Trip to Africa - What to pack?

NYCBlueBlood

NYCBlueBlood

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My sister and I have been going on trips together every 3 years or so for a while. It started with Iceland when we crashed a trip a friend of my from college planned on her own. Then we did Thailand, Cambodia and Bali with my ex-gf and one of her friends. Then 3 years ago we did Peru/ Bolivia.

End of this year we're going to Kenya and Rwanda. I'm trying to plan out what to carry with me. Apparently for the safari portion, we will take a small puddle jumper where we are restricted to soft sided suitcases carrying up to 35lbs. The tour company we are going through (go2africa) provides basic generic guidance, but every time I ask for specifics I just get referred back to their stock brochures on what to pack.

I need to be very careful, as it's a 2.5 week trip going from the mountain gorillas in Rwanda to a preserves and the safari in Kenya, then ending up on the beach. For anybody who has done this before, what are the things you used most... what are the things you brought but wished you hadn't wasted the space?
 
NYCBlueBlood said:
My sister and I have been going on trips together every 3 years or so for a while. It started with Iceland when we crashed a trip a friend of my from college planned on her own. Then we did Thailand, Cambodia and Bali with my ex-gf and one of her friends. Then 3 years ago we did Peru/ Bolivia.

End of this year we're going to Kenya and Rwanda. I'm trying to plan out what to carry with me. Apparently for the safari portion, we will take a small puddle jumper where we are restricted to soft sided suitcases carrying up to 35lbs. The tour company we are going through (go2africa) provides basic generic guidance, but every time I ask for specifics I just get referred back to their stock brochures on what to pack.

I need to be very careful, as it's a 2.5 week trip going from the mountain gorillas in Rwanda to a preserves and the safari in Kenya, then ending up on the beach. For anybody who has done this before, what are the things you used most... what are the things you brought but wished you hadn't wasted the space?
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I traveled around the world for 6 months in my 30s (including Africa) and I easily could have done it with a 35 lb bag (I had a backpack, but my wife had a softsided rolling bag). You don't need very much for a safari as you are typically in a vehicle. A hat, sunglasses, a few pair of lightweight pants and long sleave shirts, and a camera. In the mountains, I'd think you would be alright with the same outfit plus a lightweight jacket. You can always buy clothes for cheap in Africa and donate them or ship them back to America if necessary.
 
NYCBlueBlood said:
My sister and I have been going on trips together every 3 years or so for a while. It started with Iceland when we crashed a trip a friend of my from college planned on her own. Then we did Thailand, Cambodia and Bali with my ex-gf and one of her friends. Then 3 years ago we did Peru/ Bolivia.

End of this year we're going to Kenya and Rwanda. I'm trying to plan out what to carry with me. Apparently for the safari portion, we will take a small puddle jumper where we are restricted to soft sided suitcases carrying up to 35lbs. The tour company we are going through (go2africa) provides basic generic guidance, but every time I ask for specifics I just get referred back to their stock brochures on what to pack.

I need to be very careful, as it's a 2.5 week trip going from the mountain gorillas in Rwanda to a preserves and the safari in Kenya, then ending up on the beach. For anybody who has done this before, what are the things you used most... what are the things you brought but wished you hadn't wasted the space?
Click to expand...
Curious, which beach? I don't hear "beach" mentioned often when i hear people talking about trips to Africa, hence the question.
 
I did the safari portion in South Africa and Zimbabwe. That's only about three inches on the map from Kenya so climate will be somewhat different. Its the savannah so think hot during the day and cooler in the morning when you often start your safari. So a light fleece, light gloves and a warm hat are good. For the day, a collapsible wide brim hat, suntan lotion and sunglasses. I don't remember getting really hot but maybe the pants that convert to shorts.

If you spend time in a place like Johannesburg, there might be an occasion to wear nice clothes but if you are in the bush, there are zero restaurants outside of your lodge. Some towns don't have indoor plumbing and you won't be going to town unless you ask. You just need hiking clothes or safari wear.

Also, we did the ride around in a truck flavor and not the walk around with lions and leopards version. If you do that, good hiking shoes or boots and possibly some brown pants.
 
gregh1 said:
Curious, which beach? I don't hear "beach" mentioned often when i hear people talking about trips to Africa, hence the question.
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We are staying at Diani Beach. It's supposed to have beautiful white sand beaches, clear water and good marine life. Honestly we did not research it much... it just sounded like a nice way to end the vacation after being on safari.
 
Lots of beautiful beaches in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia. People don’t usually hit them as they don’t have time for 3 week+ trips and safari/cities eat all the time.
 
Geisterfahrer said:
Lots of beautiful beaches in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia. People don’t usually hit them as they don’t have time for 3 week+ trips and safari/cities eat all the time.
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Oh man, I dream of seeing the Indian Ocean coast of Africa someday.
 
You knew someome was going to post it. This is post 11. Surprised it didn't make the top 10.

Hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's comin' in, 12:30 flight
Her moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hopin' to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say
"Hurry, boy, it's waiting there for you"
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside
Frightened of this thing that I've become
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo
Hurry, boy, she's waiting there for you
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rains)
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rains)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (ooh, I'm gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo
 
05C40 said:
You knew someome was going to post it. This is post 11. Surprised it didn't make the top 10.

Hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's comin' in, 12:30 flight
Her moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hopin' to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say
"Hurry, boy, it's waiting there for you"
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside
Frightened of this thing that I've become
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo
Hurry, boy, she's waiting there for you
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rains)
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rains)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (ooh, I'm gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had, ooh-hoo
Click to expand...

One of the greatest songs ever written, IMO.
 
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