By Adele Chan
Going on a safari to see lions and leopards has always been on my bucket list. I’m not gonna lie — it’s an expensive trip, and only now at the age of 40, and in the position of Editor-In-Chief can I actually afford to go on one without being in debt. And like the planner I am, I did lots of research and had a packing list. Take it from me who just came back five days ago — these are the items you actually need.
Let’s get the footwear out of the way :
1. HIKING BOOTS
Last week, my friends and I went on a bush walk; that’s basically hiking through the bushlands and getting to know plant and insect life on the ground. I loved it. My friends… not so much. That’s because they were in track shoes (you know, your Nike and adidas). I was well prepared and wore Timberland’s Kenniston boots. When I first tried them at the Paragon Timberland store, I was amazed at how light they were! For Timberland boots! For any boots! I wore them around Singapore for two weeks before my trip, thinking I needed to break them in… but it wasn’t necessary at all. They are as soft as they are light, and can be worn out of the box without getting blisters. I love them and even introduced them to a friend who ended up buying the same pair in grey. Here we are in our boots (sorry for the camera shake):
Timberland Kenniston Boots, O.P. $279 (on sale at Zalora, $139.50)
Now I believe everyone needs to own a good pair of hiking boots; you never know when you might need them. I also wore these to the MBS Carnival last Christmas; the ground was grassy, wet, and muddy, and these boots and their non-slip soles kept me firmly planted on the ground, and my feet dry. 👍
2. WALKING SHOES
Find a pair of super comfortable walking shoes, and you’ve found the end of the rainbow. I thought my Ultraboosts were it, until I met…the Muse. The Puma Muse is really the most comfortable pair of shoes I’ve ever owned. They are soft, cushy, flexible, springy, and have good grip. I now own two pairs — one low cut in white, and a high cut in black. I brought the black ones to South Africa with me (although to be honest, the Timberlands were sufficient for the entire trip) — these Pumas were my backup pair of shoes just in case.
Puma Muse Echo Satin Shoes (on sale at Zalora $142.90, O.P. $159),
and Puma Muse X-Strap Ep Shoes (on sale at Zalora $124.90, O.P. $139)
Next, you’ll want really practical clothes. Pieces that are comfortable, and functional. Avoid black and navy because those colours attract mosquitoes; also, as a friend pointed out: “Look at all the safari photos online… the lighter colours look nicer in photos!” And it’s true. Also, don’t bring anything in camouflage; it’s illegal to wear that pattern anywhere in South Africa because it’s reserved for the military. I had to convince a friend to leave her camo Converse sneakers at home because she didn’t believe me. 🙄
3. CARGO PANTS
Many girls don’t favour cargo pants (yes, it’s not the most fashionable or flattering piece of clothing), but I think they’re the perfect thing to wear on a safari. And on an airplane. And on weekends out with kids. Here I am wearing a khaki green pair I found from Zara’s mens’ department; the size small was a perfect fit for me! And on the right, another khaki pair I found on H&M online (100% cotton, soft and comfortable. Good for Singapore weather!). Notice the Timberlands in both pictures — they were great.
Left, Zara Mens’ Joggers with Pockets, on sale at $53.90 / Right, H&M Lyocell-blend Cargo Trousers
4. HAT
I came across this article on the importance of a good safari hat. And while I didn’t exactly get a wide-brimmed hat, I did bring along my “tactical” caps (see photos above!). These army-style caps from Condor Outdoor are affordable and I bought mine from Hock Gift Shop online. Look… so many designs! Just remember not to choose the ones with camouflage.
Condor caps from Hock Gift Shop online
5. SUNGLASSES
This is a no-brainer, but don’t forget to bring sunglasses. You’re going to be in the bushland and the sun is extremely bright. Also, on game drives, sunglasses will shield eyes from the wind. I suggest choosing a classic, nondescript style without any bling. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself (eg. Look at me! I’m rich! Rob me!). The idea is always to blend in. I went with a pair of classic aviators:
6. LUGGAGE
It’s an art to travel light; few people can. I’m proud to say that I’ve mastered that skill and this is my eight days worth of everything :
Can’t believe it? This air traffic control guy couldn’t believe it either:
That above is the Rimowa Pilot 50cm — it’s cabin size so I didn’t need to check it in. The Pilot has been out of stock at Rimowa boutiques for months now, but you can get on a waiting list like I did.
7. USB HUB
I got a 5-port USB charger from Ban Leong (currently on sale at $39! U.P. $79), and tucked all the wires into a cable coil from Daiso ($2 for a pack of 2), and then packed the whole thing — plugged in — into the large-sized Double Fastener Case from Muji ($13). When I arrived at the hotel, I just took the entire thing out and only had to connect the power plug. No more messy cables, and no more looking for wires on arrival!
8. ZOOM LENS
I was very clear on my mission in South Africa: to photograph animals. And because these are wild and dangerous animals, there’s no way I’m going up close to them. So forget about taking pictures with your smartphone or fixed lens point-and-shoot; to really get National Geographic-worthy shots, you need a zoom. I loaned this one: AF-P NIKKOR 70-300MM F/4.5-5.6E ED VR ($1,279); and with my dependable Nikon Df, I created some shots that I’m proud of (I’ll do a post on them soon!). Nikon is currently running a campaign for rental of telephoto lenses, so you can try before you buy:
Here’s my sweet set up :
The above includes a Nitecore battery charger ($28) — USB charging for camera batteries! — and B&O Beoplay H5 bluetooth earphones in the shade, Vapour ($379). I didn’t end up bringing the Apple Watch because I was told horror stories of hands getting chopped off for fancy looking watches. 😲
9. WATER BOTTLE WITH FILTER
Many Singaporeans don’t realise how important a water bottle is when they travel — and I think that’s because clean, drinking water is readily available anywhere in our country. So my friends and I weren’t just travelling to South Africa; we planned a pit stop to see Victoria Falls and had to go into Zimbabwe and Zambia — and some research online informed me that both of these countries did not have clean drinking water out of the taps. This was my solution:
Lifestraw makes contaminated water safe to drink. You can even stick it in a lake and suck. I found this water bottle on Amazon Prime (same day delivery in 2 hours if you order before 6pm!) and used it throughout my trip. I just filled it with tap water and carried it everywhere I went. There’s also a green version that costs $63.80 (I don’t know why this colour is almost twice the price). And by the way, my friend brought a water quality measuring tool, and we discovered that the water in South Africa is cleaner than the water in Singapore! 🤔
10. USD IN SMALL CHANGE
No one explicitly told me this, but everywhere you go in South Africa and on a safari, you have to tip. The minute someone touches your bag at the hotel — you have to tip. If you get a massage at the villa — you have to tip. At the end of all your game drives — you definitely have to tip. And the best currency to have on you in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia, is USD. Bring lots of it in small denominations, like dollar bills.
Coming up… all the essential beauty items to bring on a safari! And here’s how I hacked my way to free flights to go on this trip!
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