What kind of luggage for safari

Waxed cotton ones protect from wind and rain, while lightweight linen ones provide sun protection. The African sun is no joke! Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have all banned plastic bags so make sure none of your toiletries are packed in Ziplock bags! Plan 2 -3 safari outfits you can re-wear or mix and match. Pro Tip : Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have all banned plastic bags so make sure none of your toiletries are packed in Ziplock bags!

My Merrell pair has been great to me over the years! And as a bonus, they even include packing cubes! I have invested in two lenses — a mm zoom and a 60mm macro lens for up-close detail, along with the standard mm lens. And no matter what, bring a battery pack, so you can be sure to charge on-the-go. I always recommend bringing a book inspired by the safari location.

The majority of safari lodges and camps within these countries are accessible only by light aircraft - such as the Cessna shown on this page. As a result, in order for your pilot to fit your luggage into the small, cramped hold, your luggage must not have hard sides, nor rigid frames or structure, and should rather be soft-sided so that the pilot is able to fit squash your bag into the plane.

The same is true for some overland and expedition-style safaris where there will be limited space for luggage in the safari 4x4. Check on safari luggage limitations : Please check with the safari company you have booked with about luggage limitations for your safari, as the requirements may vary from safari to safari. Where luggage weight limitations are specified, please note that - as the maximum take-off weight in any aircraft has to be strictly adhered to by pilots to maximise your safety on each flight - you may find that your pilot will not be able to take any luggage over the maximum allowed weight per passenger.

In this instance, you may have to pay for your luggage to be flown separately. The ideal size for main safari luggage : We recommend that your main safari luggage holdall or duffel should measure 70 x 30 x 30cm in size when full. Carry-on safari luggage : Also take one one smaller carry-on type safari bag to use when you travel - and to take your binoculars and accessories on game drives and walks. But there is not enough space for luggage.

Keeping your weight below 15 kg is important. Your safari luggage needs to mould and squeeze into any available space. Solid state suitcases may be good for European city trips but they are completely impractical for Africa. These massive, stainless steel megalodons are too bulky, do not stack neatly, and take up too much unnecessary room.

Solid state suitcases like these may look impressive but are completely unsuitable for safaris. African safaris require soft , squishy bags that can be squeezed into small spaces. Duffel bags are perfect for this. The perfect safari luggage is light , squishy , hard-wearing , rugged enough for the dusty savanna and spacious enough for the safari essentials. That aside, the volume of your bag should also be taken into account.

A liter capacity is around average. There are some excellent duffels out there , especially those designed for diving or adventure pursuits, which offer more space. It may last one trip if you are lucky! But remember that a tightly packed soft bag is better than a loosely packed one, because it keeps your belongings from rolling around and getting damaged. It also prevents your cosmetics bag getting a bang and leaking its contents all over your clothes.

Some duffel bags have straps that can compress the contents inside. These are ideal, as you can start light and still be compressed, then expand if you end up purchasing half a bag of souvenirs. A wet bag is a great idea for cosmetics. You can use a run-of-the-mill high-street supermarket bag and tie the handles up tight to prevent unwanted spillages.

Consider decanting things like shampoo and moisturizer into small containers, or buy them in small bottles to begin with The Body Shop , for example, has some great small bottles of products which are ideal for travelling. This reduces volume. Your choice of safari luggage is peculiar to you and your needs , what you want to put in it and where you are going.

Whether you spend a lot of money on it or not, just make sure that it is secure with decent locks or, failing that, cable ties. When flying, never put anything of value in it jewellery, cameras, computers, cellphones etc. But where? These Africa safari guides will help you plan the best trip in different locations — South Africa , Botswana , Namibia , Zambia , Zimbabwe , Tanzania , Kenya , Uganda , gorilla trekking.