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| Planning your safari: |
| Luggage list for safaris |
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| The list below, split into Clothes and Other
items, shows what you may need to bring for a safari in Kenya
or Tanzania,
staying in hotels, lodges
or tented
camps.
For camping
safaris or expeditions, you need additional items, and should receive an appropriate
luggage list from your travel
company or tour
operator.
Clothes |
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| Underwear |
Normal quantities. |
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| Socks |
Mainly for use during cool mornings and evenings. |
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Tsetse flies, found in some parks,
have a painful bite and may transfer sleeping sickness when biting. Your best protection
is covering your skin. A pair of thick socks may protect your feet from bites. Bring
them in your daypack, and put them on if needed. |
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| T-shirts, tank tops |
Good for daywear in the hot climate. |
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| Shirts |
At least one or two with long sleeves, for malaria and sun protection.
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| Warm sweater, windproof jacket |
For early morning game
drives, when the air is cool, and for stays at high altitude, for example the
Ngorongoro Crater rim, Mount
Kenya or the Aberdares. Rarely needed on the
coast. |
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| Shorts, skirts |
Good for daywear in the hot climate. |
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Trousers,
light dresses |
For eveningwear. Bring comfortable items, dressy clothes are
rarely needed. |
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Trousers may also be good for walks in grass and thorny vegetation.
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| Sandals |
Sandals allow your feet to breathe, and are easy to take on and off.
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| Shoes |
Sandals give poor protection from insects and thorns, and you may wear sneakers, canvas
shoes etc instead. Dressy shoes are not really needed. Some restaurants may expect you
to wear proper shoes, i.e. not sandals, for dinner.
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For serious walking, you may want a pair of boots. A pair of sneakers
is fine for lighter walking, but don't give the same support or protection from thorns
etc. |
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| Hat |
To protect you from the sun. A wide-brimmed hat is a good choice. Such are available
from souvenir shops along the road (but if you like to dress smart, you may want to
buy one at home before going). Baseball caps also work fine on safaris by road, where
you are not exposed to the sun all days. A scarf may protect long hair when travelling
on dusty roads.
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Don't bring a tropic helmet, no matter how cool or useful you find it. The helmet has
a colonial touch and may cause offence.
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| Swimwear |
For swimming pools in your hotels, lodges or tented camps. |
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| Other items |
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| Flight tickets |
E-tickets are becoming more and more common. If you have one, make sure to bring the
actual e-ticket, not just a confirmation of your booking.
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| Booking confirmation and tour itinerary |
Check that there is contact information, so that you can get in touch with the local
tour operator in case of problems such as flight delays.
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| Passport and visa |
Citizens of most countries need a visa to visit Kenya or Tanzania. All visitors need
a passport.
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More about visas and passports
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| Money, traveller's cheques and bank/credit cards |
More about money and currency
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| Travel insurance |
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| Pair of binoculars |
The most important tool for game viewing. Having a pair of your own is
recommended. |
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More about binoculars |
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| Camera, film and memory cards |
Your choice of camera (if you want to bring one at all) should be guided
by your interest and knowledge in photography. |
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More about cameras |
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| Spare batteries or charger for the camera |
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| Wall outlet adaptor |
Tanzania and Kenya have wall outlets for British 3-pin plugs with rectangular pins.
Most rooms in hotels and lodges, and tents in some tented camps, have wall outlets.
If there are none, you may charge batteries in the bar or reception. The voltage in
Kenya and Tanzania is 220–240 V, 50 Hz.
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| Sunglasses |
Sunglasses don't only protect you from sunlight, but also from dust and
insects when standing up during game drives. A sunglass strap is handy, as you may find
yourself taking off and putting on your sunglasses a lot when using your binoculars
or camera. |
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| Alarm clock |
You may also use your mobile phone or order wakeup calls from reception. |
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| Flashlight/Electric torch |
For safer walking in the lodge or camp area at night. Many lodges and
camps don't run their power generator in the middle of the night, so you may need a
flashlight/torch to find your way to the bathroom. |
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If you have a powerful flashlight/torch, you may use it to look for animals
around the lodge or camp at night. You may see nocturnal species rarely seen in daylight,
for example genets. |
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| Pocket knife |
For fixing things. You don't have to arm yourself against wild animals. |
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| Toiletries |
Everything you normally use. Some toiletries may be available in the lodge
and camp shops, but the selection is usually poor. |
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| Medical kit |
Pills etc against malaria, stomach and sleeping
problems, headaches. Cuts and grazes may infect quickly, so a disinfectant can be useful.
