What to Take on Safari

Preparation and packing for any holiday is important but never more so than when you visit remote areas in a country like Zambia. Once on safari you will find it very hard to pick up that odd item you thought your partner had packed!  What follows is by no means an exhaustive list but is designed to point you in the right direction.

Always travel with soft bags, not hard suitcases.  A lot of itineraries around Zambia will include travel in light aircraft at some stage, in which case the luggage limit is 12kgs per person.

• Clothes: All our camps have a daily laundry service, so don't bring too many. Try to make your clothes khaki or neutral in colour - dark colours stand out less in the bush than light ones. Loose clothes are preferable. Evening dress in all camps and most hotels is casual but bring long sleeved and long legged items as a barrier against mosquitoes when eating out in the bush.  A sweater or light jacket is useful at most times of the year.  If travelling in June or July a warm jacket will be necessary.
• Sandals or open shoes are often favourite but bring a covered pair if doing any walking in the bush. Even on proper walking safaris, comfort is usually more important than "big and sturdy".
• A hat, sunglasses, high strength sun block, moisturiser, lip salve, strong insect repellent, anti-histamine cream and tablets should always be carried.
• Binoculars - an absolute must on any type of safari.  Many options are available but with this equipment invariably the more you spend the better you get.
• Torch - although we supply torches in our bush camps this is a useful addition as many camps have no mains power so night-time lighting may be by candle or hurricane lamp.
• Glasses -  if you wear prescription glasses bring a spare pair.
  If you wear contact lenses bring a pair of glasses as well since dust can be a problem.
• Camera equipment - This is obviously very personal but zoom or telephoto lenses are useful.  Cleaning equipment and a dust proof bag are also useful.   Spare batteries and memory cards are very important.

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