This information is important for being prepared for your journey; we want you to have the best experience possible. If you only read one section, this one is key!
Ahead of Your Tour
- Make sure your passport is valid for six months AFTER your return date, with at least two entirely blank pages. No visa is required for tourist visits of this length. See "Passports, Visas & Documentation" section below.
- Please check current CDC recommendations for travel to Botswana and Namibia and consult with your doctor about general travel vaccinations you should have as precaution for travel. See the “General Health and Inoculations” section below.
- Travel insurance in case of serious medical emergency is strongly recommended. Full health coverage and repatriation is available through Allianz Travel Insurance.
- Plan your flight reservations arriving into Maun Airport (MUB), Botswana and out of Windhoek (WDH), Namibia. Send a copy of your itinerary to the Naturalist Journeys office please.
- Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing the vans. Special rules apply due to use of small aircraft in Botswana. Pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.
- The Botswana portion of your journey is remote, so remember there is no shopping once past Maun, until your arrival to Windhoek, the two towns we encounter on our route. Laundry services are available at the camps in Botswana.
Arrival into Maun Airport (MUB)
Please note: If you are delayed in travel, please refer to your emergency contact list, and contact your ground operator, with a copy to our office. You may also phone or text your guide. Quite a few of your guides will set up a WhatsApp connection so you can also reach your guide by phone.
Maun is a very small airport, and your guide will meet you at the airport. Once in Maun you will pass through immigration, customs, and then look for a driver from the Cresta Riley hotel there to meet your flight and take you to the airport. They will likely be either inside or outside the main door leading out of the airport.
Please check the Travel Details tab of this tour for additional information and updates.
Departure from Windhoek (WDH)
On the final day of our journey, you will fly back to the Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek in time to meet afternoon flights out. If you need to overnight for a morning flight out the following day, please let us know and we can arrange that for you (additional cost).
Please check the Travel Details tab of this tour for additional information and updates.
Passports, Visas & Documents
Guidelines and regulations can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s documentation requirements 60-90 days ahead of traveling. If you are from another country, please contact the tour destination’s embassy website for guidelines. Information for U.S. citizens can be found at:
Botswana:
Namibia:
Passport: You must have a passport in good condition and valid for at least six months AFTER your scheduled return date. You must have three or more blank pages. The blank pages need to say “Visas” at the top. Pages marked “Amendments and Endorsements” will not be accepted.
Visa: At the time of writing, a tourist visa for is not required for US citizens in advance - your airline will provide a tourist card. However, you may need to show your travel tickets as proof that your return date does not exceed the maximum allowed tourist stay.
As a precaution for lost or misplaced documents you carry on your person during travel, we highly recommend you keep hard and digital backup copies on your phone (either photo or PDF scan), as well as a hard copy left with your emergency contact at home. The recommended important documents to copy include, but are not limited to; your passport ID page, travel visa, the front and back of your credit card(s), the airline barcode on your luggage. This will greatly expedite getting new ones if necessary – we hope everyone will always keep travel documents close so that losing them will not be an issue.
General Health & Inoculations Information – Be Prepared!
Health requirements for entry to any country can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s health requirements and recommendations 60-90 days ahead of traveling. Check the CDC websites for both Botswana and Namibia or reach them by phone at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).
We will share your health information with your guide. This information will be kept confidential but is very important as we want to be best prepared in case of a medical emergency.
Vaccinations: Bring copies of your current vaccination records with you. Although, as of this writing, there are no required vaccinations to enter Botswana or Namibia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all travelers be up to date with routine vaccinations and basic travel vaccines (such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid) before traveling to any destination. Please check with your doctor for recommendations at least 4-6 weeks before departing on your trip. Your physician may recommend other preventative immunizations like DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis), which is recommended every 10 years.
Yellow fever: In the past, South Africa required proof of vaccination for yellow fever (YF) if coming from other African countries, but that has now been lifted (unless low-risk status changes for any of these countries). Botswana, however, may require a YF vaccination certificate if you have traveled through or originated travel from an area at risk for transmission of yellow fever. Please consider this if you are traveling ahead of time (up to a few months prior) in African countries other than South Africa or Namibia or some countries in South America, such as Peru. If you have a current yellow fever vaccination certificate, definitely bring that with you. If you don't, is a vaccine that is highly recommended for any travel to Africa since requirements can change with any outbreak at any time.
Malaria: Even though you are here during the dry season, you do travel in Malarial-risk areas - mainly while in the Okavango Delta area. Your doctor is likely to recommend that you choose anti-malarial medications. The CDC website has a Malaria data you may want to review:
Botswana:
Namibia:
Prescriptions: It is a good idea to pack any meds you take regularly in your carry-on luggage. Bring an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses. Bring an adequate supply of any prescription medications you use, a copy of the prescription and a list of generic names of your medicines as “back-up” in case it is necessary to purchase drugs while abroad. You’ll want to keep medications in their original, labeled containers.
