She explains that, in terms of clothing, you generally just need a few casual pieces, as there aren't many occasions to dress up on safari. Most lodges also offer laundry service with a quick turnaround time, so there's no need to pack a new outfit for each day of your trip.

For a typical 7-to-10 day safari, the "golden rule" is to pack light and bring approximately 3 to 4 complete sets of safari clothing, plus one "nicer" outfit for dinner. The reason you need so few is that almost every safari camp or lodge offers a very efficient same-day laundry service (often included in the price or very cheap), allowing you to rotate your outfits easily. A "set" should include lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and convertible zip-off trousers to protect you from the sun and insects. You should prioritize "safari colors"—khaki, tan, olive, or grey—and strictly avoid bright white (which gets dirty instantly), black or dark blue (which attracts biting Tsetse flies), and camouflage patterns (which are illegal for civilians in many African countries). Because safaris often involve early morning drives in open vehicles, you must also pack a high-quality "warm layer" like a fleece or a light down jacket, as the savannah can be surprisingly near-freezing before the sun comes up. By limiting yourself to 4 outfits, you can easily fit all your gear into a soft-sided duffel bag, which is a mandatory requirement for the small "bush planes" that transport guests between remote airstrips.