Africa Packing Lists

Africa is enormous and generalizing is a mistake. Marrakech feels nothing like Cape Town which feels nothing like Nairobi. What packing advice holds continent-wide is simpler than you think: dress modestly in most places, protect yourself from sun and mosquitos, and respect that reliable power and phone signal are not a given outside major cities.

Climate at a glance

North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt) has Mediterranean winters and hot dry summers. Sub-Saharan Africa mostly experiences wet and dry seasons rather than temperature-driven seasons. Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana) has flipped seasons with cool dry winters from roughly June through August being the best time for safaris.

What to pack for Africa

• Long sleeves and pants in neutral colors for safari and for mosquito protection after dusk.
• A broad-brimmed hat, real sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen — shade can be scarce outside cities.
• A power bank and a universal plug adapter, since voltage and plug shapes vary sharply by country.
• Modest clothing for Muslim-majority countries in North and East Africa, including women covering hair in some mosques.
• Any prescription medication you rely on, in original packaging, plus insect repellent with DEET or picaridin.