Light, practical and mostly neutral colours. Here is what earns its place in the bag, and what you can leave at home.
Bags
- A soft duffel rather than a hard suitcase. Light aircraft and safari vehicles have limited space, and soft bags squeeze in
- A small daypack for the vehicle with your camera, water, a layer and sunscreen
- Keep anything you cannot do without in your hand luggage
Clothes
- Wear neutral colours such as khaki, olive, sand and grey. Bright white shows dust, and dark blue and black attract tsetse flies in some parks
- A warm fleece or jacket. Mornings on game drives and nights at altitude are cold
- Long sleeves and long trousers for the evenings, when mosquitoes come out
- A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
- Comfortable walking shoes, plus sandals for the lodge
- Swimwear if you are heading to the coast or a lodge with a pool
Leave at home
- Plastic carrier bags. They are banned in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania and can be taken from you at the airport
- Camouflage or military-style clothing, which is not permitted for civilians in several East African countries
- More clothes than you need. Most lodges offer a laundry service
Small things that help
- Binoculars, one pair each if you can
- A power bank and a universal adaptor. Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania mostly use the three-pin British plug
- Insect repellent, sunscreen and any prescription medicine in its original packaging
- Some small US dollar notes, printed 2013 or later, for tips
Written by the INUMA team in Kampala. Rules and prices change, so we confirm the details when you book.
