You should think about the limitations for any light aircraft flights before considering your overseas flights while preparing your bags for your safari. Checking whether you are flying internally should come first; if so, consult our useful advice below to find the luggage allowance.

Flights to Africa from overseas

Usually, your international flights to Africa will be with a bigger international carrier as Virgin Atlantic, Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, British Airways. Though the baggage policies are generally specific to the airline, most airlines will let you have one carry-on bag and one bag in the hold included within the ticket cost. Luggage weight limits or checked bag policies could exist.

For instance, British Airways’ baggage allowance for Economy passengers is one x checked bag with a maximum 23kg and one x cabin bag. You will have to pay extra for more checked bags; if you are intending to travel in Business, an extra checked bag is included in the cost; two more bags for First Class.

On the other hand, Qatar Airways has varied weight limits per cabin class and route. Qatar’s Economy Class permits 2 x 23kg checked bags for flights to/from Africa; Business and First Class permit 2 x 32kg checked bags.

Small and internal flights in Africa

Your itinerary will indicate soft bags are required since storage capacity on light aircraft flights is limited and so luggage should be soft (e.g. a duffel bag) so they can be squashed and pushed into a small hold on the aircraft.

Though one flat side is typically permitted, your bag should have no spines, frames, or a stiff structure. Bags should also either have extremely tiny wheels or none at all, please.

The airplane lacks under-seat storage or overhead lockers for stowing bags, thus your main bag will be in the hold and you will be holding your carry-on bags (i.e. hand baggage) on your lap for the whole journey.

A video tutorial on luggage restrictions for African travel

Here we’ve listed the airlines by destination that you might have put in your Adventure in the wild safaris schedule. Have a look before you start preparing for your safari… Unsure about what to bring on your African safari trip? Check out our packing list here!

Mack Air of Botswana allows 20kg (44lbs) per passenger including hand luggage in soft bags (i.e. duffel bag). Note one flat/hard side is permitted but most of the bag needs to be soft. Maximum size 27.5″ (70cm) x 12″ (30cm) x 13″ (33cm).

Major Blue – weight allowance of 20kg (44lbs) per person including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum size 24 inches (60cm) x 12 inches (30cm) x 10 inches (25cm).

Moremi Air – weight allowance of 20kg (44lbs) per passenger including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum size 10 inches (25cm) x 12 inches (30cm) x 24 inches.

Weight limit of 20kg (44lbs) per person including hand luggage; soft bags—i.e. duffel bags—must be used. Maximum size 24 inches (60 cm) x 12 inches (30 cm) x 10 inches (25 cm).

Wilderness Air – weight allowance of 20kg (44lbs) per person including hand luggage; must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bag). One flat/hard side is acceptable but most of the bag has to be soft. Maximum size 27.5″ (70cm) x 12″ (30cm) x 13″ (33cm).

Kenya Safarilink – weight allowance of 15kg (33lbs) per person including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bag). Maximum size 27″ (70cm) x 23″ (60cm) x 13″ (35cm).

Air Kenya – weight limit of 15kg (33lbs) per passenger including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum measurements 24 inches (60 cm) x 18 inches (45 cm) x 13 inches (33 cm).

Mombasa Air – weight allowance of 15kg (33lbs) per passenger including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum size 24 inches (60cm) x 18 inches (45cm) x 13 inches (33cm).

Charter flights on Tropic Air have a weight limit of 90kg total (not per person), including hand luggage, in soft bags only. But keep in mind that other airlines on your itinerary might only allow 15kg per person, hence this should be followed. The maximum bag size is 35 inches (90cm) x 25 inches (65cm) x 13 inches (35cm).

Governors’ Aviation – weight allowance of 15kg (33lbs) per person including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bag). Maximum size 24″ (60cm) x 18″ (45cm) x 13″ (33cm).

Malawi Ulendo Airlink – weight limit of 15kg (33lbs) per passenger including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum dimensions 25cm (10in) wide, 30cm (12in) high, and 60cm (24in) long.

Helicopter transfers in Mozambique must be in soft baggage (i.e. duffel bag) and weight allowance is 15kg (33lbs) per person including hand luggage. 25cm (10in) wide, 30cm (12in) high, and 60cm (24in) long are the maximum dimensions. More information on helicopter transfers can be found here.

