If you’re about to head off on a safari to Africa’s extraordinary destinations, you’re probably wondering what to wear and what to pack. From game drives to bush walks and sundowners, you’ll want to be prepared for everything on your safari. Our expert team know exactly what you do and don’t need on safari, from your luggage to your clothing and accessories. We’ve put together the ultimate packing guide so you can go on safari in style.

Experience it: Spectacular South Africa

Luggage

Before you start packing, you need to choose the right luggage. For a safari in Africa, a soft-sided suitcase or duffel bag is the best choice. Most luxury safari camps and lodges have strict luggage restrictions, particularly if you’re flying on small domestic flights between destinations. A lightweight, soft-sided bag can be easily stowed in small storage spaces.

Daytime clothing

If you want to safari in style, you’ve got to choose the right clothing. Here are our tips on how to dress comfortably and appropriately on safari:

• Wear long trousers and long-sleeve shirts to protect against the elements and insects. It’s appropriate to dress conservatively in many African countries, so bring clothing that can cover your shoulders, chest and midriff, even outside the national parks.
• Bring shorts, t-shirts, sun-dresses or casual wear for downtime around the lodge.
• Wear clothing options that are easy to layer up, as morning and evening game drives can be cold, while the daytime drives can be hot. You’ll need a warm jacket and a waterproof coat in case of rain.
• Choose moisture-wicking materials to stay comfortable and cut down on clothes washing in remote safari camps and lodges.
• Wear clothes in neutral colors such as brown, beige, khaki and dark green. This helps you blend in with the landscape and increases your chance of spotting wildlife. Avoid white and brightly colored clothing. You should also avoid military-style camouflage clothing as it’s illegal in many African countries such as Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda.
• Swimwear: Most luxury safari lodges have a pool so bring your swimwear.
• Sleepwear: Pack some comfortable sleepwear in breathable materials
• Underwear and socks: Go for moisture-wicking underwear and socks to help you stay comfortable all day.

Read more: Cape expectations: how Travel Concierge Jameel makes South Africa sing

Footwear

Bring comfortable walking shoes that have been worn-in, to avoid blisters. If you plan to do any hiking, you’ll need sturdy hiking boots.

You should also bring a pair of sandals or flip-flops for relaxing at the lodge or by the pool.

Evening wear

Depending on your safari and lodge, you may like to bring a more formal outfit for dinners or evening events. Check with your personal Travel Concierge to find out if you need to bring evening wear on your tour.

Accessories

Bring a wide-brimmed hat and polarized sunglasses to protect you from harsh UV rays.

You should also bring one or two lightweight scarves or bandanas. These come in handy for protecting your face from dust, shielding your neck from the sun, cleaning lenses on your camera or glasses, or wrapping around yourself on chilly mornings.

Read more: 5 of the best Passport Moments you’ll enjoy with Luxury Gold

Travel gear

Camera and accessories: Capture the incredible wildlife and landscapes with a good camera, protective cases, extra memory cards, and spare batteries or a portable charger. If you plan to take photos with your phone, bring a dustproof and waterproof case plus extra memory cards.

Binoculars: Good quality binoculars are highly recommended.

Torch or head flashlight: These are essential for navigating around the lodge at night or if you plan to go on night game drives. A solar-powered torch or flashlight is a great eco-friendly alternative.

Portable chargers and adaptors: Portable chargers are one of the handiest gadgets you can bring on safari. You’ll also need to check the plug type for your destination to determine which power adaptors you need. If you’re visiting multiple countries, a universal power adaptor might be the best option.

Waterproof bags: Bring waterproof bags for all your important equipment. If you plan to go kayaking or do water sports, bring a dry bag.

Reusable water bottle: Stay hydrated and limit single-use plastic waste by bringing a reusable water bottle. You can refill it at your safari lodge or during game drives. You may also like to bring a water bottle with an in-built filtration system.

E-reader: If you love to relax with a good book in the afternoons when travelling, bring an e-reader such as a Kindle or Kobo with some good books preloaded. It’s easier than hauling around heavy books and you can download dozens of books at a time. Ask your personal Travel Concierge for recommended reading about your safari destination before you go.

Read more: The personal touch: our top 5 curated luxury travel experiences for 2023

Toiletries

• High-SPF sunscreen
• After sun cream
• Mosquito repellent
• Bite relief cream
• Lip balm
• Hand sanitizer
• Biodegradable wet wipes
• Eco-friendly toiletries such as solid shampoo, soap, deodorant, and toothpaste tabs.
• Basic first aid kit including band-aids, pain relievers, antihistamines, gastro relievers, and any personal medications. Check with your doctor about whether you need to bring malaria prophylactics.

