LIONESS is fast approaching

To everyone on the LIONESS SAFARI - checked Baggage News – restrictions at JNB airport now in place.

You need to be aware of the new restrictions for checked luggage in South Africa. These restrictions apply to ANY BAG that will go through the checked luggage systems at the JNB airport.
These regulations have also been adopted in Dubai. The airports say bags outside the parameters below often shut down baggage sections of the system and leave passengers and airlines inconvenienced and delayed.

New guidelines
1. Only regular-shaped bags will be allowed at check-in counters
2. This means that the bags must have at least one flat surface to be accepted on the check-in system
3. Round or irregular-shaped bags will not be allowed at check-in counters
4. Bags with longs straps will not be allowed at check-in counters

What “flat” exactly meant was not clear but it is my understanding with some research it means a firm flat base (not just a square duffle with little legs on the bottom that looks flat)
I gathered this was the case from this comment I found online “you can get your bag wrapped and they will insert a hard flat surface base to comply with the standards”

Of course the game lodges and planes want a duffle type bag preferably totally soft. For a long time they have allowed a firm side with wheels as long as the other three sides are soft so bags can be squeezed into planes and safari vehicles.

So the days of light safari duffle bags are gone. I loved my safari bags been using them for years! Ken and I will be purchasing new bags to use for this trip.

Sending this out via email but decided to post here as well.