Botswana Packing Guide

There are so many things to keep in mind while packing for Africa! Temperature changes, luggage limitations, technology… The list goes on and it can be overwhelming knowing where to start! Here is my list of essentials that I packed for my trip to Botswana in August.

  • Luggage

    • There are very strict luggage regulations in Botswana. You must use soft-sided luggage…NO rolling wheels! (Our North Face duffle bags worked great!)
    • Luggage weight restriction is typically 20kg (under 44 lbs.).
    • Avoid packing bulky items and follow all carry-on rules carefully!

  • Paperwork

    • Passport!
    • Printed Documents
      • Flight information, lodging confirmations, travel insurance
      • Make sure to keep an extra copy of all of these documents in your luggage as well, just in case.

  • Technology

    • Phone and wall charger
    • Charger Adapters (Botswana uses Type G, with three rectangular pins).
    • External Phone Charger (helpful if your running low on charge during a safari; but make sure to pack in your carry-on).
    • Camera and charger (Unless you’re a professional photographer with a huge SLR camera, you will be totally fine using a camera with at least 20 x zoom. This was extremely helpful in capturing images from farther away, and much better quality than your typical iPhone photo).
    • Kindle/ iPad
    • Laptop + Charger (Optional: I brought mine with me to edit photos throughout my trip!)
    • IMPORTANT: Most camps do not have ANY cell service. Prepare to be off the grid for the duration of your stay!

  •  Clothing

    • LAYERS, LAYERS, LAYERS!
    • Tops
      • 3-5 short sleeved quick-dry t-shirts (work out tops worked great)
      • 2-3 long sleeve tops (make sure one is a fleece for layering when cold)
      • Waterproof rain jacket
      • Light weight thermal jacket (i.e. Patagonia puffer jacket)
    •  Bottoms
      • Zip off pants that can turn into shorts
      • Yoga pants / leggings (I LIVED in yoga pants during my trip. They were great to layer under looser pants on cold mornings and they were SO comfy to wear around camp).
      • Jeans are NOT necessary! They are heavy and don’t dry well!

  • Shoes

    • Trail shoes
    • Casual tennis shoes for lounging around camp
    • Flip flops (for potential pool time at your camp)
    • Leave your heals at home, ladies!

  • Accessories

    • Beanie
    • Baseball cap
    • Gloves
    • Sun Glasses
    • Modest swimsuit (some camps have pools!)
    • Quick dry, thick socks!

  • Personal Hygiene

    • Toothbrush/ toothpaste
    • Deodorant
    • Shampoo/conditioner (often provided by your camp)
    • Lotion (odorless so bugs aren’t attracted!)
    • Sunscreen
    • Lip balm with sun protectant
    • Wet wipes, hand sanitizer

  • Extra Essentials

    • PJ’s (warm!), sports bras, underwear, etc.!
    • BUG REPELLENT (Preferably with Deet)
    • Flashlight
    • Day Bag (for taking on safaris)
    • A few gallon Ziplock bags
    • Pen, pencil, journal
    • All essential medications

  • SPECIAL NOTES

    • Prepare yourself for an authentically wild experience! NO need for formal clothes, hair dryers, or straighteners! Leave ‘em all at home!
    • Aim for neutral-colored clothing (brown, grey, green, khaki). AVOID whites, brights, and dark blues: tsetse flies are attracted to these colors!
    • Most camps will do your laundry for you upon request! However, they will NOT wash your undergarments, so pack enough of those to last you the entirety of the trip!