• I spent three nights at Singita Sabora Tented Camp, a luxury lodge in Tanzania.
• While it was technically a canvas tent, the lodge was filled with high-end amenities.
• My safari experience included welcoming staff, delicious food, and endless animal sightings.

The moment the bush plane touched the runway at the Sasakwa Airstrip in Tanzania, I knew the safari experience at Singita Sabora Tented Camp would be different.

Just 20 minutes earlier, I was at the Seronera Airstrip in Central Serengeti. I joined dozens of safari vacationers waiting for flights out of the national park. I met airport staff at plastic tables, where my name was crossed off a sheet of paper and I was handed a ticket with my flight number written in pen. Among the groups of tourists and safari guides, porters bustled about carting off luggage.

As my plane barreled down a dirt runway, I waved goodbye to a parking lot of 20 safari vehicles and guides waiting for the next batch of tourists.

When I landed at Sasakwa, things were quiet. A serene tent sat empty. Plastic chairs were swapped for cushioned couches. Restrooms were not only stocked with toilet paper but also perfumes and bug spray.

If this was the airstrip, I wondered what Singita's accommodations were like. I quickly discovered the answer.

Singita owns some of the most expensive lodges in the region — a night at Sabora, for example, starts at $2,045. Business Insider received a media rate for a three-night stay. Along with that cost came a safari vacation filled with endless animal sightings, delicious food, and more.

The Singita lodges sit in the Grumeti Reserve

After disembarking the plane, my guide for the morning, Yusef, heaved my 30-pound backpack into our open-air Toyota Land Cruiser, and we were off to Sabora Tented Camp — one of Singita's three lodges in the area.

Yusef gave me a quick rundown: Singita has exclusive use of the Grumeti Reserve, a 350,000-acre private concession on the northwestern border of the Serengeti National Park. The reserve is managed by the nonprofit Grumeti Fund in partnership with Singita. Within the concession, Singita operates three lodges and four private villas and camps.

Minutes later, our conversation was interrupted by a herd of giraffes. As we turned another curve, Yusef pointed to a buffalo carcass. Less than two miles down the road, we spotted another.

It was my fifth day in the Serengeti, but it was my first time seeing a dead animal without swarms of vultures or hyenas. Yusef read my mind.

"Welcome to Grumeti," he said. "There's such an abundance that predators don't even need to finish their kill."

For the next four days, I saw that abundance firsthand. I spent the rest of my time with guide Peterlis Kibwana. With so much land and so few people, we rarely encountered other visitors during our game drives.

We checked in on hyena puppies one evening and sipped sunset drinks near a herd of zebras the next. We observed countless elephants and giraffes, spotted lions, and tracked down hippos.

The animals were incredible, but so was Kibwana's guidance. After learning that I had been in the bush for five days and seen popular African animals, Kibwana shifted our focus to the creatures people sometimes miss on a safari.

On our first afternoon, we pulled over to watch a leopard tortoise scurry through the grass. We gasped as we spotted a martial eagle fly away with its prey. Kibwana identified countless birds: grey-breasted spurfowl, Coqui francolin, and superb starlings. Watching these smaller animals offered a new perspective on the Serengeti.

Each game drive ended with drinks in the bush. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I battled a mix of emotions: I didn't want to leave the wildlife, but I knew I was heading back to one of the most luxurious properties I'd ever visited.

The Sabora camp consists of nine canvas tents

Singita's properties, which range in cost, are some of the most expensive lodges in the region. For instance, its newest lodge, Milele, costs upward of $35,000 a night.

In 2024, guests at Sabora paid between $2,045 and $2,975 per person, depending on the season. I visited during October, where rates were $2,585 a night. The price includes meals and beverages, daily game drives, laundry service, and road transfers between the Sasakwa airstrip and the lodges.

I was surprised when I arrived at my canvas tent for the first time.

From the outside, the tent is simple. Canvas panels stretch across a metal frame. From the front, there aren't any windows into the tent, and the space didn't look particularly large.

