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Safari Luggage Advice & FAQs
What is the best luggage for a safari?
The best safari luggage is a soft, strong, and squashable holdall or duffel bag to meet the strict luggage restrictions on small plane transfers. These bags are equally suited to mobile safari travel conditions and are made to travel in trailers or on the back of game viewers along bumpy, dusty roads. Avoid suitcases with rigid, hard sides that cannot be squashed to fit into cramped spaces.
What size luggage is allowed on safari?
Check the weight and size limit of your safari luggage with your tour operator or airline, but we recommend the ideal safari bag should measure 70 x 30 x 30 centimeters or 27.6 x 11.8 x 11.8 inches.
What features to look for in safari luggage?
- Soft and squashable: Hard-sided suitcases are not suitable for safaris with transfer by light aircraft. The best safari luggage can be squashed into the cramped hold of small planes to meet strict luggage allowances. They are also a good choice for small 4x4 compartments on game viewers and for mobile safaris.
- Durability: Choose a bag made from durable materials.
- Straps, handles, and design features: A safari bag with carrying handles and shoulder straps provide options for comfort when you're on the move. Pockets are also useful for compartmentalizing your safari clothing and gear.
- Weight: A lightweight safari bag is essential - and you don't want your bag cutting into your luggage weight allowance. The best bags for safari balance good capacity with light weight. That said, you also do not want a bag which is not engineered for the harsh conditions of African travel, and so there is another balancing act between weight of the bag and durability. You do not want your bag falling to pieces mid-safari.
Safari packing tips
The beauty of a soft safari bag is that it is only as full as you choose to make it. Some safari-goers on our team swear by rolling their clothing, while others flat pack, but the trick to packing light lies in your choice of safari clothing. Pack layers of quick-drying clothing that can be washed and reworn throughout your safari to maximise suitcase space. Make sure you also take along a practical daypack that you can use for binoculars and other essentials as you travel.
Are wheels on safari luggage a good idea?
In general, wheeled suitcases are not the best fit for safari. While wheels may be handy in the airport, they are more hassle than help on sandy, gritty, and uneven ground that is typically found in most lodges and camps on safari. Some wheeled bags also have a rigid frame, which will make it harder for the pilot or ground crew to fit your bag into the light aircraft.
Apart from a safari duffle bag, what other bags should you take on safari?
In addition to your safari duffle bag, clever choices of carry-on and daypacks are useful as you travel and while you enjoy activities on safari. For game drives and walks, a shoulder bag or backpack is a must for carrying your binoculars, bug spray, sunscreen, and other accessories.