As a final travel fling before I start my new job I’ve maxed out the credit card to do one of the ultimate trips on my wish list: Safari!
I’m off with Intrepid Travel on their Serengeti Safari. I fly into Kenya and then we cross into Tanzania to see the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater teeming with animals large and small 🙂
10 things you need for Safari, aka how Katie packed!
1) Soft backpack
This is a requirement for the trucks that I’ll be using on safari. I’m not travelling to luxury lodges by any stretch of the imagination. So a backpack is best for carrying over different terrain and small enough to stuff into lockers on the truck.
Safari bags – soft rucksack and a cross body bag
My ruck sack has a removable day sack on the back – great for carry on and during the day for toting cameras.
2) Cameras
Yes I said plural. I’m taking two:
One is my trusty old canon point ‘n shoot (complete with war wounds from the last year of travel!).
Two I’m borrowing my mum’s camera with 20x zoom, so I can really see the animals up close.
In association with this comes the chargers and additional batteries so you don’t run out of power mid game drive.
3) Bug spray and anti-malarials
I’m going to be heading to the Serengeti in Tanzania, which is definitely a malaria area. So a course of anti-malarials makes sense. I’m sticking with doxycycline as I’ve taken it before and it’s a cheap option. I got mine through the London Travel clinic on Soho Square. Incidentally this is where I got the majority of my jabs pre-travelling, I have a completely full card: BINGO!
In addition there is Dengue Fever and Tse flies to worry about so tropical strength DEET spray has also been packed…. Plus:
4) Long sleeved tops and trousers
For me being fair and burning quite easily in English sun, let alone anything stronger, having some cover up during the peak of the day is essential. However for dawn, dusk and after dark, long sleeves, trousers and closed in shoes help protect from all biting insects and the diseases they carry.
5) Layers & multipurpose clothing
As well as the long sleeved stuff I’ve packed plenty of layers. So singlets can be covered by shirts to cover up and trousers zipped off to shorts. If it’s cold in an evening I can wear the fleece I travelled in from the UK (it is November). If it’s warm, light fabrics with sweat wicking technology are useful, however I’ve packed a lot of lightweight cotton also.
Most of my clothing is similar colours, a spectrum of ‘safari’ with khaki, beige, some white and a splash of pink. Whilst camouflage clothing is activity discouraged, so are primary colours (I don’t expect the whites to stay white!) and dark blues and black. The reasoning for the primary colours is the dirt I believe, although dark blue and black are said to attract Tse flies.
Generally the reasoning that you want to ‘blend in’ so the animals don’t notice you doesn’t really work. The local Masai wear bright red after all. However I can see that you make yourself less of a target for big animals.. I’m expecting everything to get covered in dust – that’ll help me blend in lol!
6) Sleeping bag
Yep I said I was doing the cheap option, I am definitely not doing the luxury lodge option or a tent with all the amenities…. Hot water may be a luxury for me! Tents and my own sleeping bag is what I need.
7) Travel towel
Essential for any travel, but particularly when you don’t get bathrooms and towels provided 🙂 The lightweight, quick drying and small packing towels are amazing.
8) Flipflops
For the showers, for the day when not climbing in and out of trucks or the odd time in town (I have a day in Nairobi).
9) Trainers
Some robust closed in shoes are essential to keep biting insects off your feet. Something that you can go on game hikes with and are supportive enough for climbing in and out of vehicles is a plus.
10) Cash!
The old adage for packing – assemble what you want to take, only pack half and bring twice the amount of money holds true. You can always buy things abroad. I’ve pretty much taken everything I need, e.g. I’m not hand washing my underwear, but extra cash is invaluable.
I’ve got some dollars for visas etc and the FairFx card for withdrawing money in country. This is a secure way to do it – as a prepaid credit card they can’t ‘max it out’ if it gets lost or stolen and you get decent exchange rates.
All the items on the list before packing up
Yes all this went into the bag in the first picture! (Except the trainers I’m wearing to travel in)
Pin me for later!
Come back later to see how it went!!
Katie says
What a dream trip! I am saving some $$ to do this for my 30th birthday in a year and half! Good tips on what to pack – I would’ve never thought about the color of my clothing and how wearing different colors might mean different things!
Katie Hughes says
I’m glad you found it useful Katie! I hope you get on that dream safari for your birthday – top tip, save an additional $150 and do the dawn hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti – you won’t regret it!
Cori says
Great tips! Have a fantastic trip, I’m excited to see your photos.
Katie Hughes says
Thanks Cori – more photos will be coming soon as I write it all up!
Chantell Collins says
Woo hoo! You are going on a safari. How exciting!!! I can’t wait to read about how it goes. Great suggestions for the packing list – especially about taking the camera with a good zoom. Darrell’s parents went last year and they took some great shots with their cameras. Also I didn’t know about taking the soft bags so that is a good tip 🙂
Katie Hughes says
Thanks Chantell. I think it depends what kind of trip you are on – for my budget one soft bags are recommended, but I imagine it’s different for luxury trips!
Natasha says
Great list — very helpful! I’d love, love to do a safari someday. It feels so adventurous to me!
Katie Hughes says
It was great fun Natasha, although unnerving that you can’t go outside your tent at night without an escort!
JM says
I will remember your suggestions since i really want to visit an african safari and your tips are really very useful. Thanks.
Katie Hughes says
Great, glad to be of help JM
Shayan says
I prefer to carry them to Buy later especially coming from Thailand where things are cheaper.
Anyways the safari sounds awesome. Have a great trip.
Katie Hughes says
I can see why you would do that Shayan – I guess it depends where you are travelling and for how long. For this particular trip of a week, I could carry everything I needed, but when in South America and SE Asia I definitely bought things when travelling.
Kevin Wagar says
Awesome tips! We are looking into a Safari trip with our kids so I’ll be referencing this!
Katie Hughes says
Excellent Kevin – glad to be of use, enjoy your safari, it’s magical!
Paige Brown says
I’m a huge fan of packing lists! I always want to know what to pack. I’ve yet to take a Safari, but I think I feel a tiny bit more prepared now! I’m looking forward to future posts about this, because like you, I would be doing the non-luxury style! I hope that you have an amazing time and safely see loads of incredible things! Cheers!
Katie Hughes says
Thanks Paige – write ups coming soon, I just need to edit down the vast number of photos!!
Stella the Travelerette says
You’re so lucky to have gone on safari! I would never have known all that information about the color of clothes. Thanks for sharing! I hope to go back to South Africa some time in the near future and go on a safari, so I will keep these tips in mind for then.
Katie Hughes says
Excellent Stella! It was on my wish list for a long while before I booked it, enjoy South Africa – I’ve yet to make it there!
Sophie says
So jealous of that trip! Safari garb is always so drab and similar, the khaki deal, but it looks like you did your own thing with more athletic wear. Multipurpose clothing is always what I pack so J have everything I need already. I should just book a trip too, right!
Katie Hughes says
Yes I say do it and book a trip Sophie!!
Jayashree Sengupta says
Yes totally. All the things are a mandate especially no. 2
I am so making it my checklist.
Katie says
Excellent news Jayashree