Packing for Safari with Rebekah Peppler

As a travel and food writer, I have the incredible opportunity to take quite a few dream work (and life) trips. This past year, I was lucky to go on two safaris in Africa and call them both work. The first was to South Africa and Botswana in the spring, where I visited a few of Natural Selection’s camps including the rightfully iconic Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and Mbamba, their newest addition in the Okavango Delta. (Read my review of Mbamba for Condé Nast Traveler here and my Guest Book of Ellerman House in Cape Town for YOLO here). Then at the end of summer, I brought my mom as my plus one to Kenya to cover a new andBeyond opening (my review of Suyian Lodge for Travel + Leisure here).

At this point in my life/career, I have a very good handle on packing. However, when I started thinking about how to pack for these specific trips, I realized how difficult it is to find practical-meets-stylish advice, especially for those who, like me, aren’t the typical adventure traveler (by which I mean, I don’t own any tactical clothing nor do I go camping in my personal downtime). So, while I didn’t want to invest in too many single-purpose pieces that couldn’t also be incorporated into my regular life, I also didn’t want to show up unprepared.

If this resonates with you, here’s the packing advice I wish I had had before I went on my first safari aka what I what I appreciated I brought, what should have stayed behind and what I should have packed—all from a less Gore-Tex, more pieces you can wear back home lens. 

WHAT I WAS GLAD I BROUGHT

Layers
To be fair, everything one reads on packing for safari tells you to pack layers, so I’m not exactly starting with new information here. And yet, layers are extremely important. Early morning and nighttime game drives can be quite chilly and the days can be the opposite. For warmer layers, I bring a highly-packable jacket that I can stuff into my backpack when not using, as well as this By Malene Birger short trench (lifted from my city life but perfectly suited for safari), and this sweatshirt. I have ended up wearing all three at once and at different points on game drives.

A mix of tank tops + t-shirts + long sleeves
Just as you need layers, you also really do need all the sleeve length options. My favorites (in all three sleeve lengths) come from Flore Flore, Studio Nicholson, Sézane, Banana Republic and Loup.

Light weight button ups
I especially like the on-and-off ease of pairing a tank top with a lightweight button up. I recommend packing two options: one in white to wear when you’re not out on game drives (I like this one too) and a beige linen option that I wear on game drives (and also all summer long).

A heavy-weight shirt
I kid you not when I say I wore this canvas shirt every. single. day on both safaris this year, did not wash it until I got home and it was pure magic the whole time. This or this are good alts. For the next safari I’m also dreaming of this flannel option from SAMET for night drives.

Long (enough) pants
The pants I didn’t wear were the ones that rode up too high over my ankles when I sat down (you tend to do a lot of sitting on safari). The ones I did wear were a pair of jeans in an ecru color (I like either of these from Toast also), which are great for not getting pricked by grasses and burrs when having sundowners in the bush, and also great for deterring bug bites. Yes, wearing jeans got slightly warm in the high-sun part of the day, but worth the protection in my opinion. These or these (the drawstring toggle on the hems!) from Still Here are on my list for the next trip. For a hotter daytime option, I brought these raw silk beauties from Baserange. Yes, they’re more fragile but they are also breathable and may I remind you that this is a list for those who are more often traveling/living in a less-bush adventurous way, aka I’ve worn them plenty back home. The only downside to bringing materials that are more fragile is that, while most lodges offer laundry services, it’s safer to simply make it through your whole trip and wash them back home.

Good socks to tuck said pants into
While I’m into the socks tucked into pants as a look already, this is more for added ankle protection from bugs bites and errant spike-y plants. I brought a mix of options from Falke, Tabio, and Smartwool.

Very good boots
I can’t speak more highly about Blundstones and can honestly say I didn’t even buy them for safari — my partner and I already have five pairs at home between us and they’re just as great running around Paris as they are in the bush

Birkenstocks
At the risk of completely falling into queer stereotypes, I loved bringing my Birkenstocks with me (I’m also really into these) and, yes, my partner and I also have multiples already at home, so I didn’t need to buy anything new. Having a pair of slip-on shoes for walking around camp / heading to lunch / dinner / the pool was a welcome break from my boots and while you could definitely do an open-toed option, I like the versatility and protection of being able to wear them day and night.