Stepping inside was a different experience. The open-concept tent was far larger than I had guessed. The back walls of the tent were a combination of screen and glass, ushering in plenty of sunlight.

A bedroom area had a large bed and two leather chairs. There was a kitchenette and living area, along with a closet and a massive bathroom with a two-sink vanity, standing tub, and shower. Attached to the tent was an outdoor shower, meditation platform, daybed, and alfresco dining area.

"The style and design here is very straightforward compared with other lodges," Hamisi Abdi, Sabora's assistant lodge manager, told me one morning. "It's a tented camp, but it's in a modern vibe."

What stood out was the attention to detail. Local art was featured on the walls, a stocked pantry offered sweet and savory snacks, and bathroom amenities like bath salts and toothpaste were within arm's reach.

It was impossible not to relax. Between a comfortable bed and chamomile tea waiting for me after dinner each night, my three nights at Singita was the best sleep I had during my 20-day trip.

Abundance defined my stay

As I left Singita after my third night, I reflected on Yusef's original mention of abundance. It was everywhere at Singita.

Beyond game drives, wildlife can be spotted throughout the day since Sabora is unfenced. On two of my three nights, I safely encountered lions prowling the grounds — once with a guard and the second seated in the dining area.

Abundance continued outside my tent. The lodge's main camp had plenty of places to relax. Each evening, guests gathered around a communal fire to sip cocktails and share stories from the day.

In the morning, tables were placed in the grass for breakfast and lunch. A small pool with daybeds was nearby, and a fitness center and spa were a short walk away.

The all-inclusive dining was also impressive. Singita's executive chef, Mia Neethling, explained that the lodge's kitchen revolves around a "deli" concept. Throughout the day, a small deli was stocked with salads, fruits, yogurts, desserts, fresh juices, and drinks so guests could dine at the lodge, in their tents, or out in the bush with their guides.

Plated meals were also served three times a day, with ingredients grown by farmers in nearby villages.

My days were filled with highlights beyond the traditional game drive. I spent a morning on a guided walk through the bush and an afternoon visiting the nearby community, both of which have additional costs. If my stay had been longer, I could've commissioned a hot air balloon ride, booked spa treatments, and spent longer at the pool.

It wasn't just what Singita offered; it was how they offered it. At times, it felt like the staff could read my mind. Shafuu, my waitress, quickly learned my taste preferences and made suggestions, like trying the fish fritters. Another night, the lodge's sommelier picked wine pairings for each course of my meal.

Three days passed by too quickly, and as I sat on a wicker couch waiting for my flight out of Sasakwa, I reflected on what made the lodge worth the price.

Hearing lions roaring at night and antlers colliding in the morning from my king-sized bed was magical. Eating meals cooked with passion was unforgettable. And getting into the bush with Kibwana was thrilling.

"We were in such a beautiful place," Kibwana told me. "That's what makes this place so special."

I couldn't agree more.

• I've taken a handful of economy long-haul flights but never loved the traditional travel pillow.
• So, I'm determined to find the viral accessories that actually work.
• I tried a foot hammock and an inflatable travel pillow. In the future, I'll only pack the hammock.

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again: Long-haul flights suck. Long-haul flights in economy suck even more.

While it's a privilege to travel and explore destinations all around the world, getting there isn't always easy.

I'm clearly not the only one who thinks so. A quick search on Amazon shows over 10,000 results for travel pillows, and the market has expanded beyond the traditional crescent-shaped neck pillow. There are inflatable options, foot hammocks, compression socks, eye masks, and more.

As someone who has embarked on plenty of long-haul flights, I've set out to make the experience more bearable — and figure out which of the tens of thousands of plane accessories actually make a trip more comfortable.

I tested two viral products this year: a foot hammock and an inflatable pillow. Here's which one is permanently on my packing list.

TikTok convinced me to ditch the typical travel pillow

I've had my fair share of issues with the circular travel pillow. The few I've tried never sat high enough on my shoulders. The result left me craning my neck and in pain.

