The single biggest packing mistake is bringing too much. Light aircraft enforce strict weight limits, vehicles have limited space, and laundry is offered at almost every camp. You need far less than you think.

The short list

  • A soft-sided duffel — hard cases do not fit the holds of light aircraft.
  • Neutral layers in greens, browns and khaki. Avoid bright white and dark blue (the latter attracts tsetse flies).
  • One warm fleece. Game drives at dawn are genuinely cold, even on the equator.
  • A wide-brim hat, real sunglasses, and high-factor sunscreen.
  • Binoculars — the most under-packed item, and the one that changes the trip most.
If you bring one thing beyond the obvious, make it a decent pair of binoculars. They turn a distant speck into the moment you flew here for.

What to leave behind

Leave the heavy boots (light trainers are fine outside gorilla treks), the formal clothes, the third camera body and the drone — drones are prohibited in the parks. And leave the worry about charging: every camp we use has power for cameras and phones, even the remote ones.

A morning drive at Nairobi National Park
A morning drive at Nairobi National Park — fleece weather, even here.

We send a full list with every booking

Every traveller gets a tailored packing and pre-departure pack once dates are set. Plan your trip →

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Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a hard suitcase on safari?

Not on light aircraft, which have strict 15kg weight limits and require soft bags only. We recommend a duffel or soft-sided bag.