LAMY safari: A Comprehensive Guide

Because the safari was so popular, LAMY made the AL-star and Lx. They share the same body design as the safari, and we’ll refer to these pens collectively as the safari throughout this guide.

We break down the differences between the safari AL-star, and Lx in the table below.

The LAMY safari and safari vista are made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. It’s regularly used for items like keyboards, helmets, and anything else that needs to have excellent durability and impact resistance. If you’ve ever stepped on a LEGO™ brick, you know just how strong ABS plastic can be!

The AL-star and Lx are made from aluminum, a sturdy yet relatively lightweight metal. It’s strengthened through a process called anodization, which thickens the natural and protective layer of aluminum oxide on the surface. Anodizing can also apply color, and unlike paint, it won’t chip or flake off.

The Lx is made even more special with its glossy black PVD-coated nib and precious metal plating on its clip and finial.

The LAMY safari has a triangular grip section that encourages an ergonomic hold. It gently guides your thumb, index finger, and middle finger into a tripod position.

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 sleek wire clip is the most recognizable feature of the LAMY safari. Its flared tip slides easily over thick pockets and notebook covers.

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.

The LAMY safari is a great beginner fountain pen thanks to its sturdy construction and versatility. The pen feels comfortably balanced whether you use it with the cap posted on the back of the barrel or unposted. An ink window in the barrel lets you see how much ink is left in the cartridge or converter.

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.

Most of the safari-style fountain pen nibs come in five nib sizes: extra fine, fine, medium, broad, plus specialty nibs. The nibs can be easily switched out if you want to try a different nib size, change to a black nib color, or upgrade to a 14 karat gold nib.

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.

When you get your first LAMY safari Fountain Pen, you’ll notice that it has a cardboard ring installed over the grip section’s threads. This ring prevents the cartridge from getting punctured while in transit, and you’ll need to remove it first.

Follow the steps below to learn how to install the cartridge correctly. You can also follow the same steps to replace a used cartridge.

2. Remove the cap and unscrew the barrel.

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.

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.

If a fountain pen seems like a bit too much work, the LAMY safari Rollerball Pen could be a good alternative. It uses a quick-drying, water-based ink and has a tip similar to that of a ballpoint or gel pen, so you don’t have to adjust your writing (like a beginner might with a fountain pen nib). It also needs less maintenance, because you never have to clean the nib and feed. Refilling the pen is as easy as swapping out the refill, too.

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 LAMY safari Ballpoint Pen has a tip that extends and retracts with a quick click of its button. The oil-based ballpoint ink flows smoothly and it dries almost instantly. It also writes on surfaces that a liquid ink may struggle with, such as slick receipts.

The ballpoint pen comes with a medium black refill; other colors and tip sizes are also available.

The LAMY safari Mechanical Pencil is a no-nonsense pencil that’s great for students and professionals alike. The included HB pencil lead is dark and smooth with a touch of feedback. You can refill the safari with any 0.5 mm lead, and you can see our top recommendations in our guide on the Best Mechanical Pencil Leads.

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.