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Africa Hunt Packing List

Here is the definitive African hunt packing list - all the clothing, toiletries, hunting gear, medical items, documentation and the actual luggage itself, that you will need. Please let us know if we've forgotten anything.

Safari Clothes

Safari Hat x 1
Warm Fleece Hat x 1 - for cold mornings & evenings in hunting truck
Safari Jacket x 1
Safari Shirt x 3
Safari Trousers/Pants x 3
Belt x 1 (Safari Accessories)
Shorts x 2 - optional to hunt in/wear around camp
Underwear x 5 sets
Socks x 5 pairs
Gloves x 1 pair (Safari Accessories)
Scarf/bandana x 2 (Safari Accessories)
Pyjamas x 2
Swimming trunks x 1 - If the hunting camp or hotel (before/after hunt) has a pool
Safari Boots/Shoes x 2 pairs
Sandals/Flip Flops x 1 pair - for camp/tent use

Another set of clothes, if you prefer to travel in non-hunting clothes:

Travelling Shirt x 1
Travelling Trousers x 1
Travelling Jacket x 1

There are just a few hunting companies that have a dress code for dinner - so you may need a dinner jacket and tie.

Toiletries

A hanging toiletry bag with plenty of compartments is ideal for a safari tent bathroom.
Insect Repellent cream - Avon Skin-So-Soft cream is recommended by some hunters for repelling tsetse flies
Travel Towel - useful for drying hands in hunting truck
Wet Wipes/Hand sanitizer - useful in hunting truck
Toothbrush x 1
Tooth paste x 1
Dental Floss/Tape x 1 - good to remove buffalo meat from teeth!
Soap x 1 - (provided usually) but if you want to use special citronella types
Shower Gel x 1
Moisturizing Skin Cream - good for dry skin & sunburn
Sun Block x 1 tube - Very important if you burn easily
Sun cream x 1 bottle/tube - lower sun protection factor once your skin is used to the sun
Shampoo/Conditioner x 1 bottle each or x1 if using 2-in-1 type
Lip Balm x 2 - put in pocket and a spare
Cotton Buds x 1 small pack - getting dust out of ears etc
Cotton Wool x 1 pack - beauty applications for ladies & medical swabbing of small wounds
Razor x 1 - Wet razor easier if you opt to shave face or legs (ladies) during or after hunt. If use an electric razor, don't forget spare batteries or charger.
Shaving cream/gel x 1
Talcum Powder x 1 small container - good for preventing skin chafing
Athletic skin lubricant or diaper rash cream - to apply to chafed areas
Sanitary equipment (ladies)
Other beauty products (ladies)

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Hunting Equipment (Plus Other Odds And Ends)

Firearm(s) - (Rifles For Africa)
Telescopic Sight(s)
Ammunition
Eye glasses/spectacles x 2 - general use/reading. Bring a spare pair in case of breakage
Contact Lenses - spares, cleaning kit
Sunglasses x 2 pairs. (Safari Accessories)
Knife x 1
Multi-tool x 1 - eg. Gerber or Leatherman
Scissors x 1 pair - (if not using Swiss Army knife type)
Nail file x 1
Ear plugs x 1 pair - airline sponge type are useful. Specialised shooting ear-defenders are good if their application is not going to affect the speed of getting a shot off.
Writing equipment - pens, notebook etc.
Mosquito netting - check if this is provided or tent is insect proof. Also check which hanging method will be usable in your accommodation.
Tweezers x 1 pair - tick & thorn removal tool, as well as eyebrow plucking (ladies)
Small hand mirror x 1 - always useful if the light is not right for you in tent/accommodation
Plastic bin bags - useful for many things like dirty laundry, muddy boots etc
Compass/GPS x 1 - optional, your PH will have one
Books - for pleasure and/or wildlife reference
Binoculars x 1 pair
Camera x 1 - spare batteries, data card, lens cleaner, charger etc
Torch x 1 - reading and moving around tent at night. Don't forget spare batteries.
Headlight x 1 - reading and moving around tent at night. Don't forget spare batteries.
Travel Pillow x 1 - inflatable
Calculator x 1 - currency conversion, adding trophy bill etc
Money belt x 1 - safe option for carrying money & passport etc
Plug adaptor x 1 - check the plug type for the country to which you are going.
Travel laundry soap x 1 - if you want to wash the odd item
Lighter/matches - always useful, for smokers and non-smokers
Alarm clock x 1 - for getting up early
Sewing Kit x 1 - emergency repairs and blister treatment (needles)
Spare Padlocks/keys - if you lose some, for instance on your gun case. Also for locking ammo box when airline check-in spontaneously changes the published ammo carriage rules.
Personal water bottle x 1
Spare batteries for all requirements
Small rifle cleaning kit x 1 - excluding any flammable liquids.
Ammunition pouch(es)
Cellphone - you may be out of signal range in camp but it will be usable in towns. It will be cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go card on arrival.
Satellite phone - optional, there will usually be one in camp. You will usually be charged to use this.

