Packing for a safari holiday in South Africa
February 1, 2018
If it’s your first time safari, or just looking for a little inspiration when it comes to packing for your next venture into the South African bush, we have rounded up a few safari packing tips to make sure your trip is hassle-free.

Make sure you look and feel the part on your next South African safari adventure …

Don’t over-pack

While many international air carries offer a relatively lax weight limit when it comes to checked luggage, it’s important to keep in mind that if you’re travelling via a smaller safari plane or safari vehicle, your heavy luggage may not make the cut!

Ultimately, you may end up having to fork out a lot of money for overweight luggage in smaller planes, so draw up a list of the safari essentials and stick to them.

Look the part on safari

There’s a reason everyone in “Out of Africa” wore light-coloured, cotton clothing – the African bush is hot! Yes, they looked chic while doing so, but the practicality of light-coloured, cotton clothing is more important here.

A great rule-of-thumb when it comes to clothing is to pack neutral tones and light fabrics as they work best in a hot climate. Pack approximately three shirts and three pairs of shorts. Avoid packing white shirts, as they show the dirt up easily and make you highly visible to animals.

Other colours to avoid are red which attracts animals, and if you are travelling to an area where Tsetse flies are present, avoid wearing anything in blue or black. For the ladies, be sure to pack a good support bra as game drives can get bumpy!

Long-sleeves are your friend

Now, it may sound ludicrous to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants in the African bush, but believe it or not, things tend to cool down significantly at night. Long-sleeved shirts and trousers also help to keep mosquitos at bay, which tend to come out more frequently at night.

Pack for four seasons in one day

The nature of the African bush is such that a thunderstorm could roll in on your perfectly sunny safari drive within as little as 30 minutes. Make sure to pack for all weather conditions, including a large, wide-brimmed hat to protect you from harsh sunlight, as well as a light-weight, waterproof rain jacket and umbrella.

Sunscreen is extremely important, even on early morning or late afternoon game drives, while a good pair of hiking or trail shoes will go a long way for guided bush walks.

Be prepared for all circumstances

By this we mean packing a small medical care kit including insect repellent, pain killers, anti-bacterial ointments for any open sores or injuries, chronic medication (if needed), lip balm for sunburnt lips and, of course, anti-malaria medication depending on the region you are exploring.

If you’re looking to add to your safari holiday collection of must-pack items, whether it’s accessories or camping gear to create the most authentic safari experience, our store at Darkie Designs stocks beautiful, African-inspired safari must-haves and decor pieces to take home with you!

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