What to pack for a safari in Zambia?

You’ve booked your safari to Zambia! We know you’re excited for your upcoming adventure and you’re up for the trip of a lifetime. But now you’re preparing to come to Zambia and you probably have a few questions: What should I wear? What do I need to bring on a safari drive?

One of the many questions we often get before people travel to Zambia for their safari adventure is, “what should I pack?”. Everyone has their own preferences when deciding what to bring on their travels, but a safari may need a little extra thought compared to your usual travel, so we’ve put together this handy guide of what to bring.

Clothing

Clothing is always one of the first things that people ask about when enquiring what to pack. We get it, you want to plan your wardrobe so you’re both stylish and practical, ready for all the photo opportunities that you’ll want to share, whether on Instagram or with your family and friends over the years to come.

What to wear whilst out on Safari

Whether you’re in Zambia for a classic safari or one of our legendary walking safaris, the suggested safari wear stays the same. The onus here is on practicality as you want to be comfortable through the day. And remember, keep it neutral, you’re here to see our amazing wildlife and blending in will help! Here’s our top recommendations of what to wear:

• General Outerwear – We’d highly recommend long sleeves and trousers to protect from the sun throughout the day, although shorts and t-shirt will be fine if you prefer. A good compromise can be zip on/off convertible shorts/trousers. We’d suggest lightweight, loose, breathable activewear.
• Headwear – We’d highly recommend bringing a hat which offers shade and UV protection to both the head and neck.
• Waterproof Jacket – It can sometimes rain in Zambia and it’s best to be prepared!
• Layers – Whilst hot through the days, the morning and evenings can sometimes feel cold. Having options, whether a jacket or sweater, can help for these and can easily be stowed in your day bag whilst not being used.
• Footwear – Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, especially if coming on a walking safari. If you’re on a classic safari then trainers may be sufficient. Closed toe shoes are essential.

What to avoid wearing on Safari

As long as you keep it practical, it’s hard to go wrong with what you wear whilst out on safari. If you keep to the recommendations above you should be fine. However there is one area worth highlighting and that’s colours! We’d recommend avoiding:

• Bright colours – Bright colours can alert wildlife to your presence, changing their behaviours and can sometimes scare them off. That’s why we recommend neutral colours for the best wildlife viewing experience.
• Dark Colours – Dark colours, especially black and navy blue, can attract tsetse flies.

Remember clothes for downtime

Whilst the main reason for your visit is likely to be the safari, you’re not going to be on game drives a hundred percent of the time! Make sure that you’ve got suitable clothing, whether eating out, relaxing at the lodge and even swimwear. Some things to consider are:

• Evening wear – most safari lodges are quite casual, so no need to be overly smart, but many prefer to get out of their safari clothes and dress up a bit ready for evening meals.
• Footwear – Sandals or flip flops are recommended for the day time and maybe a more casual shoe or sandal for the evening.
• Alternative day wear – You might have the odd day where you’re not on a safari drive and it’s nice to have something different to wear on these days. Especially if you have a spare day in one of our cities.
• Swimwear – If your hotel or safari lodge has a swimming pool then you’ll want to make the most out of it. Suitable swimwear is therefore a must. Also if you’re visiting Victoria Falls and want to swim in the Devil’s Pool then swimwear will also be needed.

In general we’d recommend that you keep your clothing conservative where possible and keep in mind that you’ll be limited on what you can bring and it’s likely that your safari wear will take precedence.

Essential Packing

Now you’ve sorted your outfits out, it’s time to consider what other essentials you need! Here’s a list of essentials to bring on your safari:

• Travel documents – It may seem obvious, but make sure that you have your passport, visas, travel insurance and vaccination records with you when you travel.
• Local currency and international cards – It’s always handy to have some local currency with you when you arrive. Alternatively you can withdraw money once you arrive and we’d recommend doing this within a major city. Also remember to bring a bank card which allows for international transactions and make sure to look at any fees which may be involved.
• Day bag – It’s worth bringing a smaller bag with you for day to day use for ease of access to things you’ll need to use throughout the day.
• Binoculars – Many operators will provide binoculars, but it’s worth checking that they do beforehand and if they don’t, bring your own! They’re a must for observing animals in the wild.
• Power adapter – An international power adapter can be useful when travelling to Zambia to ensure that you can charge your devices whilst here.
• Sunscreen – You’ll be out in the sun a lot, make sure that you have the right sun protection and ensure you don’t get sunburn. You may want to bring aftersun just in case too.
• Inspect repellent – There will be insects whilst you’re out on safari so you may want to bring insect repellent to help avoid them as much as possible.
• Medication – If you take medication, then bring it with you. You may also need to bring your prescription to show border control when entering Zambia. It’s worth checking any restrictions before travelling too.

Photography, Gadgets & Downtime

It’s often said “the best camera is the one in your hands” and we’ll add to that, one that you know how to use. Whether it’s your phone or you want to bring a wildlife photography camera is up to you and your own preference. Just make sure that you’re ready for the moment when you want to take a photo or video. If you are bringing a camera we’d recommend spare batteries and memory cards.

In terms of Gadgets, we’d recommend keeping it to a minimum. Typically, something such as an e reader, can be great for your downtime.

General Packing Tips & Advice

So you’re just about ready for your trip! Here’s some final considerations for your packing:

• Confirm your baggage allowance for the entire trip. If you’re going on regional flights the baggage allowance can be lower than your international allowance and we’d make sure that you’re under the lowest allowance of the entire trip. You may also want to leave a little room for souvenirs too.
• If you are going on a regional flight then it might be better to pack a soft bag (such as a duffel). Some flights might not accept hard cases due to stowage space on smaller aircrafts.
• If in doubt, check with your tour operator. They’re there to make sure that you have the best time on your trip and will be more than happy to help you where they can. Many will also have a packing checklist ready for your specific trip.

Suggested Tipping Guide

In Zambia, tipping is at your discretion, and very much appreciated – but it is not mandatory. Dollars are worth a lot of money for Zambians, so keep your gratuities sensible. A couple of dollars to a bellman or a waiter at a public restaurant will do.

Rule of Thumb on Safari:

• General staff: $5 to $10 per guest per day – usually placed in a tip box at the front desk at the end of your stay. These tips will be shared equally between the main category of staff.
• Safari Guides: $5 to $10 per guide per day – usually handed directly to them at the end of your stay.
• Spotters, scouts: this staff is usually not part of the “tip box” because they are trainees or because they are not employees of the lodge as such so a few dollars handed directly to them at the end of your stay will be appreciated.
• Managers: they are not typically part of the “tip box” either. They don’t usually expect tips, it’s, therefore, a very nice surprise for them when they are handed one.

Tipping is usually done at the end of the stay (not after each service/activity).
Any cash currency will do (USD, Euros, GBP, ZMW). Don’t expect to be able to leave the tip on your credit card when settling any extras.