jozo

Wow! I cannot believe our time is coming up so quickly! Jim and I leave on February 6th! Woo hoo! I have begun laying out my stuff for packing (too soon?) and thought I'd try to get some last minute advice from everyone.

I tend to be a light packer-- I did 3 weeks in England with a backpack, so I am not much of a fashionista. I can live in t-shirts and sandals. My kids call me an old hippie.

So I have four pair of long pants with zip-offs to make them shorts. Very lightweight fabric. I figured to wear a pair traveling and pack the other 3. Here's my question: rather than pack 3, maybe pack 2 and a skirt? I wear ankle-length skirts and thought that might work on safari?

OK-- wear a t-shirt--pack 3. Likewise for undies and socks. We are going for 16 days 'door to door'. So, basically four total days of clothing to rotate through.

A hat; a very cool vest from Cabela's (I plan to wear it as though it were my purse, and keep all my stuff in the pockets); A fleece jacket; swimsuit and pareo.

That's it for clothing. Too little? Too much?

Then travel tp; bug and sun stuff; misc. drugs (immodium, pepto, tylenol, pepcid, dramamine.)

I was thinking of bringing mouth swabs to supplement tooth brushing in case there's no water. Thoughts?

I have laundry soap leaves to do our undies. I was not planning on bringing shampoo or soap for showers--I assume that is provided at the lodges and camps? Deoderant, of course (don't want to scare the wildlife away!)

Sandals and walking shoes.

I think I'll probable sleep in my t-shirts, so no pjs to worry about.

We have led headlamps for lighting. Binoculars and camera gear. Small HD video camera too.


Any suggestions or ideas from everyone? I am just so worried that I will forget something. Also, I have this odd notion that Jim and I will be the only people there on safari...anyone else going?

I am so excited that I can hardly wait!!!

cary999

Duuhh, where you going?

regards - tom
ps -regardless -safari- -woo hoo- can I sneak in a suitcase?

safaridude

Here is a tip: if you are bringing zip-off pants made of nylon-type fabric, you don't need more than 2 pairs (can get by with one). Wash the pants at night in the shower and ring them out. They will be dry in the morning.

Also, leaving those pants on as long pants will actually make you COOLER. I swear by this.

jules39

I usually take 3 pairs of the zip of pants but could probably get away with 2. 4 is more than you need. Have a fantastic time!!

atravelynn

This is turning into a zip-off pants thread. I take 2 pairs just in case one pair has an emergency. I'd hate to be trouserless. Four would be too many in my opinion.

Skirts are not very common.

Rather than all t-shirts I like a collared shirt for better sun protection.

If you are doing a typical itinerary you'll have water and not need to do any swabbing instead of teeth brushing.

To help with potentially forgetting something, I like to pack several days in advance and then think about it.

Have a great time, wherever you are going.

jozo

Hah! Good point! We are doing Kenya and Tanzania. Landing in Nairobi; Arusha; Tarangire; Ngorongoro; Lake Manyara; Serengeti; Masai Mara...the usual circuit.

We are stating at a combination of safari lodges and permanent tented camps...nothing very fancy. Most do have swimming pools.

Let me know if I've left anything out.

cary999

Will be fabulous!!!!
But, you've let us know you're going - soooo, you owe trip report when you get back

BTW, remember your .458 Winchester Magnum elephant gun and ammo.

regards - tom

cary999

Will be fabulous!!!!
But, you've slipped and let us know you're going - soooo, you owe trip report when you get back

BTW, remember your .458 Winchester Magnum elephant gun and ammo.

regards - tom

sandi

4/pr pants a bit much; if the nylon type, these will dry quickly. Besides it's summer in East Africa, so best to keep the legs covered and protected from the Equatorial sun. Even though summer, the mornings and nights can be cool to cold, so you need a fleece or windbreaker... and there maybe rain.

As to skirts, while you don't see many, a shorter skirt (at the knee or a bit longer) is good if out on full day game drives and have a bush potty call. Easier to just lift than deal with pants.

Whether collared or regular t-shirts, with the heat, some prefer the looser fit "camp-style" shirts which don't stick to the body.

However, planning for only 4/days worth of changes is great if it works for you.

Don't forget the malaria meds, hand sanitizer. Don't assume every place you stay will have shampoo, conditioner and lotion... bring your own small travel sizes. I always have the mouth swabs with whether at home or traveling as they don't take up much room and come in handy just to refresh the mouth/teeth.

Pack a week or so before, decide if the little you have will actually work - add or subtract as needed.

Safari njema!

napamatt_2

There are a couple of threads with great packing lists, you might want to compare your list with these and decide if the items you've omitted are needed or not.

