While much of the artwork produced in Africa today can be purchased and taken home as a commemoration of your travel, some of Africa’s art is much more fixed in its location. One prominent example is the rock art created by the San people, members of a tribe that lived in present-day South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.

In the Drakensberg region of South Africa, visitors can visit these fascinating rock paintings, some of which date back thousands of years.

The Spiritual Importance of San Rock Art

Because members of the San tribe created some of these paintings as recently as 200 years ago, anthropologists have a unique understanding of what the images signified for the San people—and how they connect to other cave paintings around the world.

San rock art often depicts beings that are half-human and half-animal. According to anthropologists, these pictures represent the spiritual journeys undertaken by the medicine men of San tribes. Similar to shamans in Native American cultures, these medicine men would plunge themselves into trances in order to commune with the spirit world on behalf of their tribes.

The depicted transformation into a partially animal state is thought to represent the intense psychic struggle these medicine men underwent on behalf of their tribes as they attempted to affect rains, animal migration patterns, and other important natural forces.

History Captured on Rocks

Another fascinating element of this South African rock art is its ability to capture the changes the San people experienced as white settlers first came to their homeland. While older depictions contain a single color and show large predatory animals in “enemy” roles, newer art includes multiple hues and, eventually, guns in place of big predators.

Image above taken from PBS.org.

Scholars believe these changes reflect the increasing complexity the San people faced when their culture encountered those of Europeans for the first time.

If you’re interested in the history of art, be sure to schedule time to visit some San rock art during your next trip to Africa!

In the third installment of our Unique and Bizarre Accommodations on the African continent, we’ll take a look at two venues that have storied histories—literally. The first, Hatari Lodge, is the renovated home of a German actor who starred in the 1960 movie Hatari!, a film that was shot near the present-day resort.

The second, Shu’mata Camp, is inspired by and designed based on Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Snows of Kilimanjaro.

Hatari Lodge: Hollywood aficionados will appreciate this resort’s legendary history. Located on the outskirts of Arusha National Park and in the home of a star from Hollywood’s Golden Age, this is the place to be for travelers looking for a taste of old Hollywood romance on a traditional African safari.

When you step out onto the property, you’ll feel immediately transformed by the awe-inspiring views of Tanzania that have the ambience of an epic Hollywood setting.

Image above taken from hatarilodge.com

Shu’mata Camp: If you wish you could have gone on an African safari in the 1920s while still enjoying the comforts of modern plumbing and electricity, Shu’mata Camp is the answer to your prayers. It’s no wonder, then, that its name is the Masai word meaning “Heaven,” or “Above the Clouds.”

Perched at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Shu’mata Camp consists of a line of private tent rooms designed in the classic Hemingway style. Each tent includes a dressing table, panoramic gauze windows, a Hemingway-style hanging cupboard, and an en-suite bathroom, and can sleep between one and three travelers. Surrounding the sleeping areas are sweeping views of Masai land, where various wildlife can be seen and heard, depending on the season.

Image above taken from shumatacamp.com

The dining tent of Shu’mata Camp, too, celebrates safari life in the early 20^th Century. Each of its three rooms is devoted to a different historical phase of the African safari: Vintage, Safari Baroque, and Arabian Nights.

Travel Your Dreams

If you could visit one African story or one period in African history, what would it be?

We recently conducted a poll of our social media followers to discover their favorite movies about Africa. We were delighted with the results—and even added a few titles to our own must-watch list! Here are a few to consider when you’re ready to get in the mood for your next trip to Africa.

The Lion King

A retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this animated Disney film won rave reviews after its 1994 release. With a sing-along score and a number of big-name actors (Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, and others), this movie really does have something for the whole family. If you’ve already seen the movie more times than you can count, try catching the Broadway version, which has appeared in cities around the world.

Out of Africa

A story as much about the differences between Europe and Africa as those between men and women, Out of Africa offers striking scenery (both landscapes and actors) alongside a sweeping tale of love and loss. Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, this movie won the Best Picture Academy Award in 1985.

