South Africa's gorgeous Garden Route, world-class wine and spectacular wildlife await, and we've got you covered with the perfect packing list for your South Africa trip compiled.
Checklist travel documents
- Valid passport (check the validity and renew it if necessary)
- Copy of passport (save digitally or keep separately from the original)
- Visa on Arrival (not required with passport from Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
- Insurance certificate health insurance abroad (online)
- Vaccination card (check if you need to refresh your vaccinations)
- Flight ticket (printout or e-ticket)
- Travel credit card
- Cash
- List of emergency contacts and allergies, if applicable.
- Optional: International driving license (if you still want to rent a car)
- Optional: Citypass for Cape Town
Recommended trip
10 days South Africa round trip: Garden Route
Travel along the famous Garden Route on our South Africa round trip and experience the BIG 5 of wildlife in Addo National Park
Checklist Electronics
- Mobile phone with charger
- Cell Phone Case (Waterproof)
- Headphones
- Powerbank or Solar charger*
- Flashlight* (preferably USB rechargeable)
- Headlamp with red light* so as not to disturb animals (USB rechargeable is best).
- Adapter/Travel Plug Type M/Travel Adapters Worldwide*
- Binoculars* (10 to 15 times magnification)
- Optional: Camera with charger and good zoom lens
- Optional: Laptop/tablet/e-reader/ Kindle with charger
- Optional: Multiple socket
Checklist toilet bag
- Toothbrush*
- Toothpaste*
- Dental floss*
- Deodorant*
- Hairbrush*
- Sunscreen*
- Shaver*
- Shower gel/soap*
- Shampoo*/Conditioner
- Nail care
- Face lotion
- Lip protection with UV protection
- Tweezers*
- Hygiene articles
- Optional: Apres Sun
- Optional: Make-Up
Checklist first-aid kit
- Hand sanitizer or wipes
- Mosquito repellent (e.g. Nobite, Autan, with ingredient DEET or similar)
- Insect pitch healer (e.g. Bite away)
- Painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin)
- Diarrhoea medication (e.g. Imodium Akut, charcoal tablets)
- Wound cream (e.g. Bepanthen)
- Plasters and blister plasters
- Water filter or iodine disinfection tablets
- Tick card/-tweezers
- If necessary, tablets against travel sickness
Personal comfort checklist
- Backpack (make sure your hand luggage measures 55x40x20cm for the plane)
- Sunglasses
- Earplugs*/earplugs
- Books/magazines (e.g. "The long road to freedom" Nelson Mandela)
- Headgear/Cap
- Sleep mask*
- Microfiber towel*
- Travel pillow* (for flight and longer trips)
- Optional: Mosquito net*
Checklist Environmentally Conscious Travel
With these conscious little things you can actively help to avoid plastic and unnecessary dirt in South Africa and simply make your positive contribution to environmental protection:
- Reusable Silicone tubes* Filled with your shampoo, conditioner, shower gel.
- Reusable bottle (preferably stainless steel for hot and cold)
- Optional: Reusable cup (preferably stainless steel for hot and cold)
- Optional: Stainless steel outdoor cutlery (knife, spoon, fork, chopsticks, straw)
Clothing and shoes checklist
- Underwear
- Thin socks
- Rain jacket
- T-shirts and sweaters
- Long sleeved airy shirts (mosquito proof if possible)
- Longsleeves (against the sun)
- Long, light pants (preferably mosquito-proof)
- Shorts
- Swimwear
- Beach dress/beach outfit
- Scarf/multi-functional scarf
- Sneakers
- Sandals/Flip Flops
- Umbrella
- Optional: Hiking boots
Clothes for outside at night and early in the morning:
- Warm socks
- Long sleepwear/pajamas
- Warm sweaters
- Hat & gloves (also useful for morning game drive)
In principle, you can travel to South Africa throughout the year, but to get information about the weather in South Africa, we recommend you to read the article on the Best time to travel South Africa.
Recommended vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations for direct entry from Germany, Austria or Switzerland. However, we strongly recommend a Rabies vaccination - especially in contact with wild animals.
For your trip to South Africa a vaccination or immunity against: Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis and Yellow Fever, for long term stays or special exposure also against Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies and Meningococcal Disease (ACWY).
Upon entry from a yellow fever area or stay of more than twelve hours in transit of a yellow fever area, all persons one year of age and older must have a Yellow fever vaccination prove.
Make sure that your standard immunizations are according to the vaccination calendar of the Robert-Koch-Institute are up to date.
Conclusion
Basically, less is more. The important documents such as the passport must not be missing, of course. On a round trip with many stops it is simply easier to travel with light luggage. In addition, with a light suitcase on the outbound flight, there is more space for travel souvenirs during the trip, with which you can delight your loved ones at home. Don't forget to pack a comfortable backpack for hiking in the national park.
South Africa has many surprises in store, especially if you are off the beaten path of mass tourism. Check out the unique South Africa Adventures by TripLegend on.
Download packing list PDF
Here you can download the South Africa Packing List conveniently download as a PDF file and prepare yourself optimally for your adventure.