Find Out What To Pack For A Kruger National Park Safari

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What To Pack For A Safari To South Africa: Kruger National Park

There's no bad weather; only the wrong clothing - so the saying goes. From south to north, nature really puts on a show through Kruger's diversity of landscapes. From sometimes tropical-feeling riverine forests to great swathes of open grassland and rocky mopane-veld, great gear translates into the best experiences of this incredible park.

While climate and season play a role in what to pack for a safari, following certain universal tips will ensure you are best-prepared for your African adventures. Use our Kruger safari packing guidelines to get started and use our comprehensive, intuitive safari packing list tool for a comprehensive checklist.

Dressing For Changing Conditions During The Day On Safari
As with all African and adventure travels, the trick on what to wear on safari lies in dressing in layers. This means packing a fleece and trousers all year round. You will be especially grateful you did before dawn on morning game drives, on night drives, or on nippy winter days when the temperatures can plunge. Conversely, when the day heats up, you need to cover up in safari clothing with built-in sun protection and take along reliable sunscreen and a hat. The malaria risk means doing what you can to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Pack anti-insect clothing and an effective insect repellent. Don't forget comfortable walking shoes, anti-blister socks, and clothing in safari-friendly colours to fit the dress code for activities.

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What To Pack For a South Africa Safari To Kruger

• Pack Clothing in Safari-Friendly Colours: On booking a very exciting guided walk at Orpen Gate, we were told by the staff: "Make sure you wear safari-friendly colours. Nothing bright." Safari-friendly colours mean you have a higher chance of going unspotted by wildlife, which means improved safety and better game viewing.


• You Always Need a Warm Layer: Even in summer, game drives start early and finish late and it can get very chilly on the back of open game viewers. Even in summer, you will be surprised by how chilly it can get. If you are staying in a lodge outside the gate, the commute can be especially cold. These game viewers also don't provide much protection from the rain. In the wet summer months especially, it is also a good idea to pack a waterproof layer. A fleece or jacket and knitwear should be included in every safari suitcase. For windproofing, UPF50+ sun protection, and style in one accessory, take along the Mara&Meru™ Vintage Print Head&Neck Scarf.


• Protect Your Skin With Sun Protection Clothing & Accessories: The best way to avoid sunburn is to cover up in clothing with built-in UPF50+. This demands clothing made from lightweight ripstop that wicks moisture and keeps you cool while offering sun protective properties. Our SAFARITech sun shirts provide UPF50+ sun protection, wick moisture, and dry quickly to give you full coverage in a lightweight shirt (and BUGTech™ provides built-in sun protection with anti-insect properties too). Fortify your efforts with a reliable sunscreen and a wide-brimmed safari hat.


• Pack Around an Insect Defence Strategy: There is a risk of malaria when travelling in Kruger National Park. The best way to protect yourself is to prevent getting bitten in the first place. This starts with choosing the right insect repellent. Australian-made Bushman Insect Repellent and Mosi-guard Extra Natural Bug Spray provide protection against a range of flying and biting insects. Pack extra to ensure you have enough for yourself and your travel party for the duration of your stay. Get an extra layer of defence by covering up in BUGTech™ Anti-Insect Safari Clothes.


• Pack For Activities: There are a range of activities available through the Kruger camps and surrounding lodges. If presented with the opportunity to walk in the bush or have dinner under the stars, this is a chance to suck the marrow from the experience. Pack for the activities that interest you to make sure you are prepared for whatever the days on safari may hold. Pack lightweight, sun protective clothing in neutral, safari-friendly colours. Make sure your walking boots or shoes have been worn in and are suited to sometimes rough terrain. Anti-blister socks are the best walking socks, with a tactel double layer to wick moisture and prevent blisters.


• Binoculars are the Top Game Viewing Must-Have: While Kruger will undoubtedly have sightings that are close to the road, not every sighting is (or should be) up close. A pair of binoculars from the world's top brands elevate game viewing experiences into incredible safari memories. Confirming whether you've actually seen a flick of a tail in a distant tree? Want to get closer to the action without physically getting closer to the action? Want to take in the details of Africa's spectacular birds and mammals? Binoculars are the top accessory.


