What luggage for safari?
Luggage weights on safari
Luxury safaris normally include light aircraft flights to minimise travel times and maximise enjoyment. You’ll get a great bird’s eye view of the scenery below, but your luggage will have to meet strict weight limits.
Typically on safari your baggage weight limit will be:
- 20kg (44lbs) in Southern Africa
- 15kg (33lbs) in East Africa
These limits are a total and include hand baggage as well as your main bag.
You shouldn’t need more than these limits since:
- Safari camps and lodges provide toiletries and towels
- Laundry can be done daily
- Dress on safari is casual throughout the day and into the evening
Bags have to fit into the luggage pod on a light aircraft. If you do need a higher luggage limit – generally something only really required by photographers with multiple camera bodies and long lenses – you can buy an extra seat on the light aircraft to make things more flexible.
Main bags for safari
The key restriction is that, on safari, bags must be strictly soft sided bags only, no wheels or frames (don’t worry about not having wheels as there are trolleys at airports and someone to carry your bag to your room or tent in the safari camp).
Bags have to fit into the luggage pod on a light aircraft flying between safari camps and lodges. When the flight is full, bags often require a shove to squeeze them in.
‘Weekender’ leather safari luggage by Sandstorm Kenya 57 x 19 x 39 cm (22.4 x 7.5 x 15.4 inches)
Size restrictions are seldom explicitly defined, since the weight restriction generally means you only need a ‘medium bag’, but aim at something no bigger than the following:
- 62cm (24 inches) long
- 30cm (12 inches) high
- 25cm (10 inches) wide
In terms of ‘capacity’ this size is likely to be around 70 litres.
Day pack for safari
For many people on safari, their hand luggage on the international flights becomes their day pack to take out on a safari vehicle or when walking. Obviously, if you are going to walk with it, a small rucksack is easier than a tote bag.
Wayo Fly Camp walking safari with backpacks
Ideally your day pack is big enough to carry your camera and accessories (if you don’t have a big DSLR and a separate camera bag), a water bottle, sun cream, tissues and a portable battery charger.
Packing help
We’ve produced an interactive safari packing list, which asks three questions before tailoring a personal list for you based on destination, time of year and safari activities you’re undertaking. Click the link to try it out: Interactive Safari Packing List
Any questions?
If you’ve got this far and not found an answer to a question you have that we should have included, please ask in the comments section below, or pop us an email. We’ll be sure to reply and may amend the article to include our answer.
What next?
We would be delighted to help you plan a holiday, or answer any questions if you’re at an earlier stage. Our team of experts have travelled widely throughout Africa. They can offer expert advice on every type of safari from family and beach holidays to riding and primate safaris. If you would like to talk to someone who has been there and done it, please just send us an email or give us a call.
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