PACKING CHECKLIST WHEN GOING ON SAFARI
Curious about your safari visit? Don’t worry, I have you covered here. I have put together this piece to help you find your way around it. Obviously, if you looking for the best travel adventure, safaris are the best destination for the best nature travel. If you haven’t read THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SAFARIS IN AFRICAN, then you need to finish that up before you read this, but same you can finish this first. This 10 point packing checklist when going on safari will give you a great idea of what you need when visiting safari, so you don’t carry unimportant stuff to stress your day.
This packing checklist may not work for you, but according to all the travelers I have talked with says it has been working for them. So why don’t you give it a try and sometimes select what may help in the list? All travelers have different tastes and requirements when visiting safaris. The following point packing checklist when going on safari is just what I’ve found works best for a lot of travelers in my inbox, and this can be very helpful when planning to visit safari.
1.Travel Document
Yeah I know, who will plan a trip and leave their travel document home. People actually do that, but it will be remiss if I don’t put this at the top of the point packing checklist when going on safari. if you leave any of these (passport, itinerary, travel insurance document, and eTickets) home then it’s game over. You shut your adventure down or have to go back and make all plans again. You might not even get refund. So it is the most important point on the list.
2.Travel Luggage ( Backpack)
If it’s your first time visiting safari, you’ll probably want a travel-friendly backpack. Most safari travelers use it, so if you doing safari then you need a backpack. Firstly, try to restrict your hand luggage to one item only, if for no other personal reasons then more than one item makes travel that much harder. Though a handbag is qualified as a second item. Make sure that one item should be the size that is acceptable as carry-on luggage by the airline or any other checkpoint.
For photographers, then this will mean you must have more space in your camera bag for travel documents, your prescription medication and/or glasses, binoculars, and even a change of clothes.
Remember there are still restrictions on what can and cannot be taken on board an aircraft are still in place. Though the rule change mostly, so you need to double-check.
3.Prescription Medication
It is always important to travel with medication and most important prescribe medication from your doctor or an expert with a license. This is the most important point after travel document on the point packing checklist when going on safari. And it is very important to put your prescription medication in your handbag (in case your backpack is choked with a lot of stuff) and make sure you have lots of medication of each type to last your entire safari adventure.
4.Prescription glasses (sunglasses, hat, sunblock)
If you wear prescription glasses, be sure to pack more than one set (in case you lose one or they get broken). You will be outdoors for much of the time, so be prepared. Pack a hat, sunblock, long sleeves, and lip balm.
5.Camera and Binoculars
My best advice is to buy a camera if you don’t have one, but if you think your phone can do all the work them fine. Most people think they don’t need to take binoculars.
Binoculars are necessary for optimum wildlife viewing on safari (and a GOOD pair of binoculars will make a BIG difference to your safari travel experience). We strongly recommend a pair of binoculars on safari. Get the most expensive you can afford (at least 8x or better still 10x magnification). Most safari tour guides have binoculars for hire, so you can get one if you forget to purchase one.
Africa is every traveler’s dream. Not only people from other continents but also people from Africa love it. Because the continent is blessed with stunning landscapes, colorful surroundings, and fabulous light. Your safari trip can be a great chance to capture the beautiful land of African. Buy a camera, if you don’t have one. This should not be an option on the point packing checklist when going on safari.
6.Clothes
I know, you are not going to leave your clothes behind. But the question here is that, have you pack the right clothes, or are you within the weight restrictions your travel agent gave you about those light aircraft flights.
This is not a new thing. Most international airlines will restrict your check-in luggage to around 20 to 30kg. And if your safari destination includes any light aircraft flights, then this can mean as little as 12 to 15 kgs (sometimes including your hand luggage!). Don’t be scare if you couldn’t carry many clothes in your luggage, most safaris have a laundry service available for you.
The most exception will be for mobile tented safaris where it is often hard, due to the mobile nature, to offer a laundry service. It may also be possible to leave a bag with the charter company, or person meeting you, for the duration of the safari portion. When in doubt, ask your travel agent. It can be very important for your trip.
The thing you must have for safari trips during summer
- Comfortable sneakers/sandals/walking shoes for game walk
- Flip-flops or similar for pool or in-room use, or even in a safari vehicle
- Baseball cap or hat to keep dust/sun from head
- Windbreaker/fleece jacket for layering during game drives and evening
- Jeans (one or two pairs)
- Khaki or cotton pants/slacks, for dinner time
- T-shirts for daytime wear
- Button-down long-sleeve sport shirts (optional at dinner for men)
- Long-sleeve and mid-sleeve women’s cotton shirts for layering
- Shorts/cut-offs—two or three pairs for mid-day wear
- Sleeveless shirts for warmer days—very necessary for summer
- Bathing suit
- Underwear (sports bras are recommended for game drives)
- Socks
However, avoid shirts that are purple, red, or royal blue—bright colors seem to make the animals shy away. One most important thing is to check the weather condition. either by asking your agent of checking online. You may not need any serious cold-weather gear at all and that will help with your luggage limit. Alternatively, if you are going anywhere in winter where the temperature drops dramatically when the sun goes down, you may need gloves, a scarf, a thick jacket, and a beanie!
Point packing checklist when going on safari. ( In the Dopp kit )
Motion sickness relief band—these are ideal for charter flights since they don’t cause drowsiness.
7.Phone, A tablet, or a laptop.
You maybe need them. What you must pack for your safari is your phone, music, tablet, or laptop – and their respective chargers, country-specific adaptor plugs.
8.Preventative Pharmaceuticals
This sounds more like ‘meds’, these are also important stuff you need. I’m not saying something worst should happen, but something worst happens (headaches, heartburn, insect repellent, diarrhea, bites, eye drops, and most important anti-malarial tablets) then you know what to do. Just remember we are not in normal times so you may need them.
9.Odds & ends
A good torch (flashlight) is an important material on the point checklist when going on safari. It can be little black in the bush and your tent in the middle of the night. A rechargeable torch is good but a small battery-powered torch is sufficient. The new LED miner’s lights that fit on your head are also a good option. A smaller (pencil) torch for emergencies or looking at star maps is also worth considering. Most camps will provide a torch, or guides will walk you back to your tent as required, but being self-sufficient is always a good idea.
For those who are not new to traveling, it’s always interesting when traveling with a book. You may never know when the day is going to be boring or even delay at the airport. It’s always a good idea to travel with a book even if you are not visiting safari.
It’s going to be a fun trip, by all means, so you need a book to keep diaries. Most people think pictures are enough for a trip, but writing down some of the nice things you did or places you visited is one good place way to keep memories.
10.Personal Document
Travel has always been an opportunity to meet new people and learn about a new culture. Traveling with your personal document to safaris ( contact cards, Business cards, etc) can help you have new connections around the world.
Another important thing to have on you is your travel insurance and it is highly recommended to have one. You don’t know what worst can happen, so you are advised to get travel insurance if you don’t have one.
WHAT NOT TO PACK TO SAFARI (PACKING CHECKLIST WHEN GOING ON SAFARI
- Most countries in East Africa have banned single-use plastic bags. some of these bags include customary plastic duty-free bags. Zip-lock bags are recommended.
- Camouflage clothing is not recommended for travel in southern African countries. Camouflage or military-inspired clothing is prohibited when traveling to Zimbabwe.
- Drones are not allowed in most camps, so it better not to travel with one. Or better ask your travel agent.
- Many camps cannot support electricity for hair dryers.