• Always Take a Torch: A torch is a useful safari accessory whether you're a camper or a luxury safari-goer. Shine around for safety whenever you're walking around at night - for spotting nocturnal wildlife in unfenced camps or scorpions and snakes This makes a reliable torch essential for after-dark hours on safari.


• Pack Bags That Suit The Destination: Our safari duffel bags are made from safari-grade canvas and leather and, in clever compound designs, your duffel bag and day bags can offer zip-on and zip-off convenience during the different legs of your trip.

Kruger Safari Packing Guide

Every item available from The Safari Store has been made for Africa and designed to perform for outdoor pursuits. No matter the shape and form of your Kruger adventure, our safari clothing, luggage, and accessories are the perfect match to keep every safari traveller comfortable, protected, and looking stylish for the best experiences.

Long-Sleeved Safari Shirts
Mix and match safari clothing in technical fabrics with super-comfy safari-friendly favourite T-shirts. Our technical fabrics like BUGTech™ and SAFARITech provide a range of benefits for African travels, with long sleeves for full coverage and roll-up sleeve tabs for flexibility during the day.
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Safari Trousers and Shorts
Convertible trousers in technical fabrics are a safari packing essential, with the flexibility to choose shorts or trousers during the day without a major wardrobe change. Pack non-technical, classic cargoes, shorts, and joggers for versatility.
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Safari-Tested Sun Protection
Red and painful sunburn can interfere with the enjoyment of your days on safari. Prevent sunburn by covering up in long-sleeved sun shirts and sun protective trousers, applying and reapplying a reliable sunscreen, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
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Wide-Brimmed Sun Hat
Sun safety should be stylish. Our safari-styled hats provide 360-degree coverage and come in a range of styles to suit your preference. The fully-foldable Adventurer Hat gets top marks for compact packing into daypacks, so you always have a hat on hand.
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Binoculars
Great game-viewing is one of the best things about safari. Being able to watch wildlife clearly and in detail from a safe distance is essential to the joys of this wonderful activity. Sometimes those sightings happen far from the road and you'll want to have great optics to watch the leopard appear and disappear as it walks through a thicket. One pair per person is the ideal.
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Insect Repellent
Apart from the worries of insect-borne diseases like malaria and tick bite fever, the very presence of buzzing, biting insects can be an annoyance. Pack safari-tested insect repellent sprays as your first line of defence against insects and back it up by covering up in anti-insect safari clothing. If you're a firm believer in DEET, we stock premium, Australian-made Bushman, which we have extensively tested around Southern Africa. If you prefer to go the natural route, Mosi-guard is our top choice.
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A Warm Layer
Layering up is a must! If you think the warm temperatures in South Africa mean you don't need a warm layer, think again. A fleece or jacket is essential no matter what time of year you visit. In sometimes icy conditions on the back of open game viewers, you will be grateful for it. Supplement your fleece, hoodie, or jacket with knitwear accessories for extra snugness.
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Anti-Blister Socks
There is no better way to experience the African bush than on foot. Don't risk a blister ruining your experience. Our anti-blister socks are double layered, with high-performance yarns that wick moisture and keep feet relatively cool and dry - the perfect match for a walking safari in Kruger!
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Comfortable Boots and Shoes
Again, with walking in mind, make sure you have appropriate footwear for all-terrain bush walks. Our range includes boots that are made for bush patrols, quintessential veldskoens, slip-on leather Chelsea boots, and African-made sandals.
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Safari Luggage and Bags
Pack the Kruger National Park essentials into a soft, squashable, and strong safari-styled duffel bags. For game drives and day trips, keep your essentials with you in stylish and versatile satchels, backpacks, and shoulder bags in a range of clever designs.
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Kruger National Park: Navigate South To North | Southern Kruger National Park | Central Kruger National Park | Northern Kruger National Park | What To Pack For a Safari To Kruger National Park | Kruger National Park Quick Travel Tips | Kruger National Park: Top 7 Self-Drive Safari Essentials | Kruger National Park: Self-Drive Safari Tips | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | Quick Travel Tips for Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | What To Pack for a Safari to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park