Is it your first time going on a safari and you aren’t sure what to pack? You might be wondering: “Do I have to wear khaki clothes and a pith hat like Professor Porter from Tarzan?”, and the answer is no, you don’t. Well, not entirely anyway.
Lighter is better, but not white!
Considering that you will be entering a hot climate, it is better to wear clothes that don’t draw in more heat. Therefore, lighter clothing is better. Yes, in this case it could be khaki but there are more attractive colours you can wear like greens, yellows, etc. White wouldn’t be the greatest idea for two reasons. Firstly, it shows dirt easily and, being in a sandy environment, you are bound to get marks on the shirt. The second reason is that you will stand out more to animals, which can be both dangerous as well as cause animals to leave before you’ve spotted them. Red is another colour that stands out to animals, so try to avoid that too. Make sure you avoid blue and black as well. Tsetse flies are attracted to these and they pack a nasty bite.
Shirts to be cool and to be warm
Shirts which you can stay cool in are great since the climate is mostly hot. Both short and long sleeves to use in different weather conditions. The short sleeves can be used when long sleeves will be too hot, and the long sleeves can be used when the temperature allows for it, as well as to keep mosquitos and other insects at bay.
Pants, don’t forget pants
You can pack both short and long pants too. You will be able to wear the shorts if you are at a lodge and the longs if you want to hike. It’s not a great idea to wear shorts if you are going to be hiking due to a number of dangers such as snakes, spiders and ticks.
A hat that provides enough shade
A hat that will protect your face and the back of your neck is ideal. The African sun is very strong, and you don’t want to get burnt.
A pair or two of shoes
If you are going to be hiking, you should ideally have some hiking boots, but if not, ordinary trainers will be fine. You can pack open shoes too if you will be around a lodge and want to keep your feet cool.
Strong sunscreen
You will need to protect your skin from the sun. Don’t make the mistake of forgetting sunscreen and ruining your trip with a bad sunburn. Choose a sunscreen with a high SPF.
Special Medicine
If there is any medication that you take on a regular basis, don’t forget this, you won’t be able to “pop out to the shop quickly” to get more. You will also need to be aware of the area that you are going to. If there is a risk of getting malaria, make sure you consult a doctor before the trip to get the correct medication.
That’s pretty much all you need. Anything else you want to pack such as a book, a camera, etc. is up to you. Just make sure there isn’t too much, so you don’t have to lug around heavy bags wherever you go. Pack as little as you can whilst still being prepared for different weather conditions and situations and you will have an amazing time!
B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Get your South African Sim Card, European Sim Card and USA Sim Card online. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.
