What to Pack for a Safari in East Africa: The Complete Packing List

Packing for a safari is simpler than it looks. Days are warm, mornings and evenings are cool, laundry is often available at lodges, and the vehicle carries most of what you need. The trick is to pack light, in layers, and in the right colours.

Luggage: soft bags, and not too heavy

If your itinerary includes a flight between parks on a light aircraft, luggage is usually limited to around 15 kg per person, including hand luggage, in a soft-sided bag without wheels or a rigid frame. Soft bags pack into small aircraft holds; hard suitcases often do not. Most lodges and our Nairobi office can store extra luggage while you are in the bush.

Clothing

• Three or four lightweight shirts or T-shirts, including at least two long-sleeved ones for sun and insects
• Two pairs of comfortable trousers and one pair of shorts
• A warm fleece or light down jacket: early morning game drives can be cold, especially in open vehicles and at altitude in Ngorongoro
• A light waterproof jacket, especially from March to May and in November
• A wide-brimmed hat, and a warm hat for early mornings
• Comfortable closed shoes or trainers, plus sandals for camp
• Swimwear, as many lodges have pools

Colours: neutral, and never dark blue or black

Khaki, olive, beige and soft greens blend into the landscape and show less dust. Avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies in some areas. Bright white shows dirt quickly. Camouflage patterns are best avoided, as in some countries they are associated with the military.

For gorilla trekking

• Waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support and grip
• Long trousers you can tuck into your socks, and a long-sleeved top
• Gardening gloves for grabbing vegetation on steep slopes
• A light rain jacket, even in the dry season
• A small daypack with water and snacks

Read our guide to gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda for more on the trek itself.

Health and personal items

• Any prescription medication, in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription
• Antimalarials, if advised by your doctor or travel clinic
• Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin
• High-factor sunscreen and lip balm
• A small first-aid kit, hand sanitiser and any personal toiletries
• Your yellow fever certificate, if your route requires one

Camera and gadgets

• A camera with a zoom lens, ideally 200mm or longer for wildlife
• Spare batteries and memory cards: charging points are available at lodges and in our vehicles, but not always at every moment
• A universal travel adaptor. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania mostly use UK-style three-pin sockets; Rwanda uses European-style two-pin sockets
• A soft cloth to keep dust off lenses

Documents

• A passport valid for at least six months after your return, with at least two blank pages
• Your visa or electronic travel authorisation for each country
• Travel insurance details, including emergency evacuation cover
• Printed or saved copies of your booking confirmation

Our guide to yellow fever, malaria and visas covers entry requirements country by country.

What the vehicle already provides

Our Toyota Land Cruisers are set up for a full day in the field. They carry drinking water, charging points for phones and cameras, a cool box and binoculars, with Wi-Fi available on some vehicles, and your driver-guide knows exactly where to stop.

What to leave at home

• Plastic bags: Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda have banned single-use plastic carrier bags, and they can be confiscated at the airport
• Drones, which need permits in every country on our routes and are generally not allowed in national parks
• Expensive jewellery

Questions about what to bring for your specific trip? Ask us. Every Volcan booking comes with a packing list for its own route and season.