Visiting East Africa will put many tourists out of their comfort zone, especially if you have not been to Africa before with the heat, the climate the cultural diversity you will inevitably run into during your stay. East Africa is home to diverse landscapes and weather conditions, which means packing for East Africa is no easy job!
There are numerous national parks for safaris, long stretches of beaches, and endless hiking options! When you consider all you are able to do in the region you’ll understand why its best to prepare for all the possibilities or you could end up having to buy certain things that could eat into your travel budget.
To ensure you’re adequately prepared we’ve put this guide, you’ll get an idea of all the essential items you need to pack for a typical East African vacation!
So, keep reading, and happy packing!
Basic East African Packing Guide
Whether you want to spend more of your time in the safari parks or on the beaches, you will need this basic packing list to get on with your day. According to your itinerary, you can check out the other lists below and pack those items along with the ones in this basic list.
1. Toiletries
Wherever you go, this is a must! Although most hotels and lodges provide you with toiletries, it’s a good idea to take your basic ones, like:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Face Wash – travel-sized pack.
- Mini soap – You’ll get soap in most places so just pack a solid mini soap in case you need to go camping.
- Sanitary napkins – in case your periods are on their way!
- Shaving/trimming machines – who knows how long it takes your hair to grow back.
- Towel – just one is enough, preferably, a microfiber towel.
- Sunscreen SPF 50 or higher
- I wouldn’t recommend taking a shampoo/conditioner because most lodges/hotels that have showering facilities provide you with them, but if you can’t use any other shampoo on your hair except yours, pack it.
- Deodorant and perfume
- Hairbrush
- Wet wipes – they’ll come in handy more than you can imagine.
- Mosquito repellant – you don’t necessarily have to pack it if you’re going to stay at a main city or hub for the first night – you can just get it from the local market.
What to pack for a safari
Image Source: WildJunket.com
2. Clothes
Make sure you dress modestly. Below the knee works well and sleeveless is fine too! Here’s a list of the basic clothing items you’ll need for a week:
- Undergarments – at least 3 bras and 5 underwear.
- 1 swimsuit for the beach day.
- 2 dresses
- 2 shirts/tops that are comfortable enough for you to wear at night but also pretty enough for you to wear during the day if needed.
- Rain jacket – if you’re travelling to East Africa during the wet season
- 1 pair of jeans/leggings
- 1 pair of trousers/pyjamas
- 2 skirts – not miniskirts. They should be longer length skirts!
- 1 sweater/thermal warmer
- Plenty of socks! Socks don’t really take a lot of space and are pretty important in keeping you comfortable. Take at least 7 pairs of socks if you’re going for a week! Keep a general rule of one pair of socks per day + 1 extra pair of socks
3. Accessories
Here are some of the accessories you’ll need:
- Sunglasses – 1 pair is enough
- 2 Shoulder bags
- Hair accessories like hair ties and hair clips.
- Scarf – if you like wearing one.
- Makeup! Take whatever make-up you like wearing!
- Minimal jewellery. Too much attracts the wrong kind of attention and being in the bush or on a beach is more about being natural, becoming as close to nature as practically possible.
4. Electronics
Here are some of the electronic devices/accessories you’ll need:
- Mobile phone
- Charger
- Adapter
- Camera
- Any other additional devices that you will ABSOLUTELY need on the trip – don’t bring unnecessary devices!
- Power bank
5. Shoes
Here are some of the shoes you’ll need:
- Joggers/sneakers
- Flip flops
- Waterproof sandals
6. Miscellaneous (but important)
Here are some of the most important things that you need to pack:
- First aid kit and any other prescription medicines you’re on.
- Passport and visa documents
- Other important travel documents that you have.
Miscellaneous to pack
Image Source: Pinterest.com
Female Packing Guide for the Beach Bum
Here are the additional items you’ll need if you plan on staying longer at the beach:
- An additional towel
- 2 additional swimsuits
- 1-2 Hats
- 2 additional flip-flops or sandals to wear on the beach
- Moisturizer
- Mat that you can lay on the sand
- 1 additional pair of sunglasses
Solo Female Traveler Packing Guide for the Prepper Princess – Always Prepared
If you like being prepared for all situations to come and want to cut down on your costs too, here are some tips for you:
- Create make-up wipes at home: Add a few drops of baby shampoo to half a cup of distilled water. Next, add in some coconut oil and vitamin E capsules. If you already have a liquid makeup remover, add 1/4th cup of it too. Soak some cotton rounds in this and your makeup wipes are ready!
- Soap packs: take sturdy paper towels and dip them in liquid soap. Next, separate them and put them in a bag. Each time you want to wash your hands, just take one wipe and rub it!
- Shampoo bar: a shampoo bar will save you space and money instead of regular liquid shampoo.
East African Packing Guide for Fashionista/Instagrammer
Being a fashionista means you’ll have to pack a lot more clothes and accessories than a regular person! Here are some of the items you’ll need:
- Additional Jewelry – pack 3 pairs of earrings, chunky necklace, bracelets, waterproof wristwatch, rings and anklets too if you want!
- Don’t forget to take one or two shades of nail polish with you.
- Hair curler or hair straightener
- Tripod stand
East African Packing Guide for the She-Fari aka Female Safari
While most of the basic safari requirements have already been covered, here are some additional items you might need:
- 1 extra pair of joggers/sneakers
- Binoculars
- Headlights
- Tripod if you want to capture great photos of animals.
- 1-2 additional sweaters and warm pyjamas for the nights.
East African Packing Guide for Hikers
If you plan on hiking, you’ll require many additional items. Some of them are listed below:
- Hiking boots that are waterproof
- Additional pairs of socks
- Hiking bag that is spacious and comfortable to carry
East African Packing Guide for the Girls Trip
If you’re going on a girls’ trip to East Africa with your friends, it’s a good idea to divide the common items you’ll need so that each of you doesn’t bring these items. This way, you can save enough space for other important items. Here are some tips:
- Divide the items. Ask one person to bring toothpaste, ask another to bring the curler, and another to bring a straightener.
- For makeup, do the same. This way, you’ll have everything you need as well as a lot of space!
- Mix and match jewellery. Let your friend borrow the jewellery you’ve already worn. This way, everyone has to bring less jewellery, but you’ll all be wearing different ones each day!
Packed and prepared
Now that you have your travel packing checklist, it’s time to start preparing for travel arrangements. So, what are you waiting for? Travel to East Africa and have a great vacation there! You can head over to our “Flights” section for more details on flight schedules and prices!
