What to Wear For A Safari (The Ultimate Safari Packing List)

Going on a safari in Africa is a dream for most of us.

If you’re like me, then wondering what to wear for a safari and creating a safari packing list are among your top priorities.

Our African safari was a new experience, so we had to rethink our packing.

Hopefully, our experience and this list will help ensure you have everything you need to be completely prepared for your safari.

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Luggage For Safari

For our safari adventure in Kenya, we visited three different camps and flew on small aircraft between each camp.

Because of that, we were required to bring our belongings in a soft-sided duffle bag. Some top picks include this North Face duffle and this Osprey bag.

In addition, Marty also brought his camera equipment in a camera backpack, and I also brought along a small travel backpack.

Be sure to know and adhere to the weight restrictions for your travel itinerary. We found that they were strictly enforced!

Of course, if you aren’t taking the small hopper planes, you might not be limited by these baggage restrictions, so check with your travel planner before purchasing luggage for your trip.

Tips on What to Wear For a Safari

• Wear neutral colored clothing: tan, khaki, green, light brown.
• Dress casually.
• Be comfortable: Wear comfortable, breathable clothing.
• Bring layers: The weather can vary greatly, so be sure to bring layers. If traveling during the African winter, don’t forget a light coat, gloves, and a hat.
• Cover your body: Protect yourself from insects by wearing long sleeves and pants
• Bring a hat that protects you from the sun and is waterproof.
• Choose clothing that is easily laundered. Most camps provide laundry service to guests.

Safari Packing List For Men

• Tops:
  • Button-Up Shirts (2-3)
  • Pullover (1-2)
  • Hooded Waterproof Jacket (1)
  • Lightweight Travel Coat (1)
  • Moisture-Wicking T-Shirts (2-3)
• Bottoms:
  • Safari Pants
  • Water-Resistant Hiking Pants
• Undergarments
  • Moisture-wicking underwear
  • Moisture-wicking socks
• Sleepwear
• A casual outfit or two for dinner
• Swimsuit (if there is a pool and weather permits)
• Shoes:
  • Hiking shoes or boots (we preferred lightweight hiking shoes)
  • Sandals or flip-flops
• Accessories:
  • Polarized Sunglasses
    • Oakley (Marty’s Favorite)
    • Ray-Ban
    • Maui Jim
  • Hat
  • Toboggan
  • Gloves
  • Buff Wrap

Electronics for Safari

• Good Camera
  • We use:
    • Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless
    • Canon RF 100-500mm lens
    • Canon RF 24-70mm lens
• Smartphone gimbal stabilizer
• An extra memory card for the camera
• Camera batteries
• Portable hard drive for photos
• Bean bag camera holder
• Plug adaptor
• Portable Charger
• iPad or Kindle
• Travel-size power strip
• Small LED flashlight
• Phone charges and cables

Toiletries

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hairbrush or comb
• Hair ties
• Wet wipes
• Shaving accessories: razor and shaving cream
• Sanitary requirements
• Contact solution and extra contact lenses (if applicable)
• Face moisturizer
• Lotion
• Hand sanitizer
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Tweezers
• Insect Repellant
• Medicine:
  • Personal Prescriptions
  • Pain Reliever
  • Allergy remedy
  • Rehydration substance (like Liquid IV)
  • Antiseptic cream
  • Allergy cream
  • Dramamine
  • Heartburn remedy
  • Anti-diarrhea medicine
  • Cold/flu medicine

Other Safari Essentials

• Binoculars (8×40 or 8×42 is recommended)
• Apple AirTags
• Luggage tags
• Shoe bags
• Packing cubes
• Copies of travel documents
• Inconspicuous money belt
• Laundry bag for dirty clothes
• Reusable water bottle

What Not to Pack For Safari

• Single-use plastic bags
• Camouflage clothing
• Expensive or delicate jewelry
• Drones
• High-voltage beauty tools like hairdryers, straighteners, and curling irons
• Strong-smelling perfumes or body sprays

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