Travel Tips · March 2026 · 8 min read
From neutral layers to binoculars, packing smart is the difference between a comfortable safari and an itchy, sun-burned, sleep-deprived one. Here's what we tell every first-timer to bring.
The single most important rule of safari clothing is colour. Neutral tones — khaki, olive, beige, stone, soft greys and browns — blend into the landscape and do not disturb wildlife. Bright white reflects and stands out, dark colours absorb heat, and (crucially) blue and black attract tsetse flies, which in parts of Tanzania can be genuinely miserable.
Leave military camouflage at home. It's illegal in Kenya and Tanzania for civilians to wear camo clothing, and visitors wearing it have been refused entry at airports. Olive and khaki are fine; camo-pattern is not.
Three or four shirts and two or three pairs of trousers is plenty for a week's safari — lodges offer same-day laundry and rotating through fewer items is easier than packing more.
Safari mornings can be genuinely cold, especially on dawn game drives in open vehicles in July-August. Midday can be properly hot, and evenings cool again. Dress in layers: a short-sleeved shirt as your base, a long-sleeved shirt or lightweight fleece over the top, and a packable down or synthetic insulated jacket for the dawn drives. A buff or scarf is invaluable for dust and early-morning cold.
Long trousers (not shorts) are best for game drives. They protect against sun, dust, mosquitoes and the scratchy thornbush that can reach into vehicles. Lightweight convertible trousers with zip-off legs work brilliantly.
Most first-timers overpack footwear. For a classic game-drive safari you need just two things: one comfortable pair of closed-toe walking shoes (or light hiking boots) for bush walks and getting in and out of vehicles, and one pair of sandals or lightweight slip-ons for lodges and evenings. That's it.
Unless you're specifically doing a walking safari in rough terrain, full leather hiking boots are overkill and too hot. Light trail shoes are ideal. Break them in at home — don't save the first wear for arrival day.
The equatorial sun is intense, especially at altitude. Pack a wide-brimmed hat with a chin strap (the strap matters — an open vehicle at 40 km/h will take your hat off the first bend), high-factor sunscreen (SPF 30 minimum, ideally 50), UV-rated sunglasses, and SPF lip balm. Reapply everything repeatedly.
Sunburn on a safari vehicle happens fast and isn't fun for the rest of the trip. Be paranoid about it on day one in particular — your skin hasn't acclimatised.
If you pack only one non-essential, make it a decent pair of binoculars. Your guide will spot leopards at 400 metres, cheetahs against distant grass, and birds in thorn trees you'd never see unaided. Without binoculars you'll miss at least half of what you're looking at.
You don't need to spend a fortune. An entry-level 8x42 pair from Nikon, Bushnell or Celestron is fine. 10x42 is a little more magnification and a little less field of view — personal preference. Avoid compact 8x25 or 10x25 binoculars; they're tempting because they pack small but they give a dim image at dawn and dusk when most wildlife is active.
A modern smartphone takes perfectly good safari photos for most landscapes and close-up animals, but it has no reach — lions at 50 metres will be tiny dots. For serious wildlife photography you want a mirrorless or DSLR camera with a telephoto zoom. A 100-400mm lens covers 90% of safari situations. A 500mm or 600mm prime lens is the next step up for the committed.
Bring at least two spare batteries and twice the memory card capacity you think you need. Most lodges have charging points but power can be intermittent. A bean bag for steadying long lenses on vehicle door frames is cheap and transformative — better than a tripod, which doesn't work well in a safari vehicle.
If you're new to a camera, practise at home before you go. A safari is a terrible place to learn autofocus modes.
A headlamp with a red-light mode is invaluable — for finding things in your tent at night without waking your partner, and red light preserves your night vision if you step outside. A small dry bag keeps your camera safe in a dusty open vehicle and in afternoon rain. Hand sanitiser. A basic first-aid kit with plasters, antiseptic wipes, pain relief, anti-diarrhoeal medication and any personal prescriptions. A universal plug adapter (UK-style three-pin plugs are used in Kenya and Tanzania).
Insect repellent with at least 30% DEET for dawn and dusk. A lightweight waterproof jacket — even in the dry season, afternoon showers happen. Ziploc bags for dusty electronics. A small notebook and pen — you'll want to write down the names of birds and animals you've seen, and guides love showing off their knowledge to guests who ask.
Bring enough of any prescription medication for the whole trip plus a few extra days in case of delays, in original labelled packaging. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for most safari areas — consult your travel doctor 6-8 weeks before travel. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry to Kenya and Tanzania if you're travelling from or have recently visited a country with yellow fever risk.
Pack a small supply of over-the-counter medication you know works for you: paracetamol or ibuprofen, anti-histamines, anti-diarrhoeal, rehydration sachets, and a few plasters. You'll probably not need any of it, but if you do, it's miles from a pharmacy.
Towels, toiletries, shampoo, soap — all decent safari lodges provide them. Heavy books — most lodges have libraries or guests swap paperbacks. A sleeping bag — unless you're specifically booked on a mobile camping safari. Electric shavers with non-universal plugs. Laundry detergent — most lodges offer same-day laundry.
The biggest single mistake first-time safari-goers make is packing too much. Soft-sided duffel bags are preferred on light-aircraft transfers (most Kenya/Tanzania internal flights have a 15 kg luggage limit, soft bag only, no hard cases) and you'll be happier with less.
In priority order, the ten items we tell every first-timer not to forget:
1. A wide-brimmed sun hat with chin strap. 2. Binoculars. 3. Neutral-coloured long-sleeved shirts and long trousers. 4. Light walking shoes or boots. 5. High-factor sunscreen and lip balm. 6. UV-rated sunglasses. 7. Camera plus spare batteries and memory cards. 8. Headlamp. 9. Insect repellent (30% DEET or picaridin). 10. A packable insulated jacket for dawn game drives.
Get those ten right and you're set. Everything else is a bonus.
Neutral tones: khaki, olive, beige, stone, soft grey. Avoid bright white (reflective), dark colours (hot), and blue or black (attract tsetse flies). Camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in Kenya and Tanzania.
Not for a standard game-drive safari — light walking shoes are ideal. Full hiking boots are only necessary for Kilimanjaro treks, gorilla trekking or multi-day walking safaris.
For safaris with internal light-aircraft flights (most safaris do), there is a strict 15 kg limit and soft bags only. Hard-sided suitcases are refused. Pack light and use a duffel bag.
Yes — they're the single most under-packed item we see. Without them you'll miss at least half of what your guide is spotting. Any decent 8x42 or 10x42 pair will transform your experience.
Most safari areas in Kenya and Tanzania are malaria zones. Consult your travel doctor 6-8 weeks before travel about appropriate prophylaxis. Insect repellent with at least 30% DEET is also important.