What to Pack for Your First African Safari

Going on a safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is, in my opinion, an absolute must-do for any adventurer, especially nature geeks and animal lovers. Unlike your usual travel gear you toss into your carry-on, going on a safari requires specific clothes and items you might not think to pack!

I traveled to South Africa with the all-female tour group TBA Escapes for 10 incredible days. My favorite part of our adventure was our safari at the gorgeous Gondwana Game Reserve.  Our guides met us as we arrived at the reserve, and we jumped in our safari cars and immediately set off! The next morning we did two drives, and on our final day went out for one final morning drive. That’s a grand total of four drives and 8 hours!

What You’ll See on Safari

The animals you’ll see on an African safari are wild, so your experience will be totally different on every drive. Our car communicated with our guide what we most wanted to see, and he was able to curate our drive to find them. It was almost like a scavenger hunt! The prize was getting to have our morning coffee with a tower of giraffes, an absolutely unforgettable experience.

If you can, try to check off the big five – that’s the lion, the leopard, the rhino, the elephant, and the cape buffalo. If you’re worried about being in an open-air vehicle near these large animals, just know that the wild animals don’t understand you’re people in a car. They see it as one large animal. If they’ve been on a reserve long enough, they’re probably used to seeing the cars drive by and know they pose know harm. Your safari guide and driver should also be practicing safety measures and giving the animals a wide berth. Sorry, no petting here!

Here’s what you should bring with you on an African safari:
 

1. Jacket With A Hood

Sudden rainfall, dusty roads, bright sunny afternoons – you never know what your safari drive will bring. A lightweight jacket is easy to keep in your bag during warm weather and can protect you from sudden bouts of bad weather. Game drives can last several hours, and the last thing you’d want to do is be sitting in damp clothes instead of having fun.

2. A Hat & Hat Clips

I am normally not a huge hat person – I always end up taking it off and carrying it around, which can be annoying. On a safari, however? Call me the hat queen and sign me up for the fan club. A nice wide-brim hat kept me warm on chilly morning drives, kept the sun out of my face later in the day, and I was able to keep my hair down without it flying all over the place as we sped around!

Another sneaky accessory you might not have thought to bring: hat clips! Attach one end to your hat and one to the collar of your shirt, and it will stay secure even if the wind or a sudden turn knocks it off. Embarrassing story alert: I didn’t bring hat clips and our safari guide had to stop the car to grab my hat off the road. Never again.

3. A Durable Bag

Chances are your safari vehicle will be open-air and venture off-road, which means whatever you bring on board may end up falling over the side or get jostled around on the floor. A durable bag that is easy to wipe off is a safari must-have to keep your other essentials safe and dry. I brought my trust backpack that I always travel with so I didn’t have to pack an extra bag and I knew it would keep my stuff altogether!

4. Earth-Toned Clothes

Wearing earth-toned clothes helps you blend in with your surroundings and reduces the chances that you might accidentally scare off the animals you were hoping to see. Think beige, green, white, and brown when planning your outfits!

5. Close-Toed Shoes

Climbing in and out of the safari car, dusty roads, long walks around the reserve – this is no time for your toes to be exposed! Boots are part of the traditional safari uniform, but any close-toed shoe should be ok.

6. Reusable Water Bottle

Safari drives are LONG and the sun can get HOT. Bring a reusable water bottle that you can refill before each drive to stay hydrated!

7. Your Camera

Of course you’ll want to capture the incredible sights you’ll see on your adventures! Your phone can only do so much, so if you’ve been toying with the idea of finally learning how to use that mirrorless camera, consider this your sign. You’ll also want to toss a telephoto lens in as well to capture those far-away animal spottings!

8. Portable Battery

You’ll be out on the grounds for a while, so make sure to toss a portable charging pack into your bag to keep your phone charged for pics and meeting up with the rest of your group later!

I like this charger that keeps my iPhone charged up to two times on the go. It’s also sleek and easy to fit in almost any bag.

9. Sunglasses or Other Eye Protection

I can’t go anywhere without my sunglasses. Any amount of sun gets my eyes all watery, and I hate the feeling of having to squint and use my arm for cover. Of course I brought along one of my cheap pairs in case they fell out of the car or got scratched, but they turned out to be super helpful protection against the elements!

If it starts to drizzle on your drive? You’re going to keep going. And in an open air car, that rain can fly at your face pretty fast. Sunglasses on and I was able to continue to enjoy animal spotting without any discomfort. The same goes for dust and other bugs you may encounter along the way!

Feel on top of your packing game? Explore more of my tried-and-true packing guides!