For years, I booked window seats, bundled up jackets as pillows, and used plane walls as my support.

The system led me to my first viral product: the foot hammock.

I often wanted to scrunch up into a ball in my window seat. I longed to press my knees against the seat in front of me or dig my feet into the plane seat pocket, but I also wanted to avoid annoying the person in front of me.

With the foot hammock, I could wrap a strap around my tray table and position the hammock so my knees could hug my chest. In this system, my weight pressed down onto the floor versus against the seat in front of me.

I used the hammock on a 10-hour flight to Switzerland and loved it. It was easy enough to use, and when I wanted my feet on the ground, the product was so small that it didn't take up space. Plus, the one I bought off Amazon from the brand Zoklu cost just $9.

Now that I had figured out comfort for the lower half of my body, I was ready to figure out a replacement for my bundled-up jacket.

Another viral product I had eyed for years was the cube-shaped inflatable travel pillow.

Instead of leaning to the side, the traveler places the pillow in their lap or on a tray table and leans forward. I thought I'd prefer this sleeping position over craning my neck, so I went to Amazon and purchased the $21 Kimiandy inflatable travel pillow.

Well, it was a purchase I regret. I used the pillow for 13- and 15-hour flights and my biggest complaint was its size — it was enormous.

I was lucky to have empty middle seats when I tested the product, but if a passenger were next to me, it would've been impossible not to bump them with the pillow. Since there wasn't enough space to put the pillow by my feet, I also needed to inflate and deflate it throughout the flight, which felt like an unnecessary hassle.

Of course, no passenger is the same. Plenty of positive reviews highlight why people love the inflatable pillow.

"It has completely changed flying for me," one person wrote. "It is decently compact, inflates with about 4-5 breaths, feels durable, and supports my head/neck just right."

Meanwhile, others didn't love the foot hammock. In reviews, some mentioned that the hammock wasn't large enough for both feet and might not be the best product for taller people.

Each accessory has its positives and negatives, but I'm figuring out what I love and hate. I'll try more flight accessories in the future, but my foot hammock will be on my packing list.

• I spent eight days on a safari in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.
• I thought packing for the trip involved a strict color palette and rugged outdoor clothes.
• I'm glad I had items like jackets and binoculars, but I'd do some things differently for future trips.

Packing for a 20-day trip, regardless of location, is a challenge.

Packing for a 20-day trip to three destinations is even harder.

And fitting all your clothes in a soft-sided bag weighing less than 33 pounds feels impossible.

But that was my task for my first trip to East Africa, where I spent eight days on a safari in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.

I managed to fit it all in a backpacking pack, but not without making a few mistakes. Take a look at what I did right, what mistakes I made, and what I'd pack for future safaris.

I almost skipped packing binoculars because of the added weight. I'm glad I didn't.

My bags weighed 31 pounds the night before my trip. Most of the small-plane bush flights I was about to board had weight restrictions of 33 pounds.

If I wanted any souvenirs, I'd be tight for space. I eyed what I could leave behind and initially considered ditching the pair of binoculars I had packed.

Ultimately, I took out a few pairs of shorts instead, a choice I'm thrilled I made. It's not guaranteed that your safari lodge will have binoculars for guests, but having a pair enhances the entire experience.

Sure, I got close to lions and elephants from my safari vehicle, but a pair of binoculars could showcase details — like whisker patterns, bird feathers, and skin textures — that I couldn't see from the car.

For future trips, I'll be investing in an even nicer pair — and making sure there's enough room in my bag.

Bug spray and sunscreen were a necessity.

A few days before my trip, I spoke with Meg van Niekerk to discuss my trip's final details. As a safari expert for Go2Africa, van Niekerk knows just what people need for a safari trip.

"Leave your perfume at home," she said. "Your DEET cream becomes your safari perfume."

DEET is the active ingredient in most bug sprays, so van Niekerk stressed that I should pack bug spray and sunscreen for my trip.

