Long before I ever visited the Kalahari Desert, I had painted a vivid picture of it in my head. A sprawl of sun-baked plains as far as the eye could see; bashful little desert creatures, and inky night skies flooded with stars—this was the stuff of my dreams. So, when it came time to visit, I decided to fill my stay at the iconic Jack’s Camp with activities to make the most of it: daily game drives, horseback safaris, and quad bike excursions. My packing list would need to abet my adventures: lightweight relaxed-fit pants for the many flights it would take to get there, a foldable hat for the unyielding sun, a quilted jacket for cool evenings, and a stylish swimsuit for afternoons in Jack’s iconic pool tent. Here are some of my must-pack essentials.
Where I stayed
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Tell anyone you stayed at Jack’s Camp and their eyes will widen and jaws drop. This romantic oasis sits in the heart of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, a relic of one of the world’s largest super lakes, and delivers a motherload of mid-century camping glamour. Adorned in rich color and texture, and dripping in historical relics, Jack’s is an anachronistic treasure—and a bucket-list camp for anyone who has ever set their sights on a safari experience in Southern Africa. By day here, there’s places to be and wildlife to see, but at night the camp crackles with campfire and conversation as guests and guides clink glasses and swap stories. Then there are languid afternoons spent in its Arabian-style tea tent, a spread of sandwiches and cakes for company—just one of many, many treats that await at Jack’s Camp.
What I packed
Everlane The ReNew Quilted Mid-Length Liner
A quilted jacket is a great transitional travel staple, and this lightweight, easy-to-pack jacket was perfect for the cooler mornings and evenings of the Kalahari. The military-olive color was the perfect fit-in for the landscape.
Alex Mill Jo shirt
A cool linen shirt in a godsend on a safari—lightweight, breathable, and so chic. I love this relaxed-fit button-down in oatmeal because it pairs well with practically anything.
Athleta Trekkie parachute pant
I wore these on the plane. I wore them on my safaris. One night, when I ran out of clean pajamas, I even wore them to sleep. What makes them a winner? A silhouette with room and a waistband that doesn’t dig into your skin.
Marysia Charleston reversible swimsuit
I’ve always been partial to Marysia’s hand-cut scalloped edges, and own a couple different styles. I love this one because, while it’s a bit spendy, it’s basically two swimsuits in one (it’s reversible!)—and how cute is that seersucker print?
Baboon to the Moon Go-Bag Big (60L)
Fitting eight days’ worth of clothing for multiple use cases was no biggie for this 60-liter duffel. The soft construction makes it perfect for meeting the luggage restrictions of any helicopter or bush plane and its sturdiness ensures it survives virtually anything you throw at it—so you can check it in without a thought.
Clare V fanny pack
A sleek, hands-free bag with roomy interiors for all the essentials, this one travels virtually everywhere with me. It was particularly handy during safari drives when you don’t want extra belongings bouncing around.
Block Shop Temple scarf
A large, lightweight scarf is a great safari accessory that can be used for sun or dust protection (you’ll need it on those quad bikes), and turned into a stylish accessory for dinnertime. This one is block printed in Jaipur, India and colored with nontoxic dyes.
J.Crew packable straw hat
I’ll caveat this by saying, I am not a hat person—so I had to borrow this hat from a friend. Turns out, it’s cute; it fits snug; and it rolls up for easy storage (and reshapes quickly). Plus, it works for any type of trip, whether that's a safari adventure or a beach vacation.
