Wearing & Packing
 

We're scheduled to leave for Africa (1st timers) in September. I have many lists on what to wear while there, but what about in transit to/from West Coast?
Also, I understand Botswana does not launder underwear so-should we by disposable throw aways, the slick wash & wear, or something else? Don't want to spend the whole time washing, but also looking at weight issues. Thanx.

Depends on whether you will have any dressy or dressy-ish occasions. If you will, then wear something suitable for that, lightweight, and 100% wrinkle-proof, on the plane. If not, wear what you wlll be wearing in Africa.

It only takes a minute to wash your underwear in the sink each evening, wring it out in a towel, and hang up somewhere; it will be dry by morning. You won't need more than two changes plus what you are wearing.

We do this and it always works well.

I simply wear the bulkiest items of clothes and biggest shoes, that I want to have with me for the trip, on the plane. I make sure it is a "layered" outfit so I can strip down or bundle up according to temps on planes and airport.

I'm no expert on Africa but I would take my normal underwear. If you pack them in sandwich ziplocks and squeeze the air out you can make up neat little packets, enough for 1/2 the trip and plan to do hand wash once.

I'd take my regular underwear too. We always hand wash them on trips - very easy. And the ziplock bag is great - I pack clean in one and dirty in the other. They squish down really small. I started doing this after an airport security person knocked my underwear on the floor during a hand screening. With the ziplock, they are contained.

A hint I got from Fodors is to put wet underwear on a blown-up balloon. I hang the balloons on a hanger with clothespins. They dry faster this way especially the quick dry ones. We also take quick dry socks and wash them ourselves. Years ago we had laundry done in India and a lot of our socks and underwear didn't return.