Luggage on Safari
This will hopefully be quite a simple and straight forward blog but one that will be useful non the less. Many safari holidays include flights of some kind to get either to and from a safari location or indeed between safari areas, and on these flights it is likely that you will be restricted in weight and the type of luggage that you are able to use. This is because on the whole transfer aircraft are small light aircraft with very limited hold space and strict limits on the amount of weight that they can carry.
In this blog we will guide you through the type of luggage and give you a few recommendations based on our experience. The main rule that must be adhered to is that all bags must be soft sided, this is so that they can fit through the small hatches and that bags are flexible in order to utilise all of the available space in the aircraft.
Weight limits vary; in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) this is generally 15KG per person, while in Southern Africa (Botswana and Zambia) this tends to be 20kg per person. This is to include any hand luggage which must be of a reasonable size as there are no compartments in which to put these and they will often spend the duration of your flight on your lap.
So we have already ascertained that luggage will need to be soft sided for light aircraft flights, it must also be durable, this is because you are heading to a rugged location and do not want to be worrying about your bag falling apart. It also will mean that you can use this bag for all subsequent safari trips as well as trips where large solid luggage may not be the most suitable.
Size – this is a more personal issue, I like 70-80L of capacity as I can use this for almost any trip. If you like to pack very light the 50-60L may be all you need, however, this may limit its usages in the future. I find that the really large 100L bags are just too cumbersome and if I really need that much space I am unlikely to be going on safari and would therefore rather luggage with wheels to make life easier.
Mountain Equipment – Wet and dry kit bag 70L – £105
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/mountain-equipment-wet-dry-kit-bag-70l
This is a fantastic option that is currently on sale at one of my favourite shops! This bag is a great allrounder, it is hardwearing and robust and is equally at home on safari as it is on a climbing trip in Scotland or a break in Europe. Its a good size, at 70L it is easy enough to carry and yet big enough for most durations of trips.
Eagle Creek – Cargo hauler duffle 60L – £80
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Luggage/Eagle-Creek-Cargo-Hauler-Duffel-60L
This is the perfect bag for those that like to travel a little lighter, its a nice size for use in many situations, however, for those that are after a larger bag there is a 90L version as well. Again this is a rugged outdoors style bag and has detachable rusack straps which are useful for travelling between terminals or train platforms and the like but should not be relied upon for being comfortable for long periods.
Rufiji Safari Explorer – 70L – £175
www.thesafaristore.com/products/the-rufiji-safari-explorer
For those who are after classic safari style that is hard but fashionable then this is a great option. I like that this bag looks equally good on safari and on a luxury holiday in the Mediterranean. It is more expensive than the others but there is no doubt that this is a stylish option for those that want to look the part.