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Struggling to figure out what to wear on your safari trip?

You are not alone. I had no clue where to begin. My initial searches showed all the same clothing. Khaki colors, lots of pockets, boxy styles. Blah.

Then I started to search for companies that specialize in travel and outdoor activities like fishing, camping, and hiking. Ok, now I was on to something.

Check out these companies below.

They offer a much more attractive aesthetic but also fit into the “safari category.” Instead of khaki/brown colors, I focused on finding clothing in soft greys, olives, light pinks, and light blues.

I have a whole article dedicated to the best women’s safari clothing. Included are multiple examples of what I actually wore. Don’t miss it if you are struggling with outfit ideas.

Three reasons why you need to put a scarf on your safari packing list:

ALTERNATIVE TO THE SCARF: NECK GAITER

If you anticipate your safari location will include eating a lot of dust, consider a neck gaiter.

It is a piece of bunchy UPF 50 fabric that can be worn in multiple ways: a headband, neckerchief, face mask, hood, hair tie, and the list goes on. It helps to block the sun, give you warmth, and keep dust off your face.

My favorite is my packable J.crew hat. It “squishes” down nicely in my luggage. I’ve used it all over the Caribbean and for two African safaris: Chobe in Botswana and Lion Sands in South Africa.

Unless you are doing a walking safari or trekking through the forests of Rwanda looking for gorillas, you do not need clunky boots.

Most blogs will tell you that you need them.

I disagree.

Plus, why pay for something you are going to use once, and then it just sits in the closet?

I brought three pairs of shoes for our safari experience. Remember you need to pack light! Those little planes taking you to your safari destination are tiny and have weight limits.

Of course, the decision to bring a jacket will depend on the time of year you are going. When we went to South Africa in September, the mornings were chilly!

Layer, layer, layer.

I brought my Uniqlo lightweight puffer jacket that had a durable water-repellant coating. It also rolled down into a little pouch, which made it easy to pack.

My exact Uniqlo jacket is no longer available, but Amazon is now selling a comparable down jacket with excellent reviews and a good price point.   

Love polarized sunglasses!

They reduce eye strain and cut down the glare especially when you are looking for animals in the distance on your safari.

My favorites are my Ray-Bans. I did not take a photo of my sunglasses while on safari, so I included the one I took while we were in New Zealand.

If your safari lodge has a pool, don’t forget the bathing suit!

We did one of the most epic experiences I have ever done … swimming in Devil’s Pool on top of Victoria Falls, the world’s largest waterfall! So I was already planning on bringing a bathing suit.

I wore the Voda Black Envy in a one-piece. FYI, when we were in Saba Sand at the end of September, it was too chilly to swim in the lodge’s pool. Check the weather before you go.

You may want to check with your safari lodge first before deciding on how much to bring.

The alternative is to bring a little packet of laundry detergent and hand wash them in the sink and air-dry.

There is a thing called “travel underwear.” My husband swears by the ExOfficio men’s boxer brief. It is made of quick-drying, breathable mesh fabric and has been treated with an odor-reducing antimicrobial treatment.

Speaking of undergarments, some women suggest wearing a sports bra because of the “bumpy” safari jeep ride affectionately known as the “African massage.”

They are lightweight and come in multiple colors.

I used the daypack to carry my camera, lenses, GoPro, hat, sunscreen, sweatshirt, water bottle, binoculars, wet wipes, and a little brush. It is washable (wash on a delicate cycle and then air dry). This is important because it will be sitting on the bottom of the jeep floor and may get dirty.

I would not bring an expensive bag for the safari because of that reason.

I practice what I preach!

The photos above show the Zomake bag we used daily. After one of the afternoon safaris at Lion Sands River Lodge, we had the incredibly unique opportunity to sleep under the stars at Chalkley Treehouse in the African bush.

When we did a safari with Lion Sands River Lodge in Sabi Sand in South Africa, binoculars WERE provided.

So, check with your safari lodge first if they provide binoculars because that may be one less thing to bring!

They are super helpful when you are trying to scan the distance trying to pick up any movement to find an animal. We purchased a pair of binoculars from Amazon that did the job.

Why a soft-sided suitcase?

The plane we used to get from Cape Town to Lion Sands River Lodge via the Skukuza Airport was small, but it was not one of those small propeller planes.

I brought my trustworthy durable soft-sided Travelpro Platinum Magna Rollaboard that I have had since 2013. The name of the line has now changed from Platinum Magna to Platinum Elite.

The TravelPro brand is a flight crew favorite. It was even featured in the movie Up In The Air with George Clooney.

It also has a Lifetime Limited Worry-Free Warranty.  

Since 2013, I have traveled to 30 countries and have had to perform a repair only ONCE.

When I was wheeling my luggage around in Rome, I took it across several sections of cobblestone (oops, this was my fault) which damaged one of the wheels.

Because I had purchased from the Travelpro Platinum line, the wheels were covered under the lifetime warranty.

Weather is unpredictable. You never know when it may suddenly change and you end up soaked like what happened when we were hiking around Machu Picchu in Peru. Luckily, our guide was kind enough to provide ponchos for us.

If your regular jacket also serves as a rain jacket, great! Otherwise, buying a cheap packable poncho from Amazon will do the trick.

Malaria does exist throughout Africa!

Forget the lemongrass, citronella, and mosquito bracelets. You will need the strong stuff. The travel clinic I saw before our trip advised a Deet concentration of 30%.

Higher concentrations of Deet do not mean it will work better but it will last longer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Deet concentrations of 50% or higher do not offer a substantial increase in protection. CDC recommends 20% Deet or greater.