Ghost and the Darkness

This 1996 movie (set in 1898) recounts a dramatized version of lion attacks that occurred during the construction of the African Uganda-Mombasa Railway. The attacks are considered unusual because a pair of lions (dubbed the titular Ghost and the Darkness) attack together, rather than individually. Drama ensues when men’s lives, reputations, and livelihoods are at stake.

Nowhere in Africa

A German film made in 2001, Nowhere in Africa depicts the story of a German Jewish family that flees Europe for Kenya in 1938 to escape encroaching Nazi forces. While the family avoids the immediate danger, more trouble awaits, including difficulty adjusting to life in Africa, the challenges of working a farm, and marital discord for the main characers. A deeply emotional and beautifully wrought story, Nowhere in Africa won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2001.

Catch a Fire

Shot in South Africa, Mozambique, and Swaziland, Catch a Fire captures the political strife of the Apartheid regime by following one man wrongly accused of a political crime. After the man and his family are tortured under false charges, he vows revenge and joins forces with guerilla anti-Apartheid fighters. Chilling and emotionally charged, this movie displays the ultimately redemptive power of forgiveness.

The Gods Must be Crazy

This 1980 comedy makes light of the clashes between African tribal culture and Western culture, which often exist side by side without encountering each other. Three overlapping plots make for zany antics that nevertheless highlight some sobering realities about the African continent.

I Dreamed of Africa

Based on an autobiographical novel of the same name, I Dreamed of Africa tells the tale of an upper-class Italian woman named Kuki, played by Kim Basinger. After divorcing and remarrying, Kuki moves to Kenya with her new husband, but finds herself unprepared for the challenges her new home presents.

Shooting Dogs (Beyond the Gates in the U.S.)

Shot in Rwanda, with many Rwandan crewmembers and actors, this movie follows two Europeans (a Catholic priest and a journalist) living in Rwanda at the time of the Rwandan Genocide. This story is harrowing and based on true events.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments section!

Most people associate Africa with safari vacations—not ones that involve hitting the waves. But South Africa’s coastal geography makes it nearly ideal for water sports, and the country has a rich history of surfing. Here’s a look at South Africa’s surfing legacy and where to catch a wave if you’re traveling there today.

Early African Surfers

According to the website Surfing Heritage South Africa, which documents the nation’s history in waves, the first documented surf expedition in South Africa occurred in 1919, when a Capetown woman met two U.S. Marines in the town of Muizenberg.

Headed home from fighting in WWI, legend has it that the marines taught the Capetown woman how to surf standing up on their Hawaiian-style boards, which was unusual for the time, when most surfers still rode waves stomach-down on boards.

Adapting & Evolving

Throughout the 1920s, South Africans interested in surfing experimented with building boards that mimicked the ones they knew surfers in other parts of the world were using. But because South African surfers lacked access to the lightweight wood that Hawaiian boards were made with, they had to improvise, building surfboards with wooden frames and water-tight canvas centers.

Eventually, swimmers and surfers in South Africa formed life-saving groups and began to tailor their designs to help lifesavers get to struggling swimmers. The various design adaptations, though, eventually led to more advanced surfboards, many similar to those in use today.

Where to Surf in Africa Today

Naturally, South Africa remains a hot international destination for surfers—and other African destinations have gotten surfer shout outs as well. Try visiting one of these on your next trip to Africa:

• South Africa: This country’s extensive coastline includes a number of surfing spots, including Eland’s Bay, Long Beach, Muizenberg (a popular site for swimmers as well), Victoria Bay (good for surfers at all levels), and Jeffrey’s Bay (recommended for experienced surfers). While South Africa isn’t the only surfing hotspot in Africa, its beaches are often the most easily accessible by motor vehicle.
• Angola: Cabo Ledo, a town on the coast of this south-western African nation, boasts surfing and accommodations (though they tend to be expensive). While surfing here may be picturesque, traveling can be hard on vehicles.
• Cameroon: With black sand beaches and spectacular volcano views, the surfing at Limbe, Cameroon, can be breathtaking. But it can also get pretty rainy, so plan accordingly.
• Seychelles Islands: Off Africa’s east coast, this archipelago in the Indian Ocean offers surfing far away from crowds. While surfers can find waves year-round, the prime seasons are between monsoon seasons (March through May and September through November).

