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Flying to a Safari in Africa? How to Pack for a Small-Plane Flight
October 23, 2026
For a safari in Africa, pack one soft bag, with no frame and no telescopic handle, up to 15 or 20 kg per person including camera gear. That's the usual limit on the small planes that fly to safari camps, and it is much stricter than the 23 kg of your long-haul flight. The big suitcase stays in storage, and a small backpack comes with you into the cabin.
What's new: Ethiopian adds destinations in Africa
Ethiopian Airlines, which flies from Tel Aviv to Addis Ababa, keeps expanding its routes across the continent. According to a report in Maariv (September 23, 2026), these are the new destinations:
- Durban, South Africa: a daily flight from December 11.
- Nacala, Mozambique: three flights a week from October 27, with a stop in Blantyre, Malawi.
- Port Harcourt, Nigeria: four flights a week from December 1.
- Mauritius: the route has been extended until January 31, 2027, three times a week.
For baggage, economy class includes two 23 kg suitcases and a 7 kg carry-on. According to our airline table, updated in September 2026, the carry-on on Ethiopian is limited to 55×40×20 cm.
In other words, the long-haul flight is generous. The problem starts on the next flight.
Why the small plane changes your whole packing
Many camps are reached on domestic flights in light aircraft, where the cargo hold is small. Safari companies ask for a soft bag, like a duffel bag, so it can be squeezed and arranged in a tight hold. Yellow Zebra Safaris explains on its website that the bag must have no spine, no frame and no rigid structure. Sometimes one flat side is allowed, but most of the bag must be soft.
And the weight? It varies from country to country and from company to company:
| Country | Weight per person on light-aircraft flights |
|---|---|
| Kenya | 15 kg (20 kg for coastal destinations) |
| Tanzania | Between 15 and 23 kg, depending on the company |
| Botswana | 20 kg |
| South Africa | 20 kg |
| Zambia | Between 20 and 23 kg |
| Zimbabwe | 20 kg |
| Malawi | 15 kg plus a 3 kg carry-on |
| Mozambique and Rwanda | Between 15 and 20 kg |
One example from South Africa: FedAir, which flies to the Kruger area, allows 20 kg per person including camera gear, plus a 5 kg carry-on. The maximum bag size is 60×40×30 cm, and the company prefers a bag that is soft on all sides with one flat side. Before you book, check the numbers for the company you'll fly with, because they aren't uniform.
Which bag to take: soft, light and without wheels
A suitcase on wheels, even a fabric one, is built on a rigid base and a telescopic handle with rails. That is exactly the structure small planes don't want. What to look for:
- A fully soft bag that closes with a zipper and can be squeezed.
- Dimensions within the limit of the airline, with some room for bulging pockets.
- Low empty weight. Every gram of the bag comes out of the 15 or 20 kg for your gear.
- Water-repellent fabric, for the dust and rain that come with game drives.
- A shoulder strap, because there's nothing to roll on a dirt airstrip.
For example, our Mia Classic travel bag is soft, weighs 370 grams, holds 27 liters and measures 51×32×17 cm, which is within FedAir's maximum size. If you need more volume, there are more travel and sports bags in different sizes.
And what do you do with the big suitcase?
Most trips to Africa combine a long flight, a few nights in a city, and only then a safari. The common solution is two bags:
- A regular suitcase for the long flight and the city part, within your ticket's 23 kg.
- A soft bag packed in advance for the safari days, holding only what you need in the bush.
Before boarding the small plane, leave the suitcase in storage. FedAir, for example, offers free luggage storage in Johannesburg and at Kruger for passengers who booked a round trip. With other companies, ask your hotel, lodge or travel agent in advance. Not sure which suitcase to take for the first part? We gathered the considerations in our hard-shell or soft suitcase guide, and if it's a medium suitcase for a week, also in our guide to packing for a week.
The day bag: what comes with you
The carry-on on light-aircraft flights is small: 5 kg on FedAir, and only 3 kg on the Malawian airline Nyasa Express. Into it go the things you mustn't lose and need within reach: passport, tickets and medication, camera and binoculars, batteries, a power bank and a water bottle. A light, water-repellent backpack also works on jeep drives, so you don't need another bag.
Note two things. First, on FedAir camera gear counts within the 20 kg, so a heavy lens can eat a big part of the allowance. Second, a bag that's too big won't ride on your lap: FedAir states explicitly that oversize baggage may not be held on your lap for safety reasons.
How to stay within the weight before you leave for the airport
- Weigh the soft bag at home when it's full, including the camera. There are a few simple ways in our guide to weighing a suitcase at home.
- Pack to the lowest limit on your route, not to your long-haul flight. If you have two light-aircraft flights in two countries, the lower of the two is the one that counts.
- Arrange excess weight in advance. On FedAir, excess weight must be booked in advance for an extra charge, and you can buy an extra seat for luggage. How much does it cost on regular flights? See our guide to excess baggage weight.
Sources
The Ethiopian news: Maariv, September 23, 2026, based on a report also published by PassportNews. Baggage limits on safari flights: FedAir's baggage page and Yellow Zebra Safaris' overview. Rules change, so always check with your airline before you fly.
Products in this guide
Frequently asked questions
Can you fly to a safari with a hard-shell suitcase?
On the small-plane flights, usually not. Safari companies ask for a soft bag with no frame, so it can be squeezed into a small hold. You can take the hard-shell suitcase on the long flight and leave it in storage before the safari.
Does the camera count toward the baggage weight?
With FedAir in South Africa, yes: the 20 kg includes photo and video gear, and the carry-on is limited to 5 kg. Other companies have different rules, so check in advance if you're flying with heavy lenses.
How much baggage is included on an Ethiopian flight from Israel?
According to the report, economy class includes two 23 kg suitcases and a 7 kg carry-on, and business class two 32 kg suitcases and two 7 kg carry-ons. That allowance doesn't apply to the light-aircraft flights that follow, which have their own rules.
Does a travel bag with wheels count as a soft bag?
Usually not. A bag with wheels and a telescopic handle has a rigid base and rails, and that's the structure light-aircraft operators ask you to avoid. For a safari, a soft duffel bag with a shoulder strap is better.
What happens if my bag weighs more than allowed?
On FedAir, excess weight must be arranged and paid for in advance, and you can buy an extra seat for luggage. At the airstrip itself, they may simply not load the bag, so weigh it at home and take out anything nonessential in advance.
