Safari Suitcase

We get tons of emails each week asking what type of shoes people should bring on safari (comfortable closed walking shoes – either sneakers/trainers like Nike or Addidas or proper outdoor brands like Merrel) or the right kind of dinner dress (there is no dress code on safari  other than you feeling comfortable!).

Here’s a little safari suitcase summary packed with useful tips and information for all your budding adventure enthusiasts! :)

light neutral colours and sensible closed shoes - full marks for gogo!

Safari destinations in Africa tend to be dry and dusty and infused with smoke haze and this peaks just before the first rains – end of October / November in Southern Africa. 

Activities are open air and based on surrounding wilderness. 

On safari you can expect to be exposed to sun, wind, dust, vegetation, occasional rain and moisture and bumpy roads. This varies according to your destinations, itinerary and activities.

Safari lodges, camps and mobiles are generally comfortable, informal and relaxed. 

Mosquito nets normally form part of your bedding and most destinations have a standard daily laundry service. 

Rooms are provided with bathing towels, soaps and shampoos. 

Electricity is limited so forget your hair-dryer. 

Your camp host invariably has a valuable medical box hidden in his office cupboard. 

Your guide is trained for medical emergencies.

You need to pack in a durable soft skinned case that is easy to carry and manipulate into and out of vehicles, helicopters and aeroplanes. 

Your bags will be exposed to a limited amount of dust and wear and tear.  

Safari vehicles are open sided with minimal roof cover and are custom designed to maximise off road passenger comfort and game viewing experience. 

Safari vehicles are generally equipped with a standard fire extinguisher and basic first aid medical box.

If your safari involves light aeroplane travel, you might have a luggage size and weight restriction. Weight is normally restricted to 10 kilograms per passenger on charter aeroplanes - this includes your camera equipment and toiletries. 

light aircraft - the preferred mode of transport when hopping from camp to camp

Safari Clothing

(remember laundry is done daily at almost all camps)

Casual comfortable - preferably cotton - with neutral earthy colours – whites & brights to a minimum

1 x hat (as against a cap which does not protect your ears and neck from the African sun)

4 x long-sleeved shirts (sun protection and evening mosquito protection)

2 x shorts / skirts

2 x longs / slacks

4 x pairs socks

1 x windbreaker for cooler weather and evenings

If you are travelling between May and September pack a scarf,  lightweight gloves and sweater (or jersey)

Undergarments as comfortably desired

1 x comfortable all terrain walking shoes (sneakers, hiking shoes or boots)

If your itinerary involves water or the beach - 1 x all weather/terrain sandals

Swimsuit

2 x t-shirts

Generally

Personal toiletries (don’t rely on camp curio shops)

Waterproof sunscreen

Lip balm

Quality sunglasses with chord – preferably polarised

Flash light – modern light weight sporting “caver’s lamp” is excellent for strength, reliability, weight and light

Skin moisturizer or cream

Binoculars - small, compact, light and 8 x 50 is good - if you can, go for Swarowski

Autan insect repellent - against Tsetse Fly (if your itinerary involves a Tsetse fly area)

See you in the bush!

2012 Tour de Tuli

Imagine mountain biking through some of the most pristine wilderness areas Mother Nature has to offer along natural pathways carved out by centuries of animal movements – all for a good cause: Children in the Wilderness.   

Tour de Tuli - 2011

Tour de Tuli – Wilderness Charity Cycle Event

When:                 Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 2:30pm until Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 8:00am

Where:                From Pont Drift Border Post (South Africa and Botswana) to Mapungubwe National Park (South Africa)

Official Website:             www.facebook.com/childreninthewilderness

Originally the Tour de Kruger, the event changed somewhat in 2008, and was renamed the Tour de Tuli, now following a magnificent route traversing sections of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. 

270 cyclists will have the opportunity to combine a true wilderness experience with some of the best mountain biking the planet has to offer. All of this said, you can expect to be extremely well fed, housed and pampered along the way.

This four day once-in-a-lifetime experience covers about 60 – 80 kilometers a day.

As the event is a cycle tour and not a race, the groups ride at a pace whereby they can take in the essence of the African bush and often have sightings of a myriad of wildlife such as elephant, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and even the odd predator to name but a few.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the tour in the next few months all the way to tracking the cyclists when they take off!

Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp - Opening August 2012

Wilderness' new camp, Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, will be located adjacent to the magnificent Hoanib River in the northern reaches of the Palmwag Concession. 

Map image of where this new camp is being sited is below:

Activities (game drives and walking) will access the game rich riverbed (elephant, giraffe, lion, oryx), the plains, river valleys and hillsides to the south (black rhino, oryx, mountain zebra, springbok) and most importantly the downstream reaches of the Hoanib River in the Skeleton Coast National Park. 

This last area has a very important seep and water system that is frequented by many different game species, as it cuts through a spectacular dune field and accesses the Atlantic Ocean coastline. 

We expect that the new camp will be a 9-roomed Classic camp, with 8 twins and 1 family room.  

Eco Logical will post confirmation of this and additional information on the camp, the offering, access and pricing shortly.

Skeleton Camp Closes

We learnt with sadness this month that the Skeleton Coast Camp is now closed.

Wilderness Safaris have decided on a new location for the Skeleton Coast experience within their Palmwag concession.

morning tea time on the skeleton coast - 2011

Eco Logical Africa sent many intrepid adventurers to the original Skeleton Coast Camp. 

With it's remote, otherworldly location and alien environment so in contrast with everything else in the safari sphere. 

As it was a small camp, we particularly enjoyed encountering old friends time and again. 

From Shagga (the massive brown hyena) to our favorite bushman guide, a visit to SC always felt like going home. 

Let's hope the new camp captures all the atmosphere that made SC so special!

shagga - the brown hyena - mingles with a pack of jackals over a seal carcass. skeleton coast camp 2011

Relaxed Leopard

Very relaxed female leopard photographed at Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana last month.

One of my all time favorite destinations - for guests who are super keen on leopard, Mashatu is their best bet for intense sightings of these normally elusive cats.

Mombo Camp in the Okavango delta is also famed for its relaxed leopards and was the location of the Nat Geo documentary, Eye of the Leopard, about Lagadima.