What To Wear On a Safari in Kenya and Tanzania - Packing List Under 15 Kg
Have your safari itinerary down? Excellent, now on to the hard part - just kidding! Or am I? Now, you may be wondering what to wear on a safari or what to pack? Fear not, I’m here to help. If you are taking a bush flight, you will be limited in what you can bring as most of them only allow 33 lbs (15 kgs) of luggage, including your personal bag (and yes, they will weight them). Packing for a safari trip was my biggest packing challenge yet, stuffing 50 lbs in a carry-on? Easy! Only packing 33 lbs - including your laptop, camera equipment, and electronics? Not so much. But it's possible, and here it is how I did it.
Related Posts:
What to pack for a safari - Under 15KG
Personal Bag - About 5 Kg
Sony A7ii
Sony G 70 - 200 mm F4 + Zeiss 35 mm F2.8
Charger + Cables + SSD + Convertible etc.
Kindle
Macbook Air
GATTA Camera bag
Snacks
Main Luggage - About 10 Kg
2 Jumpsuits
1 Long dress
1 Jacket
2 Pair of Pants
2 Long sleeve top
2 Short sleeves top
2 Sleeveless top
1 Pair of Short
2 Swimsuits
2 Scarf
1 Pair of Flats + 1 Pair of Flip-Flops
2 Pijama
10 Underwear
3 Pair of socks
1 Hat + 1 Sunglasses
Toiletry + Makeup + Medical Kit
Packing List For An African Safari
Safari Suitcase
First, let's talk about safari suitcase. Like I mentioned on my Everything You Need To Know Before a Safari post, a soft-shell bag is highly recommended (and required in some airlines) when traveling on a bush plane - as the luggage storage tends to be small and uneven. Hard-shell suitcase makes it difficult to fit all the luggage, especially during high season.
On my Kenya and Tanzania safari trip, I decided to go for the North Face Base Camp Duffle 50L. It's very light, spacious, and incredibly durable - I didn't mind if people threw it around. I used Packing Cubes to keep everything organized.
For reference:
- Size: Small
- Capacity: 50L
- Weights: 2 lbs
There's a new travel version that I'm loving: Base Camp Voyager Duffel—62L if you want the smaller version in Base Camp Voyager Duffel—42L
AWAY Carry On Luggage - The luggage I always use on my travels.
- Size: Carry-On
- Capacity: 39.8L
- Weights: 7.6 lbs
Other soft luggage recommendations for your safari suitcase
Amazon Gonex 60L Water Repellent Duffel Bag
- 15 x 7 x 9 inches
- Capacity: 60L
Laundry Service
Most luxury lodges will have complimentary (or at least offer) laundry services, so no need to overpack! But do pack a few extra underwears as it's taboo for some African cultures to touch other's people undergarments.
If the lodge or camp you are staying at doesn't offer laundry services, you can get a Scrubba Wash Bag on Amazon. It's lightweight and washes better than by hand.
What to expect on an African Safari
Most likely you will start your day with a morning game drive at around 6 am and then return a few hours later for breakfast. After that, you will enjoy downtime where you get to relax and have lunch. At around 4 pm you go for your second game drive and return around sunset time. Then finish the day with dinner.
What to wear on a safari?
"Safari colors" is not just a fashion thing. There's a logical explanation behind the color palette. But with that in mind, you don't need special safari clothing and most likely what you have in your closet will do. If you don't, you can easily pick the safari color palette at any clothing store - sometimes they would come out with a Safari Collection and have all the tan, brown, beige, and green outfit you’ll need. Also, pick a fabric that is breathable like cotton, rayon, or linen.
Do wear:
Earth-toned colors - Tan, brown, green, beige, etc. to blend in with the landscape.
Light, breathable fabrics - it can get scorching hot, so make sure to bring light and breathable clothes.
Casual clothes - Even if you are staying at a luxury lodge, you won't need to pack formal attire. I brought a nice scarf and used it on top of my outfit to add an elegant touch, but other than that, I dressed very casually.
Avoid:
Bright colors - as it can scare the animals away.
Black and blue colors - Tsetse Flies love these colors, unless you want their nasty bites, avoid at all cost.
White color - there’s nothing against wearing white, but keep in mind that white will soon turn yellow/brown from all the dust.
Camouflage pattern - camouflage is usually associated with the military, and it's illegal to wear in some countries.
Safari Packing List
Sports bras
The roads are BUMPY, so if your girls are bigger than a small C, you will need a sports bra. You can use any sport bra, but if you are in the market for super cute and high quality ones, I love and recommend alo's sport bras.
Jacket
Morning and nights can get a bit chilly, and you will want to wear a jacket on your early game drives. The UNIQLO Cotton Blend Parka is perfect. It comes in different colors and it's also water repellent. It makes the perfect travel jacket! Check out UNIQLO other jackets as well. They make great quality pieces at a affordable price.
Jumpsuit
I love a nice jumpsuit! For those days when you don’t want to overthink about your outfit - like when you are getting ready at 5 am - just wear a jumpsuit. I lived in them on my safari trip. At night, I pair it with a scarf to dress it up a bit.
Flats
Bring a pair of nicer flats that you can wear around the lodge. Although you may walk around in flip-flops, flats will be nice when you want to dress up a little. I packed a pair of Old Navy flats that were super comfortable and lightweight. I couldn't find the exact design, but I found these similar Old Navy sandals.
