Packing for a safari: what people always get wrong

People overpack clothes and underpack everything that matters.

Most camps do same-day laundry, so three days of clothing is plenty for a two-week trip. Light bush tones are practical but the khaki-head-to-toe look is not required outside of walking safaris.

Mornings are genuinely cold. A game drive leaving at 6am on the Ngorongoro rim is around 8°C with the roof open and the vehicle moving. Bring a fleece and a windproof layer, and be prepared to strip down to a t-shirt by 10am.

On cameras: 200mm is not enough. 400mm is the practical minimum for anything but elephant and giraffe. A beanbag beats a tripod in a vehicle every time.

Binoculars are the most underrated item on any packing list. 8x42 is the right compromise. One pair per person, not one per couple — sharing is a constant low-grade annoyance.

Soft duffel bags, not hard cases, if any part of your trip involves a light aircraft. The luggage limit is usually 15kg including hand baggage, and it is enforced.