What luggage for safari?
How to pack for safari – a complete guide
Africa is a vast continent, and many safari lodges are located in remote areas, often accessible only by light aircraft. These flights come with strict weight and size restrictions, so it’s important to choose the right luggage. In this guide, we’ll outline the best types of luggage for safari and share practical tips to ensure your holiday is hassle-free.
Luggage weights on safari
Luxury safaris normally include light aircraft flights to minimise travel times and maximise enjoyment. These flights offer stunning aerial views of the African landscape, but they come with strict luggage weight limits.
Typical baggage weight limits on safari are:
- 20kg (44lbs) in Southern Africa
- 15kg (33lbs) in East Africa
These limits include both your main luggage and hand baggage. It’s important to note that different countries and airlines within Africa may have their own restrictions, so be sure to check specific requirements ahead of time. For your convenience, we’ve compiled the key guidelines from major airlines in this blog.
You shouldn’t need more than these limits since:
- Safari camps and lodges provide essentials like toiletries and towels
- Laundry services are typically complimentary and available daily at most camps (refer to your quote to confirm laundry availability at your specific camp).
- Dress on safari is casual throughout the day and into the evening
Bags have to fit into the luggage pod on a light aircraft. If you do need a higher luggage limit – generally something only really required by photographers with multiple camera bodies and long lenses – you can buy an extra seat on the light aircraft to make things more flexible.
What type of luggage is best for safari?
The key restriction is that, on safari, bags must be strictly soft sided bags only, no wheels or frames (don’t worry about not having wheels as there are trolleys at airports and someone to carry your bag to your room or tent in the safari camp). Bags have to fit into the luggage pod on a light aircraft flying between safari camps and lodges. When the flight is full, bags often require a shove to squeeze them in.
Main bags for safari
Size restrictions are seldom explicitly defined, since the weight restriction generally means you only need a ‘medium bag’, but aim at something no bigger than the following:
- 62cm (24 inches) long
- 30cm (12 inches) high
- 25cm (10 inches) wide
North Face, Pategonia and Osprey all do good sized luggage perfect for safari.
‘Weekender’ leather safari luggage by Sandstorm Kenya 54 x 18 x 34 cm (21.26 x 7.09 x 13.39 inches)
Day pack for safari
For many people on safari, their hand luggage on the international flights becomes their day pack to take out on a safari vehicle or when walking. Obviously, if you are going to walk with it, a small rucksack is easier than a tote bag. Ideally your day pack is big enough to carry your camera and accessories (if you don’t have a big DSLR and a separate camera bag), a water bottle, sun cream, tissues and a portable battery charger.
Walking safari at Stanley Camp
What should you pack for your safari?
We’ve produced an interactive safari packing list, which asks three questions before tailoring a personal list for you based on destination, time of year and safari activities you’re undertaking. Click the link to try it out: Interactive Safari Packing List
Any questions?
If you’ve got this far and not found an answer to a question you have that we should have included, please ask in the comments section below, or pop us an email. We’ll be sure to reply and may amend the article to include our answer.
What next?
Get inspired and sign up for our free Insider’s Guide to Africa. We would be delighted to help you plan a holiday, or answer any questions if you’re at an earlier stage. Our team of experts have travelled widely throughout Africa. They can offer expert advice on every type of safari from family and beach holidays to riding and primate safaris. If you would like to talk to someone who has been there and done it, please just send us an email or give us a call.
I’m going on a 7 day safari and then to a beach hotel for 7 days. What happens to my luggage for beach holiday whilst on safari?
Thanks for the question. Unless you have particularly heavy or bulky watersports equipment it would be normal to take it with you.
Hello,
Can you please suggest some makes and models of duffle bags that match 62x30x25 as I am struggling to find this size?
Hi Adursh, thanks for your message. One of the team will be back in touch soon to try and help you with this.
I am struggling with fitting camera equipment and clothing for 14 days safari in a bag that weighs less than or equal to 33 pounds. Seems that bags either do one or the other. Camera bags that leave zero room for any clothing or a travel bag that has zero padding or dividers for equipment. Does anybody have a recommendation for a good bag that fills camera and clothing needs and is no larger than 28″X18″X10″?
I’ve asked around the office and got a quick reply from a couple of friendly photographers. Noone uses a single bag to achieve safety for their camera kit (they aren’t ever checking it in) and the rest of their luggage. Unless they only have a single day’s worth of clothes, they use two bags/cases/packs.
Hope you find a solution. Have a great trip.
Hi I would also like to get some recommendations on makes and models of bags measuring 62x30x25 as nothing I’ve seen matches this size.
Thank you
Eva – bear in mind that luggage is fine if it can be ‘squashed’ to the sizes mentioned. The luggage pods of many light aircraft are an awkward shape. As long as the pilot can make your bag fit, your fine. Either a small bag absolutely full, or a bigger bag that’s half full and can be squashed to fit.
Travelling to South Africa this Oct 2023 . What do we do with our large cases . Staying in the Commodore Hotel first for a few days then on to Franschhoek for a few days then Whale watching. Before flying to Karegi for safari for 4 days then back to Belmond Mount Hotel . The cases are the problem. As the flight to safari is small . So any suggestions on what we do with cases please.
Dear Leslie
We would offer our clients two options:
(i) Pack less. Hopefully this doesn’t sound too obvious, but most people pack too much when they holiday. South Africa isn’t generally formal for meals and you can get laundry done everywhere. In most cases there is little reason to have more luggage than can go to a safari camp with you.
(ii) Arrange for the cases you don’t need on safari to go direct to the next hotel. There would be a cost for them to be transported but most hotels have a storage area where they can look after them until you arrive.
If you choose the second option, I hope your tour operator can make the arrangements for you.
Thank you Richard. Much appreciated
No problem at all Eva.
Might I presume that a Cotopaxi Allpa 35L travel pack, 22 x 10 x 12 inches would fit into the described baggage pod?
It sounds like an Osprey Porter 46 at 22 x 14 x 10 inches might be a bit too wide.
Good morning Alan, I will ask one of the team to get back in touch and they can help advise. Thanks Katy
Can I take a medium suitcase with wheels
Can it be a medium suit case for 8 days
Hi Katrina, thanks for getting in touch. It depends on where you are travelling to and whether or not you are taking internal flights. We would be more than happy to advise if you e-mail us direct – mail@aardvarksafaris.com. Thansk Katy
Do Kenya Safari, 4 x 4 vehicles have enough room for a Samsonite under seat carry-on that has wheels and is soft sided? I feel I need it in the airport for walking long distances with a bad back. I will be on a small group tour that may have six passengers and a driver for 11 days. My clothing will be in a 26 inch duffel that will be checked. I’m taking no flights during the safari after arriving in Nairobi.
Dear Patty, thanks for your question. It’s difficult to answer as it depends on the type of 4×4 and luggage capacity, I would recommend getting in touch with your tour operator who will be able to provide you with further guidance. Best wishes, Maggie
Just an observation – you suggested luggage size 62cm x 30cm x 24cm =44litres not 70litres
It might be worth updating your article to save confusion, which is it 70litres or the size (44litres)
Dear Marc, thank you for your comment and spotting this, indeed our suggested bag size capacity is 44 litres. Best, the Aardvark Team.
Hi, flying from Zanzibar to Tanzania for a 2 day safari. What is the liquid allowance, trying to work out size of suncream that your allowed to take on the flight
Dear Karen, this tends to be the same no matter where you fly from. Max 100ml for cabin luggage. Thanks Katy