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When I was at Duba Plains this past November, I was concerned that the residential lion pride seemed to be breaking apart. My guide, 007, had said that one of the females had broken away with her sub adult cubs and that they were always about 1 km apart from the rest of the pride. I was curious to learn more about the Duba lions and wanted to find out if this female and her sub adult cubs would ever get back together with the pride. The whole dynamics of these prides fascinates me!

With this burning curiosity, I approached my good friends at Great Plains Conservation, Dereck and Beverly Joubert and Caitlin Carter, who were kind enough to share with me their recent observations and experiences with the Duba lion prides.

Reading their observations is a real treat for me and I know it will be for you, as well! For me, the most interesting thing about these lions is that they each have their owner personalities. In today’s blog post, written by Dereck Joubert, Dereck paints a wonderful picture of the Duba lions and how they interact from day to day.

See Derek’s insight below:

We’ve just spent a month in Duba trying to catch up on the lion dynamics and we’re starting to see an interesting trend.

First of all, there were lions everywhere! Looking back at my records it seems that the pride (Tsaro) does something consistently each year, they break up into sub groups in advance of the buffalo calving season. At the moment we have three distinct sub prides: the older females, with four sub adult cubs, one particularly interesting and very robust little female with a round curious face. She broke her wrist (or front ankle) as a cub and now throws the paw while walking, other than that she seems fine. She’s a character all right and just the sort of personality we might have done a film on. She’s not used to seeing our filming vehicle so immediately came over to investigate and even then when I drove off later, got up again to smell the spare wheel. We’ve got two older females one with a lump on her neck that could be a tumor but I’m reluctant to say that because I’ve seen these things heal up in younger lionesses.

Like the Lord of the Rings, this group lives in the Lower World or seems to move mostly in the area south of Sausage Point.

When we started this stint two females and two sub adults (the female we called Iris, because she has a black fleck coming out of the iris in her eye) had just killed a baby elephant. They live in Middle Duba and are the bigger lions in the Tsaro pride. North of there we came across Silver Eye and two females and two sub adults, ironically the grown up Ma di Tau male cub is one of them from what we can see. Silver Eye is amazing. Her eye is worse, but she still hunts well, often leading the chase. She isn’t however getting on well with the females (her sisters) of the other sub groups. And then there is Ma di Tau, and surprisingly she has three new cubs of about 6-months old.

One day we saw all 21 lions (including the male.) At first we were with Silver Eye’s sub group. As it was getting interesting, they ran into the Middle Duba group, the big lionesses came in aggressively (quite possibly because it was a rainy day so no easy scent clues), and Silver Eye came in from the north where the Skimmer Pride usually comes from if they venture onto the island. Silver Eye saw them as being aggressors and she and her small band bolted. The big lionesses chased, and what seems to have happened is one of those things where it was wrong for all the wrong reasons but one way or another the sisters fought and Silver Eye’s group left the island in panic.

Not an hour later we followed the Middle Duba group and they ran into the Lower World lionesses and sub adults stalking the same buffalo herd. They eyed one another for some time (while the buffalo made their escape) and then laid down 1 km apart—very much aware of each other but not greeting. Maybe it had been a hard day already. As we waited, Ma di Tau came out with her cubs, looked around, saw the others, and went in after the buffalo. It was a long way away and only one sub pride saw her, but she seems to be accepted in both sub prides (we didn’t see her interact with Silver Eye’s group but I think she does…she seems to move around the island with some kind of royal immunity).

