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Very comprehensive packing list - almost ready to go!

Very comprehensive packing list - almost ready to go!

Old May 9th, 2006, 06:32 PM
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Very comprehensive packing list - almost ready to go!

Well, here it is – the comprehensive packing list that I said I would post for calliec and others. I have gathered, laid out, weighed, cried, re-weighed, culled, cut and re-weighed again, cheered, and I think I HAVE DONE IT! Or, rather I am close – a couple of pounds over only. If someone sees something I absolutely won’t need – please tell me – this is my 1st safari. Oh, other than the very teeny tiny drip coffee maker that weighs ONLY 1 lb 2 oz – we just can’t do without that very first cup of coffee before we get dressed! Or, if I am missing something, please let me know!
CLOTHES (for me – DH doesn’t believe in pre-planning – but his will be similar):
- 4 t-shirts
- 2 short sleeved shirts
- 1 long sleeved shirt
- 1 Tilley safari vest – very light weight only about 6 pockets
- 1 fleece hoodie – very warm
- 1 pack-in-pocket pouch rain/wind jacket
- 1 pr convertible pants
- 1 pr capris
- 1 pr shorts
- 1 pr slippers
- 1 pr Rockport closed-in shoes
- 1 ½ pr pyjamas – one top, one drawstring long pants, 1 shorts
- 2 pr socks
- 4 pr quick dry underwear
- 2 pr throw-a-way undies for travel days there & back
- 1 bathing suit
- 1 cover up
- 1 pr gloves for balloon ride
- 1 Tilley hat

All of the above weighs 13 lbs – added to the 8 lbs that the empty bags weighs makes 21 lbs.
All of the t-shirts, pants, capris convertibles, vest & shorts are khaki, olive green, or that awful ‘cappuccino colour’ which is between an olive and a brown.

I will wear on the plane something nicer for our two days in London – comfy black pants, nice blazer, Coolmax t-shirt, Mephisto sandals.

Now here’s the complicated part – ‘THINGS’:
PERSONAL TOILETRIES: only basic stuff, all in travel size containers in a very SMALL toiletries bag that can hang in case of no room in bathroom! Includes a very small washcloth and small soaps just in case.
OTC DRUG STUFF: Band-Aids, Gravol, Visine, Chapstick, Imodium, Contact C, throat lozenges, Halls, Advil, Benadryl, Neosporin, and non-drowsy anthistamine.
SUN & BUG STUFF: Muskol (a walloping 95% deet), OFF wipes, face nets, Afterbite, anti-itch cream, SPF30, Aloe ice for burns, small ‘sweat’ towel, cortate cream in case Afterbite doesn’t work on African bugs
BUSH LOO STUFF: 2 travel TP rolls, 'waste' baggies, wet naps, antiseptic wipes, Purell waterless stuff
LAUNDRY STUFF: tube of sink wash, rubber stopper, braided clothes line (needs no clothespegs), laundry sack, 3 TIDE TO GO pens (I'm a slop), swimsuit wash and travel size Wrinkle Free.
BOOKS & WRITING STUFF: animal field guide, 2 paperback books, crossword puzzle book, small clipboard, journal, field notebook, small notebook, pencil case kit (with small tape, small travel stapler, highlighter, glue, 3 pens, pen refills, pencil & refills, eraser refills, ruler, white out, paper clips & elastics), small note cards with envelopes for tips for drivers & guides (rest of tips are prepaid by Micato), very small FX/regular calculator, cheap dollar store plastic file pouch for any papers I may need to take or get while there.
SECURITY: colourful zap straps for luggage on the airplanes, small clippers to clip zap straps, under the shirt waist money pouch, small zippable document/money holder to put in the front desk safes where available, travel purse for London and flights there & back, luggage locks for the camps/lodges.
COMFORT: 2 airline neck pillows, eye shades for the flights, 2 Magellan’s inflatable cushions for those very bumpy roads, ear plugs and throw away airline socks in case we go into any mosques in Zanzibar that have ‘outside courtyards’ (bad memories of pigeons in the courtyard of the Jamid Mosque in India).
GIFTS: Vancouver baseball hats for the drivers/guides, nail polish and a ‘Made-In-Canada’ leather purses (they are very light – very flat, not big) for the woman in their lives, Canada pencils, pins and fun glitzy stickers for the kids in their lives. An organizer for Kennedy (independent Nairobi guide/driver), bath stuff for his wife and a goody bag filled with a teddy bear, chocolates, nail art, small bath stuff, pens & pencils & pencil crayons and candy for each of his 2 daughters.
CAMERAS: Nikon D70S, 18-70 lens, 70-300 lens, SB 800 flash, small Manfroto tripod, bean bag, polarizing filters, UV haze filters, flash cards (3 I think), Epsom wallet for storing the photos, extra batteries, and my trusty Olympus 140 (film) zoom point & shoot. Oh, and 42 rolls of film for that camera – I still love the idea of film!
MISCELLANEOUS:
-4 small pkgs of Kleenex
-backpack that folds up into one of its pockets
-2 water bottle holder straps
-2 lexan coffee cups with a pound of Starbucks coffee, VERY tiny small drip coffee maker, a small pouch with creamer, sugar & some tea bags
-converter with the two adaptors for the area and a very small multi-plug outlet (3 outlets on it)
-2 binoculars
-travel alarm clock
-small travel umbrella
-ziplock bags of all sizes
-bubble wrap for small ‘fragile’ purchases
-extra batteries of anything we have with batteries
-suede shoe brush and small shoe sponge of the hotel variety
-extra glasses & sunglasses, and sunglass cords
-2 travel fans for Zanzibar
-small travel-size spray sanitizer (you never know)
-travel lint roller
-really small basic sewing kit
-travel roll of duct tape (no hole in middle – it’s ALL tape!)
-Micato issued flashlights/reading light
-that really cool ‘owl’ card magnifying reader with the light you see on TV
-and, last but not least, 2 lbs of Maynard’s wine gums (candy).-