Three hats
One brimmed sunhat + one baseball cap+ one beanie for colder night drives. You could probably get away with two hats here, but I enjoyed having options and the sun in Africa is no joke. I actually brought both this straw bucket from Vince and this canvas one from Banana Republic to Kenya so my mom and I could switch off. For baseball hats, anything works, here’s a classic in a good color for safari.

Swimsuit
Depending on what kind of camps you’re staying in, you’re likely to have access to a common swimming pool and/or a private plunge pool and the hot afternoons between game drives are the ideal time to get into both. I brought my favorite Eres swimsuit that has been everywhere with me and weathers pretty much anything I put it through, though I would have been just as happy with this or this.

Polarized sunglasses
I didn’t buy a pair of sporty sunglasses/aviators and just took the risk and packed the fancy sunglasses I wear every day (can’t find them online but these are similar/the same brand). I recommend you do the same, but make sure to prioritize polarization so you can see all things you’re going to want to see and keep your eyes safe at the same time.

Eye drops
Speaking of keeping your eyes safe, it’s dusty, the open-air jeeps kick up sand and dust and pollen and all the things that you want to keep out of your eyes. Good sunglasses help, of course, but not on night drives if you want to see the bat-eared foxes from afar—or if you’re as lucky as we were, lions up close.

A backpack
I’m not necessarily a backpack person in my day to day, but I wanted something lightweight and easy to carry and throw into the safari vehicle during game drives that would also be nice enough to use as my carry-on for long haul flights (and big enough to fit my laptop which I only recommend traveling with if you’re on a work trip!). All to say, this Longchamp backpack was my constant companion in Botswana and it came right back with me to Kenya.

Camera
I’m not a professional photographer and I went into these trips with a promise that I would be fully present in the moment rather than trying to constantly capture it behind a lens. That said, I have zero regrets about bringing a nicer yet still lightweight camera with me and I only kind of wish I’d brought a longer lens. This Fujifilm camera equipped with this lens shoots beautifully and is compact and light enough that I now use it for all my travels.

Bug spray
Everyone recommends a bug spray that includes DEET, but I really couldn’t get into it (plus I was looking for bug spray in my local pharmacies in Paris and they’re not selling the hardcore DEET spray anyway). I bought the one my pharmacist recommended and then asked my mom to bring this Picaridin one. I was happy to have options but also each lodge I stayed at offered communal bug spray in the common areas, rooms, and on the game drives (in both organic and DEET options). I’ll be bringing the Picaridin option with me on future trips and making sure my mosquito nets are tightly shut at night.

Sunscreen
Bring what you like and what you’ll wear. My own preferred brands include: Le Prunier, Beauty of Joseon, Ultra Violette and Supergoop!

Skincare
I have sensitive skin and thus a routine I stick to. Bring your own in travel sizes and leave whatever isn’t essential behind. I used whatever lotion/shampoo/conditioner the lodges had already in the shower in order to justify bringing my two non negotiableserums. One thing I always make space for while travelling are single use masks (I like this one for inflight and this one for recovery once on the ground/if I get too much sun)

Malaria pills
Pack enough for the full trip, don’t skip a dose and don’t stop taking before the full course. I am a mosquito magnet and do everything in my power to avoid getting bit but still come home with my ankles eaten up, so am always happy for the added security.

WHAT I AM BRINGING NEXT TIME

Rehydration salts
I spent a bulk of my time in Botswana drinking a lot of water and still coming out dehydrated, because I was only drinking filtered water stripped of all minerals. Next trip, I’m packing this jar.

Hair ties
If you have a certain length of hair that requires hair ties from time to time, perhaps you’re better at remembering these than I am. I now have a pack of these from Crown Affair to save myself from a detangling nightmare after a long game drive.

Face wipes
I wish I had remembered a pack to refresh on game drives. I highly recommend these from Sofie Pavitt.

Binoculars
This is an optional add for me considering I really didn’t need binoculars too often and when I did there were some to use in the car and the good ones are REALLY EXPENSIVE, but if you’re into birding/just want to make sure you can really see that leopard lounging in a tree and have the budget, buy a pair of your own (and share with others!). I’ve heard Swarovski makes very good ones

A proper rain coat and maybe rain pants
This is only if it’s going to be a rainy trip, but this coat + these pants are my picks.

