What should you pack for your Etosha safari?

Of course everyone has their favourite items and own priorities as to what they need/like to wear but here is some guidance and ideas that will make your trip more comfortable.

The general principle is layers and comfortable loose fitting items.

Winter wear
It is never going to get really cold in Etosha (May to August being the coldest months where night-time lows can get down to 10 °C (50 °F) but daytime is still 20 °C (67.3°F) or more but driving along on a winter morning with the window down can feel quite cold, so for the winter months (May to October) you may need a jacket for early morning and evenings.

Remember you are going to be sitting in a car with the sun baking down on you so even in wither it will feel hot during the day so layers are the way to go, a t-shirt/close fitting top, then long sleeve loose shirt, then a jacket over the top is more than enough for the cold start and as the day heats up peel off a layer to keep cool. Most people are comfortable in shorts or skirt all year but those trousers that have zip off legs to convert into shorts also work.

Summer Wear
Summer (November to April), it gets toasty hot, especially sat inside a car under the blazing sun and it doesn't really get that cool at night so cool loose fitting cotton clothing is recommended, do remember though that you will often have the sun shining through the windows onto exposed skin so remember sun block (arms and legs are easy to forget and sun burnt knees are very uncomfortable!).

Footwear
This is a personal choice but all year you won't need winter style boots or heavy shoes, many people wear open sandals comfortably all year in Etosha, two things to be careful with:
First for the vehicle driver make sure you wear footwear that holds to your foot well (not flip flops) as you do not want it slipping off and getting stuck among the pedals!
Secondly for walking around the resorts (especially camping areas but all over the resorts), there are a lot of insects including several that can bite and even the occasional snake so a more solid footwear is recommended for wandering around the resorts.

Other items

Hat with a brim to shade your eyes (and neck) from the sun can be a very helpful item.
Sunglasses (with good polarised lenses) are also pretty much essential for Namibia as the sun can get very intense and staring over the open, hot, sun baked landscape with the shimmering heat looking for animals tires eyes out quickly, also for the driver concentrating on the hot dusty roads through the heat they are essential.
Swimsuit and towel for those hot afternoons at the camps where a refreshing dip in the pool is delightful.
Binoculars 8 x 30 magnification is good for animal spotting but a higher magnification is better for birding.
Torch helpful for the occasions when the power is off and early morning car packing, essential if you are camping, remember batteries.
Camera you will certainly want to capture those memories but obviously everyone has different requirements in this area, for more info on photography and equipment see our Etosha Photography section.
Sunblock and lip balm Namibia is a hot, sunny dry country so a good sunblock is essential as is a lip balm, cracked lips are common for visitors to Namibia and very uncomfortable.
Insect repellent this one is a little controversial as personally I do not use repellent because you are essentially killing part of the eco-sphere you came to enjoy, most repellents despite the name don't repel but kill those insects, which is part of the food chain that goes all the way up to the birds and animals. Rather I recommend wearing long sleeves and light trousers in the evenings and sleeping under a mossie net.
Water bottle you will drink more than ever in Namibia as the dry hot climate saps you dry, when you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated, an insulated water bottle kept topped up with water is great to sip through the day to keep you healthy.
Rehydration salts following on from the water bottle some rehydration salts can give your body a pep after a few days sweating in the heat, helpful but nothing beats drinking lots of water.
Converter plug Namibia has round 2 pin and 3 pin sockets (same as South Africa) so remember to pack a converter for this, also remember lots of devices charge through USB so a good investment at the airport is a multi USB travel plug.
First aid kit a simple kit with plasters, headache tablets, tweezers, antiseptic etc.
Personal Medications & sanitary requirements any medication you need for personal use take sufficient for your trip, explain to your Dr you are travelling and ask if they will draft a letter explaining they are prescription essential drugs to avoid any confusion at borders! Sanitary pads are available in Namibia but your favourite brand may not be so pack what you may need with a few spares.
Insurance Travel nowadays seems to be more complicated than it used to be with cancellations and changes causing all sorts of issues, many of the businesses in Namibia will not refund if you have to change your dates even if it is out of your control, consider getting travel insurance.
Sense of Adventure to make sure you have the best possible time in Namibia!
Namibia is a well developed country but it is still remote and limited in its development in many areas, service may not always be perfect, problems will happen, accommodation may not live up to its expectations, you will get tired and hot, embrace everything as part of the adventure and make the most of each situation, enjoy the broad smiles and pride Namibians have in their beautiful country, many Namibians have not travelled far in their lives and don't understand international standards and 'needs' they respond well to kindness and patience not always so well to rudeness and shouting, wherever you are from come to Namibia with an open mind and marvel at this amazing place.