Image above credited to Alex Walters/Great Plains Conservation

Image above credited to Alex Walters/Great Plains Conservation

Image above credited to Alex Walters/Great Plains Conservation

North of the camp we met up with some Skimmer Pride females (also with cubs) and each night we heard lions roaring to the far south, deep into the interior where we can’t go by vehicle. I suspect these are grown males from the Skimmer Pride in late nomadic phase looking for some territory. The male from the island roars like mad when he is on the island but I noticed that when he crosses the bridge (oh, the bridge has become the crossing place of preference for all lions!) he roars a few times but then stays fairly quiet as he gets close to his boundary on that side.

All of this as I said is fairly consistent with the season. The Duba lions, on average, hunt smaller buffalo between November and February when they are born. Smaller prey means less to go around and so the pride breaks up until they need to start hunting together for larger buffalo. At the same time though there is quite a lot of tension around because of the cubs. We know that we have at least three cub killers now, largely of the older female set. Females have had to stay isolated or with trusted friends or sisters as they bring up cubs, OR they’ve managed to bring up cubs because they hit this sweet spot of seasonal break up in response to the seasonal shifts in the style of buffalo hunting.

Another observation is that, as I’ve written before, prides, like lions themselves, are prone to be born, then bloom and die out. A few years ago I started seeing the first signs of that blooming effect that would lead to Tsaro Pride dying out (and it is usually due to no cubs being brought into the pride by older female mothers) but today, with 11 cubs of different ages, surviving the first critical few months and even into their second years, I can see potential for recruits (like the chubby female cub) being brought into the pride (rather than being expelled as nomads) and breathing life into Tsaro again as the larger hunts begin and the pride needs to work together as a team again. Another scenario ahead might be that because of all the cubs, now doing so well, that two or maybe three distinct prides will form. Silver Eye has a few years left in her and her little group may disappear, but the rest have the makings of good hunting prides on their own. There you have it—it’s a soap opera, isn’t it?

—Derek

Below are some of the pictures I (Sandy) took on my November trip to Duba Plains:

What did you think of this post? We’d love to hear your thoughts in our comments section. And feel free to share it with your followers on Twitter!

I have a real treat for you today! One of our clients who recently returned from South Africa, Rebecca Reynolds of Rebecca Reynolds Consulting, has allowed us to share with you her inspirational story that made her say yes to a trip to Africa.

It is never too late for a fresh start, for personal growth, and for self discovery. Whether it’s the new year that has you craving some change or you have felt deep down in your heart that it’s time for a journey, 2012 provides us with a new chapter in our lives. One that is yet to be written. So I encourage you to read today’s feature article from Rebecca and find your inspiration to say yes to South Africa in 2012.

Feature article written by Hills of Africa Travel client, Rebecca Reynolds of Rebecca Reynolds Consulting:

This time last year, I began my ruminations about turning 50 and what I’d do to mark it.

If I’d been thinking of celebration, I might’ve wished for a surprise party, or a fancy dinner somewhere, or a compendium of memories collected and bound in stamped leather. But my thoughts bent more toward commemoration . . . this birthday would be between me and Me.

For me, 50 marked a moment, not for trumpets and streamers, but for deep quietude, looking into the face of who I am and who I have yet to become. I have little idea how 50 feels—what it looks like or means. I only know that this time calls to me from far away and from deep inside. And the call is as primal as fire, as mysterious as the hermit, as inexorable as time.

When the question first entered my mind—how do I want to mark this milestone?—the answer came quietly: A trip. From this thought seed, from this slip of an idea, the whole thing was begun.

What kind of trip? A big trip. A journey.

What does that mean? To a place I’ve never been before.

Why? To challenge myself. To open myself to a completely new experience.

Where?

