You have decided to travel to Uganda and now you ask yourself: what must I pack for my Uganda wildlife safari? Luggage space is limited on safari, so you want to make sure you have brought all the essentials and at the same time, you don’t want to carry something with you halfway across the world only to not need it while you are on your travels. We as 4×4 Car Hire Uganda want to provide you with the best advice on what to bring to Uganda, to make packing for your safari as easy and uncomplicated as possible.
List of clothes which you should pack
- Warm jacket, warm jumper
- Wind jacket or rain jacket
- Sweatshirt or light jersey
- Short-sleeved shirts, T-shirts
- Long trousers and shorts
- Underwear
- Swimming costume
- Comfortable shoes (light trekking shoes, trainers, trekking sandals)
- Sandals or flip flops
- Sun hat
- Scarf (for winter)
- Beanie (for winter)
- Gloves (for winter)
- Dress in layers for all activities, with a warm layer essential in the mornings and evenings. Long-sleeved shirts with roll-up tabs and zip-off trousers allow you to adapt to local conditions.
- Colour is key: Select safari clothing which is made from muted neutral and naturally-toned fabric such as shades of khaki, greens, and browns.
- No white or black clothing: Please ensure that you do not go on safari wearing clothing made from fabric which is white or black – or shades of fabric which appear white in direct sunlight.
- No camouflaged clothing: it is illegal in some African countries for civilians to wear camouflage safari clothing, so this is best avoided.
- Man-made fabric vs cotton: As a general guideline, man-made fabrics (such as polyamide) outperform natural fabrics (such as cotton) – and so keep you cooler and better protected from the sun.
- Pack a wide-brimmed hat: You will be out in the sun for long hours of the day and a good wide-brimmed hat is an essential.
- Pack a warm layer: Even in mid-summer, it gets cold on the back of an open 4×4. Do not leave home without a safari jacket or fleece.
- Pack a dry layer: When it rains in Africa, it tends to pour. If traveling during the rainy season, take a truly waterproof layer. Southern Africa tends to have rains November to April; East Africa gets rain in April/May and in November.
- Pack light: Luggage restrictions on internal flights means that packing lightweight safari clothing is key. The bonus is the lighter the clothing, the more you can pack in.
- Comfortable shoes: At the very least, take your best walking shoes and a pair of sandals or flip-flops (thongs).
Which toiletries and medicine do I need to pack?
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- deodorant
- hand sanitizer
- wet wipes and
- some lip balm
And if you are taking medication, particularly prescription medication then you must make sure you have more than enough with you to last you on your entire trip.
A small medical bag, filled with the following items can also make a big difference
- plasters
- antiseptic cream
- antihistamine tablets or cream
- sunburn relief
- anti-diarrhea medicine
- pain relief medicine
- nausea medicine
- eye drops and
- motion sickness tablets
Have passport, will travel
Don’t leave home without these essential documents
- Passport
- Itinerary
- Travel and medical insurance
- Visas (if required)
- Vaccinations (if required)
- e-tickets
Don’t forget
- Sunglasses
- Journal
- Bird or wildlife book