So you’ve decided to take your backpacking adventures to the next level and set your sights on South Africa. Great choice—we’re genuinely excited for you!
South Africa offers a mix of Western comforts, like in the Western Cape, and more remote, raw experiences that let you connect with the continent’s indigenous side. With such diverse regions, there’s plenty to see and do, but that also makes it tricky to know exactly what to pack.
Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together this South Africa survival guide for our fellow backpackers.
Read on and absorb it all. By the end, you’ll be a packing pro, ready to embrace the magical adventure that awaits.
Let’s dive in.
The Ultimate South Africa Packing List
After reading this, you’ll know exactly what to bring to South Africa and what to leave behind.
The Backpack and Luggage: Nomatic Travel Bag
Before you even start thinking about what to pack, you’ll need a reliable backpack to hold everything. For travelers of all types and destinations, our top recommendation is the Nomatic Travel Bag.
The Nomatic Travel Bag is designed to make backpacking the best experience possible. Its smart layout offers ample packing space in a convenient carry-on size. Built-in pockets provide room for all the essentials on your South Africa checklist—separate compartments for shoes, water bottle, electronics, underwear, and socks. There’s also an RFID-safe pocket and cord management pocket.
You can carry it as a backpack or a duffel, and the innovative strap system plus detachable sternum strap add comfort for your back. The black, waterproof material is sleek, modern, durable, and tough. That’s why most of our staff swear by this backpack.
A Suitcase: Nomatic Carry-On Pro
Not a backpack person? That’s fine. Our friends at Nomatic offer a great alternative with the Nomatic Carry-On Pro.
This suitcase is ultra-durable, sleek, and includes a handy tech compartment for your laptop and other electronics. Nomatic has long been an industry leader in travel gear, and that reputation shines through in the quality, design, and functionality of the Carry-On Pro.
The Camera: GoPro Hero9 Black
Most of us now have smartphones with impressive cameras.
But if you’re an aspiring photographer wanting to take photos and videos beyond iPhone selfies, I recommend an action camera like the GoPro Hero9 Black.
It delivers pro-quality video and offers various angle options and shooting speeds for photos, including a selfie mode.
Think of a camera purchase like this as a long-term investment that will capture epic shots well beyond your time exploring here. If you’re looking for something cheaper specifically for video, check out these epic GoPro alternatives.
What To Pack For South Africa: Personal Gear
South Africa’s weather varies greatly depending on the region and time of year. It’s not always hot and humid—it can get chilly and wet. Also, remember that South Africa’s real magic lies outdoors, so bring proper gear to experience it.
Here are our picks for what to bring and wear in South Africa.
I am a big fan of the Lowa Renegade boots.
Good Walking Boots: Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots
If you’re going on safari, trekking, or heading into the mountains, proper hiking boots are an absolute must. If you only pack one thing for South Africa, make it a pair of good boots.
These are our pick from Lowa because they’re comfortable, durable, and well-priced. They also look decent—if you need boots for your South Africa trip, get these in your bag.
I appreciate the trim fit of the Beta SL Hybrid…
Good Rain Jacket – Arcteryx Beta AR
Did you know that over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered in water? And you know how that water got there? Yep, because it tends to rain here on planet earth quite a lot! South Africa does get heavy rain (because somebody blessed the rains down in Africa perhaps?), and you do NOT want to be caught out in the bush without a jacket.
There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong gear. Don’t let a bit (or a lot) of rain ruin your trip—make sure you’re ready with top-notch rain gear.
This is our pick from the many rain jackets we’ve tried. It’s reliable and stylish, looking good whether you’re in the mountains or city bars.
Swimwear
You’ll have plenty of chances to get in the water in South Africa, so bring good swimwear. From beautiful beaches to blue lagoons to hotel pools, taking a dip is the perfect way to cool down when the heat gets too much.
Travel First Aid Kit
You don’t need to carry half a pharmacy, but a well-stocked first aid kit should be in every backpack. Stuff happens on the road, and it’s inconvenient and embarrassing when you can’t handle small situations like a cut finger or a hangover migraine.
You can tuck this lifesaver away in a forgotten pocket—and it’ll be there when you need it.
Tip: Add a few bits and pieces to the first aid kit after you purchase it, like extra headache medicine, any personal meds you need (like allergy pills), whatever you take to calm your stomach, and a few more plasters.
Osprey Daylite Plus
If you intend on doing any hiking or day trips, a good daypack is essential. They’re great for carrying water, hats, gloves, and packed sandwiches for lunch. They’re also great for the beach.