A place to breathe fresh and deep the aroma of unknown earth, cradling roots of strange plants, ground into dusty spice and stirred into pots of surprising flavors to my virgin tongue.

A place to open my eyes for the first time to color hues seen only in dreams, to dance to rhythms unfamiliar to my feet but recognized deep down in the ear of my heart.

A place to discover and remember, out of which to begin the next phase of this life.

Of the places I imagined in that first musing, Africa didn’t cross my mind. In truth, I thought more about where I wouldn’t go than where I would. I thought of the places I’ve been before and off the list they went. I thought of places similar to them and they scuttled along too. That left a blank page—a vast whiteness out of which I hoped the place would soon enough draw itself.

I went about my business.

Then one day, a month or so later, on a phone call, the outline first appeared. I was invited to go to South Africa. The tip of a continent, the corner early European explorers persevered in rounding, a place of ancient beauty and painful history.

As I considered South Africa, I struggled to recognize it as my choice. You see, I hadn’t thought much about it. I’d read a novel here and there. In college, I learned of apartheid and the knowledge lodged deep in my gut. Movies and nature shows on life in the savanna stirred the vague hope of safari one day. And most of all, Mandela’s 30-year incarceration ending in his presidency taught me that nothing in this world is permanent, and clinging to “the way things are”—in either complacency or dread—is simply folly. But other than these few markers, South Africa wasn’t much more to me than an outline on a map.

After the call and for the next few months, I went through the motions of considering the decision, which meant coming up with a lot of questions. Why would I go? What would I do? With whom would I go? When would I leave? I talked with people; I gathered data; I read books and looked at maps. But it really boiled down to if I would go or if I wouldn’t. And at one point, I just said yes.

If I’m really frank though, saying yes was simply the moment when “me” caught up to what “Me” had known all along. Of course I was going to South Africa. When, to do what, with whom, and for how long were just details.

Back at home now, I reflect on what a superb lesson this is. It’s the one about saying YES. Choosing yes, without all the conditions, parameters, and details nailed to the wall. The kind of yes that is an act of faith in the goodness, the bounty, the sheer joyousness of life. The yes that sets magic in motion.

When I got to South Africa, a man explained to me that the word “safari” is Swahili for “journey.” It’s used in particular reference to the annual migration of millions of animals from one side of the Serengeti to the other. They make this arduous journey across the vast savanna in search of food, of sustenance, of life. It’s clear to me that my travels from the American continent to the African one was in the same way a safari, a journey from one side of the world to the other, in search of sustenance.

The taste of the new, from its pot mingling with things essential and some familiar, still lingers on my lips.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Reynolds is President and Founder of RRC. She is a highly sought-after consultant, trainer and coach, who specializes in planning, group process, and stakeholder participation. Rebecca brings more than 20 years of experience to her work, as well as a passion for learning, for engaging all kinds of people, and for creating amazing results.

Rebecca’s Website: http://www.rebeccareynoldsconsulting.com

Rebecca’s Blogs: www.rebeccaspeak.wordpress.com and www.rebeccareynoldsconsulting.com/blog

Will you say yes to South Africa in 2012?

On an African safari tour, many travelers find themselves drawn to primates. That’s partly because humans are considered primates and animals in this order often remind us (in funny, poignant, and surprising ways) of ourselves.

So what should you look for during your next trip to Africa? Keep your eyes peeled for these six primates, which compose most of the major primate groups (there are 51 species total!).

Gorilla: Found in tropical and subtropical African forests, gorillas are the largest non-extinct primate species. Gorillas are social animals, and tend to live in troops, which generally consist of one adult male (also called a “silverback”) and multiple females and young gorillas. Some troops include more than one male. Most closely related to chimpanzees and humans, gorillas are vegetarians and communicate through grunts, barks, and deeply resonant burps.

