Do you usually check-in or carry-on your luggage for safari?

LHR is allowing two bags, but not particularly big ones.

We always check our bags with clothes, while keeping valuables etc in our hand luggage.

We also co-pack, making sure that if one bag is lost we both have clothing. If both bags are lost, we smell.

I always attempt carry-on only and depending on many variables, sometimes I'm successful, sometimes not.

Wear binocs as accessories around your neck. I wear more than one pair of trousers, but I'm always cold, especially on overnight flights. Double trousers could make others too hot. I have a safari vest with lots of pockets that I've never worn while on the actual safari but I use it to increase my carry-on capacity.

If you tie shoes to the outside of a duffle or backpack, then then they are not taking up precious room inside.

Zipoffs save the need for long pants and shorts.

Good luck!

I always check and pack enough in our carry-ons to make it through the first few days. We co-pack as well. So far, our luggage has been delayed twice (once just one bag, the other time both bags). Both times the bags arrived the following day.

Usually, all camera equipment including memory sticks/chips etc etc., are in the carry on with one change of clothing ...... all the rest of the clothing checked-in!

I do the same as Patty and Hari, although unfortunately it doesn't occur often enough to count as "usually."

Someday...

Just to probably repeat, anything electronic looking do not check in. Carry on. Otherwise almost guaranteed to disappear at first African airport. This can also cause your associated luggage to get "lost" for a day or so while the item(s) are stolen. Been there, done that.

regards - tom

Carry-on only. I'm allowed 2 carry-on bags, and that's plenty to fit in clothes, cameras, binocs, and a CPAP machine w/rechargeable battery pack. One carry-on is a soft-side rollaboard, the other is a duffel that I loop over the handle of the rollie.

To save space, I bring lightest-weight clothing, pack socks & similar into my 2nd pair of shoes, and roll clothes tight rather than folding flat. I avoid LHR when flying to Africa for multiple reasons, including the carry-on issues.

Always bringing gifts/stuff for friends, so have no choice but to check the duffle. Only take carry-on and camera/s on board.

africa means either flying LH, emirates or SAA.
always checked in and only cam gear carry on.
never had any luggage delay - x my fingers it stays that way

I was interested in this because we ar4e going on safari in Africa for the first time this July. The suggestions about co-packing are great. But the answers to your actual question made me laugh. About half recommended carry-on only and half recommended both carry-on and checked. So I guess that leaves you back where you started.

I'm whispering, fingers and toes crossed. Fortunately, my bags arrive same time as I do, with everything intact wherever I've traveled.

Delay twice encountered was returnig home from OZ into IAD; bag somehow misplaced, but made the connecting onward flight to JFK. The other was from Paris, even with 3/hr connection from TLS, bag somehow didn't get on the connecting flight. Delivered to my apt, next day.

Only you can decide whether carryon or checkin.

We always carry-on no matter how long the trip is.

The advantages of carrying on are numerous:
1. No risk of lost or stolen luggage.
2. Don't have to wait for luggage so you get through customs & immigration quickly and are out of the airport in no time immediately upon arrival.
3. If the ability to take a different flight presents itself and you want to take it, you have that option because your luggage is already with you (e.g. taking a later flight in exchange for a voucher for a free ticket, or taking an earlier flight).
4. No need to co-pack.
5. No more "I wish I had X here with me but it's in my checked luggage."

Every year, when we unpack after the trip we make a list of everything we brought and either did not use at all or would not have missed if we hadn't brought it. Next time we leave those items at home.

Every year we bring less and every year we still have things to put on the list that we didn't need.

We each bring:
3-5 short sleeved shirts/T-shirts
2 long sleeved shirts
2-3 pairs of khaki/brown pants
2 pairs of shorts (or capris for me)
2 pairs of shoes/sandals
1-2 swimsuits
5 changes of socks & undies
sunglasses
eyeglasses
hat
camera w/ 75-300 lens & extra card
binocs
camera battery charger
rain jacket/windbreaker
quart ziploc with 3-oz liquids
antibacterial hand-wipes
toothbrush & razor
book
pen & paper
passport, credit card, cash, ATM card, driver's license
house key
cell phone/blackberry & chargers
iPod or other photo storage device

That's about it. One 22-inch soft-sided carryon and one backpack/camera bag that fits under the seat is all we ever need or want now. Less is more.

