What to Pack on a Safari
We hope you will find this a useful section of our website, whilst I am not about to tell you exactly what to bring and what to leave behind, there are some useful pieces of advice that I feel I can offer.
Preparation and packing for any holiday is important but particularly so when you are visiting remote areas in a country like Zambia, once on safari you will find it hard to pick up that odd item left behind.
Most domestic flights around Zambia will have a check-in baggage allowance of 23kgs. You should always travel with soft bags not hard suitcases as many itineraries will include small light aircraft that may not be able to accommodate large hard cases.
- Clothes: Most safari camps in Zambia have a daily laundry service, so you needn’t bring too many. Try to make your clothes khaki or neutral in colour, (dark colours stand out less in the bush than light ones). Loose clothes are preferable and layers always useful. Evening dress in all camps and most hotels is casual but bring longs against mosquitoes when eating out in the bush. A sweater or light jacket is useful at most times of the year. If traveling in June or July a warm jacket will be necessary.
- Sandals or open shoes are often favorite but bring a covered pair if doing any walking in the bush. Even on proper walking safaris, comfort is usually more important than “big and sturdy”.
- A hat, sunglasses, high strength sun block, moisturizer, lip salve, insect repellent, anti-histamine cream and tablets should always be carried.
- Binoculars – an absolute must if on any type of safari. Many options are available but with this equipment invariably the more you spend the better you get.
- Torch – Many camps have no mains power so night-time lighting may be by candle or hurricane lamp, a lot of camps will have torches by the bed but best to pack your own.
- Glasses – if you wear prescription glasses bring a spare pair. If you wear contact lenses bring a pair of glasses as well since dust can be a problem.
- Camera equipment – This is obviously very personal but zoom or telephoto lenses are useful. Cleaning equipment and a dust proof bag are also useful. Spare batteries and memory cards are very important.
