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the one thing you didn't bring on safari, but wish you had

the one thing you didn't bring on safari, but wish you had

Old Jan 18th, 2007, 12:15 PM
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(I thought I answered this already, but I don't see the post)

Me Three on additional zip-off quick dry pants.

Should have also done ALMOST ANYTHING necessary to get one of those huge Uber Lenses I saw on ebay for around $2000. As someone said to me I should have bought it, went to Africa for a month then came back and sold it on ebay for 1800.

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Old Jan 19th, 2007, 09:10 AM
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Wool socks! It was really much colder at night that I had anticipated.

Most useful item: pre-moistened wipes.
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Old Jan 19th, 2007, 11:24 AM
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If your camera of choice is a digital SLR, then I would strongly recommend taking an Arctic Butterfly with you on the trip.

What's that?

Arctic Butterfly is a brush designed to clean dust off the sensor of a digital SLR, which then saves you the trouble of photoshopping the dust spots off when you get home. On our recent trip, I ended up cleaning the sensor on our camera about every 2 days, and this brush works extremely well. It's also compact and very easy to use. B&H Photo/Video sells the brush for about $75. The manufacturer is a company called "Visible Dust," if you care to research the company or product.

Another thing that came in really handy on our recent trip was our Tekkeon MyPower All external battery. This battery has selectable voltage (5 to 19 volts) and a variety of extension tips that will allow it to power or recharge a wide variety of electronic devices. I used ours to power/charge my wife's iPod, my Creative media player, our Hyperdrive photo storage device, and -- best of all -- I could even recharge our camera batteries with it! With this device, we would easily go a week without access to electricity and still use all our devices normally, so I really enjoyed it. It also gives you the flexibility to recharge a camera battery while you are away from the lodge, so you then don't have to hassle with leaving it overnight and potentially forgetting it the next day.

Chris
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Old Jan 19th, 2007, 01:14 PM
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If your camera uses batteries, be sure to pack plenty. Even if it has rechargeables, make sure you have extra regular batteries, because my rechargables didn't always recharge correctly, although that was probably my own fault. Anyway, I took what I thought was a TON of extra AA batteries, and I used almost every single one. I didn't run out, but I can understand how someone could.
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Old Jan 19th, 2007, 05:52 PM
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A blow-up cushion to sit on during those bumpy rides. And--swim goggles would have been useful during our very, very dusty trip in the Ngorongoro Gorge!
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Old Jan 20th, 2007, 06:54 AM
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My wife and son. I haven't been on safari with my wife in over 2 years, and I look forward to my first safari with our (current age) 11 month old son. Probably another 2 years before that happens, but that is my wish.

For items that are helpful to this group:

a lightweight journal for jotting down notes.

a bird checklist that is only 1 page long

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Old Jan 22nd, 2007, 09:09 AM
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Pens and paper to give to the kids in the villages in Kenya that I visited. I went a dozen years ago so maybe it's better. But, the kids I met always asked for something that we take for granted.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2007, 03:46 AM
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More time. If I go for 4 days, I wish it was a week. One week, and I wish it was two. The longest I have been for is 10 days at one camp in the Masai Mara during the migration, and it was not enough time.
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Old Jan 26th, 2007, 09:46 PM
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Just bought a solar charger with leads for my iPod, camera, cellphone, laptop etc. I won't leave home without it now!
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Old Jan 27th, 2007, 01:10 PM
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I wish we had taken both a French and Spanish phrase book. Met lots of Europeans who might have been more interesting had we been able to converse a little. Especially one French lady who kept saying "and how is your family?", but didn't really understand any English.
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Old Jan 27th, 2007, 02:44 PM
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Having been on a lot of game drives last year here are a few observations

1. The thing most people forgot to bring was a good pair of binoculars for each member of the party. Personally I favor IS binos for the average person.

2. I did bring a portable printer and it was a big hit.

3. The idea of purchasing a very good lens and selling it is a good one, but you will get a much better price for your lens if you can sell it in Africa. I sold my Canon 100-400mm IS and my 10-22mm as well as my Rebel XT on my last trip.

4. The idea of bringing a portable audio recorder is a good one. I brought a small amplified microphone but it need a laptop as a recorder and I never bothered to take it out on drives. I regret not getting good recordings of lions roaring, hyenas calling, and the other night sounds.
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Old Jan 27th, 2007, 03:40 PM
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I love all these ideas--keep 'em coming!
Does anyone have any recommendations for which audio recorder to bring along? Is there any one recorder that stands out among the rest for amazing sound quality and small size?

Thank you. I think taking one along is a wonderful idea!
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Old Jan 27th, 2007, 09:42 PM
  #33  
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roadwarriorafrica,

I'm with you......however long the safari, never enough.......

Hari
 
Old Jan 28th, 2007, 03:17 AM
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Crellston, can you please give me some more info on the solar recharger and leads for recharging various devices. Thanks,
Eric
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Old Jan 29th, 2007, 12:15 PM
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Hello,

My fleece. No, I'm not joking -- I put a fleece aside to wear on the plane on my past two trips and left it at home both times. This explains the growing pile of green fleeces in my wardrobe (please, someone make a safari camp fleece in another colour, like tan or brown!).

Cheers,
Julian
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Old Jan 29th, 2007, 12:41 PM
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Julian, I have a grey one from Sandibe, a blue one from Mombo and a beige one from Little Kuhala...and I didn't forget them at home...I have more fleece than Little Bo Peep
Eric
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Old Jan 29th, 2007, 02:25 PM
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Hello Little Bo Peep,

All of mine are green except the grey one from Singita (which was a discontinued colour so it's a bit big -- I was just so sick of green!) I actually wouldn't mind adding to the collection if I could find one in a differet colour. I almost bought one at Crater Lodge (also green) but decided I could live without it.

Cheers,
Julian
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Old Jan 29th, 2007, 04:59 PM
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I am sure that when I go back to Botswana in Oct. even if it is 37C that I will still find a good reason to buy a fleece I certainly don't need. Oh no, just found a Mombo grey...fortunately I use them for fall and spring golf so they never go to waste.
I also thought of something else to bring for those who may climb Kilimanjaro...extra instant coffee...we ran out on day 3 and the caffeine withdrawal headaches began. Not enough caffeine in the tea. On the summit evening one of the assistant guides scrounged up enough from another group for 1 cup for me and it is the ONLY reason I was able to summit
Regards,
Eric
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Old Jan 30th, 2007, 09:21 AM
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Eric,
Is it not possible to brew real coffee on Kili? Well, that's another good reason for me not to climb, not that I ever had any plans to
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Old Jan 30th, 2007, 10:30 AM
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My grinder took up too much weight so I had to do with instant
By the way it is one of the few remaining spots on earth without a Starbucks...I suspect there will be one in the midst of the migration route in the not too distant future as well.
Regards,
Eric
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