Botswana packing list for your road trip

On our comprehensive Botswana packing list you’ll find everything you need for your trip to Botswana. The packing list is perfect for you if you …

• You are travelling through Botswana with a 4x4 and roof tent.
• You are travelling as a self-driver with a hire car.
• You need recommendations for clothing, travel pharmacy, outdoor and technical equipment.

Clothing for your Botswana packing list

In Botswana it is summery and warm during the day but it can get quite chilly in the evenings and at night. Especially in the months from June to August it can cool down to 5 degrees at night. Here is our recommended clothing, divided into different categories:

Daytime clothing

Clothing in light and muted colours, such as beige and khaki, is particularly suitable for safaris. In these colours you won’t stand out as much and you blend in very well with your surroundings. Light clothing is also suitable in regions with a malaria risk, as these colours don’t attract mosquitoes as much as dark ones. Above all, though, comfort is most important for us. Clothing you feel good in and that fits comfortably is perfect!

You should pack:

• T-shirts or tank tops: Light and breathable materials are ideal. Muted colours for safari clothing.
• Shorts: Comfortable and practical for warm days.
• Socks and underwear
• Cap and sunglasses: Protection from the sun.

Our product recommendations for you:

• Light long-sleeved shirt, e.g. Patagonia Cap Cool (men) or Patagonia Cap Cool (women).

Evening and night-time clothing

For cooler evenings and nights you should pack warm clothing.

• Jogging bottoms: Comfortable for the evening in camp.
• Long trousers: For extra protection against the cold and mosquitoes.
• Sweatshirt / long-sleeved top: An extra layer for cool evenings.
• Thick fleece jumper: Keeps you warm on cold nights.
• Warm jacket: Essential on a cold morning.
• Woolly hat: Keeps your head warm when the temperature drops.

Our product recommendations for you:

• Long shirt for the evening, e.g. a Craghoppers (men) or Craghoppers (women) in a thick fabric.
• Long trousers for the evening, e.g. Fjallraven Karl (men) with detachable legs and for women the Fjallraven Karla (women) or leggings that you treat with insect repellent.

Shoes for Botswana

For choosing the right footwear in Botswana we’ve also put together some recommendations that are on our Botswana packing list.

• Sturdy shoes (e.g. hiking shoes or trainers): Sturdy shoes are practical during the day and in the evening to protect you from thorns and animals. Sturdy shoes can protect you from bites and stings, for example from scorpions.
• Flip-flops: Practical for use in camp or for showering.

Our product recommendations for you:

• Sturdy shoes: We use the LOWA Renegade GTX and are very happy with them. They are also available with a higher shaft if you prefer that.

Another packing tip: We’ve been using packing cubes for some time now. They are great for sorting your clothing and having everything quickly to hand. We roll up our clothes so they fit perfectly in the packing cubes.

Medication for your Botswana packing list

A well-stocked travel pharmacy is essential for a worry-free trip through Botswana. Here are our recommendations for the Botswana packing list:

• Charcoal tablets for nausea
• Imodium for diarrhoea
• Painkillers
• Malaria medication as prophylaxis
• NoBite for mosquito bites
• Nasal spray
• Fenistil
• Anti-allergy medicine
• Antiseptic ointment
• Plasters
• First aid kit
• Tweezers

Our product recommendation for you:

• NOBITE mosquito spray: As mosquito protection we use NOBITE skin spray for spraying on your skin and NOBITE clothing spray for your clothes.
• First aid kit: We went for an inexpensive but still complete kit. You can, for example, go for this one: First Aid Only first aid bag.

Hygiene items for your Botswana packing list

In Botswana the availability of toiletries can be limited, so it’s advisable to pack everything you need in advance. Here are the essential hygiene items for your Botswana packing list:

• Shower gel
• Shampoo
• Wilderness Wash (shower gel, shampoo, washing detergent, all in one)
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Hand cream
• Body lotion
• Sun cream
• Disinfectant
• Tissues
• Microfibre towel

Our product recommendation for you:

• Microfibre towels: We use Fit-Flip microfibre towels, which are very practical.
• Shower products: The Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash products are environmentally friendly and very economical as a concentrate. This Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash works well for hair and body.

Camping equipment for Botswana

Well-prepared camping equipment is crucial for a pleasant and safe journey through Botswana. In our article about camping in Botswana we described how we set up our camp in the evenings and which equipment was particularly helpful. Here are the most important pieces of equipment, divided into practical categories:

Lighting

• Head torch: Ideal for working hands-free in the dark.
• Torch: A powerful torch is a must.
• Camp lights: Additional light sources for the camp.
• Batteries and rechargeable batteries: Spare batteries for all torches.

Cooking and drinking

• Thermos flask: Keeps drinks hot or cold.
• Water bottles: Reusable bottles for water.
• Toaster: Simple toasting over the gas bottle.

Sleeping in a roof tent

• Sleeping bag: A warm sleeping bag is essential. A sleeping bag is included in the camping equipment from many vehicle hire companies.
• Pillow: For extra comfort when sleeping. An inflatable pillow saves space in your luggage.
• Pee bottle: For night-time emergencies.

Useful accessories

• Clothes line: For drying clothes and towels.
• Penknife: Versatile tool.
• Duct tape: For repairs and fixing things.
• 2–3 carabiners: Useful for hanging up items.

Technical equipment for your Botswana packing list

In this section you’ll find all the key information on camera equipment and power supply that shouldn’t be missing from your Botswana packing list.

Camera equipment for Botswana

• Camera
• Lenses
• Batteries and charger
• Memory cards
• Cleaning brush and air blower

Power supply

• Power bank
• Car USB charger: For charging devices in the car.
• Car 230 V charger: For larger electrical devices.
• Multi-socket adaptor: For charging several devices at the same time.
• Travel adaptor
• Charging cables for mobile phone and other devices

Wildlife watching in Botswana

On safaris in Botswana’s national parks, a good pair of binoculars is indispensable. Make sure they are light and bright so you can watch wildlife for long periods.

You should bring:

• Wildful Stories app for Botswana with hotspots for self-drive safaris
• bright binoculars
• Trail camera

Books and maps for your packing list

Offline maps and guidebooks are useful, as you won’t have mobile reception everywhere.

• Botswana travel guide including app (coming in autumn 2024)
• Map of Botswana
• Offline maps (Google Maps offline maps: navigation even without mobile reception)
• Travel journal / pad for notes
• Book or e-book reader

Important documents for Botswana

Make sure you have all the important documents with you. Here is our checklist:

• Passport
• Driving licence including international driving licence
• Credit cards
• Cash in EUR
• Important telephone numbers and addresses (overseas health insurance, card blocking service, contact person at home)
• Booking documents

Our tip: copy and scan your most important documents and save them in the cloud or send them to yourself by email.

We hope our Botswana packing list helps you with your travel preparations. Our Botswana route takes us through the Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park and along the Caprivi Strip back to Windhoek. We had the listed items with us for this trip. Can you think of anything we have forgotten? Feel free to share it with us in the comments!