{"id":10807,"date":"2020-04-24T14:27:48","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T14:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.odyssea-voyage.com\/?p=10807"},"modified":"2020-04-24T14:27:48","modified_gmt":"2020-04-24T14:27:48","slug":"what-to-pack-for-an-african-safari","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.odyssea-voyage.com\/en\/what-to-pack-for-an-african-safari\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Pack for an African Safari"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve booked your safari, and now you\u2019re stuck at the first hurdle: what on earth to pack. Well, here\u2019s a handy list of dos and don\u2019ts for a successfully packed suitcase with both safety and sustainability in mind.<\/p>\n

There are over 400 national parks across 50 or more countries in Africa, and the safari experience varies extraordinarily from one to another. The temperature, humidity, exposure, and topography can all affect what you need to pack, as can local culture and customs, or the type of animals you\u2019re hoping to see. Overwhelming? Sure, but this list will provide a great starting point for any trip. And, ultimately, once you\u2019re on the ground watching a pair of lions recover in the shade of an acacia tree after mating, it really won\u2019t matter what shoes you\u2019re wearing.<\/p>\n

Luggage<\/h4>\n

The small aircraft which service the parks impose tight weight restrictions. If you\u2019re planning a fly-in safari, then use a\u00a0lightweight duffel<\/strong>\u00a0to save your available weight for clothes and supplies.<\/p>\n

Clothes<\/h4>\n

In general, pack practical, lightweight and quick-drying fabrics in natural tones (khaki, beige or tan, but not white). Avoid bright colors, which can deter animals, especially blue which attracts tsetse flies. In some parts of Africa, camouflage clothing is also inadvisable (in Zimbabwe, it\u2019s actually banned). Also, be aware of local religions and customs; in many places, it\u2019s considered inappropriate to reveal too much thigh or midriff.<\/p>\n

Walking shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your shoes will depend on the terrain. If you\u2019re doing a self-drive safari or have a guide, then comfortable shoes with a decent tread for the occasional game walk will be sufficient. If you\u2019re gorilla tracking in the jungle, you\u2019ll need waterproof hiking boots and a tolerance for mud.<\/p>\n

Long trousers<\/strong><\/p>\n

An amazing number of creatures are ready to bite your ankles.<\/p>\n

Waterproof jacket<\/strong><\/p>\n

Warm fleece<\/strong><\/p>\n

Game drives leave early in the morning and, with peak season during winter, it can get cold.<\/p>\n

Cap or hat<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bandana<\/strong><\/p>\n

These are indispensable to wipe the dust from your face or lens and to keep the sun from your head.<\/p>\n

Cotton or linen long-sleeved shirt<\/strong><\/p>\n

A dress<\/strong><\/p>\n

Women, this might seem counterintuitive, but if you\u2019re doing any off-the-beaten track travel, chances are you\u2019ll have to squat more often than once to use the toilet and potentially in areas without total privacy \u2013 a dress makes this much easier and less exposing. Leave the jumpsuit at home! Also, pack a sports bra for those bumpy roads.<\/p>\n

Sunglasses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gear<\/h4>\n

Water-filtering bottle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cut down on plastic-polluting water bottles, and invest in a\u00a0LifeStraw<\/a>, a gravity-powered purifier, which removes bacteria, parasites and viruses from any water. With each purchase, a child in need receives safe water for an entire school year.<\/p>\n

Quick-drying travel towel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solar charger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Camera with a telephoto lens<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, the zoom on your phone will not be sufficient for good safari photos. You\u2019ll need a lens with a reach of at least 300mm, otherwise, you may as well put your camera away and enjoy the moment. It\u2019s also advisable to pack spare memory cards, a protective filter for your lens, and a microfiber cloth to wipe dust away.<\/p>\n

Headlamp \/ flashlight<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re camping a good flashlight will also help scare the hyenas away when they come prowling around the campfire.<\/p>\n

Binoculars<\/strong><\/p>\n

You should keep a safe distance from the wildlife so as not to disturb them in their natural habitat. In the Masai Mara, they impose a 25-meter limit, and with some animals, like rhinos, you\u2019ll be lucky to get that close. A good pair of binoculars will ensure you get the most out of the experience even from afar.<\/p>\n

Packing cubes<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re visiting more than one destination, these are game-changing for unpacking and repacking your bag.<\/p>\n

Converter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take the opportunity to put your phone away.<\/p>\n

MapsWithMe<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This app offers offline maps of the whole world and good navigation, and, when it comes to much of Africa, they are more comprehensive than Google Maps.<\/p>\n

Animal guidebook<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re on a self-drive safari and don\u2019t have a ranger, a thorough local guidebook or app will help you distinguish an impala from a reedbuck.<\/p>\n

First Aid<\/h4>\n

As with any adventurous travel, it\u2019s alway wise to have your basics at hand:\u00a0antihistamine, Band-Aids, painkillers, rehydration kits, antiseptic, a thermometer<\/strong>\u00a0(for confirming the severity of a fever),\u00a0anti-nausea tablets, Imodium,<\/strong>\u00a0and whatever medications you require. Most importantly, make sure to pack\u00a0antimalarials<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0bug spray<\/strong>\u00a0(30 percent DEET or higher is needed for it to be effective against malaria).<\/p>\n

Cosmetics<\/h4>\n

Sunblock<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pack SPF 30 or higher, and buy a brand that\u2019s reef-safe, biodegradable and non-toxic (Suntegrity, All Good, and Thinksport are good options).<\/p>\n

Hand sanitizer<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re using a \u201cbush toilet\u201d (as they call doing your business while on safari), then you can\u2019t wash your hands, and in these moments, hand sanitizer is your friend. Antibacterial agents like triclosan are toxic for the environment, so choose a brand without the bad stuff.<\/p>\n

Eyedrops<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dusty conditions can cause irritation to your eyes.<\/p>\n

Toilet paper<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unscented deodorant<\/strong><\/p>\n

Animals will retreat from smells they don\u2019t recognize, so avoid anything perfumed.<\/p>\n

And finally, make sure whatever you bring into the park leaves the park with you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve booked your safari, and now you\u2019re stuck at the first hurdle: what on earth to pack. Well, here\u2019s a handy list of dos and don\u2019ts for a successfully packed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[268],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat to Pack for an African Safari - Odyssea Voyage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.odyssea-voyage.com\/en\/what-to-pack-for-an-african-safari\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What to Pack for an African Safari - Odyssea Voyage\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You\u2019ve booked your safari, and now you\u2019re stuck at the first hurdle: what on earth to pack. 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