What to take on Safari & Luggage for Safari

Here we want to give you a few tips and hints for when you are going on safari.

Safari Luggage:

The first thing you need to take into account on the majority of safari's where small planes are involved as connecting flights is that the baggage allowance on light aircraft is usually 15kg (32lbs) per person, this must be packed in soft bags, not hard suitcases. 

A tightly packed soft bag is better than a loosely packed one because it keeps your belongings from rolling around and getting damaged.

Large Explorer bag in canvas and leather with shoulder strap

 

Deluxe Adventurer in tan canvas and leather with shoulder strap

Top Tip: Make your bag very identifiable compared to other bags, take a picture of the bag with a digital camera or your phone after it is all packed and ready to go. Then if it gets lost, you just show the picture to the agent. It is much easier than trying to describe your bag.

Rucksack for your day away from camp:

You will need a backpack for the when you are away from your lodge in the back of a landrover or open top car. Again, the recommendation is that your backpack is not in a bright colour.

 

Batian backpack in tan canvas

Top Tip: What I can recommend you also take are some plastic bags - the sealable / lockable ones. They are worth their weight in gold. Pack everything in plastic bags... the safari dust is like fine powder. And you will need them for everything: wet clothing, lotions, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc. 

I also recommend you take some larger ziplock bags for your camera, mobile, iPhone, and other electronics.

If you are taking your laptop with you, you might want to think about a tracker bag which is great for use when you get home as well. 

Have a look at this review of the Tracker bag in The Telegraph which speaks for itself. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/businesstravel/7512916/joss-kent-how-I-pack-my-bag.html

Tracker bag in tan canvas

Clothing

I am not going to tell you how many pairs of socks or knickers to take, as I am sure you are old enough to work that out for yourselves. 

However, the most important thing is not to wear bright colours or white on safari, although around the camp or on the beach you can wear what you like. And cotton clothing rather than silks or synthetics.

Safari's can be a cold place by night and in the wee small hours. From your early morning game drive to midday the sun can make quite a difference, so it is advisable to dress by layers you can take off when the sun rises. Shorts (a good compromise are those trousers that zip apart at the knee to become shorts) and long sleeved tops with a fleece for when it is colder. Another reason to cover your arms and legs after sunset is to prevent mosquito bites.


Head Gear

Make sure you take hats, ideally wide brim and tight. Don’t forget bandanas or scarves – extremely valuable if you are caught in a dust storm. And sunglasses too.

Shoes

Unless you're seriously hiking, just bring comfortable shoes. A thick sole is a must, since it will keep your feet safe 

Binoculars 

We think these are the single most important element of your packing. We would recommend bringing the best pair you can afford and try to take a pair each. If you are buying binoculars, try lots of different pairs, don't be tempted to buy anything too small and avoid 'gadgets' like zooms lenses as the dust can cause problems for these.

Different types of Safari holidays


There are many different types of safari holidays available on the market from your traditional game safari which everyone assumes to be the only type - why not think about:

A horse riding safari: With Zara's Planet (www.zarasplanet.co.uk)

Zambian Safari: with Zamag Tours and Safaris (www.zamagsafaris.com)