Now you can apply this bug spray in a lot of different ways: sprays, wipes, lotions, or a stick. My preferred method of applying is the roll-on stick or spray.

Why? Because it is portable, does not drip, and it will not get all over my fingers and hands.

The other way you can fight off these mosquitoes is by spraying Permethrin on your clothing and allowing it to dry. A lot of hikers swear by this ingredient.

The highly-rated Sawyer Premium Permethrin Insect Repellant can last up to 6 weeks or 6 washings. You can spray it on clothes and outdoor gear without damaging or staining them.

Other common-sense measures to avoid mosquito bites are wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, avoiding dusk and dawn if possible, and avoiding standing water where they like to breed.

I would highly advise getting a multi-use travel towel that is lightweight, super absorbent, and compact.

Plus, the iPhone kept coming out with better and better cameras making it easy to get amazing shots while traveling.

However, I promise you that taking photos on your iPhone while on a safari will not cut it.

The safari is the one travel experience you do not want to leave your DSLR camera behind. A fair amount of shots you take will be from a distance, and you are going to need that telephoto lens.

After taking photos again with our DSLR camera, I was reminded of how I initially fell in love with this camera.

The photos you take are so crisp and sharp. I have included the same shot of two lionesses taken with both the iPhone and DSLR camera to show you the difference in what you can achieve. Pretty drastic if you ask me!

We have been using a Canon Rebel camera for the past several years, which is an affordable, entry-level DSLR camera. Overall, we have been happy with the quality of the photos it produces.

We brought 3 lenses for our safari trip. As seen from left to right:

• Wide-angle lens
• Normal lens
• Telephoto zooms lens

The wide-angle lens came in handy for those panoramic landscape shots. We were also able to get an amazing photo of Chalkley Treehouse (as seen below), an incredibly romantic experience we booked while on safari.

The photo below (right) shows you how close up you can get (which is not very close!) with an iPhone without looking pixelated.

As you can see, it makes a huge difference!

As mentioned earlier, we had the unique opportunity to sleep under the stars in a treehouse at Lion Sands River Lodge in Sabi Sand, South Africa. I took awesome video footage of our treehouse experience with the GoPro.

The African sun is no joke.

One of my favorite sunscreens is Elta MD UV Clear. It has zinc oxide that rubs in sheer on the skin. It’s not oily, so don’t worry about breakouts.

This little skin protector should definitely be on your safari packing list!

You do not want to get dehydrated and faint.

Safari drives are long (usually 3 hours in the morning and afternoon), and you will be sitting under the hot sun.

Bring a water bottle or ask if your safari lodge provides one for the drive. Our lodge, Lion Sands River Lodge, provided every guest with a water bottle for their use during their stay.

The other item I always take on trips is low-sugar Gatorade packets. They are great if you feel dehydrated or had a little too much wine the night before. Just add to water and shake.

I call it my “Hummingbird juice” because if I am feeling a little bit off, it usually perks me back up.

Even before the COVID-19 craziness started, we have always carried disinfectant wipes.

Great for plane rides, before and after eating, hiking, or for safari rides when you feel dusty and need to wipe off before you eat an energy bar for a snack. Don’t leave home without them.

I tend to bring my own pharmacy for every trip, so I am prepared for all situations and ailments. The below items are what I personally included on my safari packing list.

But PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOC OF WHAT YOU SHOULD/SHOULD NOT TAKE.

I get it. Most travelers will think this is a weird item to have on an ultimate safari packing list, and some may think this item is a little diva-ish.

That is ok. I am going to tell you why this makes #22 on the list.

The older I get, the more I realize how important a good night’s sleep is. When I was in my 20s, I could pull all-nighters and bounce back the next day. Not anymore.

Need to drown out the street noise from the Airbnb you just rented right next to the highway? What about the noisy neighbor above you in your condo? Or what about trying to muffle the roaring from the lion who has decided to alert everyone he is there?

And this is where my favorite travel product comes into the picture. Weighing only 3.5 ounces, LectroFan Micro (the latest version is called the Micro2) is my best sleeping buddy.

It also has a BlueTooth speaker, which you can sync with your smartphone to play your favorite music.

And, yes I used this amazing machine in our safari lodge! Thanks to the LectroFan, I was able to feel rested when I got that 5 am wake-up call from our safari guide letting us know to get ready for the morning safari!

As I started to pack, I began to think how in the world does a female go to the bathroom while out “in the bush?”

When I performed a quick Google search, I actually found there is a contraption called a female urinary device.

It is a funnel-shaped device that forms a seal so you can urinate without it going down your leg. You can use it camping, at concerts, and even while on safari!

I could not bring myself to buy one, but if someone has, I would love to know in the comments below if they actually used it and liked it.

I decided I was not going to the bathroom on our safari drive. I accomplished this by hydrating like crazy 1 hour before our safari drive (so I would not get dehydrated) and then going to the restroom one more time at the lodge before getting on to the jeep.

Then I was nice and comfortable. I still don’t get how females use the restroom in the trees when camping without urinating down their legs. More power to you!

Your safari guide and tracker puts in long hours. They get up well before you do and go to bed after you.

They spend 6+ hours with you sharing a wealth of information and finding some of the most amazing wildlife you will ever encounter.

I know the safari lodges cost a small fortune, but consider showing a little love and appreciation by writing a short thank you note and providing an appropriate tip.

It will be much appreciated by the staff.

Wow, you got through my ultimate safari packing list! Well done. If you are like me, I had no idea before my first African safari what items made sense to bring and what items to leave.

I really hope this detailed article helps you navigate that process. Enjoy this incredible life experience!

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Any African safari packing list items that I missed? Questions on what to bring?

Let me know in the comments below!