Clothing
- Neutral colours (khaki, olive, brown, grey). Avoid bright colours and white.
- Long-sleeved shirts (2 to 3). Sun protection and mosquito defence.
- Long trousers (2 pairs). Light, quick-dry fabric.
- Shorts (1 pair) for camp and town.
- Fleece or warm jacket. Nights are cold May to August.
- Rain jacket (green season only).
- Wide-brimmed hat.
- Closed-toe shoes or boots. Do not walk around camp in sandals.
- Sandals for camp showers.
- Warm socks and beanie for cold mornings.
Personal items
- Sunscreen SPF 50+
- Insect repellent (DEET-based)
- Headlamp (essential for camp at night)
- Binoculars (8x42 or 10x42 recommended)
- Camera and spare batteries
- Sunglasses
- Quick-dry towel
- Toilet paper (campsites sometimes run out)
- Hand sanitiser
- Wet wipes (you will not shower every day)
Medical and safety
- First aid kit (include: bandages, antiseptic, painkillers, antihistamines, rehydration salts, tweezers for thorns)
- Malaria prophylaxis (consult your doctor; northern Botswana is a malaria area)
- Prescription medications (carry more than you need)
- Satellite communicator (InReach, SPOT, or similar)
- Emergency contact numbers written on paper
Food and water
- Minimum 10 litres of drinking water per person per day
- Water purification tablets or filter (backup)
- Cooler box supplies: meat, cheese, eggs, vegetables for first 3 to 4 days
- Dry goods: pasta, rice, oats, tinned food, coffee, tea, long-life milk
- Snacks: biltong, nuts, dried fruit, energy bars
- Cooking oil, salt, pepper, spices
- Dishwashing liquid and sponge
- Bin bags (carry all waste out)
Electronics
- Car charger (12V) for phones and cameras
- Power bank (at least 20,000 mAh)
- Offline maps downloaded (Tracks4Africa is the gold standard for Botswana)
- GPS device or phone with offline mapping
Camp and kitchen kit to check
Specialist operators equip the vehicle thoroughly, but inventories vary and small gaps are common. Before you leave town, confirm you have these and supplement anything missing:
- Sharp knife and a chopping board (rental kits often include only a blunt one)
- Matches or a lighter, plus firelighters for damp mornings
- A good torch or lantern for the cooking area, separate from your headlamp
- Washing-up basin, biodegradable soap, and a tea towel
- Sealable containers to keep dry food safe from ants and baboons
- A roll of strong tape and some cable ties (they fix an astonishing range of problems)
- A cheap pair of work gloves for firewood, recovery, and tyre changes
Documents and money
- Passport valid at least six months beyond your trip, plus photocopies kept separately
- Driver's licence and an international driving permit
- Vehicle rental agreement and the cross-border letter if you will leave Botswana
- Travel insurance documents with the medical evacuation emergency number
- Campsite and park booking confirmations, printed (no signal to show them on a phone)
- Pula in cash for fuel, fees, and tips, in small denominations
- A credit card as backup, accepting that many bush areas take only cash
What changes by season
Dry winter (May to August): Pack seriously warm layers. Pre-dawn game drives in an open or moving vehicle can sit near freezing, and most visitors underestimate this badly. Add a beanie, gloves, thick socks, and a proper jacket on top of the standard list.
Hot dry (September to October): Lightweight, long, loose clothing and extra water capacity matter most. Nights are mild, so the warm layers can be minimal.
Green season (November to April): Add a light rain jacket, quick-dry everything, and strong insect repellent, as this is peak mosquito and malaria time. Expect afternoon storms and pack so a soaking does not leave you without dry clothes.
What not to bring
- Camouflage clothing: it is illegal for civilians in several neighbouring countries and frowned on in Botswana
- Bright white or vivid colours: they stand out to wildlife and show every speck of dust
- Hard-shell suitcases: soft duffel bags pack far better into a 4x4
- Hairdryers and mains appliances: there is no power in the parks
- Drones: they are banned in Botswana's national parks without special permits
- More clothing than fits one soft bag per person: you will wear the same few practical items on rotation
Packing the vehicle
How you load the 4x4 matters as much as what you bring. Keep daily items (water, snacks, camera, first aid, tyre gauge) within reach of the cab, not buried in the back. Store heavy items low and over the axles for stability in sand. Keep a strict system so everything returns to the same place; in camp, with no lighting and animals about, knowing exactly where the torch and keys live prevents real problems. Pack food in sealed boxes and never leave any of it out overnight.
Food shopping in Maun and Kasane
Both gateway towns have well-stocked supermarkets (Spar, Choppies, and others) where you do your main shop before heading into the parks. Buy all your fresh meat, produce, and perishables here and plan the first three to four days of meals around the fridge. Remember the veterinary checkpoints: fresh red meat is often confiscated at vet gates and borders, so buy it for the leg you are starting and do not stockpile it across a cordon. Stock plenty of dry goods, long-life milk, and water, because once you leave town there are no shops at all.
Travelling with children
Families should add sun hats and high-factor sunscreen in child sizes, any familiar snacks (bush shops do not exist), rehydration sachets, a well-stocked children's first aid element, and quiet activities for long transfer drives. Insist on closed shoes at all times in camp and brief children firmly on staying inside the vehicle or tent after dark.
The short version
If you forget this list, remember the essentials that are genuinely hard to replace in the bush: neutral warm and cool layers, closed shoes, a headlamp, high-factor sunscreen and strong insect repellent, binoculars, a satellite communicator, a comprehensive first aid kit with malaria prophylaxis, enough drinking water, printed bookings, and Pula in cash. Everything else can be improvised or bought in Maun or Kasane before you go.