All of the above items together that will go into our duffle bags weighs 25 lbs – split between our two bags at 13 lbs each (give or take) will put our duffles at about 34-35 lbs. Will anyone sue me for 2 lb?
Jim will carry the 10 - 12 lb of digital camera stuff as his carryon, I will carry a small shoulder bag with our prescription meds, my films, the wine gums , my journal book and notebook, paperback book for the plane and the ticket pouch, my camera, as well as my travel purse.

Not counting in our weight will be a dark blue duffle bag supplied by Micato for their America Shares program. They have built an orphanage somewhere in Kenya that has, at any one given time, 200 kids in it. The send us the empty bag – we fill it full of stuff for the kids – school supplies, toiletries, drawing stuff, sewing stuff like needles, thread, buttons, zippers, clothes (used is great) for the kids, medicines, etc. I had a blast filling it – shopped at Value Village thrift store for the clothes and the dollar store for the school and art supplies, raided our sewing factory (one of my bookkeeping jobs is at a clothing manufacturer) and gave up some of my ‘bear’ collection. It weighs 45 lbs – but will not go any further than Nairobi, so we don’t have to worry about it except for international weight.
So, what do you think – are we all set?
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Old May 9th, 2006, 06:43 PM
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Lynda,

I am most impressed! I'm going to copy this. And minus the wine gum and coffee (um, you're taking coffee to KENYA?) and slippers I should be just fine.

I can't tell you how excited I am for you. What a fabulous trip you'll have. Thanks for sharing this comprehensive list for the rest of us slackers.
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Old May 9th, 2006, 06:47 PM
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Oh, and also, although you are no doubt much classier than I am, I'd probably ditch the:

-suede shoe brush and small shoe sponge of the hotel variety
-2 travel fans for Zanzibar
-small travel-size spray sanitizer (you never know)
-travel lint roller

Mostly because I always tend to forget I even have all those itsy-bitsy things when I'm away.
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Old May 9th, 2006, 06:58 PM
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And yet again: I showed this to my friend, and we agree: more socks! Just thin cotton ones, but you're going to want to keep your ankles covered in the evenings.

Pepto or something else milder than Immodium in case you have minor stomach upset.

And by the way, my friend is enamored of all your laundry pack stuff. I'm of the "Oh, I'd just bring more socks and underwear and wouldn't bother with the soap, clothesline, etc." camp. So different strokes on that one.
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Old May 9th, 2006, 07:58 PM
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Hi Lynda,

Yes a very comprehensive packing list! For the first trip I certainly did overpack, clothes and bits & pieces. Now I am (or like to think I am) very careful in not overpacking, have to be this June as I have a 10kg weight restriction. I also do my own washing each day, so I have a 2 tshirt limit, and a better one for night, though I rarely change for dinner. But I looked at the places who are off to and they seem large and more upmarket, so maybe they do more of the dress up thing at night. I only ever take summer pj's as rooms are always warmish, and I would not take slippers. I take only 2 pr socks and to me that is fine. I have only been to Kenya and Tanzania in the warmer months, so I do not know what it will be like in winter, but in South Africa in July, I would have 2 pr of gloves and a scarf and beanie and a balaclava. The wind factor in an open vehicle first thing in morning and when the sun goes down is not something to underestimate.
I am on certain amounts of medication, and of course I have to take that, but otherwise only bandaids, antiseptic and panadol (for headaches). Other stuff like imodium I never used and most of the camps have something similar, not that I have ever needed it. One thing I always carry, is clean needles. Do take sunscreen. I use bug spray provided. I always have antiseptic wet ones and tissues for the comfort stops. For laundry, I take 2 cakes of laundry soap.

You do have a lot of things that you think you may need, but experience will show you that you can do without. If all of your stuff weighs 13 lbs that gives me great hope for my luggage weight staying around 22 lbs.

You will use a lot less than you think! Good luck with the packing but you really seem to have it under control and keep the list and revise it when you get home, and delete as you think necessary. I have a summer and winter list and it makes the whole job easier without a doubt!

Kind regards,
Kaye
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Old May 9th, 2006, 08:11 PM
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very good, but do you really need a stapler, ruler, white out, glue, calculator and paper clips while on safari? I'd leave all that out and free up a pound or two. just your books, a few pens and pencils should do it. Be careful with the 95% Deet, especially around your face. Get some Airborne to take before/during flying to prevent catching a cold. I agree with Leely-more socks! Even with soaking, the African soil doesn't seem to come out. Have a great trip, you're going to love it, and to think, next trip you won't have to fret so much! Travel safe!
Dennis
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Old May 9th, 2006, 09:22 PM
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btw-Happy 30th Anniversary! What a place to spend it, huh?
Dennis
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Old May 9th, 2006, 10:04 PM
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I was looking at my own packing list recently and decided to only take 2 t-shirts based on the reasoning that I always buy t-shirts when I'm on vacation, so I'll just buy a couple while in Tanzania and wear them.

Also, I tend to shop for used paperbacks before any long trip. That way, when I'm done, I just leave them behind without having worried about spending a lot.
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Old May 9th, 2006, 11:03 PM
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I'm a morning coffee drinker too......i'm very very happy with what is provided in all camps across Africa.

Take the candy, if you need to.

Hari
 
Old May 9th, 2006, 11:18 PM
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Keep the laundry kit...you'll have to wash your own underwear. The braided line works quite well, by the way. You should have clips on the end, however, as you won't find many places to use suction cups. Forget the coffee kit...you'll probably be awakened each morning with a soft "Jambo!" and a cup of coffee or tea delivered by a camp employee. I would also agree that you've got too many shirts and not enough socks. You can get laundry done anywhere. If the slippers are of the bedroom variety, I would exchange them for a pair of rubber thongs. You can use them in your tent or room at night and also at the pool, should you go swimming.

I don't know how you would use the umbrella. It wouldn't be practical in the game drive vehicle. If the rain jacket isn't sufficient, perhaps a small, inexpensive poncho would be more usable. Just toss on the poncho and keep your camera gear under it. That saved the day (and camera) for me in Botswana this February.

Take all the sundries you mentioned. If you or a fellow traveler gets sick, they can be a trip-saver. Don't forget Dramamine or the equivalent, as it can get bumpy over the North Atlantic. You might also consider a sleeping aid.

I found that attaching a small caribiner on my camera or day bag came in handy. I used it to clip my Tilley hat by its strap to the bag when I wasn't wearing it.

Place a small blank sticker on each film roll. Number and label them as you finish each roll. Those zebras can all start to look alike after a while!
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Old May 10th, 2006, 03:43 AM
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Hey Lynda!
Woo Hoo! Can't wait to meet you in London soon!

My thoughts:

For laundry, I just took one type only of travel wash liquid - most camps had some available for us anyway so I didn't use it often and it was only for underwear/ swimsuit - the rest of our clothes we put into camp's laundry system. Unless you're intending to wash all your clothes and not just undies, do you need wrinkle free stuff, special swimsuit wash etc? I didn't even take a clothes line - we just hung our undies around the tent on the towel rails and backs of chairs outside on the verandah if need be! As for a laundry bag, I just took a few plastic carrier bags - take up next to no space at all...

I'm with Dennis. I don't think you're going to need so much stationery!! Why so many different types of journals/ notebooks - on the 9 week Africa trip I took 3 identical journal notebooks and used the back pages of whichever one was current to make any field notes during the day that could then be written up properly in the main journal entry made at the front. What is the clipboard for? And I'm definitely not clear on the purpose of the stapler, highlighter, glue, tape, refills, erasers and so on... I doubt you'll want to waste precious trip time assembling your trip scrapbook - any spare time you'll either catch an extra nap or spend it enjoying the environment. Take enough pens or pencils to last you for the trip - and if you run out I'm sure the camps will have pens you can have or buy.

In terms of tips, I just took a pack of envelopes, though note cards are a nice touch.

Other than that, great and thorough list...

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Old May 10th, 2006, 03:47 AM
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PS Unless you're wedded to the Starbucks coffee brand, you could skip that too - my husband loves his coffee and was perfectly happy with the coffee provided in African safari camps...

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Old May 10th, 2006, 04:36 AM
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Hi Lynda,
I agree with the coffee removal. We did get coffee/tea and bisquits delivered to our tent each morning. You'll have to ask at the Sopa for am coffee and possibly other similar lodges - they will do it. Your coffee will be brought to you with warmed milk and nice brown sugars - delish.

We just draped our drying linens on the shower rail etc. Most camps seem to have soaps. Rather than toilet paper we just used all purpose facial wipes but really only used the back of the land cruiser loo, once.

Ditch the antihistimine if also bringing benadryl - you can purchase a non drowsy benadryl. Don't think you'll need a face net. Cortisone cream .1% will surfice for all burns, stings and itchy owies etc. I do believe, but check that most of the vehicles do have first aid kits.

Sorry to be a slasher but do save room for all those souveniers - less is more when shlepping.
Enjoy!
Sherry
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Old May 10th, 2006, 05:09 AM
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Coffee? Please!
You're going to two countries that probably produce the best coffee anywhere in the world. And compared to Starbuck's are pure gold. They even sell instant Kenyan/Tanzanian coffees if you wish to bring some home (besides, of course, their regular ground coffees. Admittedly, decaf is difficult to find, if at all; unless you only drink decaf... leave the coffee and machine at home. You can put your order in after dinner for your next morning's beverage of choice.

While I've had a script of Cipro for every trip I've taken anywhere, I've only used this once... and that was in France; never in Africa. Nor any other tummy remidies. Of course, we're all different, but you can take one kind, but not all. If for some reason, either, of you has a serious problem, and staying at lodges, there is a doctor on call for more potent meds.

Sounds like you're opening a stationery store or a home office. Leave some of those items behind. As to duck tape or masking tape, I simply wind a few feet around a thick black marking pen if needed for fixing tears or other things to be repaired.

Unlike many others, I take enough "wears" for an entire trip. I'm not on vacation to do laundry of any kind. And, as to the quick dry, I've tested these with my regular Jockey or Vic Secrets cottons - they both dry in the same amount of time... and that's saying something in a hot and humid NYC summer bathroom.

A pair of flip-flops work well as slippers, for the shower, at the pool. Some of the higher-end properties (Kirawira) actually provide slippers and bathrobes. For sleeping I buy a supply of Tall Men's XL V-nect T-shirts... they're cheap, wash easily and if left behind somewhere, it's no major loss. In June the weather is warm enough not to really need the bottom part of long PJs, besides, most of your accommodations are lodges which are more than comfy at night.

One kind of antihistimine is more than sufficient; leave the face net at home, though it doesn't weigh much, I've only used mine in the Outback in OZ. Tissue packs serve well for a runny nose or for potty stops. Either sani-wipes or liquid Purell-type, but not both. The latter can open and spill all over everything.

What's the difference between swimsuit wash and a package of suds or a simple bar of soap. Unless you hit the chlorine pool, and even if you do, cool water is sufficient.

Lynda, a good assortment of clothing and stuff, but you can leave some of it home and lighten your load. You'd be surprised how much of what you are planning to take that won't be touched or worn.
 
Old May 10th, 2006, 05:28 AM
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One more thing - sorry.
Is the 95% deet diluted - sometimes they'll make it sound like it's 95%, when in reality, 95% was added to the inert ingredients to which it then becomes less of a solution. If it's 95%, do be careful - we used to see people coming into the ER convulsing/or nerve damage from using such high % of deet. Anything above 35% doesn't seem to be nec.
As Dennis stated, do not use this stuff around your head and particularly on the back of your neck. The most effective places to put it are on your pulse points on wrists, back of knees and around ankles and shoulder caps - don't swim in the stuff and don't spray on the spine.
I really don't think you'll be around to many wettish areas attracting mossies - perhaps I'm wrong.

Sorry, once again for being an alarmist.
Sherry
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Old May 10th, 2006, 05:47 AM
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Sherry is absolutely correct... not on the face, back of neck. Just dress appropriately from dusk to dawn; put on other exposed skin only - wrists, ankels (though you should wear socks at night), legs if you wear shorts instead of long pants.

Do not spray so much in your room before heading to dinner, away from your bed as you don't want this settling on your bed linens, especially pillows. And remember to wash the stuff off before retiring to bed.

25-35% Deet is more than sufficient.
 
Old May 10th, 2006, 06:21 AM
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Sandi, ever tried to pack enough underwear for a 9 week trip? Sometimes one has to wash! 10-14 days I'll often pack enough underwears for but any longer and the 'wear gets washed along the way!
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Old May 10th, 2006, 06:28 AM
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or just go natural and let the wind blow where it may no soap, no closelines, no worries!
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Old May 10th, 2006, 06:30 AM
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edit, clotheslines
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Old May 10th, 2006, 07:31 AM
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Lynda:
I am very excited for you.
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