Namibia Wilderness Air – weight allowance of 20 kg (44 lbs) per person including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bag). Maximum size 24 inches (60 cm) x 12 inches (30 cm) x 10 inches (25 cm).

Scenic Air – weight allowance of 20 kg (44 lbs) per person including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum size 24 inches (60cm) x 12 inches (30cm) x 10 inches (25cm).

Rwanda Helicopter Transfers – 15kg per including hand luggage. Just soft bags.

Seychelles

Including hand luggage, flights to and from any private island have a weight limit of 15kg (33lbs) per passenger and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum dimensions 25cm (10in) wide, 30cm (12in) high, and 62cm (24in) long.

Weight limit of 20 kilograms (44 lbs) per passenger + 5kg (11lbs) extra hand luggage for South Africa Federal Air. All luggage has to be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bag); one flat/hard side is permitted but most of the bag has to be soft. Maximum size 24″ (60cm) x 12″ (30cm) x 16″ (40cm).

Fireblade Aviation – weight allowance of 20 kilograms (44 lbs) per person including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum size 24″ (60cm) x 12″ (30cm) x 14″ (35cm).

Odie Air – weight limit of 20 kg (44 lbs) per passenger including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum measurements 24 inches (60 cm) x 12 inches (30 cm) x 16 inches (40 cm).

Angel Gabriel: soft baggage (i.e. duffel bag) must be used; weight limit is 15 kgs (33lbs) per person plus 6kg (13lbs) for hand luggage. Maximum measurements 14 inches (35cm) x 12 inches (30cm) x 24 inches (60cm).

When flying between Nelspruit/Skukuza and Sabi Sands/Ngala/Phinda lodges, Airlink allows 20kg (44lbs) of weight + 7kg (15lbs) of hand luggage in soft bags—i.e., duffel bags. Maximum dimensions 35″ (90cm) x 28″ (72cm) x 17″ (45cm).

Johannesburg Airport baggage policies – please be advised that starting 25 March 2019, Johannesburg Airport will not accept ‘irregularly shaped bags with long hanging straps’. Every bag must also include at least one flat surface. Soft-sided bags with one flat surface are acceptable; nevertheless, these should not have extensive hanging straps.

Weight limit of 15kg (33lbs) per person including hand luggage; must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum dimensions 30″ (76cm) x 19″ (48cm) x 11″ (29cm).

Air Excel – weight limit of 15kg (33lbs) per passenger including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffle bag). Maximum size 24 inches (60 cm) x 12 inches (30 cm) x 10 inches (25 cm).

Weight limit of 15kg (33lbs) per person including hand luggage; soft bags—i.e. duffel bags—must be used. Maximum size 27 inches (68cm) x 10 inches (25cm).

Weight limit of 20kg (44lbs) per person including hand luggage; soft bags—i.e. duffel bags—must be used. Maximum measurements 24 inches (60 cm) x 18 inches (45 cm) x 13 inches (33 cm).

Uganda Aerolink – weight allowance of 15kg (33lbs) per passenger including hand luggage and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bag). Maximum measurements 24 inches (60cm) by 18 inches (45cm) by 13 inches (33cm).

In soft baggage only (i.e. duffel bag), Proflight allows 23kg/50lbs per person + 5kg/11lbs for hand luggage. Your bag size cannot be more than 61 inches (157 cms); sum your luggage’s length, width, and height to get its entire size.

In soft bags—i.e. duffel bag—SkyTrail allows 15kg (33lbs) per passenger + 5kg/11lbs for hand luggage. Maximum size 25cm (10in) wide, 30cm (12in) high and 62cm (24in) long.

Zimbabwe Altair – weight limit of 15kg (33lbs) per passenger (plus 5kg/11lbs for hand luggage) and must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bags). Maximum size 24 inches (60 cm) x 12 inches (30 cm) x 14 inches (35 cm).

Safari Logistics – 20kg (44lbs) weight limit includes hand luggage; soft bags only (i.e. duffel bag). Maximum size 31 inches (80cm) x 12 inches (30cm).

Wilderness Air – weight allowance of 20kg (44lbs) per person including hand luggage; must be in soft bags (i.e. duffel bag). One flat/hard side is permitted but most of the bag has to be soft. Maximum measurements 13 inches (33cm) x 12 inches (30cm) x 27.5 inches (70cm).