The Best Gifts for Travellers From South African Brands

Necklaces and earrings are travel-themed accessories to flaunt your love affair with the world. 

Stoked has a gorgeous selection to choose from including one of my favourite pieces: An African continent pendant.

 Check them out here.

There is something deeply satisfying about scratchable world maps.

Scratch away at all the countries you’ve explored and show off your wanderlust to all your visitors.

It’s the perfect gift for chronic travellers who need a global pandemic to stay in the same country for longer than three months.

Passport holders are one of the best (and uber affordable) gifts you can buy a traveller.

The only reason my passport is in such good condition and isn’t stuck together with sellotape, superglue and hope is because my boyfriend bought me one a few years ago.

A luggage tag is proof that awesome travel gifts don’t need you to take out a second mortgage.

Frequent travellers use their luggage constantly, and a luggage tag can help them quickly identify their bag.

The Joinery (a sustainable South African brand) has a stylish luggage tag made from recycled plastic bottle felt.

Many avid travellers are hardcore hoarders (myself included) whether it’s collecting passports, boarding passes or knick-knacks from far-flung destinations.

That’s why you can’t go wrong with a travel journal. 

Looking for some serious brownie points? Gift your wanderluster with a nifty, yet aesthetically pleasing travel bag.

There are plenty to choose from, but only two leading contenders in my books.

Your first option is Rowdy. Their rucksacks are not only practical and durable but look great in photos around the globe. 

And if you’re looking to seriously spoil someone this festive season, splurge on Rowdy’s duffel bag.

It’s one of my favourite travel companions!

Coming in second is Thandana Bags.

The proudly South African brand creates beautiful cosmetic bags with all the zips and compartments to keep any globetrotter organised.

An under-rated travel gift? Toiletries.

It’s something we all need, but few of us stop to think about the environmental impact of all those tiny plastic travel-sized bottles.

Give an eco-friendly gift basket of shampoo and conditioner bars, body wash jello, dusting deodorant and toothpaste tabs from Lush.

I’m all about packing light and avoiding pesky checked luggage fees which makes a carry-on suitcase the ultimate practical gift.

Not sure which one to pick? I always recommend Escape Society’s range.

From road trips to running around foreign cities, a reusable travel cup is an incredibly useful and affordable travel gift.

Be the hero this holiday season and get one for the coffee addict who can’t stop catching flights. 

Some travellers are super Type A and pedantic.

Then you have travellers like me who are messy, disorganised and almost miss flights.

A travel wallet is a useful gift for making sure nothing gets lost. Well, at least less often than usual.

Okay, before you scoff at your screen and click that little “x”, hear me out.

Wine in a can is a thing, and it’s flippin’ delicious.

I tried out Robertson’s new RW Single-Serve during my Wild x Wanderlust Retreat, and everyone loved it (including the wine snobs!).

Personally, I’m always looking for an excuse to show off my travel addiction. 

I could happily wear a t-shirt or hoodie declaring “physically I’m here, mentally I’m on a beach in Bali” for the rest of my life.

Adventure Baby is a local brand created by my friend Melissa Brown. Browse her collection of hoodies, hats and t-shirts. Just don’t forget to order the right size. ?

Not the perfect fit?

If your traveller spends ALOT of time chasing sunsets, waterfalls and storms, gift them a raincoat from Forecast.

The colours pop in photographs, and it’s a gift any outdoor lover needs.

You know what a traveller always needs? A trusty hat.

Not only do they look fabulous in photos, but you can keep skin cancer and sunburns at bay.

My favourite “Instagram” that I bring on all my safari trips is the “Morgan” from SunHats.

Searching for the perfect gift for someone who is always in the water or likes to sit near water? *cough* me *cough*

Gabrielle Swimwear is the answer to your prayers.

Calling all hikers and landscape photographers who run around in the wilderness in the wee hours of the morning!

This ombre down jacket from Cape Union is:

I don’t put a foot near a plane, train or bus without my wireless headphones. 

It’s an absolute lifesaver for your sanity as well as an excuse to avoid getting into conversations with strange men.

The only downside? It’s one of the few travel gifts which come with a hefty price tag but are so, so worth it.

A travel hammock is a perfect gift for the outdoorsy type.

It’s ideal for hikes, missions into forests, and beach days. 

With a versatile gift like this under the tree, you’ll win the festive season without breaking the bank.

#winning

If there’s one thing I value more than gadgets and delicious pizza from Naples, it experiences.

After all, that’s why we travel.

We don’t sit on planes for 8-hours for stuff, but for all the wonderful new things we get to add to our memory banks.