What To Pack

Planning Your Trip

Pack for a Purpose: You can make a big impact on the lives of children here in Botswana – Ker and Downey Botswana are proud members of ‘Pack for a Purpose’, an initiative that uses available space in your luggage to provide essential supplies to the communities that you visit while on Safari. For 5 pounds (2.27 kilos) you could bring out 400 pencils, five deflated soccer balls with an inflation device, or a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff and 500 band-aids. Please click here to see the list of supplies that the charity we support here in Botswana is desperate for: http://www.packforapurpose.org/docs/countries/botswana/shinde.shtml

You could make a huge difference to the lives of the people here. Thank you!

What To Pack

Suggestions suited to a 7-14 day safari, please note that there is a laundry facility provided free of charge in all Ker & Downey Botswana Camps which alleviates the need to bring too many clothes. Due to the generally warm and dry climate you will find that most washing has same day return.

Clothing

• 6 Shirts – 3 long and 3 short sleeved
• 2 Pairs of shorts
• 1 Pair of lightweight slacks or jeans (women may prefer skirts or culottes)
• 1 Wind-breaker or bush jacket
• 1 Warm sweater for evenings and early mornings
• 1 Pair pyjamas or sweat suit for sleeping
• Swimsuit
• Sun protective hat
• Sunglasses
• 1 Pair of comfortable walking shoes, tennis shoes or lightweight hiking boots
• 1 Pair flip flops
• 1 Pair of light shoes for evenings
• 5 Pair socks
• Underclothing, for the ladies a sports bra is recommended for bumpy roads!
• 1 Lightweight rain jacket (November – April) OR a warm/windproof jacket and warm gloves/hat/scarf (May – August)

Toiletries

• Aspirin
• Antiseptic cream
• Chapstick or lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Band Aids
• Extra pair or prescription glasses or contact lenses
• Anti-diarrhoea medicine
• Skin moisturizer
• Eye and nose drops/moisturizer
• Antihistamine if you suffer from allergies/hay fever as the grass and dust levels can be quite high
• Shaving kit (not electric unless the battery is long lasting)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Hairbrush
• Deodorant
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Nail clippers
• Insect repellent (containing DEET)

Accessories

• Good binoculars
• Camera Equipment
• Flashlight – optional (provided in all Ker & Downey Botswana camps, only necessary if you go to other camps or camping)
• Reading Materials
• Pen and paper – or writing journal/diary
• Locks for luggage
• Travel documents
• Passport – with appropriate Visas
• Health Certificates – as recommended by your physician for your specific destination(s)
• Airline tickets – (always reconfirm reservations 72 hours in advance)
• Credit card or cash – (amount depending on your itinerary, please discuss with your consultant if you are unsure – please note that although commonly accepted, not all places in Africa have access to credit card machines so it is recommended to carry a back up of traveller’s cheques or cash in addition)
• Customs registration – (cameras, videos, binoculars and expensive watches)

Baggage weight and style of bag requirements

Please note: That on all light aircraft transfers each passenger is limited to one soft sided bag (soft duffel type bags are ideal), weighing no more than 20kg including hand luggage. This is for logistical and safety reasons. The luggage pod is only 70 x 25cm so your bags need to fit within, or may be left behind. As there is a laundry service in all Ker & Downey Botswana’s camps it is possible to keep clothing to a minimum.

Excess baggage be may subject to additional baggage/charter charges and please note it is optional to store your excess baggage in our Maun office at no extra charge until the end of your safari (this option is only available if your safari starts and ends in Maun, otherwise alternate arrangements will need to be made).

Additional Safari Tips from our team

A tripod may be useful when photographing outside the vehicle: otherwise a small beanbag will stabilize your camera on the side arm rails on safari vehicles.

Spare batteries for cameras flash and motor drive.

Camera cleaning equipment (dust can be a problem)

Pack your equipment in a good, soft-sided case, and carry it on the plane with you.

Africa can be dusty and you should protect your equipment well. Plastic ‘ziplock’ bags or cloth pillowcases are ideal means of covering and storing your photographic equipment during your safari.