You’ve got your khakis, your hat and your sunscreen ready to go – but are you wondering what safari gadgets deserve a spot in your suitcase too? Here are a few of our top suggestions on which gadgets to take with you to East Africa.
Wondering what to wear on safari? Check out our advice on what to pack for your East African safari trip.
When planning a trip to East Africa, luggage weight restrictions can leave you scratching your head and wondering which items to leave behind, and which gadgets will be useful for your trip. Here are the gadgets we think you’ll need on your East African safari.
1. Binoculars
A good pair of binoculars is essential for amazing wildlife viewing experiences when the animals are a little too far away to appreciate fully. It’s also a good idea to have one pair per person in your group, sharing may become a little tiresome and you might miss an opportunity to spot a lion or leopard before it disappears into the distance.
2. Smartphone
Keep your mobile phone handy to snap quick pics and take notes. If you don’t have a camera, there are a couple of accessories you can use to pump up your phone’s performance.
3. Smartphone Accessories
Smartphone Lenses
If you don’t have a camera, you can invest in a portable zoom lens kit for your phone – it won’t take up much space in your luggage and it is light enough to carry around. These kits make it easier to take high-quality photos of wildlife in the distance. Macro, wide and telephoto lenses are also available for most smartphone models, so you can easily upgrade your phone’s camera capabilities.
Chest Strap
Make your own GoPro with a mobile phone chest strap, which helps you use your phone to achieve that same action-packed point-of-view perspective.
4. DLSR Camera
Of course, you’ll want to capture those priceless safari moments and sometimes your smartphone camera just won’t do them justice. Be sure to pack a digital SLR camera and a basic lens kit.
5. Action Camera
A mounted camera like a GoPro or DJI Osmo Action will capture your safari adventures from a first-person perspective. A great option for walking safaris, hot-air balloon rides and game drives alike. GoPro also has a useful app that allows you to download your content directly to your phone, tablet or laptop.
6. Camera Accessories
Changeable Lenses
Different lenses will help you capture different types of shots. For example, you might want to get a long lens of up to 300 millimetres to get close-up footage of wildlife in the distance.
Mini Tripod
If you’ve ever been on a game drive before, you probably know how bumpy the roads can get at times. Tripods are generally bulky items and not something you’d think to pack with you, but a mini option like a SwitchPod can be easily bundled up to save space. This tiny tripod can be handheld or flipped out so that there are three legs for you to stand your camera on.
Durable Memory Cards
If you bring along spare memory cards for your camera, be sure to choose waterproof and dust-proof options.
Beanbags
Bean bags stabilise your camera to keep it steady when you’re shooting pics from your safari vehicle, or positioning your camera at an awkward angle. Having a couple of beanbags handy will help you get that perfect prize-winning shot.
Did you know? Asilia’s photographic safari vehicles come equipped with beanbags, foam camera support props and battery charging ports, as well as seats that rotate 360 degrees.
7. Sunglasses with Video Function
You’ll naturally be packing a pair of sunglasses for your safari anyway, so why not invest in a pair with a fabulous added extra? Smart glasses with built-in video function act as a hands-free camera, allowing you to capture high-definition photos and videos from your perspective.
8. Solar Rechargeable Pop-Up Lantern
A solar lantern with a collapsible design will fit easily in your luggage without taking up much space. These eco-friendly lanterns are handy to have around when you’re on a fly camping adventure, or moving around your camp after dark.
9. Cooling Towel
Get relief from the African heat with a special cooling towel. All you have to do is wet the towel with water and wring it out – the fabric is designed to cool down significantly when wet and stay cool for hours. Wear a cooling towel around your neck or over your head for lasting refreshment.
10. Water Filtration Bottle or Straw
If you’re out on a walking safari or fly camping expedition, these nifty water-safety gadgets are essential. A bottle or straw fitted with a special filter will remove dirt and bacteria from your drinking water.
11. Mini Speaker
If you want to enjoy a little soft music or catch up on your favourite podcast at your camp in the evenings, bring along a portable mini speaker that’s compatible with your smartphone.
12. Apps
Before you leave, load a few useful apps onto your smartphone. From interactive bird guides to spoor identification and star maps, there’s a variety of useful safari apps available to help enrich your safari experience.
Can I Bring a Drone on Safari?
The short answer is no. Drones are banned in national parks, and you need to apply for special drone licenses in many other areas, so it’s not worth bringing your drone along with you. If you want to experience a bird’s-eye view of the landscape firsthand, you can book a hot-air balloon safari experience, which gives you a better vantage point than you’d ever get with a drone!
Don’t Forget These Extras
- Spare batteries
- Any necessary chargers and cables
- Lens cleaning kit
- Dust covers for your gadgets
- Backup hard drive for your images
- AC plug point converter to the 3-prong square for use in East Africa
- LED torch or headlamp (note, we do provide torches in our rooms however they are not LED)
- If you’re planning on enjoying a walking safari, why not pack in your FitBit? You’ll be adding some extra steps to your daily count while exploring the bush and learning about Africa’s wild places.
When it comes to tech on safari, less is often more – only pack the travel gadgets that will improve your experience, and leave the rest behind.
Book an East African safari with Asilia and enjoy an abundance of bush activities, from classic game drives to night drives, walking safaris and fly camping. Take advantage of Asilia’s special offers and experience the treasures of East Africa for less.
