African Safari Kit List

Colours On Safari

Neutral earthy tones such as beige, brown and some greens are ideal for safari trips. They aren’t as bright as rainbow hues and will help you blend into your surroundings better and less obvious to the animals. While animals are often colour-blind, rainbow hues tend to be brighter than earthy tones making them more visible. If you’re heading for Africa, some regions have Tsetse flies which are attracted to darker colours such as blacks and deep blues. Whites are generally avoided simply due to the fact they are difficult to keep clean in such dusty environments.

Often a key piece of your safari wardrobe and something you’ll likely wear every day. The fabric should be lightweight, durable and able to provide you with sun protection with an added bonus if it is insect repellent too. They usually come in the style of a classic collar and cuffs shirt. Sometimes with added features such as an extendable collar to protect your neck from the sun, roll-up sleeves with a tab to secure them and plenty of pockets to stash small essentials and camera equipment in.

On longer trips you’ll want to wash it every now and then. This is where quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant fabric is fantastic. You can wash it through at the end of the day, hang it up to dry overnight and it’s wrinkle-free and ready to wear in the morning.

Binoculars & Camera

While you might get up close to the animals in some instances, they’ll largely be a good distance from you. There may be a couple of pairs of group binoculars to share but if you’d prefer to take your own it’s worth investing in the right pair. A mid-sized binocular, along the lines of 8 x 32 or 10 x 42, should offer a good balance between lens size, weight and magnification. Additional features such as shockproof, water resistant and dust proof would be beneficial but aren’t a must if your budget doesn’t allow. A camera with a decent zoom will also allow you to capture scenes to remember.