Uganda Safari Packing List

If you’re planning a safari in Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is one of those places that will absolutely stay with you — but it also comes with a few surprises if you’ve never done safari travel before.


Between early morning game drives, dusty (or muddy!) roads, and long stretches out in the bush, what you pack really does shape your experience more than you think.


This Uganda safari packing list is exactly what we used for our family trip to Murchison Falls — based on real days on the road, getting a little lost, early wake-ups, and everything in between.


Before you head out on safari, it’s worth double-checking a few essentials: packing list, accommodations, and how you’ll stay connected once you arrive.


If you want a simple way to set up mobile internet data on your phone before your trip, Airalo eSIM is what we personally used and found helpful for years when we would visit Uganda before moving back here last year.

Get connected before you fly

What makes safari packing different here

Before we get into the list, it helps to know what you’re actually preparing for:

  • Very early morning game drives (often before sunrise)
  • Hot days, but surprisingly cold mornings
  • Dusty or muddy roads depending on season
  • Long stretches inside the park with no shops around
  • Wildlife sometimes right at your accommodation (which is amazing… but also a little wild 😄)

You’re not packing for a resort stay in this case — you’re packing for adventure.

Browse accommodations near
Murchison Falls National Park here

Safari Packing List for Murchison Falls

On safari, I’ve learned less is more.

  • Light, breathable tops
  • Long-sleeve shirt for layering (great for sun + bugs)
  • Comfortable pants or leggings
  • One warm layer (this is so important for early mornings)
  • Sleepwear you actually feel comfortable in (nights will cool down so keep that in mind)
  • Closed shoes for game drives
  • Sandals or flip flops for camp

Neutral colors work best (think earth tones rather than bright colors).

The Ugandan sun is no joke once you’re out in the open and its warmed up for the day:

  • Sun hat or cap
  • Sunglasses
  • High SPF sunscreen
  • Lip balm with SPF
  • Light scarf or buff (especially for dust on game drives)


Quick real-life lessons: I was seated on the left side of our safari vehicle with my arm resting on the edge the whole time… and I completely sunburned just that one arm. So when I say wear sunscreen properly — I really mean it 😄.


Strong sun protection makes a huge difference on safari game drives — here are the sun and travel essentials we use.


Also, I totally forgot to bring a jacket or light long sleeved layer for myself despite packing one for everyone else in my family. I was cold at the start of the early morning safari so I definitely had to borrow my husband’s sweatshirt.

These are the things you don’t think about… until you really need them:

  • Bug spray
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Any personal medication
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Wet wipes (especially if you’re travelling with kids)
  • Reusable water bottle
  • A small amount of toilet paper or tissues (important!) — there are places to stop along the safari route, but toilet paper isn’t always readily available
  • Phone or camera with good zoom
  • Power bank
  • Extra memory/storage if needed
  • Binoculars (honestly one of the best things you can bring)


One thing many travelers don’t think about until they arrive is mobile internet data for their phone when WiFi is not available. Safari travel often involves long drives, remote lodges, and limited WiFi.


Having a pre-installed eSIM can make navigation, communication, and travel coordination much easier.


We used Airalo during our travels back and forth to Uganda for years and appreciated being able to activate everything before departure instead of dealing with SIM cards on arrival.

If you’re traveling as a family, these make life easier:

  • Snacks for kids (game drives can feel long for them)
  • Small backpack to use for the day
  • Books, coloring, or quiet activities in case kids need some down time
  • Headphones / downloaded shows for down time
  • Travel documents such as safari itinerary details stored somewhere easy to access
  • Warm hoodie or sweater for evenings
  • Small torch or flashlight (some camps are very dark at night)
  • Comfortable “just hanging around camp” clothes
  • Extra socks (random but always useful)
  • Shower shoes (flip flops/plastic thong sandals) especially if using shared shower facilities

Want our simple family travel checklist?

If you’re planning your own trip (whether it’s a safari, a long-haul flight, or just a family getaway), I also put together a free 3-page Family Travel Checklist we actually use ourselves.

It’s not complicated or overwhelming — just a practical, real-life packing system that helps take the stress out of travel days with kids.

It includes:
✔ Travel essentials we never leave without
✔ Carry-on and safari-day packing basics
✔ Kids travel must-haves
✔ Simple reminders so nothing gets forgotten

Get the FREE Family Travel Checklist here

And if you join, you’ll also get occasional travel tips from our life in Uganda and beyond — plus you can unsubscribe anytime.

A really important safari tip (don’t skip this)

One thing I really recommend checking ahead of time:
Many safari operators and lodges in Uganda can actually arrange breakfast, packed lunches, snacks, and drinks (our safari guide gave us coffee – such a needed drink when we woke up before 5 am) for your game drives.


This was a game-changer for us — especially on early mornings when you’re leaving before sunrise and don’t want to think about food at all.


But here’s the key:
Make sure you ask about this in advance when you book.


Not all places include it automatically, and it’s one of those things that’s so much easier to organize and pay for before you arrive than trying to sort it out on the day.

A few things we learned the hard way

Just a couple of real-life notes from our Murchison trip:

  • Game drives start early early — think 5:00am wake-ups
  • Mornings are cold even if the day is hot
  • Roads inside the park can be rough (we even got stuck once!)
  • You likely won’t have access to shops once inside the park

So once you’re inside, you really want to feel prepared.

Final Thoughts

Safari packing isn’t about bringing more — it’s about bringing the right things so you can actually enjoy the experience without stress.

And honestly, Murchison Falls is one of those places where you want to be present — watching giraffes move through the bush, hearing hippos at night, and soaking in everything around you.

Before you head out on safari, it’s worth double-checking a few essentials: packing list, accommodations, and how you’ll stay connected once you arrive.

Booking your accommodation early makes safari planning much smoother and if you pack well, everything else just feels easier. Browse accommodations near Murchison Falls National Park and here’s a full list of safari essentials we personally recommend.

If you want a simple way to set up mobile internet data before your trip, Airalo eSIM is what we personally used and found helpful. Get connected before you fly.

Want to see what this trip actually looked like?

If you’d like a feel for the real experience behind this packing list — including getting a little lost on the way in, early morning game drives, wildlife right at our camp, and our visit to the falls themselves — you can read our full family travel story here:

Our Murchison Falls National Park Family Adventure

It’s a full breakdown of our time inside the park, what surprised us most, and what the experience was really like as a family.

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