Documents and essentials

Keep your passport, visas, travel insurance information, and any necessary vaccination certificates in a secure, waterproof document holder.

What not to bring

Plastic bags: These are banned in many African countries including Kenya and Rwanda. All visitors are required to discard any plastic bags before entering the country including ziplock bags and duty-free plastic bags. There are penalties for those found in possession of them, so be sure to use alternatives such as cotton totes or silicone bags.

Camouflage clothing: It’s illegal in many countries and unnecessary on safari.

Drones: These are illegal in East Africa.

If you want to know more about what to pack for your safari, be sure to speak to yourTravel Concierge. They are experts on your destination and are there to offer guidance and personal service every step of the way so you can safari in style.

Experts in your destination and there to tailor your journey, your Luxury Gold Travel Concierge offers the ultimate service. More than a guide they offer a flawless personal service, tailored to you. To learn how Ultimate Italy is made even more ultimate, we spoke with Travel Concierge Anna to find out more about how she personalizes your tour.

Discover our Italy Luxury Tours and Vacation Packages

Meet Travel Concierge Anna

A specialist in Italy for over 15 years, Travel Concierge Anna knows this beautiful country inside-out. And, a key skill of a Luxury Gold Travel Concierge, she also knows people. “Tailoring the perfect Italy tour comes from our destination experience and understanding our guests. It is also about getting to know people quickly and identifying their wishes and desires.”

Through a combination of conversation and intuition, Anna gets to know guests’ needs right from the start. “I will spend time with them on the first night. As it is always a small group, it’s quite easy to get to know guests fairly quickly and offer a personal one-to-one service. I’ll ask if you have particular things that you’re interested in and would like do.”

But the personalization process doesn’t stop there. Throughout the tour Anna will continue to intuit guest’s likes and dislikes, tailoring the experience as she goes.

“As the trip goes on you learn more and more about people,” she says. “So, we also adapt to guests’ needs as we go. Through my expert knowledge of Italy, I have plenty great ideas up my sleeve to tailor your experience.”

Discover this on Ultimate Italy

Exceptional dining for every palate

@mammarestaurant

Exceptional dining is at the heart of every Luxury Gold journey, with some truly exquisite restaurants featured on our sublime Ultimate Italy tour. There are also opportunities for guests to choose how and where they dine. In a gastronomic haven such as Italy, Travel Concierge Anna’s local knowledge and expertise enables guests to tailor their culinary experience.

“In Capri, we dine at Michelin starred restaurant Mamma, where the food is exquisite and the views are jaw-dropping,” Anna tells us. “You approach through little narrow back alleys, through a tiny little door which then opens up to a panoramic view over the Mediterranean out towards Naples. It is an amazing dining experience.”

Related content: 7 Luxury Gold hotels that have hosted royals, celebrities and more

“When guest have a free evening, for example in Perugia or Florence, I will help choose where to dine. In each location I’ve hand-selected restaurants that serve delicious fare and are located near the hotel. Each areslightly different, for example one may be fine dining, one may be very atmospheric and local. Another might simply serve outstanding pizzas, we are in Italy of course!” she says with a smile.

“When it comes to gastronomy, every region is totally different. This is something I love to share with guests. Southern Italy is all about seafood and the views. When in Rome it’s all about finding that little backstreet trattoria that has traditional dishes served by Mom and Pop. And in Tuscany, Florentine steak takes pride of place on the menu.

“You may also have particular restaurants that you’ve heard of and wish to visit, in which case I will help with reservations where possible. It becomes apparent very quickly when guests are really into food so I love to help them out on that journey with all that Italy has to offer.”

Related content: Where to Find the Most Rare & Expensive Food in the World

Pick between exclusive experiences

With many exclusive experiences included on Luxury Gold tours, there are also times where guests can personalize their day, through a choice of two different experiences.

Carefully selected by your Travel Concierge, these thoughtful choices are curated with the Luxury Gold guest in mind. “The thing is with Italy, it has so much to offer,” Anna says. “It has art, history, architecture, beaches, mountains and vineyards. And of course, it has fabulous food and wine. It’s an incredible place.

“In the stunning hilltop town of Assisi in the heart of Umbria, knowing that art and culture appeal to our guests, we extend this offering with the opportunity to visit Saint Francis Basilica, to see stunning frescos dating back around 800 years.

“However, we also understand that guests might want something different, so they may prefer to join a local gourmand to taste delicious Umbrian specialities. That might be mushroom or truffle paste on crostini, interesting varieties of salamis or maybe the famous Umbrian pork, along with delicious olive oils.”

