Therefore, luggage is strictly limited to 20 kg per person, packed in a soft bag.
The maximum dimensions of the soft bags which can be accommodated are as follows: 36cm (14 inches) wide x 30cm (12 inches) high and 81cm long (32 inches).
Safety Tip
Due to the prevalence of theft at airports around the world, it is recommended that you keep valuables (jewellery, cameras and other electronics), as well as medication, in your hand luggage, instead of checking it in.
Most Southern African airlines have adopted the International standards regarding the carriage, in hand luggage, of Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGS). You may only carry Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGS) in your hand luggage in containers that have a maximum capacity of 100ml each.
However, you MAY carry several containers, but they have to be packed in re-sealable, transparent plastic bags, and the total capacity should not exceed 1 litre. These bags should be removed from your hand luggage and presented to security personnel for inspection.
No matter which time of year you have planned your African Safari for, it is always advisable to travel with light, comfortable clothes. Muted colours are best, particularly for game viewing (even if you stay in the vehicle, and don’t do any walking). Cottons/ natural fibres are also good, and don't worry about a creased look - comfort is definitely more important.
Don’t worry about not being able to take enough clothing, as nearly all properties do laundry (extremely efficiently!) and most actually include the service in their rates.
Your clothing list should be made up of golf-shirts, T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts/ blouses. Short and skirts, along with one of two pairs of long trousers/ slacks. If you are travelling in winter, a warm jacket/ wind cheater is advisable (you might want to include gloves and a hat too), as although the day-time temperatures are high, the early mornings and late afternoons can be surprisingly chilly. For travel in summer, a light rain coat/ poncho is always a good idea.
Comfortable walking shoes (you won’t need hiking boots per se) and sandals are advisable. Most properties have swimming pools or plunge pools, so a swimming costume is always a good idea.
You will definitely need a good sun hat/ bush hat, and good quality sun glasses (preferably with polarising lenses). If you wear contact lenses, you might also want to bring glasses anyway, just in case the drier/ dusty conditions cause irritation to the contacts.
Safari Lodges are generally not formal at all, so casual clothing is the norm. Should you be staying in hotels, you might want to bring an outfit that is more suitable.
A useful packing list:
• Good quality sunglasses - preferably polarized. Tinted fashion glasses are not good in strong light
• Sun hat
• Golf-shirts, T-shirts and long-sleeved cotton shirts
• Shorts/skirts
• Long trousers/slacks
• Track suit
• Underwear (sports bra recommended on game drives as the roads can be bumpy and uneven) and socks
• Good walking shoes (running/tennis shoes are fine)
• Sandals
• Swimming costume
• Warm winter jersey
• Warm Anorak or Parka and scarf / gloves for the cold winter months (May to September)
• Light rain gear for summer months (late November to April)
• Camera equipment (extra memory cards useful)
• If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you bring along a pair of glasses in case you get irritation from the dust
• Binoculars - an essential (Night vision binoculars are not essential but highly recommended if your safari includes night activities)
• Personal toiletries (basic amenities are supplied by most establishments)
• Malaria tablets (where applicable)
• Moisturizing cream & suntan lotion
• Insect repellent e.g. Tabard, Rid, Jungle Juice, etc
• Basic medical kit (aspirin/ paracetamol, plasters, Imodium, antiseptic cream and Anti-histamine cream etc)
• Tissues/"Wet Ones"
• Waterproof/dustproof bags/cover for your cameras/ phone
• Visas, tickets, passports, itinerary, vouchers, money etc
As no formal clothes are needed throughout most of southern Africa, we recommend that you limit your luggage to the basics. More formal attire is usually required only when staying in the more prestigious city hotel establishments or on any of the luxury trains (Rovos Rail, The Blue Train).
Luggage
Scheduled airlines in Southern Africa generally carry a weight restriction of 23kg per economy class traveller for checked-in luggage and a further 7 kg for a cabin bag. Please ensure that you comply with the applicable restrictions (further details regarding number of luggage pieces and exact dimensions, for the particular carrier can be obtained from your ticketing agent).
Please remember that if you combine scheduled and charter flights in your itinerary, then you need to stick to the charter flight restrictions – unless you have made alternative storage/ transport arrangements for the excess luggage.
The strict weight restrictions in place on any itinerary including light aircraft transfers are in place for for technical reasons, such as the altitude of the airstrip, the fact that much of the flying is done in a very hot climate, and the aircraft themselves are physically restricted in terms of space. Therefore, luggage is strictly limited to 20 kg per person, packed in a soft bag.
The maximum dimensions of the soft bags which can be accommodated are as follows: 36cm (14 inches) wide x 30cm (12 inches) high and 81cm long (32 inches).
Safety Tip
Due to the prevalence of theft at airports around the world, it is recommended that you keep valuables (jewellery, cameras and other electronics), as well as medication, in your hand luggage, instead of checking it in.
Most Southern African airlines have adopted the International standards regarding the carriage, in hand luggage, of Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGS). You may only carry Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGS) in your hand luggage in containers that have a maximum capacity of 100ml each.
However, you MAY carry several containers, but they have to be packed in re-sealable, transparent plastic bags, and the total capacity should not exceed 1 litre. These bags should be removed from your hand luggage and presented to security personnel for inspection.
