I made packing mistakes on an 8-day safari in Tanzania. Here’s what I’m glad I brought — and what I’d do differently next time.

Flowy pants and oversize button-downs became the author’s go-to look on safari.

Packing for a 20-day trip, regardless of location, is a challenge.

Packing for a 20-day trip to three destinations is even harder.

And fitting all your clothes in a soft-sided bag weighing less than 33 pounds feels impossible.

But that was my task for my first trip to East Africa, where I spent eight days on a safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

I managed to fit it all in a backpacking pack, but not without making a few mistakes. Take a look at what I did right, what mistakes I made, and what I’d pack for future safaris.

I almost skipped packing binoculars because of the added weight. I’m glad I didn’t.

Binoculars in the author’s lap on safari.

My bags weighed 31 pounds the night before my trip. Most of the small-plane bush flights I was about to board had weight restrictions of 33 pounds.

If I wanted any souvenirs, I’d be tight for space. I eyed what I could leave behind and initially considered ditching the pair of binoculars I had packed.

Ultimately, I took out a few pairs of shorts instead, a choice I’m thrilled I made. It’s not guaranteed that your safari lodge will have binoculars for guests, but having a pair enhances the entire experience.

Sure, I got close to lions and elephants from my safari vehicle, but a pair of binoculars could showcase details — like whisker patterns, bird feathers, and skin textures — that I couldn’t see from the car.

For future trips, I’ll be investing in an even nicer pair — and making sure there’s enough room in my bag.

Bug spray and sunscreen were a necessity.

Bug spray and toiletries at one of the author’s safari lodges. 

A few days before my trip, I spoke with Meg van Niekerk to discuss my trip’s final details. As a safari expert for Go2Africa, van Niekerk knows just what people need for a safari trip.

“Leave your perfume at home,” she said. “Your DEET cream becomes your safari perfume.”

DEET is the active ingredient in most bug sprays, so van Niekerk stressed that I should pack bug spray and sunscreen for my trip.

I was glad I did. The Serengeti sun was harsh, and even on shorter safari drives, I could feel my face burning. Meanwhile, bug spray gave me some added reassurance against malaria.

While some lodges provide bug spray and sunscreen, I was glad I didn’t rely on others and packed my own.

Layers were useful for chilly mornings and hot afternoons.

Rain gear was useful during afternoon showers in the Serengeti.

Before spending a week in the Serengeti, I pictured long days in the sun, afternoons driving down dusty roads, arid climates, and sweat.

Thankfully, I was smart enough to check the region’s weather, where lows dipped into the 50s.

As someone who hates the cold, I knew I’d need more than the tank tops and T-shirts I originally planned to pack.

For this trip, I made sure I had a sweater, puffer vest, lightweight button-downs, tank tops, T-shirts, shorts, pants, and rain gear.

I was thrilled I had options throughout the trip. Mornings and evenings in the bush are chilly, afternoons are scorching, and some afternoon showers also hit.

Having a variety of clothes for all temperatures and weather was key to being comfortable.

I would change one thing about the layers: I’ll skip packing base layers next time.

The author wore a long-sleeved base layer only once during her trip.

Packing layers was key to my successful safari wardrobe, but surprisingly, I didn’t wear any of the light, long-sleeved shirts I packed.

That’s because the temperatures changed drastically in the Serengeti. When it was chilly in the mornings, I needed heavier layers like jackets and sweaters. When the sun finally came up, it got hot quickly. Instead of wanting a tight, long-sleeved layer, I opted for looser button-downs.

Next time, I’d skip packing base layers altogether.

I stressed far too much about only packing neutrals.

The author in neutrals outside a lodge in the Serengeti.

Everything I saw, read, and heard leading up to my safari trip emphasized the need to pack neutral colors.

Olives, tans, browns, and khakis were good. Blues and blacks were a no-go since those colors attract tsetse flies, which carry a sleeping sickness disease.

Meanwhile, bright colors can alarm and scare off animals.

As someone whose wardrobe consists of 80% black clothing, discovering this was a major stressor, and I ended up on a shopping spree before my trip.

But when I spoke to van Niekerk right before my trip, she reassured me that safari attire is much more casual and flexible than I had read online.

Her advice is to pack what you already own. Don’t stress too much if you don’t have a complete khaki-colored wardrobe. Instead, prioritize neutrals where you can. She added that you don’t need to avoid colors completely.

Besides a walking safari, there was never a time when I felt like the color of my clothing would have impacted my trip or animal viewing. By the end, I regretted buying clothes I might not wear again.

Similarly, my packed clothes focused on the outdoors when I should’ve prioritized comfort.

The author in comfy clothing before a flight.

“This might change your whole packing list, but I actually take a lot of dresses,” van Niekerk said. “You want to be comfortable.”

As we chatted via video, I eyed my packed bag. It was stuffed with hiking pants, sweat-wicking athletic shirts, and hefty khaki cargo pants.

My focus had been on packing clothes for the outdoors, but van Niekerk reminded me that much of a safari vacation involves a lot of lounging — you’re often sitting in a safari vehicle or hanging at a lodge.

“People are dressing like they’re rangers going into a park. You’re on vacation,” she said.

After our call, I swapped a few pairs of pants for a dress and squeezed in a pair of sandals. I’m glad I did.

While I did need closed-toe shoes for a walking safari, there were days when I only wore sandals. The same goes for my clothing. I did need some pieces designed for hiking, but most of the time, I could prioritize comfort.

If I were to pack again, I’d listen to van Niekerk even more with a packing list full of dresses and comfy clothes.

My biggest packing mistake was the cash I brought.

Cash in a wallet.

Tipping is the norm across most of Africa.

Travel agents and outlets like Go2Africa have outlined the standards of what to tip, so figuring out the currency and how much cash to bring wasn’t difficult.

What I didn’t know is that people prefer (and sometimes require) new, undamaged dollars.

When I landed in Tanzania and went to pay for my first taxi ride, the driver refused my $10 bill — it had a small tear in the middle.

For the rest of the trip, I sorted out my nicest dollars to give to lodge staff, safari guides, butlers, and drivers. When I landed in Uganda for the second portion of my trip, the guidelines were clear, “Please be aware that only post-2006 US Dollar bills are acceptable. Bills should be in excellent condition with no tears, stains or markings,” my safari outfitters website said.

Next time, I’d make sure my bank was giving me new money for tips.

Small items like a reusable straw and packs of tissues will be in my backpack for the next trip.

A person sips out of a reusable straw.

Thankfully, the lodges I stayed at had almost everything I needed. Most had reusable water bottles, bug spray, and sunscreen ready.

There were just a few small items I wish I had packed.

For example, I would have loved to have a reusable plastic straw. Safaris are bumpy rides, which means drinking out of a water bottle’s open mouth was nearly impossible. A reusable straw would’ve allowed me to drink while we were on the move.

There were also a few times I used public restrooms — at airstrips and park entrances — where there wasn’t toilet paper. A pack of tissues would’ve solved that problem.

Considering my biggest mistakes were forgetting a straw and not having enough dresses, I’d say packing for my first safari was a success.

The author before her eight-day safari trip.

The safari experience was much more casual than I anticipated.

Between the clothing and lodges stocking necessities, it was hard to make any significant packing mistakes.

For a future safari, I’ll prioritize comfy clothes, packing new money, and having a reusable straw handy.