Boots
Unless you are doing a bush walk, you don't necessarily need a pair of boots and any close-toed shoes will do. But I found it convenient to wear a pair of boots as I ended up walking on gravel and dirt roads. They also protected my ankles - where most insects like to bite. And it matches all my outfits. These Jadon 8-Eye Platform Boots by Dr. Martens are super cute and it's worth the investment becasue you won't want to takem off.
Brethable and Comfortable Clothing
Pack lightweight and breathable clothing for the hot afternoons. Although you may be tempted to wear nothing in the hot temperatures, I found it better to wear loose pants as it works as a barrier against the sun and insects. If you are planning to wear short or sleeveless top, make sure to apply sunscreen and insect repellent.
Accessories
Sunglasses
It's bright in the desert! So pack a pair of sunnies.
Day Bag
You will need a day bag to bring all your essentials on your game drives. I brought my Gatta Bag Camera Bag to keep all my camera essentials.
Wide Brim Hat
DO NOT underestimate the sun! Make sure to pack a wide brim hat with an under-chin strap - you don't want it to blow away by the wind.
This one from Amazon is super cute or also this Sunset Hat.
Swimsuit
If your lodge has a pool, bring your swimsuit! Get a refreshing splash during your downtime in between game drives.
Flip-flops
I always pack a pair of flip-flops wherever I travel as I use them to walk around the room or by the pool. I love the Old Navy flip-flops - they are comfortable, affordable, and cute!
Pashmina/scarf
For when it gets cold at night or when you would like to look more put together for dinner. I couldn't find my exact one but I love these ones from & Other Stories.
Other Safari Necessities
Medicine kit
I always travel with a medicine kit that I've put together because you never know what can happen. In some countries, ibuprofen may not be available over the counter, or you may have a hard time finding what you need because of language barrier (speaking from experience), so it’s best to bring your own - especially in the African bush.
My medicine kit includes:
Ibuprofen
Band-Aid
Neosporin
Antihistamine
Antiacid
Laxative
Malaria Pills - Contact your doctor to get all the proper vaccinations + Malaria pills for your trip.
Insect Repellent
Whether you are taking the malaria pills or got vaccinated, is never too safe to bring an insect repellent. Most people recommend bringing one that has at least 30% DEET, but 40% would be ideal. I bought this Insect repellent from Amazon.
Tips:
Make sure to apply it everywhere as mosquitos can still bite you on a surface (the size of a dime) where you did not apply the repellent.
You can also apply insect repellent on your clothes (as double protection) but make sure to test it in a small area before spraying it all over.
Sunscreen
Oh, don't be fooled into thinking that you will be in a car and not get any sun exposure. The sun is strong, so make sure to pack a good sunscreen! I'm currently loving this Beauty of Joseon - Relief Sun. It's super lightweight, contains niacinamide to leave your skin glowing, and absorbs quickly into skin without leaving a white cast.
Electronics and Camera gear
SD Cards
Make sure to pack a few SD Cards. You will need them! You will quickly go through them, and if one fails you, you will have a backup.
Converter/Adapter
Kenya: Type G and the voltage is 240 V, 50 Hz frequency.
Tanzania: Type D and G, and the voltage is 220 V, 50 Hz frequency.
The standard voltage in the US is 120 V, that means that you will need a converter/adapter for your appliances. Some electronics may be compatible if it's labeled 'INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz'. For example, the latest Mac computers are compatible ( Line voltage: 100–240V AC, Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz) Check the label of your electronics to see if it needs a converter too.
Camera
Don't forget to pack your camera! If you want to capture amazing photos, your phone won't cut it, so you may have to up your game with a Mirrorless camera or DSLR. But whatever camera you decide to take, make sure you know how to use it. I brought my trusty Sony 7a II mirrorless camera.
Tip: Set your camera to Continuous Shooting or Burst Mode (if it has it) - you can take several photos in quick succession by pressing the shutter button or holding it down. Depending on how fast your camera is, you can take 5-10 frames per second. It's handy for capturing fast moving animals.
Camera bag
Roads are very bumpy so you will want to keep your camera gear safe in a camera bag. I brough my GATTA Christie camera backpack which fits my Sony 7aII with a big lens attached, a prime lens, and a few accessories. The camera bag is small enough to fit in my personal bag, but big enough to fit all my camera essentials.
What lens should I pack for an African Safari?
For the best African safari photography, you will need at least a 200mm zoom lens. If you are not planning on buying an expensive zoom lens, you can rent one instead. For my Kenya and Tanzania safari trip, I rented the Sony G-Master 70-200 mm F4 from Lens Rentals. It was much more affordable than buying a new lens. I also brought my 35 mm F2.8 for landscape shots.
Bonus
Kindle
Between game drives, you will have some downtime - perfect time to catch up on some reading! The Kindle is ideal as it doesn't take up much space and is lightweight. I bring mine everywhere. Bonus: The new Kindle Paperwhite last up to 10 weeks of battery life.
Laptop
A laptop is not necessary if you are traveling for pleasure and can disconnect from the world. But if you still have to do some work while abroad (like me) pack your laptop. And if you are a photographer, you can also use your computer to back up your photos. I brought my Macbook Air which is very lightweight.
Binocular
You may get lucky if you get close to some animals, but most likely a few of them will be far away. Bring a binocular to spot them! Some luxury lodges will have one for you to use or rent. Ask your lodge before packing one.
Things you won't need
Tripod
I wanted to bring my tripod for night shoots, but even my super lightweight tripod was too heavy and had to take it out to meet the 15 Kg limit. Night shots would have been nice, but you won’t need a tripod to photograph animals.