When people talk about packing for safari, they usually focus on practicality, but I have to be honest. Practical doesn’t mean ugly or styleless. You can still look good while being practical. I wasn’t going to fly all the way to Kenya and not dress well knowing I would be taking photos. So my goal was simple:

I wanted to wear outfits that made sense for the environment but still looked like me.

Shop My Safari Packing List

**Everything I Packed and Actually Used on Safari**
If you’re planning a safari and don’t know where to start, I put together a full packing list with the items or dupes I brought on my trip. This includes clothing, accessories, travel essentials, and small things that made a big difference on long game drive days and between camps.

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My Safari Outfit Strategy

Instead of packing full outfits for every day, I packed one main pair of pants and changed my tops. That one decision saved space in my bag and made getting dressed every morning easier on me.

Most days I wore:

Free People Tapered Overalls
A different top
Sneakers
Fanny pack
Hat
Sunglasses
A scarf

Because the shirts changed, the outfits looked slightly different in photos, but I was basically wearing the same base every day, which is actually the smartest way to pack for safari.

Another major thing that helped:

Every safari camp we stayed at offered laundry service, so I rewore clothes and had them washed at camp. It turned out to be inexpensive for the service, so that is definitely a game changer and actually the reason you don’t need to overpack.

Accessories That Were Worth It

Accessories are what really make safari outfits look styled instead of just functional. My two favorite accessories on this trip were my fanny pack and my Jacquemus bucket hat.

The fanny pack made game drives easy because my phone, chapstick, hand sanitizer, cash, and other small things were always accessible.
The hat was necessary for the sun but also pulled most outfits together.
Scarves were also very useful for sun, dust, and just changing the look of an outfit.
Sunglasses are a necessity. Between the sun and dust, you’ll wear them constantly.

Shoes: You Don’t Need Many

I brought three pairs of shoes:

That was more than enough. I wore sneakers on game drives and travel days, sandals to the pool and huaraches around the camp and also on game drives. You actually don’t need anything fancy for dinner, because safari camps are very relaxed at night.

Swimwear Is Important

This is something people forget to mention on these lists: a lot of safari camps have beautiful pools, and after long game drives or days when you don’t have to wake up super early, you’ll want to swim or least take a dip in the pool. I recommend bringing one or two swimsuits and a light coverup or sarong.

Small Things That Made a Big Difference

These were the items I was very glad I packed:

Quick-dry underwear; you will sweat
Mosquito repellent; there weren’t many and when I saw them they were active at night so this is good for sleeping
Permethrin spray; I sprayed my clothes before the trip and it helped keep flies and mosquitoes away
Toilet paper; some bathrooms we stopped at had none at all)
Hair ties; these come in handy on game drives or for activities like hot air balloon rides where you must tie your hair up
Small first aid kit
Sunglasses
Scarves for dust and sun

What Worked (And What Didn’t)

What worked:

Short sleeve tops
Lightweight layers
A jacket I could take on and off
Loose, breathable clothing

What didn’t work:

I packed one long sleeve outfit and it was too hot.
I also packed a dress for dinners that I ended up not wearing, because it turned out it wasn’t necessary to dress up in the evenings.

What I Packed Everything In

I packed everything in the Patagonia Black Hole Backpack 32L. It’s carry-on approved, padded, and has hooks on the outside where you can attach things like a water bottle. You move between camps quite a lot, so a backpack like this is not only easier, but it’s required, as for most safaris, you cannot have a hardshell luggage or wheels on your bag. That said, this made the bag perfect while actually on safari, but a bit heavy for my back in the airport. I still would recommend it, but I also would emphasize packing lightly.

My Realistic Safari Packing List

Clothing

1 pair of lightweight pants or overalls
3–4 tops
1 lightweight jacket
1–2 swimsuits
Underwear (quick-dry if possible)
Pajamas
Sandals
Sneakers

Accessories

1-2 Hats
Sunglasses
1-2 Multi-use Scarves
Fanny pack

Toiletries & Miscellaneous

Mosquito repellent
Permethrin spray
Sunscreen
Toilet paper
Small first aid kit
Hair ties

Final Thoughts

If I did safari again, I would still pack light, repeat outfits, use laundry services, and focus on accessories, swimwear, and comfortable clothes that look good in photos. The balance is in being comfortable enough for travel days and long game drives but still feeling like yourself when you look back at your pictures.

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