The LAMY safari is a stylish series of fountain pens, ballpoint pens, rollerball pens, and mechanical pencils. After the release of the original pen in the 1980s, it was followed by the aluminum AL-star and Lx.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the unique features of the safari and other pens and pencils with the same body designs.
The LAMY safari is popular because it’s made of durable materials and offers an excellent writing experience. We always recommend the fountain pen to beginners because it can be upgraded as you become more experienced. You can install a converter when you’re ready to graduate from cartridges to ink bottles. And if you’d like to try different nibs, you can swap them easily using LAMY’s replacement nibs.
The safari isn’t just a fountain pen, though; it also comes in ballpoint pen, rollerball pen, and mechanical pencil forms. Don’t forget to check out LAMY’s other safari-style pens and pencils, which include the AL-star and Lx
| Product | Material | Limited Edition Colors? | Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAMY AL-star | Anodized Aluminum | Yes | |
| LAMY Lx | Anodized Aluminum, PreciousMetal Plating, PVD-Coated Nib | Yes | |
| LAMY safari | ABS Plastic | Yes |
While the LAMY safari was originally released in the 1980s, it still feels modern to this day. That’s because LAMY follows a philosophy of simple yet striking design language mixed with practicality. This “form follows function” principle—followed by members of the influential Bauhaus art school—means that the safari has no trendy frills and has a timeless look.
The Lx is made even more special with its glossy black PVD-coated nib and precious metal plating on its clip and finial.
There are slight grip variations depending on which pen or pencil you choose. The fountain pen has the most obvious triangular shape because a fountain pen nib needs to be at a specific angle to write properly. Correct positioning is less important for pencils and other pens, so the grip section isn’t as noticeable.
The fountain pens and rollerball pens have caps to help keep them from drying out, and the clip is located on the cap. The ballpoint pens and mechanical pencils use retraction mechanisms, and their clips are near the push buttons.
It comes with one blue T10 Ink Cartridge in the barrel, and replacement cartridges in a variety of colors are available. Intermediate fountain pen users can use a fountain pen converter to refill the pen from an ink bottle. Learn how to use a fountain pen converter by reading our guide.
Note that the LAMY safari may come with ink residue on the nib. LAMY tests every nib before it leaves the factory by dipping it in ink and writing with it to make sure it performs to their standards. We recommend cleaning your fountain pen before using it.
Read our guide to learn how you can swap LAMY safari nibs. We list all the nibs available at JetPens.com in the table below.
| Nib Material | Nib Sizes | Nib Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel |
Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Left-Handed, 1.1 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.9 mm |
Black, Silver |
| 14k Gold | Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Oblique Medium,Oblique Broad | Gold/Silver |
Follow the steps below to learn how to install the cartridge correctly. You can also follow the same steps to replace a used cartridge.
1. LAMY tests every nib at the factory, so you’ll need to clean the pen to remove leftover ink. You’ll also need to clean a used pen if you’re changing inks or as part of its regular maintenance. Read our guide to learn more.
2. Remove the cap and unscrew the barrel.
3. For a new pen, remove the cardboard ring. For a pen with a used cartridge, remove the cartridge.
4. Insert the new cartridge into the pen’s grip section. Unlike with other fountain pens, you don’t need to push it in to puncture the cartridge.
5. Twist the barrel back onto the grip section. This will automatically puncture the ink cartridge.
6. Cap the pen, set it aside, and wait for ink to reach the feed. This can take up to an hour, but you can test the pen after about fifteen minutes.
The fountain pens in the table below are part of the standard lineup. Special edition colors aren’t included.
| LAMY AL-star Fountain Pens | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nib Sizes | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Left-Handed | Black, Turmaline, Ocean Blue, Purple, Graphite | Shop Now |
| LAMY Lx Fountain Pens | ||
| Nib Sizes | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad | Rose Gold, Marron, Ruthenium, Palladium | Shop Now |
| LAMY safari Fountain Pens | ||
| Nib Sizes | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Left-Handed | Shiny Black, Pink, Red, Scarlet, Yellow, Green, Blue, Charcoal, White, Clear | Shop Now |
The safari Rollerball Pen looks very similar to the fountain pen, but there are a few small differences to set it apart. The finial on top of the cap is a single line rather than a cross. The rollerball doesn’t have an ink-viewing window in the barrel, either.
