LynnieD

I take a variety of vitamins and generally just throw them in a ziplock and put them in my carry on. Any trouble with flying in Africa with this? We will be using S. Africa Air and Pelican Airways, maybe LAM in Mozambique.

I have also discovered that there is no way to lock my backpack, which I will certainly need to check. How worried should I be about this?

Leave 1 week from today and getting very excited.

Thanks, Lynnie

ShayTay

I've never had a problem with vitamins, but usually carry them in a small container vs. a ziplock. I rarely have had my bag inspected when I arrive in Africa. More likely will be an inspection when you return to the US, or whereever you live.

Have you tried cable ties to lock your backpack? Perhaps you could tie together two zipper pulls. The idea is to make it too time-consuming for a thief to bother with your bag. Some airports have a way to "wrap" your bag in plastic before you check it. I think they have that in Jo'burg.

Enjoy your trip! I'll look for your trip report, especially about Mozambique.

LynnieD

Thanks, I will work on figuring out the lock thing and I think I can rig something up.

I look forward to Mozambique also. We will be there for 10 days and have no plans or schedule whatsoever beyond our flight into Maputo and out of Vilanculos. We are in the hands of DF's Peace Corps daughter and her collegue. Should be interesting.

cary999

What country are you leaving from? In the USA does not TSA must be able to unlock checked luggage?

regards - tom

LynnieD

I am leaving from the US and so will have to figure out how to use the tsa locks on the backpack.

cary999

You hear stories that even TSA does not know how to work their locks . For "locks" on luggage I just use a twist tie so that TSA can take it off easy and hopefully put it back. The only reason for the tie/lock is just to keep the zippers from un-zipping.

regards - tom

cary999

Also, there is now an active thread on the "Airlines" forum about locking luggage.

regards - tom

sandi

Have never had problems with vitamins or scripted meds, entering a foreign country or returning to the States. I put them into those divider boxes (actually recycle those nail-tip boxes) for the number of days they'll be needed + a few extra; packed in my carryon bag.

I use plastic computer ties (avail at $2/bag of 100) to secure my checked or carryon bags, and pack a nail clipper with which to cut the plastic once at destination.

Nail clippers are allowed in side-outside pocket of checked or in a handbag or carryon. Do make certain the clippers do not have the pointee nail file attached. If so, snap it off.

I use these same plastic ties when away from my room/tent during game drives or other activities.

ann_nyc

Hopefully you will have no trouble, BUT I did hear someone tell a story about being arrested in Mozambique because they had gotten a big shipment of vitamins (i.e. not her personal luggage, but delivered to her) and the local drug screening was so rudimentary that it didn't differentiate between the normal ingredients in vitamins and illegal drugs. Again, the red flag in that case was that it was a large shipment (intended for an orphanage) which caused the testing in the first place, which then had the bizarre results.

I think that if you are carrying an amount for personal use, you will probably not have a problem, but I would recommend keeping them in original containers, since that will not look as suspicious as baggies.

Jed

Some vitamin containers are huge, so it might not be practical to use them.

In general, carrying a reasonable number of pills should not be a problem. Perhaps you can put a few days worth in your carry, and the rest in your checked.