I was glad I did. The Serengeti sun was harsh, and even on shorter safari drives, I could feel my face burning. Meanwhile, bug spray gave me some added reassurance against malaria.

While some lodges provide bug spray and sunscreen, I was glad I didn't rely on others and packed my own.

Layers were useful for chilly mornings and hot afternoons.

Before spending a week in the Serengeti, I pictured long days in the sun, afternoons driving down dusty roads, arid climates, and sweat.

Thankfully, I was smart enough to check the region's weather, where lows dipped into the 50s.

As someone who hates the cold, I knew I'd need more than the tank tops and T-shirts I originally planned to pack.

For this trip, I made sure I had a sweater, puffer vest, lightweight button-downs, tank tops, T-shirts, shorts, pants, and rain gear.

I was thrilled I had options throughout the trip. Mornings and evenings in the bush are chilly, afternoons are scorching, and some afternoon showers also hit.

Having a variety of clothes for all temperatures and weather was key to being comfortable.

I would change one thing about the layers: I'll skip packing base layers next time.

Packing layers was key to my successful safari wardrobe, but surprisingly, I didn't wear any of the light, long-sleeved shirts I packed.

That's because the temperatures changed drastically in the Serengeti. When it was chilly in the mornings, I needed heavier layers like jackets and sweaters. When the sun finally came up, it got hot quickly. Instead of wanting a tight, long-sleeved layer, I opted for looser button-downs.

Next time, I'd skip packing base layers altogether.

I stressed far too much about only packing neutrals.

Everything I saw, read, and heard leading up to my safari trip emphasized the need to pack neutral colors.

Olives, tans, browns, and khakis were good. Blues and blacks were a no-go since those colors attract tsetse flies, which carry a sleeping sickness disease.

Meanwhile, bright colors can alarm and scare off animals.

As someone whose wardrobe consists of 80% black clothing, discovering this was a major stressor, and I ended up on a shopping spree before my trip.

But when I spoke to van Niekerk right before my trip, she reassured me that safari attire is much more casual and flexible than I had read online.

Her advice is to pack what you already own. Don't stress too much if you don't have a complete khaki-colored wardrobe. Instead, prioritize neutrals where you can. She added that you don't need to avoid colors completely.

Besides a walking safari, there was never a time when I felt like the color of my clothing would have impacted my trip or animal viewing. By the end, I regretted buying clothes I might not wear again.

Similarly, my packed clothes focused on the outdoors when I should've prioritized comfort.

"This might change your whole packing list, but I actually take a lot of dresses," van Niekerk said. "You want to be comfortable."

As we chatted via video, I eyed my packed bag. It was stuffed with hiking pants, sweat-wicking athletic shirts, and hefty khaki cargo pants.

My focus had been on packing clothes for the outdoors, but van Niekerk reminded me that much of a safari vacation involves a lot of lounging — you're often sitting in a safari vehicle or hanging at a lodge.

"People are dressing like they're rangers going into a park. You're on vacation," she said.

After our call, I swapped a few pairs of pants for a dress and squeezed in a pair of sandals. I'm glad I did.

While I did need closed-toe shoes for a walking safari, there were days when I only wore sandals. The same goes for my clothing. I did need some pieces designed for hiking, but most of the time, I could prioritize comfort.

If I were to pack again, I'd listen to van Niekerk even more with a packing list full of dresses and comfy clothes.

My biggest packing mistake was the cash I brought.

Tipping is the norm across most of Africa.

Travel agents and outlets like Go2Africa have outlined the standards of what to tip, so figuring out the currency and how much cash to bring wasn't difficult.

What I didn't know is that people prefer (and sometimes require) new, undamaged dollars.

When I landed in Tanzania and went to pay for my first taxi ride, the driver refused my $10 bill — it had a small tear in the middle.

For the rest of the trip, I sorted out my nicest dollars to give to lodge staff, safari guides, butlers, and drivers. When I landed in Uganda for the second portion of my trip, the guidelines were clear, "Please be aware that only post-2006 US Dollar bills are acceptable. Bills should be in excellent condition with no tears, stains or markings," my safari outfitters website said.

