The Safari Style Voice with Pride Maunatlala

My best safari lodge?

Obviously Singita. The purpose, the places, and the unbelievably warm and inspiring people. Each one of them I am incredibly fortunate to know and create with.

 

My best safari experience? Night camp

I’ve always felt a deep connection to this land, yet the wild still fills me with awe. I often marvel at how people live alongside wildlife, sharing space with creatures so free.

One morning on a game drive, a thought struck me like lightning: What would it feel like to sleep close to lions, elephants, and giraffes? To be part of that wild world? Our guide, sensing my curiosity, shared that he'd often slept under the stars with fellow guides. “It’s the closest I’ve ever been to my true self and my Maker,” he said. He spoke of feeling at peace, fulfilled, and connected to everything around him.

His words lingered, and that night, I really wished I could experience that same sense of connection. Soon, the lodge arranged for us to camp under those very stars. It felt surreal—just me, Lindy, and our guides, gathered around the fire beneath the vast sky.

I’ve never been much of a camper, always worried about what I might forget. But that night was different. For the first time, I felt free. It wasn’t about what I had, but about being fully present in the simplicity of the moment, surrounded by nature.

It made me think—maybe life itself is meant to be lighter than we make it. Maybe we carry too much. Maybe, if we travelled through life with less weight, we’d discover that we already have everything we need.

 

My go to safari outfit? Comfort and flow

When it comes to safari outfits, I keep it simple—comfort and flow with linen and cotton as my foundation. I don’t have a set style, but I always lean toward loose, easy clothing that lets me move freely. Linen and cotton pants are perfect for both the heat of summer and the chill of winter, regulating temperature no matter the season.

I’ve been known to wear midi dresses for camping which is unusual—yet oh so comfortable! I also never leave without my rings and bangles, each one carrying a memory from my travels. And my sling purse? Always by my side, holding the essentials. During the day, I top it off with a cap, and in the evening, a headwrap adds a simple touch of elegance.

 

My safari playlist? The sounds of nature

I listen to hours of music every day—except when I'm on safari. Out there, the sounds of nature become my favourite melody. The quiet between those sounds? It’s cathartic, grounding me in the moment. I’ve also noticed how much sharper my senses are in the wild. Each day, I hear more—the hum of insects, the songs of birds, the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze.

But I do have a playlist for the ride there and back. It’s a fusion of Solange, Sampha, Doechii, Cleo Sol, Mndsgn, Marquis Hill, FKJ, Jonah Yano, Yussef Dayes, Thandiswa Mazwai, Kaytranada, and Robert Glasper. Any track from these artists, and you’re set. Music is life, after all.

 

My safari packing list?

Sunscreen for your skin type and night glasses for the game drives (because insects!!!). The rest is figureoutable.