What to Pack for an African Safari

Two questions we’re most often asked by guests preparing for a safari trip are “What should I wear?” and “What should I pack?” Since a Vaya trip to Africa is many people’s first-ever safari experience, these are very fair and important questions.

Having been on a variety of different safaris over the years and typically fielding these questions myself, I thought it’d be helpful to expand upon the packing information typically provided in Vaya’s Pre-Departure Materials while also including a few personal tips and anecdotes.

For all intents and purposes, the following information is meant as generalized guidance for most game-drive-based safaris. Each safari destination and camp are different so there could be some variation for your unique trip. However, these guidelines should apply to the most common safari experiences in Africa.

If your trip involves a walking safari or something even further afield or adventurous you will likely need to consult your Vaya Destination Specialist for any specific clothing or packing advice relevant to your specific trip.

Sporting clothing we already owned upon arrival for safari in Zimbabwe – black athletic pants, an olive-green sweater, black fleece, khaki pants, and flannel shirt.

What to Wear on Game Drives

In general, the priority for all clothing on safari should be comfort and neutral colors. Despite what you may see on social media or safari marketing materials, there is no set “safari outfit” that you’ll need to procure before your trip. Often, the clothing you already have at home will suffice or you may only need to purchase one or two specialty items.

Our safari attire recommendations are very simple and straightforward. While packing your clothing for safari, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:

• Dress for comfort (typically quick drying/wicking materials)
• Prioritize neutral colors (tans, browns, khaki, natural/olive greens),
• Bring layers for a range of temperatures and scenarios

If you follow these guidelines while packing, you’ll be properly prepared and dressed for your trip.

Normal safari clothing can be anything that you’re most comfortable in – including black athletic pants, sandals, sweaters, and glasses vs contacts.

Dress for Comfort

Ultimately, you should always dress to be comfortable while on safari. You’ll spend long but wonderful mornings and evenings outdoors on game drives in fully or semi-exposed vehicles. While out and about, you’ll have the potential for exposure to a range of weather and temperature conditions and will want to dress accordingly. I like to recommend clothing made of cooling/dry wick fabrics or merino wool as these tend to be the most comfortable to wear for long periods of time or even for multiple days in a row.

I personally prefer to wear a mix of athleisure/athletic clothing and sweaters or fleece while on safari, but I’ve seen many other guests wearing jeans, dresses, and full-on khaki ensembles. As long as you’re following the layer and color recommendations you can truly wear whatever you’d like.

You will likely only need two pairs of shoes for safari: sandals and comfortable close-toed walking shoes. Once again, comfort and stability are the most important qualities in any shoes you bring. Sandals are great for relaxing at camp and can also be worn on game drives if you can safely/comfortably climb in and out of the safari vehicle while wearing them. Closed-toe, comfortable running or walking shoes are also a great daily wear option and will be required for participating in the nature walks offered at certain lodges.

Khaki, tan, and brown colors easily blend into typical safari environments.

Prioritize Neutral Colors

Although there are no specific rules regarding what clothing you can or cannot wear for safari, there is a reason that more traditional safari colors of natural greens, tans, browns, and khaki are strongly recommended and encouraged. They blend well with the surroundings and are less obvious and jarring for wild animals, typically resulting in better and more natural game-viewing experiences. Although there are no hard and fast rules that dictate clothing choices, avoiding any bright, neon, or unnatural colors and camo or army prints is strongly recommended.

Additionally, for some areas of Africa, typically Kenya or Tanzania, we will also recommend avoiding wearing black or navy blue clothing because of the bothersome Tsetse flies that are attracted to and often swarm dark colors. This recommendation comes moreso from an abundance of caution than an absolute requirement. These pesky flies pack a painful bite but thankfully they are not present in all safari destinations. If you’re traveling in most areas of Southern Africa the Tseste fly should not be a problem and you’re fine to wear dark colors.

Layering a warm sweater over a sun shirt at the beginning of the morning game drive so that I can easily shed a layer when it gets too hot.

Bring Layers

When in doubt, focus on packing layers. Although the African sun can be intense and temperatures can soar in the heat of the day, during the Southern African winters (typically June-September) early morning and late evening game drives in an open vehicle can mean that it is often much colder than many guests expect.

A long-sleeved fleece, sweater, or a light down jacket and hat/gloves are suggested for those cooler morning and evening hours. Most specialized safari vehicles will also provide blankets and ponchos in case of inclement weather, however, having your own clothing layers will be much more comfortable and practical.

Alternatively, if you’re traveling in the Southern African summer (October-May) or will be in a hot climate near the Equator having a light linen shirt or sun-specific barrier layer is also an essential piece of clothing to protect your skin from the sun during the heat of the day. Bringing clothing items made of cooling or quick-drying fabrics is also recommended when traveling during hotter times of the year.

Although my black clothing does not blend into the environment as well as my guide’s khaki and green outfit it is still a suitable safari color for most destinations.