The rollerball pens in the table below are part of the standard lineup. Special edition colors are in the table further down in the guide.
| LAMY AL-star Rollerball Pens | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tip Size | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| Medium | Black, Turmaline, Ocean Blue, Purple, Graphite | Shop Now |
| LAMY Lx Rollerball Pens | ||
| Tip Size | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| Medium | Rose Gold, Marron, Ruthenium, Palladium | Shop Now |
| LAMY safari Rollerball Pens | ||
| Tip Size | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| Medium | Shiny Black, Pink, Red, Scarlet, Yellow, Green, Blue, Charcoal, White, Clear | Shop Now |
The ballpoint pen comes with a medium black refill; other colors and tip sizes are also available.
The ballpoint pens in the table below are part of the standard lineup. You can also view special edition colors.
| LAMY AL-star Ballpoint Pens | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tip Size | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| Medium | Black, Turmaline, Ocean Blue, Purple, Graphite | Shop Now |
| LAMY safari Ballpoint Pens | ||
| Tip Size | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| Medium | Shiny Black, Pink, Red, Scarlet, Yellow, Green, Blue, Charcoal, White, Clear | Shop Now |
Underneath the clicker button is a small replaceable eraser with an attached cleaning rod that you can use to clear lead jams. While the eraser works well, it’s also small and will get used up quickly. We recommend keeping a separate eraser on hand.
The mechanical pencils in the table below are part of the standard lineup. Special edition colors aren’t included.
| LAMY AL-star Mechanical Pencils | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lead Size | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| 0.5 mm | Black, Graphite | Shop Now |
| LAMY safari Mechanical Pencils | ||
| Lead Size | Body Colors | Shop Now |
| 0.5 mm | Shiny Black, Pink, Red, Scarlet, Yellow, Green, Blue, Charcoal, White, Clear | Shop Now |
LAMY regularly releases special edition colors for the safari, AL-star, and Lx that are available for a limited time. You can view all the colors, including those that are no longer available, in the tables below.
- LAMY Pens and Pencils: A Comprehensive Guide
- The Best Pens
- The Best Beginner Fountain Pens
- The Best Fountain Pens for Every Budget
- The Best Fountain Pens Under 100 Dollars
- How to Change a LAMY Fountain Pen Nib
- The Difference Between Ballpoint, Gel, and Rollerball Pens
- The Best Rollerball Pens
- The Best Ballpoint Pens
- The Beginner’s Guide to Mechanical Pencils
- The Best Lead Guard Mechanical Pencils
- Types of Pen and Pencil Grips
The LAMY safari series of pens and pencils are a fan favorite thanks to their stylish design and excellent quality.




2007 - Ocean Blue*
2008 - Raspberry Red
2009 - Purple*
2010 - Coffee Brown
2011 - Ruby Red
2013 - Pearl
2013 - Black*
2014 - Blue Green*
2015 - Copper Orange
2016 - Charged Green
2017 - Pacific
2018 - Vibrant Pink
2020 - Turmaline*
2021 - Azure
2021 - Cosmic
2022 - Whitesilver
2023 - Lilac
2023 - Petrol
2024 - Aquatic
2024 - Fiery
2024 - Autumn Pink
2024 - Sage
2025 - Aubergine
2025 - Denim
2025 - Dark Dusk
2025 - Mint
2019 - Marron*
2008 - Lime Green
2009 - Orange
2010 - Pink*
2011 - Aquamarine
2012 - Apple Green
2013 - Neon Yellow
2014 - Neon Coral
2015 - Neon Lime
2016 - Dark Lilac
2017 - Petrol
2019 - Blue Macaron
2019 - Mint Glaze
2019 - Powder Rose
2019 - USA Independence
2020 - Candy Aquamarine
2020 - Candy Mango
2020 Candy Violet
2021 - Savannah Green
2021 - Terra Red
2021 - White with Red Clip
2022 - Cream
2022 - Strawberry
2022 - Blue with Red Clip
2022 - White with Black Clip
2023 - Aqua Sky
2023 - Light Rose
2023 - Spring Green
2024 - Pink Cliff
2024 - Violet Blackberry
2024 - Cherry Blossom
2024 - Pina Colada
2025 - Scarlet*
2025 - Multicolor Black
2025 - Multicolor White














