Packing Guides for Africa
Pack light, pack right. Most safari camps do free laundry, light aircraft transfers cap luggage at 15–20 kg in soft bags, and on-the-ground temperatures swing more than you’d expect.
The 20-kilo soft-bag rule
Once you transfer to light aircraft — between safari camps in Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, or Zambia — strict luggage limits kick in. Most operators allow 15 to 20 kg total (including hand luggage) in soft, frameless bags under roughly 60 x 30 x 30 cm. Hard-sided suitcases don’t fit in the cargo hold. If you’re flying internationally with a rolling case, plan to leave it at your first hotel and switch to a duffel.
Camps do laundry every day at no extra cost (some don’t wash underwear for cultural reasons — bring quick-dry pairs you can hand-wash). Three or four days of clothing usually covers a two-week safari.
Light-aircraft limits
- Total weight
- 15–20 kg
- Bag type
- Soft duffel
- Max dimensions
- 60×30×30 cm
- Hand luggage
- Counted in total
Essentials — bring no matter what
Documents & money
Keep these in your carry-on. Photograph everything and email yourself a backup before you fly.
- Passport with six months validity and two blank pages
- Printed visa approvalse-visa countries often ask at check-in
- Yellow fever vaccination certificateMandatory in many countries
- Travel insurance documentsInclude 24-hour assistance number
- USD cash in clean, post-2009 notesFor visas, tips and emergencies
- Two debit/credit cards from different networks
- Copies of passport and ID stored separately from the originals
Health & first aid
Pharmacies exist in cities, but rural areas can be hours from supplies. Bring a small personal kit.
- Anti-malarialsPrescribed by your travel clinic for your specific itinerary
- Broad-spectrum DEET insect repellent (30%+)
- High-SPF reef-safe sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
- Personal prescription medication in original packaging
- Antihistamines and rehydration sachets
- Plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister patches
- Anti-diarrhoeal medicationPlus a basic antibiotic from your travel doctor
- Hand sanitizer and biodegradable wet wipes
By trip type
Different parts of the continent demand different kit. Use the list that matches your itinerary, or layer two together for a combined trip.
Safari
Neutrals only — khaki, olive, brown, stone. Avoid bright colors, black and dark blue (the latter attracts tsetse flies). Most lodges offer same-day laundry.
- Two pairs of lightweight long trousersFor sun, thorns and mosquitoes
- Two long-sleeve shirts with roll-up sleeves
- Two or three short-sleeve t-shirts
- Warm fleece or down jacketMornings can be 5°C even in dry season
- Buff or scarf for dust on open vehicles
- Wide-brimmed hat and polarized sunglasses
- Closed walking shoes or light boots
- SwimsuitMost lodges have pools
- Compact binoculars (8x42 is the sweet spot)
- Camera with a 200–400mm zoom and spare batteries
- Headlamp with red-light setting
Coast & beach
Zanzibar, Mozambique, the Seychelles, Cape coast — easy living, but the sun is fierce and modest dress matters near villages.
- Two swimsuitsOne always drying, one always dry
- Rashguard or UV shirt for snorkeling
- Quick-dry sarong or kikoiModesty cover when leaving the beach
- Reef shoes for rocky shorelines and dive entries
- Reef-safe sunscreen (mineral, oxybenzone-free)
- Light long-sleeve and trousers for dinner and mosquitoes
- Dry bag for boat transfers
Cities & cultural travel
Marrakech, Cairo, Cape Town, Lagos — smart-casual is welcome. Dress modestly in religious or rural areas; for women in North Africa, shoulders and knees covered helps.
- One smart casual outfit for restaurants
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Lightweight scarfUseful for sun, dust and modesty
- Small day pack with anti-theft zips
- Reusable water bottle with filter
- Compact umbrella in shoulder seasons
Mountains & trekking
Kilimanjaro, the Drakensberg, the Atlas Mountains, the Simien Mountains — bring proper layers. Most equipment can be rented on Kili but personal-fit boots cannot.
- Broken-in waterproof hiking boots
- Moisture-wicking base layers
- Insulated mid-layer (fleece or synthetic puffy)
- Waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Warm hat, gloves, neck gaiter
- Trekking polesSave your knees on descents
- Hydration bladder and water purification tablets
- Sleeping bag rated to -10°C for Kilimanjaro
Tech & power
Most camps charge on a generator schedule (early morning and evening), not 24/7. Power banks bridge the gap.
Universal travel adapter
South African three-pin (Type M) plus European (Type C/F) covers most of the continent
Power bank (10,000 mAh+)
Camps run generators on schedules
Spare SD cards and battery for your camera
Lightweight headlamp with spare batteries
Offline maps app (maps.me or Google Maps offline)
eSIM or local SIM for data
MTN, Vodacom and Airtel have good regional coverage
What you can leave at home
Camouflage gear
Illegal in several African countries — including Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi — because it is associated with the military.
Heavy hiking boots
Unless you are climbing Kilimanjaro or the Drakensberg, light walking shoes or trail runners are plenty for safari.
Hairdryers and irons
Most safari camps run on solar or low-amp generators that cannot handle them. Lodges in cities have their own.
Drone
Banned or heavily restricted in most national parks. Confiscation at the airport is common.
Too many clothes
Laundry is daily and free at most camps. Three sets of safari clothes is enough for two weeks.
Brand-new boots
Bring something broken in. New leather plus 30°C heat plus long days equals serious blisters.