Allergies: To be prepared for environmental triggers to allergies or breathing difficulties, please bring your allergy and/or asthma medication(s). If you have severe allergies talk to your doctor about carrying an EPI pen and notify your guides. It is also recommended to carry with you an up-to-date record of known allergies, chronic medical problems and Medic Alerts so that, if necessary, emergency treatment can be carried out without endangering your health.
Common Ailments: We recommend that you bring a travel-sized first aid kit and a supply of standard over-the-counter medications for prevention or treatment of common ailments (such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, cough, congestion, head or body aches, motion sickness, insect bites and sunburn); as well as ointments, moisturizer, sunscreen, oral rehydration salts, band-aids, moleskin for blisters, cotton swabs, nail clippers, and tweezers, etc.
Altitude illness: There may be higher altitudes encountered on this trip. According to the CDC's website, day trips to high-elevation destinations less than 8000 ft. with an evening return to a lower elevation are much less stressful on the body, depending on the time provided for your body to adjust. However, overnights at high altitudes may have more adverse affects on your body and you should be informed about altitude illness and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) (see https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/environmental-hazards-risks/high-elevation-travel-and-altitude-illness). The most general symptoms are headache and occasionally fatigue and dizziness. You’ll want to take it easy, particularly at first. The likelihood of these symptoms can be reduced by resting, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol, taking aspirin and optimize acclimatization by adjusting itineraries to avoid going “too high too fast." If you have worries about the altitude, ask your physician about medications (such as Diamox) that may be right for you.
Daily Itinerary
We generally follow the published itinerary but do network with other guides and park staff and may make changes if we hear of great wildlife sightings or a new opportunity. The joy of our travel is flexibility, and we make every effort to do the things you particularly want to do.
Your guides will cover the next day’s plans at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Safari life provides us a relaxing atmosphere so it’s easy to keep track of each other and pace as we go. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.
Weather & Climate
September and October in both Botswana and Namibia is the dry season, and accordingly hot, with temperatures ranging in the 90’s°F during the day, and mid-40’s to mid-50’s°F at night. On the six safari dates, it can be dusty in camp - a cooling camp shower helps during our mid-day break. Just be prepared, bring appropriate clothing, and choose clothing to stay comfortable. On safari it is COLD first thing in the morning and HOT mid-day.
Annoyances & Hazards
There can be mosquitos and other biting insects (including the Tsetse Fly), so long sleeves, long pants, and insect spray containing 20 – 30% DEET is a must. During the dry season, we generally have little insect life, but be prepared if we encounter some. The sun is also very strong, so plan to protect yourself against it, too. Your guides will go over all the other biting (and exciting) critters to avoid when you arrive – most are rare finds.
It is also important to remember that Botswana has many large predators, so always follow your guide’s directions carefully and thoroughly when in the field and at the lodges. They will not be letting you out of the vehicles often in lion country – one termite mound can hide a full-grown male! We also take precaution around elephants, but you will be able to get wonderful photos and have a sense of being very close. Animals DO enter and walk around the mobile camp area, they will discuss what to do, but it’s basically to remain very quiet and still in your tents, not always the easiest thing to do if an Elephant is munching the acacia tree nearby. When your safety is of issue your safari guides may be firm and gruff – the message simply must come across and be understood, in the bush they are captains of us all.
Food & Drinks
Our lodges pride themselves in preparing healthy and varied food for you. To be out early on a schedule to hit activity peaks for wildlife, they typically give you tea and coffee and some fruit and biscuits early for the morning game drive and you return to a lavish brunch. After brunch, there is a rest period, and you reconvene over tea with savory and sweet snacks before going out again. Dinner is typically after sunset, and cocktails are served ahead around the fire. We have the option to stop for “sundowners”, but we also keep in mind that this is the primo light of the day for photography and excellent for wildlife viewing, so expect on some days that we prefer to return to camp, freshen up and then do cocktails and dinner. A mix of both customs is nice.
Packing, Clothing & Laundry
Please, pack light! Dress is very informal. You may wish to change for dinners, but casual dress is suitable at all locations.
Laundry services are complimentary at the Botswana lodges but may not be available at all your Namibia lodges, so we suggest packing travel-sized laundry soap and expect to do hand laundry. Those laundry “sheets” that substitute for soap are great for travel.
