We're weighing our ballpoint pens now...
Jan 24th, 2007, 01:24 PM
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We're weighing our ballpoint pens now...
...trying to save a few grams wherever we can! (Bics are the lightest...) This packing is murder!
My husband David and I want to thank EVERY ONE of you who has posted to this forum, for helping us enormously with advice on everything from packing to camp choices to potty stops to - along the same lines - the best place to find the Big Five (apparently by the toilets in the Crater.)
Honestly, we couldn't have done this without you and we hope to post a trip report detailing a successful year of planning.
We leave in 8 days! Can hardly believe it!
Our ground operator has been wonderful to deal with, we've changed our itinerary several times (following recommendations from this forum), all our special requests were accepted, confirmed and hopefully will
come to pass! Most significantly, we have chosen the private safari route, emboldened by fellow fodorites and we are grateful to have been shown the opportunity to do this!
After a weekend in London, we will have two days in Nairobi (visiting our baby ellies!), then flying to
Tortilis (2 nights) where we celebrate our 25th anniversary
Little Governor's (3 nights) - where we meet divewop (Sandy) and sundowner (Cindy)! and balloon!
Lake Manyara Serena 1 night - where we meet our private guide, (recommended to us by a fodorite as well)
Ngorongoro Serena (2 nights)
Serengeti Serena (3 nights
Arusha Coffee Lodge (1 night) to wait for a flight to Ruaha
Fox's Ruaha River Lodge (3 nights)
Lazy lagoon (3 nights)
Nairobi 2 days to rest and tour with the famous Kennedy (cheetah hug! a perfect way to spend our last day in "Afreekah!)
two days in London and back to Canada!
Now if only we can solve the packing weight dilemma! Sandi, I'm still clinging to my hairdryer. Do they weigh your backpacks and add it to the weight of your duffels?
If so we're in big trouble! I guess every pocket of the safari vests will be bulging...There's always space under the hat David says...!
Again, thanks everyone! Any last-minute advice? How do you keep your pulse from racing the entire last week
before departure?
My husband David and I want to thank EVERY ONE of you who has posted to this forum, for helping us enormously with advice on everything from packing to camp choices to potty stops to - along the same lines - the best place to find the Big Five (apparently by the toilets in the Crater.)
Honestly, we couldn't have done this without you and we hope to post a trip report detailing a successful year of planning.
We leave in 8 days! Can hardly believe it!
Our ground operator has been wonderful to deal with, we've changed our itinerary several times (following recommendations from this forum), all our special requests were accepted, confirmed and hopefully will
come to pass! Most significantly, we have chosen the private safari route, emboldened by fellow fodorites and we are grateful to have been shown the opportunity to do this!
After a weekend in London, we will have two days in Nairobi (visiting our baby ellies!), then flying to
Tortilis (2 nights) where we celebrate our 25th anniversary
Little Governor's (3 nights) - where we meet divewop (Sandy) and sundowner (Cindy)! and balloon!
Lake Manyara Serena 1 night - where we meet our private guide, (recommended to us by a fodorite as well)
Ngorongoro Serena (2 nights)
Serengeti Serena (3 nights
Arusha Coffee Lodge (1 night) to wait for a flight to Ruaha
Fox's Ruaha River Lodge (3 nights)
Lazy lagoon (3 nights)
Nairobi 2 days to rest and tour with the famous Kennedy (cheetah hug! a perfect way to spend our last day in "Afreekah!)
two days in London and back to Canada!
Now if only we can solve the packing weight dilemma! Sandi, I'm still clinging to my hairdryer. Do they weigh your backpacks and add it to the weight of your duffels?
If so we're in big trouble! I guess every pocket of the safari vests will be bulging...There's always space under the hat David says...!
Again, thanks everyone! Any last-minute advice? How do you keep your pulse from racing the entire last week
before departure?
Jan 24th, 2007, 01:33 PM
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... I still pack my hairblower, in hopes of finding juice every few days. You should be fine at the lodges. Mine is so light, don't even know it's in there. They may weigh your carryon if it looks to be "fully packed" - got the picture.
Have fun. Safari njema!
Have fun. Safari njema!
Jan 24th, 2007, 02:34 PM
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Some weight savings tips:
As an amateur photographer, I'm usually carrying a bunch of equipment along, so I've got general strategies for reducing weight.
When you're walking around with your backpacks in the airport, act like they're really light. If you're hunched over, that may draw attention.
If you're stuffing things in your pockets, go for the high-density items. Batteries are small and weigh a lot. I'll usually pull all the batteries from my cameras and other devices, and put those in my pockets.
