What To Pack For Your African Safari
There are many lists out there advising travellers what to pack for African safaris. Some of them can be quite prescriptive.
While there are certain things we definitely consider important, such as neutral coloured clothing for bush walks, we also want you to feel comfortable and at home. So please feel free to bring along the additional items you might need, regardless of how quirky or individualistic it may be.
“Be daring, be different, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision.”
Cecil Beaton
Seven safari basics
1. Comfortable clothing
Light and comfortable clothing in cotton or natural fabrics are easy to wear in a hot climate. Beige, khaki and tan are good colours for bush walks, but you don’t need to stick to the same neutral colours on game drives or at your lodge. Remember that dark colours get hot in the sun while white gets dirty easily when you’re out and about.
2. Something warm
Depending on the season, it’s not always sweltering hot and you’ll be happy to have a pair of comfortable long pants and sleeves handy. Mornings tend to be crisp from mid-May to mid-August, so pack a warm jacket and gloves to beat the chill on those early boat cruises. As the weather warms up, you’ll be able to shed those layers. For the rainy season from late November to late March, you’ll need a lightweight, waterproof jacket.
We’ll also do our bit to keep you comfortable by supplying rain ponchos for activities in wetter weather. You’ll also have access to warm blankets at dinner and warm ponchos and hot water bottles for drives.
3. A shoe that fits
Unless you are doing a walking safari, there is no need to pack heavy hiking shoes as a good pair of trainers will be enough for a shorter bush walk. At the lodge and the pool, any comfy shoes like flip-flops or sandals will do.
4. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
Together with a water bottle, this is your personal bush survival kit. Don’t leave your room without it.
5. Your own set of binoculars
And a camera of course – your phone will do just fine. Having your own set of binoculars on a game drive is a treat. Take care not to disturb animals when using a flash.
6. A (good) book
You don’t want to discover the perfect reading spot and be without a book. Not to mention airport delays and African time. Make the most of these moments by thinking of them as gifts.
7. Insect repellent
Mosquitoes love the hot weather and lush wetlands of Zambia about as much as you will. You can protect yourself by covering up with loose, light clothing in the evenings, using a DEET mosquito repellent and sleeping under your mosquito net.
Other necessities: Don’t forget your plane tickets and passport.
The positive impact of expectation
African Monarch Lodges is in an incredibly special location inside the Bwabwata National Park, situated in Namibia’s untapped Zambezi Region, on a strip of land that is surrounded by the neighbouring countries Angola, Zambia and Botswana.
Both Nambwa Tented Lodge and Kazile Island Lodge offer soulful and spacious tented suites in treetops or on a private island in the Kwando River. Beautifully secluded, you’ll feel as though there’s nothing but you, the view, and sometimes, the passage of migrating wildlife below.
It is true that your expectation when travelling can significantly affect your trip and influence how you perceive the experience. Ultimately, expectations act like a filter through which you see the world. When coming to African Monarch lodges, you can look forward to a chance to rest, re-energise and reconnect to self and to nature. You’ll definitely discover a whole new side of Namibia, and hopefully also, a hidden gem in yourself. That in itself deserves a new outfit.
You might also drift down the Kwando River, explore fauna and flora on foot, or take in the untapped Zambezi Region on a game drive.
Learn more about the inspired and authentic African experiences that we offer.
