Overlooked vs. Useless
 

We're in the last week prior to our departure for a first safari to Tanzania. I've read through a number of posts on this forum, and there is a wealth of information here -- much more than anywhere else. Thank you to everyone who has been so generous with your information and time.

As I'm finalizing our packing list (and after a trial packing or two), I wonder what, in your safari experiences, were

a) the thing you forgot to take and missed not having the most
and
b) the most useless thing you took and lugged unnecessarily all around Africa?

I realize that many responses will be situational, but there may be a few more universal truths too.

TIA,

Bill

You are welcome. Your safari will be great, I'm soooo envious!!
a) I do not forget it, and one of the things I find most useful is a very small AA cell type flashlight. Put it in your pocket anytime you may be out after dark. Don't leave home without it.
b) too many clothes

regards - tom

To take: Extra batteries, if anything you take doesn't use rechargeables.

Often more cloths than needed, when you'd think after all these years I would have figured out :)

As tom, I always have my Maglite, fits in pocket or bag... very useful. And, always extra batteries.

Repellent and SPF, that I never seem to have need, nor use. But, that's me... not saying everyone shouldn't have with.

Here are responses from the past.

Cutteradvanced.com a good repellant that is not toxic
extremely hard to find included in a good MEDICAL kit.
The Tanzania Trots are no fun without medication #1
cause of traveler disability ruined safaris worldwide.

mdtravelhealth.com good medical info.

onebag.com helps me a lot with packing.

a) Battery charger
b) Books

@Lynn.... You've been MODERATED! My imagination is running wild now. :-D

I put in what I thought was this link.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...sh-you-had.cfm

Maybe I pasted something else by mistake. Now my imagination is running wild too.

I'm totally with Tom regarding a small flashlight and too many clothes. I also recommend eye drops if either sensitive to dust or allergens. On my first safari to Botswana (March) we plowed through tall grass and pollen flew all over. I had swollen red eyes and could barely see. Luckily the camp I stayed at had steroidal eye drops and that saved me and the trip. Now I never go to Africa without eye drops (and of course I've never needed them since!).

Yes, a flashlight: If you depart early on safaris (pre 6am),better invest in some powerful flashlight like a Fenix, they come in various shapes,sizes, totally worth it. They take AA batteries....

I'll second the spare batteries. I needed some AA batteries for my flashlight, and I had neglected to bring any.

I also needed the little allen wrench for the quick release plates on my telephoto lens, but this is a very specific need on my part.

Not quite packing related, but I also had a misconnect on my trip due to a late arriving flight into JNB and had to contact my agent to rebook a flight and get me overnight accommodations in Lusaka. This ended up quite expensive to arrange on my cell phone since roaming charges ended up at $2.89 a minute. So, what I needed here was a means of contacting my travel agent cheaply when things went wrong.

This was my third safari, so I didn't have much with me that I didn't use. The things I didn't use, I was glad I didn't have a need for (e.g. first aid kit, repair kit, etc.)

Thanks all for your suggestions, particularly atravelynn for your link to the previous thread. I'm adding eyedrops and the allen wrench to my packing list.

The thing I was most happy I brought to Tanzania was prescription Azirthomycin for traveler's diarrhea :-)

Also agree the light source - I brought a tiny camping headlamp, very useful for reading or going out after dark.

Too many clothes seems the theme for what you can live without - agree with that.

Extra batteries are a good idea. I bring several camera batteries even when they are rechargeable, just in case there is a problem recharging.

At one place I stayed for 3 nights (not in Africa) my charger blew the fuse and the entire guesthouse went dark, kitchen and all. That meant no charging for me, so I was happy to have enough camera batteries to get me through that stay.

Electricity in wild places can be fickle so I like to be prepared. I also bring 2 chargers and 2 adapters, again just in case I lose one or break one, or who knows. It's like that song, for wont of a nail...

I've encountered people on trips who had battery problems and they can get pretty desparate. I don't want that to be me.

atravelynn

You originally posted a lot of Playgirl pictures. :)

<<atravelynn

You originally posted a lot of Playgirl pictures. :)>>

Dang!! Missed them! Too busy packing boxes. Need to pay more attention to Fodors!

"I've encountered people on trips who had battery problems and they can get pretty desparate."

My last safari in South Africa camp a lady had a Canon DSLR -but- had forgotten her battery charge!!! The camp nor guides had the type of charger for her/that Canon battery. You know how each camera seems to have its own uniquely designed battery. Anyway, even thought I use Nikon, Canon and Nikon batteries are all basically 7.4V L-ion batteries. So being the boy genius that I am, I was able to rig up my Nikon charger to charge her Canon. Not the first time I've had charger "issues" in a safari camp.

regards - tom
ps - she gave me a kiss!!!

Luckily we did not forget -- azithromyacine, the miracle one-day cure, a "sock" lens cover for dusty roads and quick removal, and a blow up pillow as back support on the plane ride and as camera stabilization during game drives.

Others will disagree, but I thought a mono-pod for the camera was unnecessary as well as a ton of animal ID books (the guides and camps all have them).

Enjoy, enjoy enjoy!!

>> ps - she gave me a kiss!!!

I couldn't help but notice the three exclamation marks.

:-p

If she had kissed me where you're thinking PP, I'd have given 4!!!!

regards - tom