Great-to-have travel gadgets for overland tours in Africa

Overlanding in Africa comes with a degree of inbuilt ruggedness, especially if you’re venturing into reserves for wildlife spotting. With this in mind, here are eight very useful travel gadgets for anyone booking an overland tour in Africa.

Various gadgets that are more or less necessities for an overland tour in Africa. I’m thinking of items like a powerbank and a universal adapter, all of which are included in this packing list for an African overland safari. Here, I highlight a few items that aren’t critical but can make your trip that much safer or nicer. These are items you might easily overlook or perhaps don’t even know exist.

1. Small binoculars

If it’s your first time heading off on a safari, you’d be forgiven for forgetting to pack binoculars. It’s not a regular travel item for most of us. But when wildlife or bird spotting in Africa, you’re often far away from your ‘quarry’, so binos are essential for appreciating them more fully.

I suggest a small pair of binos given the fact that there are usually luggage weight and space limitations for anyone joining an overland tour.

2. Smartphone binocular adapter

If you intend to use your smartphone to take photos and videos during your trip, you might like to invest in a binocular adapter. This clamps your phone to your binos to allow you to take zoomed-in photos and videos.

3. Small collapsible lantern

If you’re going to be camping on your tour, a lantern for the tent is invaluable. Yes, you could manage with just a head torch (flashlight), but a lantern is nicer, especially to avoid shining a light in your tent mate’s eyes.

Given the aforementioned luggage restrictions on most group overland tours, you want your gadgets to ideally be small, lightweight, and even collapsible where possible. Fortunately, you can find lanterns that are all these things. Those made of silicone, for instance.

4. Shockproof phone case

An African overland adventure generally involves some bumpy roads, maybe some walking or hiking, and other activities where it’d be a good idea to have a shockproof case for your phone to ensure it survives any drops or other accidents. Such a case is an exceptionally good idea if you’re going to be taking pictures on your smartphone or even notebook.

I suggest getting a case that has a finger ring for extra security.

5. Waterproof dry bag

If you plan to go on the water at some point in your trip – like canoeing in the Okavango Delta or rafting on the Nile River in Uganda – you’ll likely want to take your phone and camera with you, as well as perhaps a sweater and some other goodies. A sealable (waterproof) dry bag is a great asset in such moments. They come in varying sizes and designs. You could even opt to pack just a waterproof phone pouch with a lanyard if that’s all you’ll want to take or protect.

6. Collapsible trekking pole

If you plan to do some hikes or a trek on your African overland tour, you’ll already be planning to bring a pair of collapsible trekking poles. But for everyone else, a single lightweight walking stick or trekking pole is still a good idea (unless, of course, you’re really confident in your gazelle-footedness). It could prove useful if you go on a hike or walking safari after rain and you’re navigating the likes of mud and stream crossings.

The collapsible aspect of a trekking pole makes it easy to transport not just on your overland tour, but also on flights.

7. Mini grippable tripod

Another of the best gadgets for an overland tour in Africa is a mini tripod. You’re often zooming in for the best wildlife photos or videos, for instance, so being able to steady your camera is invaluable. Also, you may want to set the timer for a group photo.

There are various types of mini tripods on the market. I suggest opting for a grippable one, which I believe started with the JOBY GorillaPod. A grippable tripod lets you achieve an even horizon line even when it’s placed on uneven surfaces. Moreover, you can anchor it to fences, branches, and more, so get those unusual angles, and don’t fret that it’ll slip or be blown over by strong wind.

8. Compact clothesline

For those of you going on a longer overland tour, you’re going to need to wash your clothes at some point. There may well be occasions for using a laundry service if you’re staying in lodges. But if you’re camping, it will be helpful to have a short clothesline you can string up between tents or trees.

Of course, a suitable piece of (elastic) cord could do in a pinch, provided you know your knots. But know that you can also find really lightweight, custom-made clotheslines that come in compact pouches for easy storage (like this one from Sea to Summit).

As mentioned, these travel gadgets are nice-to-haves, not essentials. But if you’re going to invest in one of the longer trips from African Overland Tours, like those lasting between three to eight weeks, it’s worthwhile considering them, in my opinion. On a long tour, a little gadget can go a long way towards making life easier or more comfortable.

Note: This blog post was created by Amy Saville in April 2014. It was completely rewritten by Megan Abigail White in June 2026.