Chimpanzee: The two types of chimpanzees, the common chimpanzee and the bonobo, are the closest living relatives to humans. Like humans, chimps live in large social groups (“communities”) composed of several males and females. Within these groups, a hierarchy of power develops, with one alpha male atop the order and many lesser power ranks below him. The alpha male is not always the biggest or strongest, but instead forges strategic alliances with others who help him maintain his power. Sound familiar?

Black-and-White Colobus: This type of monkey lives in dense African forests, where it has adapted to occupy places that other primates cannot. Colobuses play an important role in spreading seeds throughout their habitats (through their digestive tracts and the act of eating), but are currently threatened by bushmeat hunting. While bushmeat hunting (that is, the hunting of wild game, or animals that live in the “bush”) threatens a number of wild species, many Africans living at the subsistence level rely on such food to live.

Vervet Monkey: Native to southeastern African countries (including Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa), the vervet monkey is small and plain in color (mostly black, white, and gray). One of the vervet’s most fascinating attributes is its warning calls—vervets warn of predators with predator-specific vocalizations. In some situations, mother vervets have been observed chastising their young for giving the wrong warning call!

Baboons: Social animals, baboons live in troops that can range from five to 250 members. A variety of mating and friendship behaviors might take place, but among one of the most interesting is that some male baboons will grab babies during fights to protect themselves.

Galago: Also known as a “bush baby,” this small primate species is nocturnal and known for its unusually strong jumping abilities. While galagos tend to live in groups, these groups usually consist of only males or females. A single male often mates with all the females in an area, and males who have not established territory for themselves might live in “bachelor” groups.

When you’re planning your African safari vacation, be sure to schedule time to observe these amazing, highly developed animals in their natural habitats!

What’s your favorite African primate?

Most people planning a trip to Africa know that many of the large predators on the continent include lions and venomous snakes—but Africa is also home to many deadly creatures that are much smaller (NOTE: these creatures do not pose any serious threat to travelers. This post is intended to simply introduce you to some of these creatures that you will likely not come in contact with while traveling to Africa). Here’s a look at some of the most dangerous tiny creatures that call Africa home.

Six-Eyed Sand Spider: Found in sandy places (including deserts) in southern Africa, this eight-legged creature hides in the sand and strikes when an animal gets too close to its home. The bad news is that its venom can kill a rabbit in a matter of hours, but the good news is that no confirmed human bites have ever been reported. This deadly spider is also mercifully shy.

Image above taken from GoAfrica.about.com.

Deathstalker Scorpion: Located throughout northern African countries, this brightly colored arachnid has the most highly toxic venom of any of its species. While healthy adults are not likely to die from a deathstalker’s sting, the elderly, very young, and those with medical conditions might be at risk. Luckily, a number of European pharmaceutical companies manufacture anti-venoms specifically for deathstalker bites.

Image above taken from PetBugs.com.

Mantella Poison Frogs: Concentrated largely in Madagascar, Mantella frogs have brightly colored skin that alerts other animals and humans to their toxic qualities. While a Mantella frog’s skin contains significant levels of toxins, humans are at little risk because their bright hues make these frogs easily avoidable.

Image above taken from mantella.amphibiancare.com

Blowfish: Known by many names (including pufferfish, toad fish, and sugar toads, among others), this spiky swimmer can be deadly to humans—but only when eaten. Though blowfish are found in some African water bodies, they are not generally served as food in this part of the world. (The Japanese, on the other hand, consider blowfish a delicacy and chefs in Japan train to learn how to prepare it so that it’s safe).

Image above taken from FactZoo.com

Tarantula Hawk Wasp: Technically, this wasp is only deadly to tarantula spiders, but its behavior is too fascinating not to include in this list. Female hawk wasps prey on tarantulas; after stinging them, a wasp drags the paralyzed spider to her nest, where she lays an egg in the spider’s body. The egg matures and hatches in the tarantula, which remains alive the entire time! After consuming the spider’s body for nourishment, the baby hawk wasp emerges. Word to the wise: even though hawk wasps aren’t deadly to humans, their stings are considered among the most painful in the world.

