The Ultimate African Safari Packing List (Without Sacrificing Style!)

Africa is magic. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, and nothing…nothing…comes close to the feeling of being on safari in southern Africa.

When we started planning the trip, I had a clear vision. Think Meryl Streep in Out of Africa. Think Julia Schlaepfer in 1923.

Then I found out I could only bring one 40-lb. duffel bag.

One. Bag.

As you might imagine, that is a pretty big challenge. But I wasn’t willing to give up on the vision…and thankfully with some key pieces and accessories… I didn’t have to. What you’ll find below is exactly what I packed, how I wore it, and proof that you can do safari in style without hauling serious outdoor gear or sacrificing a single outfit.

I looked everywhere online for chic safari packing inspiration and couldn’t find it. So I created it. This post is what I wish had existed when I was planning.

Whether you’re deep in trip planning or just starting to dream …this is for you.

(Be sure to scroll all the way to the end to get the full packing list.)

Ultimate Packing Challenge

Because you take very small planes into the African bush, weight limits are strict. We’re talking 40 pounds total, in one duffel. It was one of my greatest packing challenges yet — but I wasn’t giving up on the vision.

The secret? Accessories. A scarf, a belt, a great bag, sunglasses, hats. It’s amazing how much one well-chosen accessory can elevate any outfit.

A few things worth knowing before you pack:

→ Most camps do laundry daily at no charge, so you need far fewer socks and underwear than you think.

→ Stick to a color story. I went with greens, tans, and whites…earth tones are recommended on safari. I did see one group wearing color. The camps recommend earth tones so you don’t draw attention.

→ One jacket and a few strategic layers is really all you need.

→ Skip the serious outdoor gear. I didn’t pack hiking boots…I packed modern leather boots. You don’t need to go full expedition mode.

→ Keep all toiletries, skincare, and makeup travel-sized. Every ounce counts.

Keep scrolling to see what I wore and more details on our trip including the full detailed packing list.

Safari Basics

Here’s the thing about packing for safari…it’s not about having the perfect outfit for every occasion. It’s about having the right pieces that work together in multiple ways

The safari outfit formula is simple: one great pair of pants, a few easy tops & tees, one jacket that does everything, and accessories that pull it all together. Stick to the same color story so everything mixes and matches together effortlessly. I went for earth tones like greens, tans, and whites.

the bottoms:

Invest in one really good pair of pants. Mine were green joggers by Paige…very soft and comfortable, versatile, and flattering. A pair of neutral-colored shorts gives you a second option when it’s a little warmer without taking up much space.

the tops:

A white cotton button-down is your most hardworking piece. I love this gauzy cotton one by Rails. Wear it open over a swimsuit, tucked into pants, or knotted at the waist over shorts. Bring two simple white tees, one dressier cotton top and you’re pretty much set.

the jacket:

One. That’s all you need. A tan or khaki utility jacket layered over anything instantly looks intentional and put together. It also doubles as warmth on early morning game drives when it’s surprisingly cold. To give myself another layer of warmth, I threw in a fuzzy white vest by Patagonia.

dresses & romper:

I brought 2 dresses and 1 romper. I think in hindsight I should have brought 1 dress, 1 romper and 1 skirt to have more flexibility. I wore the dresses at night for dinners out and the romper during the day for lunches. The safari “uniform” was the outfit I wore the most for both AM and PM safaris. Killer skirt option below.

the accessories:

This is where the magic happens. A silk scarf tied at the neck or worn on your head, a wide-brim hat, a simple belt, a great bag — these are what take a basic outfit from fine to chic. Don’t underestimate them.

shoes:

I had exactly 3 pairs. Brown leather boots, slip-on sandals, and my Golden Goose sneakers, but any comfortable sneaker you love works beautifully here like these Veronica Beard sneakers. I wouldn’t bother worrying about workout sneakers. You really don’t have time unless you are spending a chunk of time in the cities like Cape Town.

Swimsuit

You’ll want to pack one swimsuit as most camps have a swimming pool. I packed this gorgeous strappy bikini by Vix. No need for a separate cover-up, simply use the Rails button-down.

Looking for more flattering swimsuits? This post has so many chic options (with great coverage too). 🤍

Skincare & Makeup I Packed

Below I linked all of the skincare and makeup I packed for this trip. My biggest tip is to make sure you have travel sizes for everything. You could buy travel-size containers and transfer all of your product to them, but it’s much easier to buy the travel sizes if they’re available!

Keep scrolling for some of my favorite photos from the trip as well as travel details like where we stayed…

More About Our Trip

Every trip to Africa can be different depending on what you want to do, when you go, where you want to go, and what you want to see. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips so it’s important to do your research or even hire a travel agent to help you plan your perfect trip to Africa! We used a friend and travel agent to help with all the details. It was especially helpful crossing into Zimbabwe which had quite a challenging border crossing. Think random shacks set up on the side of the road.

Here is a snapshot of our itinerary…

→ We flew into Johannesburg and stayed at our airport hotel. (It’s not a safe city to explore so we didn’t leave the airport.)

→ We flew to Kasane and Chobe National Park in Botswana and stayed at The Sanctuary. They had 2-bedroom lodges perfect for our family and it was the closest to the park. We loved our guide, Chika!

→ Next we flew from Kasane to Nxabera in Okavango Delta and landed on a dirt landing strip and our safari guides arrived early to ensure no animals were on the runway. It was pretty crazy.

→ We stayed at andBeyond, which ended up being our favorite camp. They sang on our arrival and departure which was so wonderful. They had a family tent sent up connected by a walkway (basically a raised wooden path). You don’t want your kids to be alone without easy access to you in these camps. And we loved our guides Richard and KB!

→ Then we flew to Kasane and drove to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We did a canopy tour, zip lining, a tour of the falls, and an elephant excursion where you could touch and feed wild elephants. We stayed at The Elephant Camp, which was very close to the fall and the activities we did. This was the part of the trip I feel we could have skipped. I would have preferred to extend our safari.

→ Lastly, we flew to Cape Town. The kids and Chris swam with the sharks. We went whale watching and did a Table Mountain visit. We flew home from Cape Town.

Safari Camera Equipment

I also got quite a few questions about the camera I brought including what lens I used. If you are interested in shooting with a huge zoom lens, I would HIGHLY recommend renting the lens. I didn’t even think of that before I went and it would have saved a lot of money.  I bought this Canon lens that was quite pricey but it didn’t have nearly enough zoom …think paparazzi-like lens. This one would be amazing (and it’s $20,000!) Rent one!! OR…just get a really awesome point-and-shoot with incredible zoom. Honestly, that’s what my husband had and his pictures were beautiful.

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Africa will change you. There’s really no other way to say it. And when you’re not thinking about what to wear, when every piece works, nothing feels out of place, and you packed exactly what you needed… you get to just be there. Save this post, share it with anyone planning a trip, and go experience the magic for yourself. 🤍