African Safari Supply Suggestions

African Safari Supply Suggestions

For most people, traveling for an African Safari is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! A lot of planning goes into a trip like this. Below is my suggested supply list of things that are handy to have before, during, and after your safari adventure.

In a Hurry? Clickable List, here;
Further commentary is below!

• Sawyer Insect Repellent Spray
• Sawyer Insect Repellent Lotion
• Sawyer Clothing, Gear, and Tents Treatment Spray
• Power Adapter: South Africa
• Power Adapter: Universal
• USB / USB C Power Strip
• LifeStraw Go Water Bottle
• Travel Flashlight
• Compact Binoculars
• Face Covering: Shemagh
• Bluetooth Keyboard
• Portable Hard Drive
• Portable Clothesline
• Travel Laundry Suds: Tide Kind

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Bug Prevention

Protecting yourself from bugs and mosquitoes should be a priority, although it is not required. I treated our safari clothing about a week ahead of our trip, focusing on the cuffs, necklines, and waistbands. I used one 24 oz. bottle of Sawyer repellent, per adult. This included approximately 4 pairs of britches and 8 shirts.

During the safari, I preferred to use the Sawyer insect repellent lotion. I tossed it right into my toiletry kit and applied it after my shower. I applied it to my neck, forearms, and ankles. Any exposed skin, except my face.

My husband preferred the Sawyer insect repellent spray and used it as we were heading out each morning.

I had an additional bottle of lotion and spray in my carry-on bag. Although the lotion is 4oz, I was never questioned about this item in my carry-on, being a wee bit over the size requirement.

Power Adapters

There’s always some discussion and confusion on which adapter to bring along. For our trip to South Africa and Kenya, I carried two different adapters, which proved to be exactly right.

For additional USB/USB C space, also in my permanent travel kit, is a USB/USB C Power Strip. Supporting 2 adults’ worth of electronics, this is a must-have.

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Handy Items to Have Along the Way

Having safe, clean drinking water was a concern while planning for our trip. I used this LifeStraw Go water bottle to ensure I was drinking clean water. Did I need it? I’ll never know, I didn’t get sick or have Montezuma’s Revenge : )

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There were several times when our little travel flashlights came in mighty handy. Sure, your phone has a light, but it will not illuminate the eyes of a hippopotamus or light the whole walkway back to your room. I have added this flashlight to my permanent travel kit.

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We found that both of the safari jeeps we used had their own set of binoculars, the guides used them often and would allow us to peek through when we asked. I used my Nikon’s zoom lens to see distance, and that worked great for me. Our friends were using their cell phones for the camera, and it would have been handy for them to have some compact binoculars to use.

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During the game drives, it can get really dusty in the jeeps and the surrounding air. I used a Shemagh to cover my face and camera. I didn’t use it the entire time, but it was nice to have for the occasional dust flare-up! Also, while driving to the next spot, I covered my camera with it.

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I could not justify bringing my heavy laptop with me on our journey. The memory cards in my cameras were large enough that I would not need to transfer them to a hard drive until returning home. But darn, I love to type my travel journal, emails, and Social posts with a real keyboard. This Bluetooth keyboard was exactly what I was looking for and will find a permanent place in my travel kit. Compact, yet nearly a full-size keyboard, and it connects to the phone with ease.

Speaking of hard drives, if you do find yourself needing to back up memory cards, be sure you have a solid-state hard drive. All the bouncing around in the jeep for a week could be disastrous for other types of hard drives. Lee bought the one pictured, just in case. He had his laptop for the occasional “work” tasks.

Laundry Supplies

We packed as lightly and compactly as we could, and for 14 days, we were able to take a carry-on and personal item. Period! No checked bags for us. Most of the lodges offer a laundry service, which we utilized about 1/2 way through the trip. For the socks and undies, I did my own!

This small, portable clothesline can be strung easily in the shower or bathroom and packs so small, it takes up very little space. It comes in handy!

Travel laundry soap comes in several travel varieties. Here are the 2 we use the most:

Breakin’ It Down: African Safari Supply Suggestions

There are two types of travelers. Those who packed light and those who wish they had. We packed light, and it enhanced our experience having minimal bags to manage. Even while packing light, having these handy supplies made it more comfortable. Book the Safari.

If you just can’t make it on a 14-day adventure without checking a bag, make sure you have the Delta SkyMiles American Express credit card. The first checked bag is FREE for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same itinerary.