18+1 THINGS YOU MUST PACK FOR YOUR SAFARI

A safari is something I truly believe everyone should experience at least once in their life!! My first safari was in Tanzania, in the Serengeti National Park and my second in Kruger National Park, South Africa. I had been planning both trips for a long time – safari has always been a big dream of mine.

For details regarding my Tanzania trip, check my other article: “Safari: an one in a lifetime experience.”

After these unforgettable experiences, I created the guide below, hoping it will be useful for anyone going on their first safari adventure. Before your journey begins, here are the must-pack items you shouldn’t forget!

1. BINOCULARS: Even if your friends bring a pair, you’ll definitely want your own. During a safari, you’re in a jeep observing animals in their natural environment and sometimes they’re far away, shy or close but you want to observe their details. That’s exactly why binoculars are essential.

   Angel’s tip: It may sound crazy, but I managed to take some great photos in Tanzania with my phone through the binoculars . It’s not easy to focus and line up the lens, but the result was surprisingly cool and totally worth trying! In my South Africa trip, animals were very close.

   

2. A DSLR camera. I know it is expensive but if you don’t have any and you can borrow one, do it! Zooming in and out is soooo important during the safari in order to capture some great pictures of the wild animals and the end result from pictures taken with your smart phone may not always be the best. Angel’s tip: Make sure you have enough memory space on both your phone and camera. During safari, you’ll take a lot of photos and videos. I have an iPhone and because there was little to no internet, my photos couldn’t upload to iCloud . Everything stayed on my phone and at one point I couldn’t take more photos until I deleted older ones – not ideal in the middle of a safari!
3. A SAFARI HAT. Ok, undoubtedly it is primarily adding up on your “safary look” and the photos are much better with the appropriate outfit but sun sometimes is getting pretty intense during noon hours, so it is serving a practical purpose as well!
4. DRESSING IN LAYERS. Casual neutral colored clothes in layers are ideal since in Tanzania, you will be in the jeep for like 10-12 hours starting early in the morning with a jacket and only a t-shirt around noon. Ideally wear long trousers due to the mosquitoes and the flies. It is almost certain that at the end of the day your clothes will be covered in dust . Angel’s tip: I was wearing a t-shirt, a cardigan and a jacket with trousers in order to be ok with the different temperatures during day and night.
5. COMFORTABLE SHOES. You can choose either sneakers or boots with the relevant socks to protect your ankles from the mosquitoes. As mentioned before, you may spend many hours in the car, so good comfortable shoes are important.
6. SUNGLASSES: A must on safari! The sun can be very strong, especially during long game drives. Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun, dust and wind – and make those hours in the jeep much more comfortable.
7. STRONG MOSQUITO REPELLENT with DEET. Before my trip to Tanzania, I had a yellow fever vaccination (lifelong immunity). Even so, it’s essential to carry and use mosquito repellent daily with 30–50% DEET to protect yourself from mosquito bites and reduce the risk of malaria and other insect-borne diseases.
8. LIP BALM: Essential on safari! The sun, wind, and dry air can quickly chap your lips. Choose a high SPF lip balm to protect them while you enjoy long hours in the jeep.
9. PILLS FOR MALARIA: I was advised from the Hellenic National Public Health Organization to take every day pills for Malaria in Tanzania. I started with 1 pill 1 day before my flight to Africa and continued for 7 days after my arrival back in Greece. In Kruger, I didn’t take at the end.
10. MEDS for headache, motion-sickness, fever, diarrhea(immodium is a must!), monquito bites are essential!
11. HAND SANITIZER, TISSUES AND WET WIPES: A must-have for safaris! Toilets can be limited or basic in parks, so carrying hand sanitizer, tissues and wet wipes keeps you clean and comfortable throughout the day. Perfect for quick refreshes after game drives or before meals.
12. A FLASHLIGHT: This is maybe useful for the night and your transfer between lodges or if there are power outages.
13. SUNSCREEN: Essential for safaris! The sun can be intense during long game drives. Use a high SPF sunscreen on all exposed skin and reapply regularly to avoid sunburn and stay protected while enjoying the outdoors.
14. SWIMSUIT as many lodges have swimming pool. Sandals as well or flip-flops.
15. CLOTHES FOR THE NIGHT: No, I’m not talking about dressing up for a wild night with the animals, haha! I mean a clean outfit for dinner at the lodge. After a day on safari, your clothes are usually covered in dust and you’ll probably want a fresh set for the evening. Angel’s tip: I almost forgot this myself, as I only packed one outfit per day. Definitely bring something extra for dinner and a nice bath after a long day in the jeep.
16. SNACKS: I don’t know what type of person you are when it comes to food. If breakfast early in the morning around 06:00 and lunch is enough to keep you going till 19:00-20:00 at night that the next meal is available, for me it was not enough in Tanzania. That’s why I had brought some snacks with me to eat something extra during the day (preferably sealed snacks that can be preserved even in warm weather like crackers or nuts). In Kruger, I had 2 safari games per day (morning + evening) so it was not necessary, food was plenty.
17. TRAVEL ADAPTER: A travel adapter is a must-have for charging your devices at lodges and camps. Safari accommodations may have different plug types or limited outlets, so bring a universal adapter to keep your phone, camera and power bank ready for every adventure!
18. POWER BANK: A must-have for safaris! Long game drives, limited electricity at some lodges and lots of photos/videos can quickly drain your devices. Bring a reliable power bank to keep your phone and camera charged throughout the day.
19. SMALL BACKPACK: Essential for carrying all your safari essentials: water, sunscreen, binoculars, snacks and a camera. A lightweight, comfortable backpack keeps your hands free and everything within easy reach during long game drives and walks.

EXTRA:I’m sure you’ve thought about it, but this isn’t for during the safari drives – it’s for before or after. In some African countries, like Tanzania, you may meet local people or children in need.

It’s wonderful to bring extra snacks, gifts, or clothes to share – from socks and toys to t-shirts you no longer wear. I did this myself, and seeing their joy and happiness was priceless.

Pleased to hear your thoughts and tips if you went to a safari!

*For more Pictures check my posts and relevant highlight on Instagram*

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