Elevating the everyday

“I’m always considering any opportunities to tailor a guest’s experience,” Anna explains. “I can show secret treasures that you might not otherwise find. If I know that someone is really into art, as we are walking through the streets of Rome I might quietly say ‘let’s just pop into this church because I happen to know there’s a Caravaggio in here.’ This is what happens when you are well experienced and know these hidden gems.”

Related content: The Luxury Gold guide to discovering statement art pieces on your travels

Special moments made exceptional

Wherever possible Anna assists with special requests, to make your journey extra special. “Sometimes guests are keen to trace their family history,” she says. “Guests from the United States often have family connections in Italy. If we are staying very close to where their family originates, I might help them make a visit. This can be a very emotional experience for everyone.”

“We also have guests celebrating big anniversaries, in which case I will help them make it extra special, to find a superb restaurant or location for a truly memorable occasion. There are lots of suggestions that we can make for special moments.”

Related content: 7 ways Luxury Gold makes your travel experience completely stress free

The best of both worlds

“Whilst guests want their service to be personalized, they also love being in a group, to have fun and share experiences together,” says Anna. “This is the great joy of taking these tours, meeting people and making new friends. But for our guests, knowing that they can also tailor their experience is the best of both worlds.”

To enjoy the wealth of treasures the Italy has to offer, and benefit from the personal service of your Travel Concierge, take a look at our Ultimate Italy limited edition luxury .tour

When it comes to flying first class, we tend to focus on the big-ticket items to distinguish between airlines. Private cabins, fully-flat beds, gourmet dining, and exceptional service are important, of course. But what about the bathrooms? Some airlines are showing they should no longer be an after-thought. Expect walk-in showers, full-size sinks and mirrors, plush seating, luxury products, hidden urinals… even loos with a view. But who’s doing it the best? Here we revealing the airlines with the most luxurious first class bathrooms, for when you feel like pampering yourself at 30,000 feet. 

Read more: The A listers guide to in-flight skin care

Travel in style on our Luxury Scandinavia Tours

Emirates

@emirates

The first class bathrooms on Emirates A380 are among the finest in the world. The aircraft has 14 first class suites and two glamorous shower suites on the upper deck, complete with walk-in showers, heated floors, and luxury Bulgari toiletries. As a first class passenger, you can schedule your shower at the beginning of your flight. The aircraft will also have shower spa attendants on board who ensure the shower spas are maintained throughout the flight. The elegant spas are fitted with high-quality laminate wood panelling, sink, vanity and mirrors, along with cushioned benches. High-altitude pampering has never looked so good. 

Read more: 5 ultra-modern tech gadgets to help make jet lag a thing of the past

Singapore Airlines

@thepointsguyuk

Singapore Airlines runs Emirates close with its A380 first class suite bathrooms. With only six seats in the first class cabin, you won’t have to wait to relax in these enormous bathrooms. Each luxurious bathroom has two roomy sections with a full-size sink, full-size vanity, plush seating, and a hidden urinal. You’ll feel like you’re at a day spa at the vanity, where you can unwind with a padded ottoman, full-length mirror, and an impressive stock of Lalique toiletries for sky-high indulgence. 

Read more: Expert selected: the 4 best hotel spas you can visit with Luxury Gold

Qatar Airways

@josefpangrac

Looking at Qatar Airways’ opulent first class bathrooms, it’s hard to believe they belong on an aircraft. They have a full-length mirror and a full-size sink with a waterfall tap and LED light-up mirrors. The bathrooms also have gorgeous mood lighting, so you can pamper yourself in style with luxury brands of perfume and cologne, shaving kits, lotion, mouthwash, and toothpaste. The cherry on the cake is the hidden toilet upholstered in the same leather as the benches – which are almost as big as a chaise lounge.

Read more: The Luxury Gold guide to investing in luggage

Etihad Airways

@etihad

In summer 2023, Etihad Airways is bringing back its A380 aircraft with ultra-luxe first class bathrooms. The aircraft will include three of its extraordinary “Residences”. These are three-room suites, each with a separate bedroom, living room, and ensuite bathroom with shower. Widely considered the most luxurious flying experience, the relaunch of The Residences is garnering excitement in the luxury travel community. It’s also the only airline, aside from Emirates, offering a full shower in the bathroom suite. Guests will have a full five minutes of hot running water in the shower, a dream on long-haul flights. With an in-flight butler and premium features such as the same leather upholstery as Ferrari, this is as impressive as it gets in first class.

Read more: Experience the world’s finest retreats on your Luxury Gold tour

Ready to enjoy a first class flying experience on your next trip? Speak with our Luxury Travel Specialists or your Concierge to personalise your tour.

Banner image: Emirate’s first class shower spa