Time & Electricity

Time – Most of Africa is at GMT + 2 or 3 hours. No daylight savings in many countries. Electricity - 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. Special adapters required for three-pronged outlets and converters are needed for any 110 volt electronics.

International Flights

Many major airlines fly to East and Southern Africa direct or through Europe. Airlines with good flights include Northwest/KLM, Delta, American/British Airways, South African Airways, Air Kenya, Gulf Air, and Air Emirates. NOTE: You must re-confirm your international flights 72 hours prior to departure.

Airport Departure Tax

A departure tax of approximately US $20 - $40 must be paid by all foreign visitors leaving many African countries. Often, this cost is included in the cost of your air ticket, so check with your airline.

Currency

Visitors should bring cash or traveler’s checks. Credit cards are not readily accepted although major lodges and camps will take them. ATM’s are limited and not always reliable.

Telecommunications

International telephones, fax, e-mail and postal services are available, although they are not common in lodges and camps and, if they are available, are usually very expensive. Internet services are becoming more common, especially in larger towns and cities, but are sometimes unreliable and slow.

Tipping

Tipping, of course, is a personal decision. However, tipping of safari guides is customary and many people ask us for advice. We recommend a minimum of $5 to $10 per person per day for your guide if he provides good service. If you are part of a larger group like extended family, we recommend $10-$20 per vehicle per day to be divided amongst all the people in the vehicle. For guests staying at permanent tented camps and lodges, we recommend that each person puts a few dollars in the staff tip box at the end of your stay. If you are staying at a private mobile camp, we recommend you tip each camp cook/staff $10-$15 per day from the group. Kilimanjaro climbers please see our Kili tipping guidelines.

Safari Packing List

In general pack light and use layers. For a typical 14-day safari, we recommend the following. Please remember that many safaris utilize small plane flights which limit luggage, including carry-ons to 33 pounds per person.

• 2-3 pairs cotton pants or jeans
• 2-3 pairs shorts
• 3-4 short-sleeved T-shirts or polo shirts
• 2 long-sleeved shirts
• Travel dress or skirt (women)
• 1 sweater or sweatshirt
• 1 rain jacket
• 1 light jacket
• Swimwear
• 7 pairs underwear
• Bras + full support garments for bumpy roads
• 7 pairs socks
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sandals or Tevas
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Any appropriate medications including Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc.
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Film
• Reading material
• Special foods or snacks
• Mosquito repellent
• Adapters or converters for electronic equipment
• Flashlight

Optional suggested items

• Gloves
• Gifts for children such as pencils, pens, paper, etc.
• Gifts for drivers/camp crew such as T-shirts, pins, mementos, etc.

Please Note

People in many African countries expect visitors to dress conservatively. Women should be careful not to dress provocatively. Most lodges and camps will do guest laundry but some will not wash women’s underwear for cultural reasons. Consider taking a change of clothes and your toiletries in your carry-on bag in case of lost or delayed luggage.

Kilimanjaro Packing List

• 2 synthetic shirts, long sleeve
• 2 synthetic t-shirts
• 1 pair of nylon trekking pants – with zip off legs
• 1 pair of warmer hiking pants
• 1 pair of running tights
• 1 pair of cotton shorts
• 1 or 2 pairs of fleece long underwear
• 1 pair of gaiters (to the knee)
• 1 pair of socks per trekking day, with at least 2 pairs lighter socks and 3 pairs heavy wool/synthetic blend
• 1 pair of underwear per day (synthetic is best)
• 1 warm fleece jacket
• 1 goretex rain/wind shell
• 1 pair of goretex rain/wind pants
• 1 poncho
• 1 wool or fleece sweater
• 1 pair of fleece glove liners
• 1 pair of cold weather gloves or mittens
• 1 pair of light windproof gloves
• 1 warm hat
• 1 sun hat
• 1 balaclava
• 1 pair trekking boots (medium weight, waterproof)
• 1 pair of walking shoes
• 1 pair sunglasses
• 1 pair snow goggles

Other Equipment

• 1 soft (no hard frame or wheels) duffel bag
• several plastic bags of different sizes (to protect clothes against rain)
• 1 warm mountain sleeping bag (0 degree rated (F))
• 2 trekking poles
• 1 head lamp (with extra batteries and light bulb)
• 1 emergency foil blanket
• 1 pocket knife
• 3 1-liter water bottles, or 1 hydration pack
• sun block
• lip balm
• trail snacks (one or two items per day of trekking)
• water purification tablets / or filter/pump
• 2 bandanas

First Aid Kit

We also recommend you include the following: bandages, gauze swabs, adhesive tape, non-adhesive dressings, elasticised support bandage, sterile alcohol wipes, steri-strips, safety pins, a small pair of scissors, thermometer, tweezers, syringes, sutures, surgical needles, antiseptic cream, antihistamine cream and tablets, antibiotic cream, anti-sickness tablets, anti-diarrhoea tablets, oral rehydration packs, pain killers (aspirin, paracetamol, codeine...), chloramphenical eye drops or ointment, diamox, metronidazole or tinidazole, and anti-malarial prophylactic.