Going on an African Safari may be the experience of a lifetime, but packing for it can be far from easy. Here are some tips to get a good head start.
An African safari is one of the best adventures you will experience, creating memories to look back on fondly for a long time. One of the first things you need to do when preparing for the trip is to get the packing right. You need to be sure to include all the essential items required to have a great trip. What you will pack largely depends on the time of year you are visiting. There are quite a few considerations as well. To have the best packing experience, follow the tips mentioned in this article.
Vaccination Card
Many countries in Africa require you to have a few vaccines taken before you can visit. Due to the vaccine schedules and boosters, be sure to research the vaccine requirements months before the trip. You can find the information on the websites of the respective countries. Some vaccines require more than a single dose over time, so be sure you have ample time to take all the required doses before your actual date of departure.
First Aid Kit
An African safari will take you out in the middle of the great African bushes, where the nearest town may be a few hours away. So it is essential to include a well-stocked first aid kit, especially if you are traveling with senior citizens or small children. Being near a town doesn’t necessarily mean you will have access to medicines, so be sure to include it in your first aid kit.
A few basic non-prescription medications to include are: painkillers, anti-nausea/diarrhea/vomiting medications, insect bite remedies, antihistamines, and allergy medications. S Include a thermometer and band-aid for emergencies. There are some East-African countries where malaria is still a high-risk factor, so if you are traveling there, be sure to take malaria medicine at home before you start your trip. You will be required to take it for a few weeks after you have returned from your trip.
Cameras
Whether you have any photography knowledge or not, you must pack a DSLR camera with a long-focus lens when you are traveling to an African safari. The wildlife you will see in the safari is just breathtaking, and you will need to take sharp and focused pictures of the animals up close. A regular point-and-shoot camera or a phone camera will just not suffice when you encounter these majestic creatures in their habitats. SLR cameras are now available at more reasonable prices, so you can get one to capture the memories. Be sure to include long focus lenses to capture the animals and scenery from a distance. Also, do not forget to carry extra memory cards as you will take a lot of pictures and don’t want to run out of space.
Binoculars
You can not undermine the importance of a good pair of binoculars in an African safari. They are the best things to keep your children engaged and entertained on the long rides. Your children will immensely enjoy spotting the wildlife during the ride, and a pair of good binoculars is essential to getting all the details that are a good distance away. You don’t necessarily need to spend a huge amount of money to get a decent pair of binoculars. Just get the right affordable ones that you can buy online. You can learn more at bestofbinoculars.com on how to choose suitable binoculars for your African safari.
Backpacks
As you can imagine, you will not be able to wheel over your luggage to an African Safari like you would on a cruise. It’s just not practical. If you are taking a chartered flight to get there, you will find that some airlines have strict requirements about what type of baggage they allow. The terrain of the African savannah is also not convenient to pull a travel trolley. So choose carry-on-backpacks instead, the kind you can sling over your shoulders. You need to find comfortable and light backpacks that will be big enough to allow you to carry all your essential items. Check online how to choose the right bag for your needs.
Clothing
The best thing you can do while choosing your safari clothes is to go with neutral earth tone clothes. You don’t want to scare off the animals with your bright and colorful clothes while walking or trekking on the safari. The earth-tone garments will help you to blend in with the natural environment. Remember to choose clothing that is breathable as the daytime will be warm and sunny, and breathable clothing will be perfect for the hot weather. Some flies in Africa get drawn to blue and black clothing more, and they might bite through your clothes – all the more reason for you to choose earth-tone and light clothes.
Sun exposure and mosquito bites can become a serious problem regardless of the time of year you are traveling, so be sure to pack long-sleeved shirts and zip-off pants. The early morning and evening will be cold, and that’s when you can wear the long pants, zip them off to turn them into shorts towards noon when the temperature rises. Long sleeves will save you from insect bites and scrapes. These will help you, especially during your trekking expeditions.
The weather can get pretty volatile, so be sure to pack a waterproof light jacket for the cold morning and evenings and in case it starts to rain. It’s best to get breathable, lightweight jackets – so you can keep them on during warm afternoons as well. The jeep you will ride on will most likely be open-roofed, so a light jacket will help you brave the cold winds during the early morning rides.
These are a few of the essential items that you absolutely must include for your African safari trip. While many other things need to be included, these are the bare necessities. Remember to pack light! So hopefully, you can have the experience of a lifetime and make memories that you can cherish along with your family and friends. I wish you a safe and happy trip.
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