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| Sun block |
The sun is strong, and you'll burn if exposed without using a sun block.
Due to reflection, you're exposed even when in the shade. |
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We have noted that Piz Buin sun block seems to have an effect on tsetse
flies; the flies don't bite where the block is applied. (Please contact
us if you note the same result from other brands.) |
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| Mosquito repellent |
An important part of your malaria protection. |
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| Plastic bags |
For laundry, messy sun block bottles etc. |
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Wet wipes or
alco-gel |
For hand hygiene, especially in connection with meals. |
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| Something to read |
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Optional items
The following items are not essential, but you may bring them if they seem usable to you.
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| Telescope |
Mainly for bird watchers. Don't buy one for the safari only. |
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More about telescopes
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| Video camera |
Bring all equipment you need from home, including tapes. |
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| Tripod |
For use with telescopes or cameras with long tele lenses. Tripods can't
be used in safari vehicles, but are mainly for use when on foot, for example at observation
points or in lodge or camp areas. Don't bring one if you don't use one at home. |
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More about tripods |
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| Bean bag |
To stabilize your tele lens camera (or even telescope) in the safari vehicle.
You put the bag on the roof or in an open window, and put your camera on top. A godsend
for sharper pictures. |
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More about bean bags |
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| Maps and compass |
If you like to keep track of where you are and the layout of the landscape. Country
maps, regional maps and park maps may be found in book or map stores at home, but usually
cost less on location, where you may also find more recent maps.
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More about maps |
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| MP3-player or tape recorder |
To record sounds from animals, birds etc. |
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| Dictation machine |
To collect facts, animal names etc for your safari diary. Because of the
bumpy roads, using the machine is much more practical than taking notes on paper. |
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| Pillow |
For improved comfort in the safari vehicle. |
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| Toothpicks |
May come in handy after picnic lunches. |
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| Flyswatter |
For getting rid of tsetse flies in the vehicle. |
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| Brush or rag |
For dusting clothes and bags. |
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| Books on wildlife, birds etc |
There are good books on African mammals, birds, reptiles etc.
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More about books on wildlife and nature |
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| Swahili phrase book |
You'll do fine speaking English, but it may be fun trying some Swahili,
too. Lonely Planet has a handy phrase book, Swahili Phrasebook, ISBN 0-86442-509-0. |
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| Notepad and pen |
For notes and your safari diary. You need a pen to fill out arrival and
departure forms at the airports. |
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| Drawing paper and crayons |
If you travel with children, who are usually inspired by what they experience
during the safari. |
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| Toilet paper |
If there is no paper in roadside toilets, or if you need to use the big
bush toilet. |
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| Earplugs |
Against noise on flights and night sounds in the bush. |
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| Chocolate, biscuits, nuts, chewing gum |
For extra energy on long days in the bush, especially days when you are having a picnic
for lunch. Just remember that opened packs may attract ants, so you may not want to
store them in your room.
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Chocolates, biscuits and nuts may be sold in the lodge or camp shop.
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| Tobacco |
Cigarettes are usually sold in the lodge or camp bar.
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| Bird imitator |
A device for attracting birds. If you don't already have one, you probably
don't want one. |
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| Washing powder |
For minor laundry in your room.
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More about laundry
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| Mosquito net |
For a spare, should the net in your room or tent be in poor condition. |
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| Whistle |
For attracting attention in emergencies. |
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Don't bring
You don't need to bring the following.
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| Umbrella, rainwear |
Usually not needed. In case of rain, you close roof hatches and windows in safari vehicles.
In many lodges and camps, you'll find an umbrella in your room or tent.
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Rainwear may be recommended if you're going for a walking safari, especially
during wet season (April to May, and November). |
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| Safari suit |
Bring your normal clothes instead and save the money. |
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| Beach towel |
Towels are usually provided for free or for a small charge if there is
a swimming pool in your hotel, lodge or tented camp. |
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