Image above taken from SDRP.org

Staying Safe on an African Vacation

It’s important to remember that deadly animal species live on every inhabited continent—not just in Africa! Part of traveling safely and healthily is learning about the risks you might face on the road—and preparing to keep yourself well.

Loved this post? Check out one of our previous blog posts on Africa’s Most Dangerous Animals Revealed.

To me, the perfect trip is one that is filled with life-changing cultural experiences, allows me to meet locals and international travelers, unfolds at a moderate pace (not too fast and not too slow), allows some level of flexibility, and ignites something within me that I never knew was there before.

If you agree with me about the elements of a perfect trip, then here are some tips to ensure that your future trip to Africa is all that you imagined and more:

Don’t Be Shy: In order to truly immerse yourself into the local culture, it sometimes takes stepping outside of your comfort zone. Start conversations with merchants, restaurant personnel, safari guides, and accommodation staff members. I promise you that by the end of your trip you will think that Africans are some of the most genuine and hospitable individuals you have ever met. In fact, many of our clients return home with a new appreciation for African cultures, new friends and relationships, and a warm feeling in their hearts, thanks to the locals of Africa.

Think New: You wouldn’t visit Paris to go shopping at the GAP, right? No, probably not. You’d want to visit local boutiques, art galleries, and shops that can’t be found in your homeland. This should be your same mindset when visiting Africa. The best way to absorb the various cultures and spark self growth is by trying new things, tasting new dishes, and exploring new places. The mystery of new experiences adds a thrilling element to your trip—and who knows, you might just learn something new about yourself (e.g. that you like tripe or smileys)!

Pick and Choose: Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many individuals. For these travelers, they often think that jam packing their itinerary with stuff they’ve always wanted to do is the best course of action. We have had many travelers come to us looking for a filled-to-the-brim itinerary, and often times, when they return home, they say that they wish they opted for more downtime in their itinerary.

When you’re moving fast, going from activity to activity and place to place, sometimes you miss the most beautiful and finite elements. Taking in your surroundings, enjoying the leisureliness of sundowners on your private veranda, and watching Africa slowly unfold around is you much more moving and enriching than a fast-paced itinerary. Not only can a packed itinerary cause stress, but it also results in zero flexibility with your schedule.

Therefore, when you are in the process of planning your trip, be sure to do your research and ask the advice of fellow travelers and your safari vacation agent.

Capture Moments: Some of the best ways to capture memories of your trip is by writing in a journal each night—describing what you saw and did during the day and your observations—taking photographs of the landscapes, wildlife, and people, and buying souvenirs that resonate with a specific experience you had.

How do you absorb the most culture from your travels?

When packing for your trip to Africa, it is extremely important to note that there are strict weight luggage restrictions enforced on light aircraft transfers between countries. This is to ensure the safety of aircraft passengers. Please read through this document thoroughly to ensure that your luggage is compatible with aircraft luggage restrictions.

These restrictions are enforced for the following reasons:

• Light aircrafts are designed with a maximum body weight and luggage weight allowance.
• Most airfields are over 3,000 feet above sea level and are located in the tropics, and therefore the permissible aircraft carrying capacity is reduced.
• The aircrafts have physical space restrictions.

Depending on where in Africa you will be traveling to and from, the luggage weight restrictions will vary. However, there are some luggage restrictions that apply to ALL light aircraft transfers in Africa, which include:

• On ALL light aircrafts, only soft bags will be accepted—no hard suitcases, as they physically cannot fit into the aircraft. Duffel bags without wheels are preferred. This includes camera equipment and hand luggage. There may be a fee per bag.

• The maximum dimensions of the soft bags are as follows: 25 cm / 9.8 inches wide x 30 cm / 11.8 inches high and 62 cm long / 24.4 inches long (the size of the door of the 206 pod).  Please keep in mind that the baggage compartments on the light aircraft are only 25 cm 9.8 inches high, so the pilots must be able to manipulate the bag into the compartment.  Luggage with wheels also adds to your total weight.  So the rule of thumb for your luggage is: soft, non-rigid bags with no wheels, following the dimensions above.