When I bring reading material, I usually get a number of paperbacks from a used bookstore, and when I'm done reading them, I leave them behind in hotels or airports or wherever. Sometimes, I'll give them to other travelers. In Chile, I was able to sell them for a profit! That usually saves me some weight as I go along.
I also avoid bringing guidebooks along since they tend to cover more areas than I'm visiting. I'll do double-sided copies of the pertinent sections, and just bring those along.
I'll also bring old clothing and discard it at the end. When I went to Tanzania, I brought an old pair of sneakers that I was going to throw out anyway. I was going to throw them out to make room for souvenirs, but our driver/guide wanted them, so I gave them to him. I also brought old, worn outdoor clothing for my Kili climb, and gave them to the porters at the end.
No advice on how to calm down before the trip. How many times have you packed your bags as a dry run? Have you put on your safari clothes and walked around the house speaking swahili to each other?
As an amateur photographer, I'm usually carrying a bunch of equipment along, so I've got general strategies for reducing weight.
When you're walking around with your backpacks in the airport, act like they're really light. If you're hunched over, that may draw attention.
If you're stuffing things in your pockets, go for the high-density items. Batteries are small and weigh a lot. I'll usually pull all the batteries from my cameras and other devices, and put those in my pockets.
When I bring reading material, I usually get a number of paperbacks from a used bookstore, and when I'm done reading them, I leave them behind in hotels or airports or wherever. Sometimes, I'll give them to other travelers. In Chile, I was able to sell them for a profit! That usually saves me some weight as I go along.
I also avoid bringing guidebooks along since they tend to cover more areas than I'm visiting. I'll do double-sided copies of the pertinent sections, and just bring those along.
I'll also bring old clothing and discard it at the end. When I went to Tanzania, I brought an old pair of sneakers that I was going to throw out anyway. I was going to throw them out to make room for souvenirs, but our driver/guide wanted them, so I gave them to him. I also brought old, worn outdoor clothing for my Kili climb, and gave them to the porters at the end.
No advice on how to calm down before the trip. How many times have you packed your bags as a dry run? Have you put on your safari clothes and walked around the house speaking swahili to each other?
Jan 24th, 2007, 03:09 PM
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The Crater Serena and Manyara Serena are both AWESOME!
Video of inside of crater Serena
http://travelistic.com/video/show/1482
Picture of room in Manyara Serena (my wife found it VERY romantic)
waynehazle DOT com/eastafrica/serengeti/digital/100_1649.html
have a great time
View from room
waynehazle DOT com/eastafrica/serengeti/digital/100_1647.html
Video of inside of crater Serena
http://travelistic.com/video/show/1482
Picture of room in Manyara Serena (my wife found it VERY romantic)
waynehazle DOT com/eastafrica/serengeti/digital/100_1649.html
have a great time
View from room
waynehazle DOT com/eastafrica/serengeti/digital/100_1647.html
Jan 24th, 2007, 04:24 PM
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carolines - we took more than we needed on our first trip. I cannot imagine needing a hair dryer! But then I don't use one much at home either.
lifelist - your comment "Have you put on your safari clothes and walked around the house speaking swahili to each other?" Made me laugh out loud
Just before we left for our 2005 Bots trip (our first african safari) we tried on all our safari gear even down to our hats and sat in the backyard having sundowners at 11am! No swahili though!
Have a great trip carolines - and I'm looking fwd to your impressions, report etc when you return.
Thembi
lifelist - your comment "Have you put on your safari clothes and walked around the house speaking swahili to each other?" Made me laugh out loud
Just before we left for our 2005 Bots trip (our first african safari) we tried on all our safari gear even down to our hats and sat in the backyard having sundowners at 11am! No swahili though!
Have a great trip carolines - and I'm looking fwd to your impressions, report etc when you return.
Thembi
Jan 25th, 2007, 02:05 PM
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Thanks all for your good wishes. I'm confident we'll have a great experience as it seems Africa does not disappoint!
Lifelist, thanks for the weight-saving suggestions. I will try not to look like Quasimodo when I go through check-in. And yes, we have walked around the house in our safari gear, and have exchanged words in Swahili - but not both at the same time! A missed opportunity there. We did enjoy Thembi's tale of sundowners in the a.m. and will probably do likewise the morning we practice...shudder...packing!
Waynehazel, thanks for the video! Wow! Have to pinch myself, it can't be real. WE'RE going to see THAT????
Dick, we will be thrilled to say hello to Josephat for you. In fact it was your wonderful write-up of Ruaha that inspired us to go there. Our agent is also a friend of Jane Fox's and he was equally enthusiastic. We have spent the past year marvelling at your photos-thanks for posting them!
