A well-designed, soft-sided duffel bag is the way to go when climbing on to small propellor planes or helicopters that hop you over to your safari destination. Invest in a bag that is mostly waterproof and can handle the rough terrain that usually goes with the African bush. Make sure your bag is lightweight and meets the size requirements of local domestic aircraft, but also roomy enough to hold what you might need for a week at camp.

Here are our top 3 picks for the best duffel bags to take on safari:

Ashley’s choice Northface Basecamp Duffel (medium)

This is a super-tough expedition duffel, and we love that it’s made with recycled materials and comes in a variety of pop-out colors.

Nick’s choice Patagonia Black Hole Duffel (55L or 70L)

This is Nick’s go-to bag – sturdy, waterproof and roomy enough for a week’s worth of safari gear.

Show up in style – Filson Large Rugged Twill Duffel

You can’t go wrong with this stylish option made of industrial-strength cotton that goes the distance and withstands pretty heavy weather conditions.