In deciding what to pack I've read the cotton vs. manmade material pros and cons. Seems like part of the vote for cotton is that when you have laundry done at the camps they use a hot iron on it to kill eggs of whatever that fly is that is a concern - you don't want them hatching and burrowing into your skin.

So my question is, if the policy is they don't wash your 'smalls' and you do them yourself in the sink but then don't iron them -- isn't that a worry? The egg problem, if it is a problem in a region you're visiting, would then be not only on your clothes but on your most intimate clothes.

Am I overthinking?

I heard that it is only a problem if you dry them outside. I hung my clothesline inside my tent for my "smalls".

I have never heard of an egg problem, but find it easy to wash out smalls and hang dry. I would recommend Exoffico clothing/underclothing if you are looking for quick dry items. Just go have fun, I do enjoy my cotton clothing coming back pressed. It never looks as good at home.

At a couple of the WS camps in Botswana (Xigera and Savuti), small mesh bags were provided in the laundry for "small items." Not sure if this is a new trend at the camps, but thought I'd mention it since we were pleasantly surprised by this. At camps where we washed our own smalls, we hung them inside the tent to dry due to those cheeky monkeys and baboons always hanging about. Can you imagine seeing one running away wearing your unmentionables??!

Ha - that is quite an image, KissyPants.

Sounds like if no mesh bags are provided just hanging things to dry inside our tent or room will be okay.

Not sure where you're going but we had no issue with them including our "smalls" (ha, never heard that term before!) in the laundry at any lodge in Sabi Sands (Elephant Plains, Nkorho...no problem.) Also, we took no cotton--only CoolMax, which is much better wicking and dries faster than cotton. Convertible pants from companies like Columbia and ExOfficio are perfect.

So your coolmax stuff wasn't melted by any hot irons I guess, jczinn?

ha no, no melting! I'd heard about that beforehand and was hesitant, but figured we'd take the chance. Maybe its becoming more common now, and they've learned...

Good to know - thank you. I have a lot of stuff in that fabric but was hesitant to take it.

I'm glad I'm not super rich or super famous... because even if I had a ton of household help, I'd never want anyone else to wash my "smalls".

P.S. Your topic heading intrigued me so I just had to look!

I am learning every day something new - not always that I need to use it.

How on earth did you come up with that cotton-egg-iron-reason?

And why must you do your "small" delicacies?

We do it like this:

I wear one slip when we start and have one in luggage. My hubs the same. After one week we change from right to left side and wear. After the second week we exchange slips (hubs gets mine, I get hub's) and the routine starts again. So we can travel for 4 weeks and still have one for emergencies - like clinic stay.

Leslie-Schatzi Sorry - but some questions are really weird.

Happy planning,packing and finally exchanging !

SV

As far as I know, the hot iron is used so that your clothes are pressed to avoid wrinkles ........ nothing to do with egg hatching!

http://goafrica.about.com/od/healtha...t/putzifly.htm

I don't know if they're in Botswana or South Africa though.

Here is another vote for ironable cotton (if laundry is being air-dried at campsites or small lodges) and for drying your personal items inside the tent.

Patty, I am not sure about Botswana (border areas may be a problem). But, the fly may be found in parts of SA, Zambia and Zimbabwe during certain seasons.

Thanks for that link Patty -- please read it SV, I did not make that putzi fly stuff up!! In fact I know I read it on another fodors post here and also that most camps will not wash your unmentionables so you have to do them yourself in your sink. And yes, I told you it was weird to ask!

What I want to know is: what exactly is a 'slip' and what do you mean switch from right to left side to wear? Or maybe I don't want to know especially if you're then exchanging the same 'slip' with your spouse and rewearing again after a week - just please tell me they're not undies!

Leslie
Your second paragraph just brought me down in laughter!

Sorry - I have been thinking "slip" is quite universal for panties.

Shall I pass the Kölnisch Wasser in order for you to regain consciousness?

Now you certainly know I was JOKING!

I had a look at that link. That is exaggeration I assume.

But what about disposable panties, Care Free. Or just wash and hand in the bathroom/tent; the tent steward will have to tell something when he getws back ti his village

SV

Hehe - always humor to be found in the topic of undergarments if you have the mind of a 12 year old (talking about myself not you!).

I hope you're right & that link is an exaggeration - burrowing maggots sounds less fun than wearing my husband's briefs.

I'm sure I'll have more silly questions by the time I get to the actual packing for this trip in October.

Leslie
I can't wait for the follow up queries ;-)

Regarding a bra: That's the most difficult part for us as my hubs doesn't wear them. He let it swing

Please don't be shy and post every question which comes to your mind.

We have a say: There are no such things like silly questions but stupid answers!

SV (@))

I'm so glad I didnt know about those flies, how grose!
We washed in the evening in the places where we stayed 2 days and drying inside was never a problem,we all just had cotton undies.
If you hung things outside you'd never know where they might go!

Does anyone know if they'll wash "smalls" at Samburu Sopa or Mara Intrepids? I was hoping to avoid packing laundry stuff.