Packing Ideas
Items I Never Travel Without
Travel Sized White Noise Machine: While this machine was designed for babies in strollers, it has made my traveling experience so much better. It helps drown out the noises that are inevitable when sleeping at a hotel - street noise, hallway noise, slamming doors, etc.
TSA Approved Cable Luggage Locks: Keep your items secure when checking your bags or leaving your bags in storage.
Refillable Toiletry Containers: Bring your toiletries with you when traveling with a carryon bag!
Travelon Bags: These bags are my favorite travel accessory and I have at least 4. The bags have locking zippers, slash resistant material and straps, RFID block pockets, and dirt + water resistant materials.
The Travelon Anti-Theft Metro Medium Carryall Tote is a great option for an under the seat bag that also works as a large crossbody tote in cities.
The Travelon Convertible Crossbody Clutch is the perfect travel accessory. It’s small and can be worn as a crossbody or carrier as a clutch - perfect for going quickly from day to night.
Flight Adapters for Headphones: Many international airlines have twin earphone sockets. While you can use traditional earphones with one socket, the sound will only play in one of the earphones without this adapter.
Wireless External Battery Charger: This thing has saved me so many times. The wireless option works with both iPhones and Androids and can charge your phone at least twice before needing to be charged again.
Cheers After Alcohol Aid: As I’ve gotten older, hangovers have gotten progessively worse even as I drink less alcohol. Cheers Restore is a supplement that you take after drinking alcohol that helps your liver process alcohol more effectively to reduce hangover symptoms. Use this link for $5 off.
Africa/Safari Specific Packing List Ideas
In Africa, the main thing to consider is minimizing weight, as many bush flights have strict luggage weight limits (as strict as 15 kg including your purse/carry on). Some items that I have used that worked well:
Treat your clothing, safari bag, and shoes with Permethrin in advance. I recommend doing this at least a few days before packing since it takes a couple days for it to fully dry.
I prefer insect repellent with picaridin instead of DEET. It's proven to be just as effective but the smell isn't as strong.
My Buff was my most used item; it had so many functions! I mainly used it to cover my ears to keep the tsetse flies out of them but also worked to protect my scalp or neck from sunburn and as a dust mask.
Ask your PCP or a travel doctor about any immunizations and malaria prevention they recommend for the specific countries you are visiting in Africa. The yellow fever vaccine is required for certain countries and is harder to find in the US so here's where I was able to find it (don't forget to bring the yellow fever vaccine certificate with you on your trip). Typhoid is another one that most people in the US haven't had unless they travel internationally. Lastly, I typically ask my doctor for an antibiotic prescription in the event of a bad case of food poisoning and bring it with me, just in case. I haven't ever needed it but better safe than sorry!
Sea To Summit Trek & Travel Pocket Laundry Wash: With the strict luggage limits required by certain safari destinations, doing some laundry in the sink will allow you to bring less clothing.
Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack: This daypack weighs practically nothing, which makes it perfect for you to toss in your luggage and fill it with items you need while out on safari once you arrive.
Occer 12x25 Compact Binoculars: These binoculars are not the fanciest but I loved them because they were very light and packed up small.
LE LED Flashlight: I also love this tiny flashlight for being small and light but very useful when you are walking around before sunrise and after sunset.