Something to wrap around your neck
Get a good scarf or bandana. I am eyeing this from Chan Luu for a 2026 trip (and dreaming of this Prada silk scarf which is a splurge but, wow, so good and I’d definitely wear it on other occasions).

A second portable charger
I brought one with me and used it/shared it regularly, but should have brought a second for ease

WHAT I AM (PERSONALLY) LEAVING BEHIND

Sneakers
As a person who walks a lot in my regular life, I didn’t realize how little walking I would be doing on safari. Some people swear by sneakers; I just found myself reaching for my Blundstones all the time. That said, if you’re planning a walking safari, definitely pack a pair of Salomons.

Shorts
Okay, this is hyper-specific to me, but I wouldn’t bring shorts (or skirts or dresses). Other people love them especially on hot days; I just found it allowed extra skin for mosquitos to attack. That said, these from Cordera are (nearly) worth the risk.

A water bottle
I brought my favorite Ghia water bottle with me and was then given reusable water bottles at every lodge I visited and thus came home with multiples. No complaints—they’re all great water bottles and I love the one I originally brought for long flights, but leaving it behind would have saved me space.

Extra makeup+
I tend to go light on make up anyway in my regular life but this mascara and this concealer and this lip balm are the only three I use on safari and those are more than enough. Some will say but you’ll want to get refreshed for dinner! I never did, as dinner was always a post-sundowners return to camp and I arrived hungry and exhausted and looking forward to eating getting as much sleep as possible before the next 5am wakeup.

GENERAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Colors
Opt for neutral tones: tans/browns/shades of green/darker creams in general (though FWIW I had some lighter creams that I worried might be too close to white that were totally fine). I was told bright colors draw attention and can scare animals off, which wasn’t a big deal in my own life because I’m not a bold bright color-wearing person in general. I was also told to avoid blacks and blues because tse-tse flies are attracted to them, and even though my regular wardrobe has a lot of black to choose from, I followed this advice religiously and didn’t bring anything of the sort because I am very uncool with biting insects of any kind. Leave camouflage prints at home; they’re illegal for civilians in certain African countries.

Laundry
Most lodges offer daily laundry, which is especially helpful for dusty or muddy days and to help you pack light. My tip: if you love something and worry about it being damaged, opt to hand wash it, wear it dirty, or wait until you get home to launder it. Also keep in mind local protocols for your delicates. In some regions, the laundry services exclude undergarments for cultural reasons, and most camps offer soap in the room for you to hand wash. One lodge I stayed in offered a small, discreet bag to put them in if you did want them laundered, so they won’t need to be handled directly and still respect local customs. I ended up simply packing extras (I LOVE these from Chantelle’s soft stretch collection, because they dry quickly and look nice but also aren’t your traditional sport/hiking underwear that I would in all likelihood never use outside of these trips).

The type of safari you’re going on
Both trips I took this year were mostly focused on game drives with short walks and other out of the vehicle activities interspersed throughout. I wasn’t on a dedicated walking safari, nor was I fly-camping or gorilla trekking or spending a lot of time in cities before or after the safari. Knowing the kind of trip you’ll be on and what activities you’ll be prioritizing dramatically affects the gear you should bring.

The time of year you’re going
April in Botswana is the end of the green/wet season and we definitely got caught in an epic downpour or two (hence my regrets in not packing proper rain gear), but for the most part it was dry and hot during the day and chilly at night. Late August/early September in Kenya meant we were nearing the end of the dry season and thus mostly had sunny days and cold nights. Check the weather where you’re headed and plan on bringing layers to put on or shed throughout the days as you need.

Soft luggage without wheels
If you don’t already own luggage that is soft and without wheels, this is something you’re going to need to prioritize investing in for a safari. (Small charter planes and/or helicopter rides require this). I got SO MANY RECOMMENDATIONS for adventure-friendly bags (was I tempted by the Cecile Bahnsen x The North Face duffle? Absolutely) and ended up going with this RAINS duffle that is both well-priced and innocuous enough for me to use during other, less active travels (I just brought it with me to Japan). I love it. My partner’s toiletry kit is also from them and I would steal it from her (a matching set really works for me) if I didn’t already have this toiletry kit from Moore & Giles that I love and always travel with. I use packing cubes (these from Monos are great) and also tuck an expandable weekender into my duffle in case my luggage space needs expanding throughout the trip.