The most practical items to pack and bring with you

Clothing

Most of the year Zimbabwe is a warm destination and most people make the mistake of taking along too much clothing. Take along comfortable, casual and semi-casual, "wash and wear" clothes. Bright colours and white are not suitable for game viewing and avoid camouflage clothing which is banned for civilians in Zimbabwe. Please dress appropriately when crossing borders, no bare feet, bare chests, bikini tops, or when visiting markets, villages or towns.

• light cotton tops and cotton trousers / shorts in summer, hat / cap and swimming costume.
• Long-sleeved blouses / shirts for game drives / boat cruises to protect you from mosquitoes and the sun.
• Safari trousers, jeans or casual pants for evenings and cooler days with a fleece or sweater for those cool winter evening and mornings.
• A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen with a high factor sunscreen for your face, neck, feet and hands.
• Comfortable walking shoes, sandals or rafters for white water rafting or canoeing.
• Extra camera memory cards and batteries as these are difficult to find in Zimbabwe and expensive.

Luggage

Space in safari vehicle is limited and luggage is often restricted to:

• A bag not exceeding 12 kilograms and 65cm x 46cm. Personal effects are often better in an inexpensive barrel / sausage bag available from discount stores, hypermarkets and sports shops.
• A sleeping bag & small pillow.
• A small airline type handbag, or daypack containing money, travel documents and camera equipment which is kept inside the vehicle at the passenger's feet.
• A waist pouch or money belt.
• Take old or inexpensive luggage, remember suitcases are unsuitable for most safaris and a small / medium-sized rucksack is preferable.
• Excess luggage will often not be loaded and need to be stored at the passengers’ cost.
• Ø  To avoid losing luggage in transit take medication and toiletries and valuables with you on the plane.

Personal effects

The following are recommended:

A one litre water bottle, a torch + batteries, a roll toilet paper, bath soap, toothbrush and paste, shampoo & hair conditioner, deodorant, comb / hair brush, nail brush, razor & blades, suntan lotion/ sunblock, lip balm, hand cream & moisturising cream, insect repellent, wet tissues, plastic bag to pack wet / dirty clothing, sunglasses, spectacles if worn as some people have trouble with contact lenses & dust, a pen for immigration formalities, note book, a multi-purpose knife packed in your main luggage.

Personal medical kit

Suggestions include:
Plasters, aspirins / paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea pills and laxatives, throat lozenges, antiseptic cream, insect bite cream, eye drops, anti-malaria tablets (refer MALARIA section) any other prescription medicines & toiletries you regularly use

Field Guides

Take one of the many Birds of Southern Africa and a Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa available in most good bookshops or online.

Camera and Binoculars

For photography of birds and animals a 300mm telephoto lens is recommended. Remember not take photographs of border posts or military / police posts as this can lead to an unpleasant incident and even arrest. In most parts of Africa it is considered respectful to first ask permission from local people before taking a photograph. A pair 8x30mm of binoculars is really essential to benefit fully from the safari.