What to Pack on Game Drives

Often overlooked, an appropriately packed day bag is also an essential element of any successful safari experience. Knowing you’ll be sitting in the same vehicle for three to four consecutive hours, you’ll be a lot more comfortable if you’re properly prepared and ready for anything.

Of course, you won’t be completely left to your own devices while cruising around the bush. Your safari vehicle is typically equipped with a few variable necessities like blankets or ponchos, bug spray, and water, and your guide might also have a pair of binoculars or a medical bag that you can use in a pinch. However, self-sufficiency can go a long way when it comes to your personal enjoyment and adaptability in ever-changing conditions.

I always bring a small 25-liter backpack or a packable tote bag to carry all of my safari essentials in/out of the vehicle for each game drive. I love having a dedicated safari bag so that I can easily grab it as I’m groggily heading out of my tent after the 5:00 a.m. wake-up call and know that I have everything I’ll need.

Here is a breakdown of the items I always bring with me on game drives. Conveniently, most of them are also items that I pack/carry with me anytime I travel.

A hat with strings is strongly encouraged to prevent it from flying away in the wind of your open vehicle!

Sun Protection

As highlighted earlier, the African sun is incredibly powerful and easily accessible sun precautions and protections are a must! A sunburn can seriously dampen your experience – especially if you have multiple game drives or safari activities left.

On safari, I’ll typically prioritize wearing polarized sunglasses for better eye protection and viewing in direct sunlight, a hat with a wide brim to keep the sun off my face and neck, 50+ SPF sunscreen, and a dedicated clothing barrier like a light linen shirt or UV-blocking sun shirt.

When it comes to sun protection, everyone has their own sun tolerance and preferences for various products. As long as you’re bringing your favorite items from the generalized list below, you’ll be all set to sit in the sun.

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Wide-Brimmed Hat or Baseball Cap
• Sun shirt / long-sleeve shirt

Although it looks sunny, a hat and puffy jacket were absolutely necessary on this morning’s 50 degree game drive!

Layers / Warm Clothing

Depending on the time of year and region of Africa, many safari destinations can become quite cold; especially on early morning game drives. As someone who gets cold quite easily, I always pack a warm layer, lightweight beanie hat, gloves, and a neck gaiter into my safari bag if there’s any chance of dropping temperatures or wind. These items usually pack up small and make a huge difference if you need them.

• Warm Layer of choice – sweater, fleece, puffer jacket, etc.
• Warm hat
• Light gloves
• Buff or Neck Gaiter

Medications / Pharmacy

I always travel with a small pharmacy in my bag. You never know when you, a travel partner, or a fellow safari guest will need something or the urgency with which they will need it. Although camps are typically well stocked with all essential first aid resources, it’s much more convenient to always have these items on hand instead of having to seek them out while in the bush.

• Ibuprofen or Advil
• Dramamine (non-drowsy)
• Eyedrops
• Nasal Spray
• Zyrtec (for allergies or general travel congestion)
• Imodium
• Tissues
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• Band-Aids

A camera and binoculars at the ready during our walking safari in Zimbabwe.

Game-Viewing Tools

An expensive camera or binoculars are definitely not necessary to have a great wildlife viewing experience. However, I believe that having each can significantly enhance your experience and always bring both with me on every game drive.

I LOVE having my own pair of binoculars on hand while on safari. Although you’re usually able to get quite close to animals while out on game drive I found that having the ability to get a closer view of the animal’s features (patterns, eyes, scars, etc) really enhances the sightings and experience for me so I will always bring my own.

I also really enjoy photography and the ability to better photograph the wildlife with my mirrorless camera greatly enhances my experience. However, if you’re not into photography in your daily life it’s very likely that you’re not going to be into it on your safari vacation. If you don’t already own a nice camera there usually isn’t a need for you to go out and buy one for your trip.

• Camera
• Binoculars

Miscellaneous

• Water Bottle – Although you won’t be very physically active, it’s still incredibly important for you to stay hydrated while on a game drive. The sun and wind can be sneaky dehydrators especially since you’ll be out in the elements for long periods of time.
• Glasses (if needed) – If you wear contacts, I recommend bringing your glasses along as a backup. Sometimes the wind and dust from the vehicle can irritate your eyes or contact lenses and you’ll want to wear your glasses instead.
• External Battery Pack and Charging Cable – If you’re primarily using your phone to take photos and videos on your safari, you’ll want to make sure you have an extra battery pack and charging cable handy to ensure your phone doesn’t die while you’re out and about.
• Camera Accessories – If you’re bringing a camera, make sure you also pack extra batteries, SD cards, lenses, and cleaning supplies to properly manage your equipment.
• Insect Repellant – Depending on your safari location and time of year you may need insect repellant. Typically, a 30% DEET-based repellent is sufficient, or you can wear long pants and sleeves as a non-chemical protection option. Your guide may also keep insect repellant in the vehicle as a backup option, too!

That’s all for now! Hopefully, this brief guide helped clarify a few of your packing questions. If you have any more, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your dedicated Vaya Destination Specialist!

Explore Africa