ShayTay

Good job, Jozo, on your packing list! Packing light is important. I usually go with only 3 pair of zip-off pants, but about 5 tops. I'd agree with the suggestion of collared shirts for most days because of the intense sun while you're on game drives. Your hat should have a wide brim all around because of the same reason (baseball caps don't offer much protection.) I've never taken a skirt. Nights will be cool; make sure you'll be warm enough in your chosen sleep attire.

Take a laundry line on which to hang the items you wash. I like the type that looks like rubber bands braided together with clips on the end. You don't need clothespins for that style. Purse-sized packets of tissues are handy, especially if you use a "bush toilet". Have a ziplock bag in your pocket for the used paper. In fact, ziplock bags of various sizes are useful for lots of things.

I usually throw in some bubble-wrap, which weighs almost nothing, but is great for wrapping souvenirs for the trip home. Wrap some packing tape around a short length of an unsharpened pencil to assist in the wrapping.

cybor

What type of camps are you staying at? Will they have a laundry service?

I went a couple yrs. ago to Tanzania in Feb. and appreciated my thin windbreaker in the am.

You may also want a long sleeve shirt. 2 pr. of pants should work.

A very long t-shirt could work as some what of a cover up in the am if your caught without pants. It happens. Nights can get cool, btw.

The skirt seems ok but may be more of a pain with all that extra fabric when climbing in and out of vehicles.
Depending on your comfort level, you may want light gloves. I had a light fleece hat as well as a baseball cap for morning sun and a wide brimmed hat for later.

Mouth swabs - again dependent on which camps you're staying at.
Laundry soap - never needed it - clothes got sent out. I used hand soap in tent for washing smalls.
Enjoy!

divine54

i tell you what i take for a 3 weeks safari - it's 12 kg plus camera gear in the backpack:

2 safari pants (1 for the flight) 1 has 2 zips
1 pair of walking shoes ankle high
1 flip flops for tent and pool
2 shirts (the "dirty" i take as night shirt and so rotate)
2 blouse short sleeves (one the flight)
a hat
a windbreaker (a thin one for the flight and early morning drives)
1 fleece
2 pairs of socks (one on the flight another one in the luggage)
6 panties and lots of carefree
2 bras (one wearing/one spare)
i tiny soap as back up
3 portions of shampoo taken from hotel stays for cloth washing
1 shampoo (i take only one brand)
6 portions of conditioner
1 large shower gel
6 packs of paper tissues
1 tiny travel face soap
1 tiny portion of moisturizer
1 body lotion
some q-tips

1 sunscreen 40+
1 hairbrush
1 nail file

plus
tiny bug spray as back up
1 old toothbrush for shoe cleaning

no make up, no blow dryer, no nail polish no remover - just pure nature ;-)

what you think?

div

irecommend

As far as the zipping off pants go, no one on our trip ever put the legs on. I dont think the long skirt would be comfortable at all.

jozo

Thank you, everyone. I will skip taking a skirt and cut back to 3 pair of pants (wear one, pack 2.)

We will be staying at a couple of Sopa lodges, a Serena lodge, Tortilis Camp, Kikoti Camp, and Mara Intrepids.

I guess I realize that if I forget anything, I cannot just go to the corner store and buy it--Africa isn't exactly California. So I am concerned that I shouldn't forget anything vital.

But no I don't do hair dryers, or makeup, or hair product, or any such thing, even in my daily life. I cannot imagine going on safari and doing any different!

And, yes, I will definitely share a trip report when I return! Pictures, too, I hope.

joannadee

Did a safari in Kenya/Tanz 10 yrs. ago. Do bring shampoo/soap. Someone suggested we bring "old underwear" and discard along the way. Lodges will wash anything but ladies' "smalls". You'll have to do it yourself. There's always water supplied at the camps, etc., but we brought Lifesavers mints and hard candies. Leave the skirt at home - never saw them there and they take up too much room in yr. bag. 4 prs pants too many. Lip balm, sunblock, body lotion. Extra batteries for camera, a book night light may come in handy. Bring clothes in neutral colors to match environment. Have a wonderful time - my visit to Africa was life altering.

joannadee

Me again! Definitely bring travel packs of tissues. And Advil and, bug spray. One of the bug repellent brands comes in moist cloths....and your pareo can double as a shawl or scarf if nights get cooler.

sandi

"old underwear to leave behind"

If you leave anything behind on purposed, be sure lodge or camp knows so they don't accuse staff of taking or laundering same and returning to you, neatly wrapped, at home. It's happened!

atravelynn

While I never had discarded undies mailed to me from Africa, I once threw out an unwanted film roll with about 3 exposed photos. Two months after returning home, a small package from Africa arrived containing the film I had thrown in the dust bin.

kellygarrett

I spent 4 days in Kruger in Nov 08. I was amazed at the stores and gift shops in the Parks various *camps^. They had everything you might need or want.I dont know if other parks are the same but South Africas parks all do.