Dawn game drives are genuinely cold. Afternoons on the same day can hit 30°C. Layers beat any single clever garment: a long-sleeve shirt, a fleece and a windproof shell cover almost every scenario.
Choose a soft duffel over a hard-shell case. Light aircraft transfers cap luggage around 15kg and rigid cases often will not fit the hold.
Neutral colours help — olive, khaki, stone. Avoid dark blue and black in tsetse country, and skip camouflage prints, which are restricted in parts of East Africa.
Bring binoculars. One decent pair per two people transforms a distant shape into a leopard. It is the single highest-return item in any bag.
