Packing for a safari is kind of overwhelming, but packing for a safari for a toddler is even more so! You’ll want all the usual things, like onesies, matching outfits, dresses for little girls, diapers and wipes, etc., but specifically for a safari, you’ll need a few unexpected, or at least unusual things. Here are the top 7 things you’ll need to pack for a toddler on safari.
Wearable Carrier
This was absolutely essential. There are no seatbelts to speak of in a safari vehicle, and nowhere to put a car seat. Having my daughter literally attached to me allowed me to have my hands free so that I could hold on and keep us safe. Safari vehicles aren’t typically going fast around the savannah, but there will be a LOT of bouncing!
Aside from safety in the safari vehicle, this was also helpful in giving me peace of mind anywhere we went. I didn’t want her to get lost in the tall grass or carried off by a monkey! Yes, I did let her roam around a bit in safe places, but having the carrier was a sense of security for me, as much as for her.
Read on: Why I Chose to Take My Toddler on Safari (and would I do it again?)
Sunscreen
Baby skin is so soft and so sweet… And so prone to sunburns! Keep some sunscreen handy throughout your safari trip–for yourself and your toddler. Our safari company provided sunscreen in the safari vehicle, but I was glad to have some with us everywhere we went, not just on the savannah. Equatorial Kenya’s direct sunlight is no joke, even on an overcast day in the rainy season! My daughter also just likes to hold her travel size sunscreen. It’s her favorite toy on travel! My dermatologist recommends SPF 50, and both liquid and solid varieties work equally well.
More here: Travelers and Sunscreen: The Ultimate Guide
2-3 Hats
You might lose one, you might need one to cover their ears, and you might need one that provides full coverage. Just bring all the baby hats. Morning game drives can be a bit chilly, even in summer, so a light, knit hat is a good idea, but later in the day, your little one might need the shade on their face that a true sunhat can provide. Bonus points if at least one of your hats is made of UPF material!
Keep reading: Tips for Your Safari with the Safari Collection
Sleepers
This was the easiest way to keep my daughter covered, from neck to toes. Of course, she slept in them, too, but even during the day, this was the easiest way to keep the bugs and most of the sun rays off her little body. I found some incredibly cute ones with jungle animals on them, and some with safari animal prints as well! Of course, you should pack other cute outfits, but definitely throw in a couple of extra sleepers, for days you need full coverage.
Read next: How to Spend a Month Abroad with a Toddler (even as a single parent)
At Least One UPF Sleeper
Speaking of sleepers, be sure to pack at least one that’s made from the special UPF material. These are perfect for that inevitable outdoor nap, or just running around outside when you can’t keep up with how long it’s been since you last applied that sunscreen. I love our UPF sleepers, and we use them a lot, both on safari and at home, in all seasons!
Keep reading: What It’s Like Staying at Solio Lodge in Kenya
Shoes to Get Dirty
…Because, they will get dirty! My daughter loves to dance, walk around, run, and explore. I love to watch her do it all, but that means her clothes, socks, shoes, hat, everything gets pretty filthy. We left the Mary Janes at home, of course, and instead packed her sneakers and “sock shoes,” which I love and so does she. These were easy to clean and easy to pack, and I didn’t care if they got dirty.
Also this: 10 Things You Forgot to Pack for Your Safari
Bug Repellent Wipes
I’ve tried the stickers, the bracelets, and the spray. But the one thing I can reliably keep out of my daughter’s mouth and airways? Wipes. These are so convenient, and they’re my personal preference to use on my daughter and myself when traipsing through grass and buggy areas. I wipe one on the back of her neck, backs of her arms, and the backs of her legs, plus on her clothes and the carrier, if she’ll be in it. Unlike sunscreen, bug repellent only needs to emit the scent around a person, not cover every inch of their skin. The ones below are my favorite. An added bonus of the wipes? They breeze through TSA and don’t have to go in our liquids bag.
More here: How to Get Your Kenyan E-visa (with special info for single parents)
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