In Botswana we use small aircraft between Maun and each camp. Moremi Air runs different sized planes, and they schedule them very close to departure, so we do not know if we have will get two small planes, or one larger one that holds the full group. They do have luggage size restrictions and weight restrictions made for the smallest plane, so if we get the big one there is less to worry about, but no guarantees. To date, they have not enforced weight for us on our camera bags, nor have we been weighed at places other than Maun, but we all tried to comply to not pack grossly overweight. A few of the larger bags can go inside the plane – only a few of them – but this is at the discretion of the pilot. Most go under the plane wing in small compartments, so a duffle they can stuff easily is best. If wheels are on the duffle, they just have to fit within the widest reach. See the MOREMI AIR restrictions handout and know you have some leeway, such as your photo bag – they are used to these! They have the right to charge you extra for baggage, but to date they have not done so.
Camera gear, phones, laptops can all suffer from dust and in Botswana there is plenty. Have good protective cases and we suggest you bring a towel-size microfiber cloth (3 x 5 ft. approx. size) that you can quickly wrap over your gear as you are out on a dusty safari.
Spending Money
Plan to get newer currency, you may have to alert your bank ahead or start planning ahead now. You do not need to change money for either country. But note that US Bills must be 2006 and newer and 2013 and newer is the best. Make sure that bills are in good shape, torn or damaged bills will not be accepted. US Dollars are good most anywhere if they meet this requirement. South African Rand are also widely accepted.
People often ask how much spending money to bring. Part of the answer depends on how much you want to shop. The lodges will have small gift stores, a few take credit cards but as these depend on Wi-Fi, credit card use is not always available. Drinks are included at the Botswana lodges; in Namibia you can often run a tab and pay upon check-out but having cash as backup is a good idea for your small purchases and gratuities.
An ATM is the easiest way to change money if you wish to do so or need to replenish your supply; make sure you know your PIN number. You should also inform your bank and your credit card companies that you will be traveling outside the country to avoid a freeze on your account ? many banks do this as a security measure when unexpected purchases are made.
Souvenirs are tempting, the most unique to Botswana are baskets. A medium sized basket runs about $60 USD, a small one about $30 and large ones $100-$150.
Gratuities
Tipping has long been part of the African safari tradition and is expected. Our Naturalist Journeys guide can bring envelopes for the local guides, and most lodges have a prominent staff tip box. To avoid awkward situations, we give guidelines here for tipping, but please know that tipping is always voluntary and should depend on the kind of service given. In general, you tip only once, at the end of your stay at any location. You should tip when possible in cash, in local currency, USD or Rand. Tipping by credit card means a long wait for staff at lodges to get it and often no guarantee that they do.
Safari guides are tipped separately; this is the person from each lodge in Botswana who coordinates your game drives and outings. In Namibia, you have one safari guide with you for the full time. The safari guide is the main person to make your safari successful, from finding wildlife to keeping you comfortable; the industry standard for the lead guide is $20 USD per day. If we have different guides on different days, they simply share this. The driver and tracker should be tipped at half of this amount. We will try to map out tips in more detail for you with the Schedule at a Glance document sent ahead of your journey.
You will find camp staff at the lodges well trained and eager to please, many of them live away from their families for long periods of time, and the gratuities are a big incentive to them with much appreciation. You interact mainly with the wait staff, but behind them is a whole team making it all happen from chefs to maids and cleaners, and security guards. The lodges have a “General Tips” box that you can put an envelope into at the end of your stay. For Camp or Lodge Staff to share, figure a range of $10-$20 per day, depending on how personal the service and the number of persons you interact with.
Cell Phones & Internet Service
Your guide is well connected and can help if any urgent communication need arises. However, it is highly recommended that you travel with a cell phone, if only as a precaution for the unfortunate occurrence of a medical emergency during an outing and needing swift accessibility to critical personal or medical contacts.
Please check with your wireless provider to see if your phone and service will work in your destination country. Options include activating international roaming, purchasing a local SIM card at the airport (newer phones may not accept SIM cards), or simply turning off cellular service and relying on Wi-Fi to make calls and access the internet. If your phone can connect to Wi-Fi, you may be able to make voice and video calls free of charge. Another option if you have access to Wi-Fi is to use smartphone apps like Skype, WhatsApp, or Viber to send text messages, and make voice calls, or video calls. Many smartphones, tablets, or laptops come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download for free.
Your hotels and most local restaurants provide Wi-Fi at least in their common areas. Although it is generally a reliable service, it can be affected by adverse weather conditions due to the remote location.
Make sure if you do NOT want to use your cell phone that you turn off your cellular data. You could incur huge charges if you are not on Wi-Fi. Putting your phone in airplane mode if you mainly use it for photos will save the battery as well.
Please refrain from taking or making cell phone calls in the vehicles when traveling with other passengers, unless it appears to be an emergency. This disrupts other guests, plan on cell phone call use on your own time.
Electricity
All lodges on this tour have electricity in the rooms day and night (i.e. for CPAP, chargers, etc.).