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Medical And First Aid Items

Try to take medications that you have used before without any side-effects, rather than are brand new to you.

Small First Aid kit to carry on belt
Prescription medicines - in enough quantity for trip duration
Contraceptives - in enough quantity for trip duration
Band Aids/plasters - variety of sizes, fabric ones stick better if wet
Bandages/safety pins - small selection of sizes/types
Dressings - small selection of sizes/types
Special blister dressings - especially if you are prone to blisters
Vitamins - to keep you going! Multi-vit more space-saving than individual pots
Analgesics like ibuprofen, paracetamol for minor headaches & pains
Antiseptic cream/spray - small injuries etc to prevent/treat infection
Motion sickness tablets - just in case....especially in charter aircraft
Antacids - indigestion due to diet change
Anti-diarrhoea tablets - just in case you get it
Rehydration sachets/tablets - always useful in the heat
Energy drink tablets to reconstitute in water - optional, if you feel you may benefit
Antihistamine tablets - for insect bite reactions. Get ones that do not make you drowsy
Antihistamine cream - for insect bite reactions, topical application to bite
Insect Bite Cream/Lotion - specifically for insect bites. Generally takes away the itch/sting effect
Epinephrine Autoinjector 'Epi-Pen' - only if you know you have an allergy to bee-stings
Cold/Flu tablets - it's not uncommon to catch a cold after long-haul flight
Cough lozenges - to prevent coughs while hunting and sitting in leopard blind
Eye wash/drops - great for sore, dry eyes due to dust
Antibiotics eg. ciprofloxacin. A broad spectrum antibiotic is always useful for a bad bout of diarrhoea or other infection
Anti-malaria tablets - vital when going to a malarial area. Check type is correct for the area to which you are going.
Malaria treatment tablets - eg. Coartem. If you are going far away from civilisation, it is a good idea to carry a treatment course of tablets
Small sterile medical kit needles, syringes etc. If you feel that the local equipment may not be trusted for sterility
Dental emergency kit - useful for sticking a crown back on etc...temporarily only

Safari Luggage

Soft-sided main baggage - better for squashing into vehicles and charter aircraft
Day bag - for use in hunting vehicle
Hard-sided lockable gun case
Soft rifle case - for use in charter aircraft and on hunt
Ammunition box - as per your airline regulations (Travel With Firearms)

Hunt Documentation

Passport with correct visa and number of empty pages
Emergency phone numbers - easily accessible
Phone numbers for safari outfitter, PH etc
Insurance card - with contact details & membership numbers etc. Ensure other members of group or PH know where to find it in case you are incapacitated
Medevac Insurance - with contact details & membership numbers etc. Ensure other members of group or PH know where to find it in case you are incapacitated
Vaccination certificates - especially yellow fever certificate which may needed at airport
Phone card & international phone codes - useful for phoning home
Extra passport photographs - just in case
Firearm Permit from home country - just in case this needs to be checked by anyone as proof of your ownership
US Customs Form 4457 (US hunters only) - just in case this needs to be checked by anyone as proof of your ownership
Copies of passport & other documents - in case they are lost
Copies of medical prescriptions - as proof of your ownership of prescription drugs often demanded as an airline security measure. Also useful if you lose some pills and need some more.
CITES Import Permit(s) & copies (if applicable) - if you are aiming to collect a CITES Appendix I trophy, like leopard
Cash and/or Travellers Cheques - most transactions and settlement of trophy bill will be done in US$ cash or travellers cheques
Credit cards - useful in hotels & shops