Africa safari: Packing checklist for senior citizens

Packing for an Africa safari is much alike for both senior travelers and younger travelers. The most essential thing in this case is the ability to keep the load light and still have all the essential items packed. The luggage should also be compacted and of a size you can manage to carry around at ease. It is important to note that as a senior traveler you may have to arrange for air transfer to move between destinations which may take more hours when using roads. Most internal flight limit luggage size to a maximum 15 kg further explaining the need to pack light . In this post we shall take you through a step by step guide on packing for your next Africa safari.

Clothing

The clothes you add to your packing list will depend on season and weather. However, Kenya generally very hot in the day and cold in the nights. Here is the listing of clothing you should pack to correspond with such climatic demands.

Long and loose pants.
long sleeved shirts.
Inner wears
Rain jacket (when going for walking safari)
Shorts and beach outfit( for a coastal tour)
Pullovers
light shoes.
A wide brimmed hat
Sunglasses
Headscarf
Sleepwear/ pajamas

The clothes you pack should:

Offer protection from the sun. check the SPF rating.
Should have a built in insect defense.
Dry quickly
Carry loose/ buggy clothing

Medics

You understand your health better. If there is any prescribed items remember to carry them. For prescribed glasses/ lenses we recommend that you carry an extra spare. Carry extra batteries for hearing aids. For travelers with pending illness we recommend that you visit a specialist a few days before your departure. Get a full report of your medical condition and add a copy in your packing list. Remember to pack all prescribed medicines enough to cover all your travelling days. Prescription medicines should be stored in the original pill bottles/ bags for easier identification.

If you get sick when airborne remember to carry air sickness pills.

Remember, to take a covid19 vaccine and carry along the vaccination certificate. Yellow health card is also a requirement in some country.

Insurance policy document

Travel insurance is essential to cover you from unanticipated events. You can always get this document from a local travel agent. Make sure that the insurance policy you choose provide coverage to:

Medical emergency
Loss of luggage
Accident cover
Flight cancellation

Enquire the insurers policy of laying claim before signing the document. A good insurance cover should have a less strenuous process for making claims

Travel documents

Remember to carry your passport and visa. Notably, Kenya has one of the easiest visa application process with visa application online portal allowing you to apply for an evisa. Travelers from some countries are either offered visa on arrival or entirely exempted.

Camera equipment

Keep the memories of Africa through photos. For Africa safari carry

high iso performance DSLR
wide aperture long range and short range lenses
A bean bag ( we will get the filling materials for you)
A backpack which you will be carrying the camera with whenever you go out
A laptop/ tablet for backup

A pair of binoculars

This will help you view actions happening in the open savannah longer distance from parks road. Importantly, most parks especially in East Africa restrict or prohibit off road driving. Again, off roading is not environmental friendly and therefore should always be a last resort.

How to pack light

When packing your items, you should always remember that ‘light feels young’. Your luggage should be as light as possible. To achieve a portable load, you should take into consideration the following recommendations.

Carry just a few clothes. Most lodges and camps offer daily laundry. You will just need to carry a set of clothes that you can wear alternating.
No boots. You will not need to carry those heavy boots not unless you are going for a walking safari. A pair of lightweight flat shoes will be enough.
Don’t carry toiletries. Most safari lodges offer toiletries.
Go for a light weight camera and lenses. The camera and lenses are likely to be the heaviest equipment in your bag. Ensure you get the lightest options. Both the camera and lenses should not take more than 4 kgs of your luggage weight. If you are going for game drives, consider carrying just one long range lens.
Frame free lightweight bags are better. Whereas wheeled frame bags are good for moving round airports, the bags are quite bulky and hard to compact in the small local flights. Always carry a bag that can be squeezed through small spaces.
Don’t carry small items offered by lodges or sold within the destinations you are visiting. For instance, in some national parks there are places you can buy small items like camera batteries. Again, in some lodges and camps you will be offered free insect repellent.

What avoid in your packing list?

Polythene bags. Polythene bags are illegal in some countries like Kenya.
Bright cloths. Africa wilderness are quite dusty. In some places bright clothes especially blue attract tsetse flies
Some camouflages are illegal. Some camouflage may look like military uniform which are not permitted to be worn by civilians in some countries.