What to Pack for a Safari — The Honest List That Won't Waste Your Luggage Space

• 2–3 long-sleeved lightweight shirts — for morning and evening drives. Sun protection and insect barrier combined. Neutral colours only.
• 2–3 short-sleeved shirts or breathable t-shirts — for midday heat at camp. Quick-dry fabric saves you from soaked shirts after noon drives.
• 2 pairs of lightweight trousers or convertible zip-offs — convertible zip-off trousers are ideal: one item that works as full trousers in the morning and shorts in the afternoon.
• 1 pair of shorts — for around camp and warm stretches. Not for walking safaris where insect bite and thorn risk is higher.
• 1 fleece or light pullover — this is not optional. Dawn game drives can be genuinely cold, especially at altitude. Even in August. Especially in the Ngorongoro crater.
• 1 lightweight rain jacket or windbreaker — essential in the green season (Mar–May, Nov–Dec), useful year-round on early drives.
• 1 swimsuit — most lodges have pools. Add a second if your trip includes a beach extension (Diani, Zanzibar, Lamu).
• 1 smart-casual outfit — no tie needed anywhere. Light linen trousers and a collar shirt is sufficient even at luxury lodges.
• Enough underwear and socks for the full trip — most camps don't launder underwear for cultural reasons. Bring enough or plan to hand-wash.
• Pyjamas or sleepwear — camp accommodation varies from tents to lodges, but you will want proper sleepwear.

• Solid walking shoes or trail runners — for walking safaris, bush walks and general use. Must be closed-toe. Broken-in before you travel — blisters on a walking safari are miserable.
• Sandals or flip-flops — for around camp, by the pool and evenings. Lightweight and essential.
• Optional: waterproof ankle boots — for green season safari or gorilla trekking in Rwanda/Uganda. Overkill for dry season game drives.

• Sunscreen SPF 30–50 — reapply frequently. The equatorial sun is significantly stronger than at home, and you'll spend hours in an open vehicle. Zinc-based works better on dusty drives.
• DEET-based insect repellent (30–50% DEET) — malaria is present in most safari areas. DEET repellent is your first line of defence, especially at dawn and dusk. Don't use brands with low DEET concentrations.
• Wide-brimmed hat — not a baseball cap. A full brim protects your neck and ears during hours on open vehicles.
• Sunglasses (polarized preferred) — polarized lenses cut glare off open plains and help you spot distant wildlife earlier.
• Lip balm with SPF — overlooked by everyone, regretted by everyone.

• Camera with telephoto lens (200mm+) — this is where game drive photography lives or dies. A 200mm zoom on a good mirrorless or DSLR is the minimum for real wildlife shots. Phone cameras will capture landscapes and camp life but not distant leopards.
• Spare batteries and memory cards — you will take more photos than you expect. Charging opportunities in the bush are limited. Two batteries minimum.
• Power bank — a compact, airline-safe power bank keeps your phone and camera battery alive between lodge charging sessions. Essential for multi-day fly camps with limited power.
• Universal travel adapter — Kenya uses Type G (UK three-pin). Tanzania uses both Type G and Type D. Bring an adapter that covers both.
• Dry bag or dust-proof pouch for electronics — safari roads are extremely dusty in dry season. Red African dust gets into everything. Protect your camera body and electronics.
• Binoculars (8x42 recommended) — arguably more important than your camera for the actual game viewing experience. 8x42 is the sweet spot: bright enough for low-light dawn drives, stable enough to hold steady from a moving vehicle.

Health essentials

• Malaria prophylaxis (prescribed by your doctor) — start the course as directed before travel. Do not forget mid-course.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate — required to enter Kenya and Tanzania if arriving from certain countries, and required by many other East African countries for onward travel. Carry the physical yellow card.
• Basic first aid kit — antihistamines, rehydration salts (the heat and activity combination dehydrates you faster than expected), antiseptic wipes, blister plasters, paracetamol, imodium.
• Personal prescription medication — with a copy of your prescription in case of a medical check.
• Altitude medication if applicable — if climbing Kilimanjaro or visiting highland areas above 3,000m, discuss acetazolamide with your doctor.

Documents

• Passport valid for 6+ months beyond your travel dates
• Visa or eVisa confirmation — Kenya uses an eVisa system (evisa.go.ke). Tanzania accepts visas on arrival but an eVisa is faster.
• Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover — this is non-negotiable for safari. Medical evacuation from remote areas costs $15,000–$50,000 without cover. Every safari travel policy must include emergency medical evacuation. See our travel insurance guide.
• Safari booking confirmations — printed copies plus digital backups.
• Digital and physical copies of all documents — store in a different bag from the originals.