What to pack for your small group safari vacation

Light-weight, long-sleeved shirts and trousers are the best clothing combo for a safari tour. Not only will you protect your skin from sunburn, you'll also help prevent insect bites. Choose layers that are breathable and wick moisture away from your skin. UV-protected materials are also good. We recommend wearing neutral colours that blend in with the environment such as khaki, beige and green; though this isn't essential. Avoid white where possible, as this may spook the animals, while black and blue can attract tsetse flies. You'll also need some warm layers, such as a fleece or lightweight jacket, for when you head out at dawn in the hope of spotting spot black rhino in Mkhaya Game Reserve. Or when trying to get a glimpse of big cats roaming their territory as the sun sets over the vast saline desert of Namibia's Etosha National Park.

Bring a small bag or rucksack of about 20-30 litres in size to carry all of your essential items on day trips into the bush. Choose a pack that is lightweight yet big enough to carry a water bottle, camera, extra clothing, sun cream and some snacks. Just be careful not to overload yourself with too much as you'll have to carry everything that you need for the day.

Whatever time of day you are out on your safari drive, the sun can be incredibly strong in the vast open plains of Africa. Protect yourself from sunburn and heatstroke with plenty of high-factor suncream and a wide-brimmed hat. UV-filtered sunglasses will protect your eyes from bright sunlight, as well as dirt, while a lightweight bandana or tube scarf can be useful to protect your neck, as well as cover your mouth when it gets dusty.

Have your camera ready to capture the moment vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle gallop through the northern plains of Tanzania on our Serengeti Safari Tour, or the second a lion wakes from his slumber and yawns to show off his dazzling set of teeth on our Botswana Premium Safari. And don't forget your charger, extra batteries and lots of memory cards as they're likely to fill up quickly! We also recommend transporting your camera in a good quality case that will protect it from all of the dirt and dust and a waterproof cover to keep it dry during rain squalls. A lens hood will help to prevent lenses from getting scratched too.

Out in the remote wilderness of Africa, there is minimal light pollution so the skies are inky-black and the campsites very dark. Take a lightweight torch to help guide you back to your lodge after an evening of sharing stories around the campfire on our Kruger National Park Safari. Head torches are a great way to see whilst moving around camp hands-free.