• Passengers weighing 100kg / 220lbs or more must advise us in advance so an extra seat for the additional weight can be tallied into the package cost for safety purposes.  Please remember that these restrictions are to ensure the safety of our guests.

Below is an image that depicts the proper bag size:

These luggage restrictions may sound very limiting, but bear in mind the following:

• Most safari camps / lodges and hotels provide basic toilet amenities
• Laundry can be done on a daily basis (and many camps provide this service free of charge but hotels do charge a nominal fee)
• Mainly casual clothing is required

In addition to the restrictions above, there are also SPECIFIC luggage WEIGHT restrictions that apply in each country and region of Africa. All of these regulations are strictly enforced. See below for each country’s guidelines and restrictions:

Zimbabwe: The two primary charter flights that fly Zimbabwe are Wilderness Air and Solenta. Both companies have their own weight restrictions. Please see below for details on each:

• Wilderness Air: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person.

• Solenta: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 15 kg / 33 lbs per person.

Malawi: Luggage, including camera equipment and hang luggage, is restricted to 15 kg / 33 lbs per person.

Zambia: The two primary charter flights that fly Zambia are Proflight and Wilderness Air. Both companies have their own weight restrictions. Please see below for details on each: 

• Wilderness Air: Each passenger is allowed one bag weighing up to 20 kg / 44 lbs.

• Proflight: Lusaka-Ndola and Lusaka-Livingstone allows each passenger one piece of luggage weighing up to 23 kg / 50 lbs. All other small aircraft operated routes will allow each passenger to bring one piece of luggage, weighing no more than 15 kg / 33 lbs. Each passenger is allowed 1 carry on item (such as a laptop or purse), weighing up to 5 kg / 11 lbs. Single bags weighing over 32 kg / 70 lbs. will not be flown and must be shipped separately. Additional bags in excess of the allowance mentioned above will cost an additional fee and will be accepted only on a standby basis, based on available space on the aircraft.

Botswana: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person.

South Africa: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted on Regional Air Services charter flights to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person.

Namibia (including the Skeleton Coast Fly-In safari but excluding the Best of Namibia Wing Safaris and Namibia Explorations): Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person. For Best of Namibia Wing Safaris and Namibia Explorations the luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 12 kg / 26 lbs per person.

Kenya: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted on Regional Air Services charter flights to 15 kg / 33 lbs per person.

Tanzania: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted on Regional Air Services charter flights to 15 kg / 33 lbs per person.

Mozambique: Luggage, including camera equipment and hand luggage, is restricted to 20 kg / 44 lbs per person.

Uganda and Rwanda: Luggage requirements vary greatly between fly-in carriers in Central Africa. It is important that you check with your airline carrier as to any luggage size and weight restrictions. Small aircraft transfers within Uganda and Rwanda may have strict luggage weight and size allowances.

For Excess Baggage:

If you wish to bring additional luggage with you that exceeds the allotted weight restrictions for one person, you may choose to purchase another seat.

Additional Packing Tips & Notes:

As no formal clothes are needed throughout most of Africa, we recommend that you limit your luggage to the basics.  More formal attire is usually required only when staying in the more prestigious city hotel establishments or on any of the luxury trains. On a game safari, casual clothing is the order of the day. We will include a suggested packing list in your final documents.

If you will be traveling to multiple destinations, please defer to the lightest weight restrictions for your checked luggage.  Should you need to make arrangements to store or ship excess luggage, we are glad help with making those arrangements.  Please note, there may be additional charges for storing or shipping luggage.

**NOTE: Always check with a Hills of Africa representative prior to departing for your trip to make certain that you have packed within weight restrictions for your booked flights.