African Safari Packing Tips

-At least one major credit card (ATM cards will work in most cities - but it's easier if connect your VISA/MC to your bank account for use in the automatic teller machine

-Money belt, or travel pouch (make sure the pouch hangs/clips inside your pants or shirt), do NOT use a fanny pack.

-Tickets, itinerary

-Immunization records (International Travel Immunization Record required for some countries)

-Passports/visas, plus copies of everything

-List of emergency contact numbers

-Sun Hat or cap, sunglasses, clip-ons for regular glasses

-Extra set of eyeglasses or contacts

-Pick up many rolls of film before even getting to the airport, the price of film increases dramatically at the airports and overseas.

-Bird or mammal field guides, Africa travel book

-Reading material

-Blow-up travel pillow (helps for sleeping during the flight)

-Earplugs & blinders (for sleeping on the overnight flights or anti-snoring during camping)

-Basic stuff (band aids, gauze, tape, first-aid cream, Betadine, pick up a kit from EMS, LLBean, or wherever)

-Swiss army knife (do not take in carryon, it will be confiscated at airport security)

-Antibacterial hand gel (very useful when water is scarce)

Personal prescription medications (whatever you need)

-Pepto-bismol tablets, chewable (important)

-Imodium A-D or other diarrhoea medicine

-If you wear contact lenses, bring eye medicine (Neosporin eye drops)

-Tylenol, aspirin, Advil or other painkiller

-Benadryl pills or other antihistamine

-Cold/flu medicine (important)

-Mosquito repellent (DEET 35% concentration DeetPlus, Repel or Deep Woods, to spray on skin)

-Sunscreen, aloe vera gel

-Mount Climbing: Glucose tablets (critical for the final summit push on Kilimanjaro and Kenya) and recommended prescribed medicines: dysentery antibiotic pills (Cipro), altitude pills for Kilimanjaro (Diamox).

 

-Manual shaver & extra blades

-Deodorant stick (not aerosol)

-Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss

-Shampoo and hair conditioner (in small leak proof bottles)

-Bar soap with soap bag/container

-Chapstick for dry lips

-Disposable contact lenses

-Vitamins

-For camping and mount climbing - Toilet paper and quick-drying camping towel

 

Clothing is a matter of taste, and laundry service is provided at all hotels/lodges during the safari (not on Kilimanjaro), Days are warm and nights are cool so dress accordingly. If you wish to purchase some special "safari" clothes, here is a recommended list:

 - Wear tan, beige or light sage green clothing (these colours hide dust, don't look dirty).

-Women will want to have at least one long casual skirt (cotton/canvas/khaki or whatever is easy-care in hot weather) to wear during day-tour trips, out of respect for local culture.

-Teva sandals are all around great footwear, or tennis shoes are okay for beach and bush, however you just don't want them to be brand new white.

-Use packing plastic smush bags to store sweaters/fleece, bulky clothing (these seal out the extra air and make sweaters more compact).

-3 pairs of pants (2 for the field, 1 for evening) pants can be the kind that zipper off into shorts (such as Expeditio), or blue jeans.

-Long casual khaki button-down dress or skirt (okay for day wear & evening in the bush or lodge, can be brought in lieu of the 1 or 2 pairs of pants mentioned above).

-3 shirts (stone/light moss/sage-colored, not white colored) (2 for the field, 1 for evening)

-2 under T-shirts, 7 pairs underwear, 7 pairs khaki-color cotton socks (enough for about 1-3 weeks in the field, can wash these out).

-Shoes (brown color to match evening dress or casual khaki dress)

-Fleece jacket for early morning/sunset game drives

Bathing suit, bikini, swim goggles (white water rafting, swim at hotel/resort)

 

-Hiking boots (required), should be waterproof and reasonably warm (Kili has snow at the summit but crampons or specialized boots are not necessary)

-Warm hat, gloves, for freezing temperature

- Rainproof shell (top and bottom) - wear over fleece jacket at top of mountain for extra warmth

-Long underwear, sock liners (4 pair)

- Sub-zero weather sleeping bag, camp pillow

-Flashlight (or head lamp)

- Playing cards

-Granola or energy bars for snacking on the trail