So far the hair dryer is hanging in there. I've never camped or had occasion to "rough" it so this is quite a new experience for me. This is the girl who took 9 pairs of shoes to Bali and wore only 1 the entire three weeks. Learned my lesson - only the 3 standard pair for Africa!
Off to the photocopier with the guidebooks. I hope I can be as useful to future safari planners when we get back, as you all have been to us!
Lifelist, thanks for the weight-saving suggestions. I will try not to look like Quasimodo when I go through check-in. And yes, we have walked around the house in our safari gear, and have exchanged words in Swahili - but not both at the same time! A missed opportunity there. We did enjoy Thembi's tale of sundowners in the a.m. and will probably do likewise the morning we practice...shudder...packing!
Waynehazel, thanks for the video! Wow! Have to pinch myself, it can't be real. WE'RE going to see THAT????
Dick, we will be thrilled to say hello to Josephat for you. In fact it was your wonderful write-up of Ruaha that inspired us to go there. Our agent is also a friend of Jane Fox's and he was equally enthusiastic. We have spent the past year marvelling at your photos-thanks for posting them!
So far the hair dryer is hanging in there. I've never camped or had occasion to "rough" it so this is quite a new experience for me. This is the girl who took 9 pairs of shoes to Bali and wore only 1 the entire three weeks. Learned my lesson - only the 3 standard pair for Africa!
Off to the photocopier with the guidebooks. I hope I can be as useful to future safari planners when we get back, as you all have been to us!
Jan 25th, 2007, 05:13 PM
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"This is the girl who took 9 pairs of shoes to Bali and wore only 1 the entire three weeks. Learned my lesson - only the 3 standard pair for Africa!"
No, you didn't learn your lesson
...but have a great safari!
John
www.afrigalah.com
No, you didn't learn your lesson
...but have a great safari!
John
www.afrigalah.com
Jan 25th, 2007, 06:52 PM
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Travel books. Mine are so worn out by time I take the trips (first time to Africa but many time to Europe) that I cut out the pages I want to take. I put the pages for a certain area/region in a ziplock baggie along with any other info for that area...hotel reservation slips, maps, etc. Then label the baggie by using masking tape & marker. I toss the unwanted pages after visiting that area and put postcards and mementos in their place in the baggie. Could stick in film of that area, also.
Those can be tucked into an out of the way corner of the bag, to be "discovered " again when you reach home.
I empathize with the hairdryer. I checked all the places we are staying to see if they have hairdryers...so far so good, so I may be able to leave it. I may practice with those little sponge rollers to see if a few of those might do the trick. And I am having my short hair cut, even shorter figuring by the time I am back in the states 3 weeks later, I won't look like such a pinhead.
Those can be tucked into an out of the way corner of the bag, to be "discovered " again when you reach home.
I empathize with the hairdryer. I checked all the places we are staying to see if they have hairdryers...so far so good, so I may be able to leave it. I may practice with those little sponge rollers to see if a few of those might do the trick. And I am having my short hair cut, even shorter figuring by the time I am back in the states 3 weeks later, I won't look like such a pinhead.
Jan 25th, 2007, 07:14 PM
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OH, my goodness! Have a GREAT time and travel light. Last year I used everyones advice and still found I could have left stuff home!! This year when I go back I will go with even less. And I wished I had had a hair dryer. With long hair going to bed with wet hair is NO fun!! Oh, I stuffed all of the heavy little things in my Rocco Vest pockets. I looked at least 100 lbs heavier but I didn't care. Afterall the animals didn't mind so why should I! there were times when I though I would fall over from my top wieight but...here I am ready to return next summer. Happy travels to you. Rhoda
Jan 26th, 2007, 04:51 AM
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Caroline, I just have to ask:
What are the 3 standard pairs of shoes?
Clearly, there is a lot I don't know.
I brought walking sneakers, and sturdy comfortable sport sandals and didn't realize I was 'missing' a pair!
I also left my hairdryer home. I figured that some of the camps wouldn't have enough power for a hairdryer anyway, and some of the lodges have built in hairdryers. But I guess it totally depends on where you stay, and whether those camps actually have extra power but no appliances.
I did make sure to get a good haircut first, choosing a cut and length that was easiest to deal with. And I brought a light camp towel, to wrap my head in for those cases where my hair was wet.
What are the 3 standard pairs of shoes?
Clearly, there is a lot I don't know.
I brought walking sneakers, and sturdy comfortable sport sandals and didn't realize I was 'missing' a pair!