Next time, I'd make sure my bank was giving me new money for tips.

Small items like a reusable straw and packs of tissues will be in my backpack for the next trip.

Thankfully, the lodges I stayed at had almost everything I needed. Most had reusable water bottles, bug spray, and sunscreen ready.

There were just a few small items I wish I had packed.

For example, I would have loved to have a reusable plastic straw. Safaris are bumpy rides, which means drinking out of a water bottle's open mouth was nearly impossible. A reusable straw would've allowed me to drink while we were on the move.

There were also a few times I used public restrooms — at airstrips and park entrances — where there wasn't toilet paper. A pack of tissues would've solved that problem.

Considering my biggest mistakes were forgetting a straw and not having enough dresses, I'd say packing for my first safari was a success.

The safari experience was much more casual than I anticipated.

Between the clothing and lodges stocking necessities, it was hard to make any significant packing mistakes.

For a future safari, I'll prioritize comfy clothes, packing new money, and having a reusable straw handy.

• My journey from Denver to Zanzibar, Tanzania, took about 33 hours and included four flights.
• It was one of my longest journeys, and I searched for ways to make it bearable.
• The best thing I did was get a credit card with lounge access.

When I landed in Tanzania, fellow travelers, lodge staff, and safari guides were amazed that I had made it all the way from Colorado.

When I mentioned that the trip took over 30 hours, they were stunned.

Having crossed oceans and continents to get to destinations like Japan and New Zealand, getting to Tanzania didn't seem all that different.

When I booked my flights and realized I'd have three layovers and four flights over 33 hours, I set out to make the journey more bearable.

I bought a new travel pillow, downloaded podcasts and shows, and wore comfy outfits, but the best thing I did was get a travel credit card.

I got a credit card with airport lounge access

Before heading to Tanzania, I had visited an airport lounge once on my way to New Zealand. My seven-hour layover was filled with the comforts of prosecco, ramen, and comfy seating.

It felt like a luxury, but as someone who shows up to airports right on time, prioritizes nonstop flights, and tries to travel as cheaply as possible, I wasn't sure paying hundreds of dollars for a credit card would be worth the airport lounge access.

Then, I looked into options, and it became clear that the perks outweighed any annual fees.

I settled on the Capital One Venture X card. It would give me access to Capital One lounges and a Priority Pass membership, which includes lounges around the world.

The annual fee is $395, but the perks include a $300 travel credit. Since I travel often, it felt like the card's fee was closer to $95. I figured I'd easily eat $100 worth of food in the lounges over a year.

Other perks, such as access to luxury hotels and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit, helped me justify the credit card fee.

I likely ate $100 worth of food on my round-trip flight

I kicked things off with a five-hour layover in the Washington Dulles International Airport. I pulled up my Priority Pass app and looked at the lounge options near my gate.

I had three to choose from and ended up at the Etihad lounge. Without the card, entrance into the lounge would have cost $75.

I had a breakfast spread of smoked salmon, bao buns, pastries, and access to a full bar. I also had comfy seating — much nicer than the leather benches at my gate.

While guests are allowed to visit the lounge for three hours, I was there early in the morning, and no one seemed to mind that I was there for closer to four.

For the rest of my journey, I made shorter stops in lounges to grab quick bites and use the restrooms.

For example, I realized I needed drinking water and a bathroom when I landed in Ethiopia. I initially went to the airport's public bathroom, but a line stretched around the corner. So, I pulled up my Priority Pass and found a lounge nearby. I popped in, used the bathroom, and grabbed a snack and a water bottle. The 15-minute trip saved me time and money.

Some lounges, like the Capital One lounges, had to-go food I could eat during my flight. At others, the staff made sure that I knew when my flight was boarding, so I never feared missing the plane.

If I had longer layovers, I would've taken advantage of the showers at some lounges.

The perks were basic, but having a peaceful place to rest between flights, people to update me on departures, and plenty of food and drinks set me up for success on the long journey.