Going On Safari? Melissa Biggs Bradley Shares Her Packing Tips

Going On Safari Heres What to Bring on Your Travels
Photo: Courtesy of Safari Style: Exceptional African Lodges and Camps

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Melissa Biggs Bradley, CEO and founder of member-based luxury travel company Indagare, is a pioneer in the luxury travel space. With extensive knowledge in the art of getting from A to B, Bradley’s latest endeavor, Safari Style: African Camps and Lodges (Vendome Press), comes to no surprise.

Safari Style was born out of Bradley’s “long love affair with safari.” At age 12, Bradley went on her first expedition, and since, she’s been on several dozen. “Over 30-plus years, I have witnessed an incredible evolution in terms of the kinds of places you can stay, the experiences you can have, the regions you can explore, and most importantly, the positive impact that travelers can have on conservation and community empowerment,” Bradley tells Vogue. “The book is really a celebration of that evolution of style and impact of the beauty of the bush and my favorite places to stay on safari.”

While featuring the varied regions and styles of safari, it was also essential for Bradley to choose properties that represented the potentials of safari tourism. “Every property focuses on conservation and community impact and shares their efforts with guests,” she says.

Here, Bradley’s insider tips for safariing in style.

Photo: Courtesy of Safari Style: African Camps and Lodges

Where to Stay

“It is truly impossible to pick one [place],” says Bradley. “Which is why I cover many diverse regions from the desert in Namibia and the Serengeti in Tanzania to the great concessions and parks in Botswana and South Africa and the mountains in Rwanda.” Safari Style covers 21 properties in 7 countries, “and each one can be guaranteed to deliver an unforgettable safari and aesthetic experience,” Bradley explains. From palatial lodges to incredible tented camps that use cutting-edge sustainable infrastructure, many of the properties listed in the book are built to be taken down in a few weeks—to leave no trace and maximize luxury. “Plus, there is such a spectacular range of style and design in eastern and southern Africa, and all the lodges in the book incorporate the natural surroundings and local heritage, which makes them so special,” says Bradley.

“Of course, iconic properties like Singita Sasakwa in Tanzania and Mombo Camp in Botswana are included, but I also included newer ones like Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia and Bisate in Rwanda,” she explains. To Bradley, not only are these some of the most amazing camps in Africa from an aesthetic point of view, but they also represent many of the best companies and families spearheading some of the most innovative safari experiences.

Photo: Courtesy of Safari Style: African Camps and Lodges

What Clothes to Pack

According to Bradley, who has spent more than a collective 100 days on safari, “the focus should be on comfort. Often to reach camps, you have to fly in small bush planes with very strict luggage restrictions of no more than 44 pounds packed in soft-sided luggage.” Temperatures also change, so Bradley suggests dressing in layers to keep covered from the sun. According to Bradley, key essentials include long sleeves, a great hat, sunglasses, good walking shoes, and a jacket or vest with lots of pockets for your camera, sunscreen, bug spray, wipes, and lip balm.

Bradley explains that lighter colors, like beige, camel, grey, hunter green are practical and not as attractive to tsetse flies—common insects in the bush who flock to black and blue colorways. “If you plan to spend time out of the vehicle, on a walking safari, for instance, boots that cover your ankle and high socks are also recommended,” she explains.

While packing light and smart is key, if you are someone who likes to have options, the good news is all of the camps listed in Bradley’s book do regular overnight laundry “and you can always go straight from a walk or drive to dinner, so there is no need for formal clothes or even many changes of clothes,” she explains. “In the bush, you want a comfortable uniform tailored to the elements, and a small selection of high-quality, versatile pieces is the way to go.” Specifically, Bradley suggests you bring only one or two of these daytime, layerable uniforms as they will be washed daily.

Almost all lodges have swimming pools, so sandals, a bathing suit, and a cover-up are also a must. “I like to wear a kaftan around camp between game drives,” says Bradley. “I use packing cubes to keep my bush clothes separate from my city or travel clothes and always have a few great shawls, which can dress up an outfit or keep you cozy around the campfire.”

The only time to consider packing a few dresses or other nighttime looks? If you’re adding other stops to your journey, like Cape Town or South African Wine Country, “which have many fashionable restaurants and bars,” Bradley says.

Photo: Courtesy of Safari Style: African Camps and Lodges

Fill Your Dopp Kit

As far as non-clothing essentials go, aside from the obvious camera (and plenty of chargers), Bradley travels with “a pretty extensive toiletry kit, with everything from burn creams and antibiotics to antihistamines, bug spray with DEET and immunity boosters like oregano oil and tiger balm.” Bradley explains, “Since you spend most of your time outdoors, I bring lots of sunscreens from Dr. Barbara Sturm SPF drops and Trish McEvoy tinted moisturizer to organic mineral powder by Eminence.”

“I find it really liberating to go back to a uniform,” Bradley explains. “I remember when I was in grade school, and we had a uniform, one of the teachers said that the uniform dress allowed you to focus on learning. I feel that on safari, when I return to my bush uniform, that I am free to focus more fully on the environment, the wildlife, and the joy of being in Africa, unencumbered by too many belongings to look after. Part of the joy of safari is stripping away the trappings of civilization and being closer to nature, and stripping down your wardrobe adds to that. The experience is better if what you wear—and what you don’t wear—is in sync with the reason you’re there.”

Here, shop some of Bradley’s favorite items as well as her new book, Safari Style: African Camps and Lodges.

Safari Style: Exceptional African Camps and Lodges by Melissa Biggs Bradley

Tory Burch color-block cotton-voile kaftan

Paravel packing cube quad

Eminence Organic Skin Care Sun Defense Minerals

Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF 50

Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm Instant Solutions BB Cream SPF 35

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Alex Mill Britt jacket in recycled denim

Anatomie Kate skinny cargo pants

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Madhappy classics Mountain socks

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Grenson Nanette boots