We love Osprey products, and this daypack is our personal pick. The Osprey Daylite Plus has a mesh-covered panel that keeps your back cool and fresh by minimizing contact with the pack and allowing air to flow between you and the bag.
Check out our full review of the Osprey Daylite Plus for more details.
Additionally, you can attach it to other Osprey packs if you want more capacity and carry just one piece of luggage… but reviews on this feature are mixed.
Travel Insurance From World Nomads
Planner/Travel Journal
Keeping a journal is one of the best things to do when traveling. The Drifter Leather Journal by Kodiak is our favorite; it works great for digital nomads and organized backpackers and can be used as a planner or a dream diary—whatever you want!
Stay on track with your goals and travels, and save those precious memories, especially the ones you don’t want to share online. This one is bound in beautiful leather, so it looks beautiful and will withstand life on the road.
Abaco Sunglasses
A reliable pair of sunglasses is undoubtedly one of your South Africa packing essentials. Our favorites are Abaco Polarized Sunglasses because they deliver on quality and style.
They’re built tough with triple-layer scratch-resistant lenses and trademarked Adventure-proof Frame Material. You can also customize them with your choice of lens and frame colors to reflect your own style.
Suncream: Thinksport Safe SPF 50+
By now, all of us are as pasty as the driven snow from sheltering in place for the last six months. Am I right? This means we’re even more vulnerable than usual to the sun’s fierce rays. Packing sunscreen for South Africa may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be amazed how many sun-burned cocktail-toting people you see wandering around.
Thinksport Safe SPF 50+ sunscreen gives folks strong sun protection in a non-oily formula that’s free of gluten, paraben, phthalates, and biologically harmful chemicals.
Money Belt By Pacsafe
There’s no point denying that South Africa can be a dangerous country, and tourists are sometimes targeted by thieves.
Therefore, it’s always a good idea to use a money belt to hide your cash just in case something goes wrong.
Waterbottle – Hydroflask Vacuum Bottle 32 oz.
Packing a reusable water bottle is probably the best thing you can personally do to combat single-use plastic bottle use while traveling. There’s simply zero need to buy plastic water bottles. When tap water isn’t safe to drink, you can buy large water bottles and refill this one each morning—it’s far more ecological than buying small, single-use ones. You’re bound to work up a thirst doing any number of the great activities in South Africa, so it’s the perfect solution.
We love the Hydroflask Vacuum Bottle for its quality and because it keeps cold water cold for many hours and vice versa for hot beverages. This bottle is ideal not just for your South Africa trip but for daily use. Please don’t be that person buying plastic water bottles. We’re all judging you…especially Mother Earth.
If you go with the Hydroflask, you’ll probably never need to buy another water bottle again.
Hanging Toiletry Bag
Another backpacker/traveler favorite for staying organized is a hanging toiletry bag. It’s extremely helpful to have all your accessories neatly gathered in one bag that you can hang for easy access, especially when counter space isn’t plentiful or even available. A well-organized bag is worth having whether you’re tree camping or using a hook on the wall—it helps to have quick access to all your stuff.
Historically, I’ve been the guy who has his stuff all over the bathroom, so getting one of these really changed the toiletry game for me. Plus, they’re not too expensive. A no-brainer essential when packing for South Africa.
The Basic Stuff To Pack For South Africa
On top of the essential items listed above, here’s an additional suggested checklist of what to pack for a South Africa trip:
- 1-2 pairs of comfortable pants/jeans
- 1-2 pairs of shorts (summer/late spring)
- A few pairs of socks
- (Sexy) underwear x 2/3
- Ladies: a few dresses, pants, outfits, or desired lady apparel for a night on the town. Whatever makes you comfy but NO flashy jewellery.
- Dudes: A few collared shirts or something half-way decent for a night on the town. Whatever makes you comfy!
- Smartphone with a good camera for photos if you’re not bringing an actual camera
- Portable power bank for charging your phone on the go
- Phone charger
- Amazon Kindle for reading by the pool
- Copy of your passport just in case
- Cash (not too much, there are ATM machines everywhere)
- Packable Towel
Final Thoughts on What to Pack for South Africa
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of your South Africa survival guide! Consider yourself fully briefed on everything you need to know about what to pack for South Africa. Remember to focus on all the information we provided: the top-23 needs packing list, tips on what to wear in South Africa and how to pack for the seasons you choose to travel; there are also our packing suggestions specific for women and men, and what NOT to pack for South Africa.
Now it’s time to breathe, relax, and focus on packing smart—remembering that less is more. And don’t worry because everything you need can be found in South Africa, ready to greet you with open arms.
Happy trails!