I also left my hairdryer home. I figured that some of the camps wouldn't have enough power for a hairdryer anyway, and some of the lodges have built in hairdryers. But I guess it totally depends on where you stay, and whether those camps actually have extra power but no appliances.
I did make sure to get a good haircut first, choosing a cut and length that was easiest to deal with. And I brought a light camp towel, to wrap my head in for those cases where my hair was wet.
Jan 26th, 2007, 05:52 AM
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Carolines, thanks in advance for speaking to Josephat at Ruaha. I had "goosebumps" when I read your post and fact you will be in East Africa in a short while. Ahh, I can smell the wood smoke and taste the warm cinnamon buns the cooks there had for us each morning!Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Jan 26th, 2007, 08:32 AM
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Ann, I have to take three pairs of shoes : the sneakers for walking, a pair of sandals for game drives, and plastic shower/beach thongs for squashing millipedes!
We really enjoyed your trip review especially your description of Gibb's. We have a lunch and afternoon scheduled there! Looking forward to that as it sounds very much like an oasis! We are using your same ground operators and have a particular guide assigned who we specially requested, so we're hoping all goes well. So far all requests have been confirmed.
julienk, thank you for the great "baggie" tip! I will do this. Regarding the fear factor (the hair): I have already purchased the sponge rollers and will give them a try on the weekend. I share the pinhead problem with short hair so mine is shoulder length and impossible. We all have a vice...
Dick, you continue to whet our appetites (literally now) for Ruaha. Freshly baked cinnamon buns in the morning! Oh my gosh really??! I foresee a serious sensory overload in Africa...sandi's tomatoes, Dick's cinnamon buns, Ann's amarulo, Lynda's macadamia nut pie...!
Thank you everyone, you've given us a lot to dream about during those long flights over!
We really enjoyed your trip review especially your description of Gibb's. We have a lunch and afternoon scheduled there! Looking forward to that as it sounds very much like an oasis! We are using your same ground operators and have a particular guide assigned who we specially requested, so we're hoping all goes well. So far all requests have been confirmed.
julienk, thank you for the great "baggie" tip! I will do this. Regarding the fear factor (the hair): I have already purchased the sponge rollers and will give them a try on the weekend. I share the pinhead problem with short hair so mine is shoulder length and impossible. We all have a vice...
Dick, you continue to whet our appetites (literally now) for Ruaha. Freshly baked cinnamon buns in the morning! Oh my gosh really??! I foresee a serious sensory overload in Africa...sandi's tomatoes, Dick's cinnamon buns, Ann's amarulo, Lynda's macadamia nut pie...!
Thank you everyone, you've given us a lot to dream about during those long flights over!
Jan 26th, 2007, 06:21 PM
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I have a dumb question ....you mentioned that you had to have sandals for the game drives...Why is that? Won't the same walking shoes, do for that? Is there something I don't know but should?
I figured I would take walking/hiking type sneakers, a bit dressier walking sandal for our days in Cape Town & JB & airplanes. And a beach type sandal for..well...beaches, walking to the pool and bug squishing.
Regarding baggies....I am a huge proponent of packing in large ziplock bags. Keeps outfits together so I don't have to think. Keeps things clean and dry if something spills. And apparently, in Africa, keeps out the creepy crawlie things.
When I have things tucked into the bags, I close the zip lock most the way then sit or lean on them, against a wall, to squish out the air and get them really flattened out. You can buy travel bags now, but good old ziplock ones (acutally ones without the zipper work better as they don't leak air) are cheap and re-usable. Keeps out wrinkles as well.
I figured I would take walking/hiking type sneakers, a bit dressier walking sandal for our days in Cape Town & JB & airplanes. And a beach type sandal for..well...beaches, walking to the pool and bug squishing.
Regarding baggies....I am a huge proponent of packing in large ziplock bags. Keeps outfits together so I don't have to think. Keeps things clean and dry if something spills. And apparently, in Africa, keeps out the creepy crawlie things.
When I have things tucked into the bags, I close the zip lock most the way then sit or lean on them, against a wall, to squish out the air and get them really flattened out. You can buy travel bags now, but good old ziplock ones (acutally ones without the zipper work better as they don't leak air) are cheap and re-usable. Keeps out wrinkles as well.
Jan 27th, 2007, 01:13 PM
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I always have a pair of sandals (Teva type), but as a moccasin wearer, these suit me fine all day, walking or in vehicle on game drives. Often wear ballet slippers at night - out of daytime safari tan/khaki and into black slacks.
There are no rules, just what's comfy for you, interchangeable and keeps within weight limits.
There are no rules, just what's comfy for you, interchangeable and keeps within weight limits.
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