Lisa, I love your list. can you get thru 3 weeks this way? if so, I'm copying. You make no mention of toiletries. Do you pick up deoderant, hair goo, conditioner upon arrival?

I just saw in budget traveler magazine these shampoo/conditioner/hand soap sheets that come in those little packages like listerine strips. I plan to order them from packinglight.com where they're $2.95 each for 50 sheets. Pretty clever of them.

Yup, we get through 3 weeks with just that. We usually have a little laundry to do every 5 days. At high-end safari camps they do the laundry for you, but when we're in Kruger or someplace on a self-drive we do it ourselves, either at the laundry facility in camp or just in the sink in our room. You can find single-use packets of Woolite or Tide liquid or powder to bring if you want to.

I forgot to put bug spray on my list above. Instead of liquid bug spray I use the Off towelette wipes. We have also found some sunscreen wipes that we often use instead of lotion -- one less liquid to bring in the ziplock bag.

In terms of other toiletries, we both use solid deoderants, and you can find travel sizes of these too. DH brings a travel size of his shaving gel. We each bring our own shampoo and conditioner in 3-oz. bottles, or leftovers from hotel stays. On longer trips we have sometimes had to buy more shampoo & conditioner when we're there.

Also forgot to mention meds. We each bring Tylenol, Imodium tablets, Malarone, Cipro or another antibiotic, and any other prescriptions & vitamins we take regularly. Plus a couple of band-aids and some anti-itch stuff for bug bites.

Well, my packing trial run is this weekend...I'm still hoping for carry-on! It definitely helps that we've been on safari before, as I have a pretty good idea of what I need and what I don't. My packing "find" this time is solid shampoo from LUSH cosmetics. It smells soooo good and really lathers up nicely. Otherwise, my list is very similar to lisa's. I discovered one of the best parts of being on safari is not having to get dressed up/put make-up on/blow-dry my hair!

Carry on if you can do it. My problem has always been that my camera bag is heavier than my clothes bag and the airlines won't let me take both onboard (at least Swiss wouldn't.) I thought that cameras were exempt and counted as the "personal bag", but it was a "no go" with them. Also, I like to take my "micratool" and the knife blade means it can no longer be carried onboard.

With the volume and weight of camera equipment we are simply not able to travel with carry-on luggage only though we do juggle the bags so that everything of value is in our carry-on. On arrival, we juggle back so that only the camera gear we need when out for the day is in the camera bags and all the secondary stuff such as chargers and the like are in the main bags.

No matter how hard I try I can't get everything into a carry on. I usually take too many books wherever I go, and they are heavy. I couldn't get by with only 3 oz of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, or sunscreen. But, I usually go for three weeks. Even if I could carry more than 3 oz of each on, my main problem is hauling the luggage through the airports for gate changes. So, I only carry on what fits in my backpack (cameras, binocs, meds, important documents, glasses/contacts, and a change of clothes). Everything else gets checked.

Do you know if I can pack pepper spray in a cnecked bag? United and South Africa Airways are the carriers

Is it aerosol? I'm not sure you're even allowed (technically) to pack aerosols in your checked luggage.

Small travel-size cans of hair spray or deodorant (though should be the "pump"-type) can be packed in checked bags.

Though I never carry nor have need of pepper spray anywhere, if you feel you must and thus choose to take, absolutely in checked luggage.

I wouldn't be surprised if your bag is opened for inspection, this item might very well be removed. Personally, I can't think of any dark alleys or parking lots which might necessitate the use of this product... leave at home.

I feel no need for it myself, DF was wondering about it.

TSA allows 4 ozs of pepper spray in your checked baggage. But, I don't know what the rules are for international travel.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm