Last minute questions
 

We leave on August 6th for our "Safari Serengeti" with OAT! Of course I have petty concerns to toss your way.

1. For OAT veterans: When we go to a village and watch cheese-making, then are invited to taste it, is it safe? I doubt it is of pasteurized milk. I'd hate to be rude, but hate worse to get ill. Anyone get sick from this on your trip?


2. Is it true that we need not take a converter, just adapter for camera battery charging?

3. Is it true that there is no need to bring a hairdryer? (Not enough power for dryers, I'm told.) Don't want to waste space and add weight to my carry-on (no checked baggage plan).

4. I've packed and re-packed numerous times...hoping next will be last! Still unsure if will need cool, sleeveless tops and capris, as well as my 2 pair of nylon zip-offs. Also bringing a pair of fleece pants for nights around campfire and early mornings (Crater area,esp.)
I'm traveling in a long skirt, plan to use it on safari also...crazy? PLEASE DO ANSWER THIS ONE...I'M MAKING MYSELF CRAZY!

5. Experienced Fodorites: Is the consensus that it is safe to use the pools? (filled, of course, with contaminated water.)
Can we trust that they are properly maintained?

Thank you once more for your help. Through your collective thread advice, I have been helped enormously, and keep telling others about this amazing site. (Maybe that's not a good thing....!)

We'll soon be off to the adventure of our lives, just in time for both our birthdays and our 46th anniversary. What will we do for our 50th!!! Botswana, Peru and the Amazon, Patagonia, Japan, Russia, Argentina...all come to mind. We may need Forum help on that one..........

Bet ya for your 50th you'll go back to Africa :-)

regards - tom
ps - maybe also for your 47th, 48th and 49th !!!!

2. most camera battery chargers can be used with all power types, look on the back it should say 110V-220V, 50-60Hz or something like that. The charger will do the converting so you just need the adaptor.

can't help with the rest... Have a great trip!

<b> (Not enough power for dryers, I'm told.) </b>

Some places have large enough generators for you to use a hair dryer (I think one lodge in Serengeti even supplied hair dryers), other smaller lodges or tented camps likely have smaller generators and you'll trip the circuit breaker if you plug in a hair dryer. Probably easiest to leave it behind.

<b>Is the consensus that it is safe to use the pools?</b>

They seem to be well-chlorinated and I doubt anyone gets sick from them.

1. Lots of cheese in France isn't pasteurized, and haven't heard of anyone falling over ill. If OAT is taking you somewhere that food will be presented, have to hope they know what they're doing. But, there's nothing wrong with &quot;thank you, but no thanks.&quot;

2. Check the back of charger that it will accept 220-240V; mine didn't and I blew it out the first night. If it doesn't meet proper voltage then you need the converter.

3. Hairdryers - some places actually provide these; others, especially lodges have sufficient power to use your own. If staying at a tented camp it's unlikely hairdryer can be used. My travel hairdryer weighs a few ounces... it's always with me.

4. Skirts - are good, especially if out all day and need to take a potty break in the bush. A whole lot easier than pants.

5. Pools - are fine, though August can be quite nippy. I'd test air and water temps before diving in.

makinghay,

Four of us were on the same trip plus the Masai Mara extension 6/6-23 &amp; we loved every minute of it.

1. You are referring to the visit to Mama Anna's, yes it is safe to eat the cheese which is delicious and you will have for breakfast at the Olasiti Lodge. Also, try the honey as it is very different than what we are use to eating. The ladies at Mama Anna's are truely delightful.

2. You will need to make sure that your camera battery charger is 110V-220V ready, look on back. If not take a converter.

3. You will only be able to use a hairdryer at Olasiti Lodge &amp; Ngorongoro Farm House, but not at Maramboi Tented Camp or the Serengeti tented camp. Neither Peggy nor I took a hairdryer. I don't use one at home &amp; Peggy figured that the animals wouldn't care. ;-)

4. Due to being the winter season in Tanzania unless you are very hot natured you will not need &quot;cool, sleeveless tops and capris&quot;.

We were so tired each night by the time dinner was over, we were in bed by 9:30 pm, or latest 10:00 pm, as we were up each morning by 5:30- 6:00 am so unless you are very cold natured you will not need fleece pants at night.

If you are comfortable in a long skirt, fine. Just make sure that it is a full skirt and not a pencil type which would make it difficult to get in and out of the vehicles.

5. The pools at Olasiti Lodge &amp; Ngorongoro Farm House are lovely; however, I can only assume they are safe as 1-it was too cool to use them &amp; 2-we did not have the time to use them.

What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthdays &amp; anniversary. I hope that you both enjoy this adverture as much as we did. We celebrated my DH's birthday while at Ngorongoro Farm House.

Linda

makinghay - nobody will pay attention whether you have styled your hair. so don't worry if you cannot do your design!

the cheese is as safe as your emental at home!

adapters are needed in order to recharge your batteries.

and don't worry - it will be exiting but a bush experience. so enjoy and don't make a fuss about your appearence ;-)

div

Thank you all...on to the FINAL packing tomorrow! Then to see how long I can carry my bag around on my back! Only weighs about 19#,I think, but is awkward because is just a duffel with shoulder straps. You should see the pads I made to cushion my shoulders! Mega fat pads. Super cushions!

No, I'm not really into looking great. Just trying to be thorough without overpacking. Glad about the skirt...maybe will throw in one more and take out the fleece pants...hummmmm I am SO excited! It's so close now. Seems I've been living this trip forever...in my head. I know we won't be disappointed!

happy travels and enjoy your days in africa!

div

It looks like llorear has you covered with answers to all of your questions. I hope the two of you will compare notes (and share on this forum) your experiences when you return.

Have a wonderful time. Your departure is less than a week away. Lucky you!

Happy Birthday, makinghay, Happy Anniversary, and welcome home!

We will be going on the same trip (our fourth with OAT, first to Africa) mid-September. We would be very interested in any advice or observations you might have for us, from hair dryers to clothing to ... Thank you, and thanks also to all Fodorites for the terrific words of wisdom.

1. OAT trip leaders will generally advise you whether foods are 'safe' or not. After all, they really don't want to deal with a whole landrover full of sick people!

2. Depends on your own charger. Look on the back and see if it says just 110 (in which case you need a converter) or 110-220 (in which case you do not need a converter.

3. It's up to you whether it is worth packing the hairdryer, since you won't be able to use it in all locations.

4. Not meaning to introduce even more complexity into the packing dilemma, but another option to the fleece pants is bringing a pair of thin long johns (either silk or polyester works) that you can layer AND that you can wear to bed if it is cold. Or you could even wear under your skirt. I use the 'cuddleduds' brand in thin polyester, but many Fodorites swear by silk. Less bulky than fleece, and dual purpose.

As far as the skirt goes, it is totally up to you. People who like wearing skirts find them comfortable and multi-purpose. People who don't normally wear them end up not wearing them on safari either, even if they pack them.

5. no idea.

Hey, Katey! I wonder if you're on the same trip as SDTravelers. They are also on an OAT &quot;Safari Serengeti&quot; trip this month. About the hair dryer: you'll only be able to use it at Olasiti in Arusha and Tloma Lodge at Karatu (I assume they've got you there instead of the Farmhouse, but you can use it there, as well.) You won't be able to use it at the tented camps. The other question is whether or not it'd dual voltage. It it doesn't show 110-220 somewhere on it, you'll need a converter, in addition to the adapter plug. There are small dual-voltage &quot;travel&quot; hair dryers that you can buy.

Katey - we are on the Sept 9 -Sept 22 Safari Tanzania trip.

SD

Hi ShayTay and SDtravelers,

That was exciting for a minute--we will be departing Sept. 13. It was fun almost meeting you! Have a wonderful trip! The hair dryer will be staying at home, which will give me room, ann_nyc, for a thin pair of long johns. Thanks, everyone!

They do say once you step your foot in Africa, you never want to leave...so my guess is that other anniversaries will be somewhere in Africa.