In Namibia, power sockets are of type D and M. The standard voltage is 220V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. A power plug adapter and a voltage converter can be found online or at most electronics stores. Please read carefully, and note if you are also in South Africa, you want to check on adapters and converters for that country as well. Many people carry a universal adapter, to have options. More information is available at www.power-plugs-sockets.com.
Botswana generally uses electrical plug type D but not the small or normal round plugs, it may be best to buy one labeled M, the VERY LARGE ROND PIN plug, technically known as BS 546 (South African 15 A/250 V). This type of plug is not generally on a universal plug combination set. It is technically a type M but may be called a type D – make sure its large with very FAT prongs.
From the web for Botswana:
What is the difference between Type D and Type M plugs? The Type M plug has 3 rounded pins and is almost identical to the Type D Indian plug except that the Type M is much larger. The Type M plug used to be the old UK standard plug before changing over to the newer type G plug, as such most Commonwealth countries can be found using the Type M plug.
An adapter can be found online or at most electronics stores. Please read carefully, and note if you are also in South Africa, you want to check on adapters and converters for that country as well. Many people carry a universal adapter, to have options.
A good reference link is https://www.ceptics.com/products/south-africa-travel-adapter-type-m-ultra-compact-ct-10l-3-pack
Time
In September, Botswana is 9 hours ahead of USA Pacific time and they do not use daylight savings time. Namibia is 8 hours ahead of USA Pacific time and follows Daylight Savings Time. A great website if you want to tell someone to check ahead of calling you is www.timeanddate.com.
Questions?
Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone at our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey!
Pace of the Tour & What to Expect
You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.
Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.
The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain. It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.
We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.
Naturalist Journeys International Trips: Guide Role
Naturalist Journeys supports ecotourism and the development of excellent local guides. Once we know our international partners and guides well, we can send out small groups working directly with these trusted partners, adding a Naturalist Journeys guide to assist the local expert when we have a group of 6-7 or more. This helps us keep your costs down while retaining tour quality. The local guide is your main guide. You can expect your Naturalist Journeys guide to be well-researched and often they are experienced in the destination, but their role is not to be primary, it is to help to organize logistics, help you find birds, mammals, and interesting other species in the field, keep reports, help facilitate group interactions, and to keep the trip within Naturalist Journeys' style. Local guides live in the countries we travel to, know the destinations intimately, and are often the strongest force for conservation in their countries. They open many doors for us to have a rich experience.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.
Transportation
As a courtesy to each other, we ask that all travelers please rotate seating. On international trips we may all be in one small bus, on some trips we are in vans, particularly the roomy Sprinter Vans when available. Some areas require us to be in smaller 4-wheel drive or safari vehicles. Rotation allows you to sit with different drivers and alternate front and back seating.
Photo Release & Sharing
We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.
By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.
Travel Insurance
You are traveling in remote areas. Naturalist Journeys strongly recommends you have full medical and evacuation insurance from a company such as Allianz, for all international travel. If you do not have medical coverage or evacuation coverage on your existing travel insurance policy or for some reason elected not to take that out, we advise getting an evacuation plan with Global Rescue, World Nomads, Medjet, Allianz (they can do evacuation only) or a similar company. These plans are typically $300-$400 for a year for multiple destinations. This coverage may be a part of a larger Travel Insurance policy but can also be purchased on its own.
Questions?
Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.
Please Pack Light!
For all of the journey, soft luggage is also much easier for us to pack than a more rigid hard sided piece, so if you have the choice, please use your soft luggage. Be sure to have your name and address on the inside of the bag, as well as on the luggage tag on the handle. It is our hope that you can pack in one checked suitcase that does not exceed 40 pounds. What works to meet the size requirements for Moremi Air is to put two smaller bags inside of one larger duffle for international, then you can break it up if need be for the small flights.
In Botswana, Moremi Air has strict restrictions on baggage size as bags must be put through small rigid compartment doors on small aircraft – soft duffels that are not fully-stuffed work best. While not strictly enforced, non-compliance can cause delays for all so please try to meet requirements on the PDF of the airline regulations provided for you (also on the Moremi Air website).
Be sure to pack your personal medication, airline tickets, passport, binoculars, camera, and other essential items in your carry-on bag. You will want a day pack for field trips, so this is an ideal carry-on. Please reconfirm your airline’s baggage weight and size restrictions about a week or so before departure.
Overall, there is low humidity and low rainfall. You most likely will not encounter rain. Depending on the country and locations, cooler evening temperatures could range from lows in the mid-40’s to mid-50’s°F, with moderate to hot days into the 90’s°F, or even hotter (into the 100’s°F) if there are heat waves in Botswana. Check a weather website closer to your departure to better predict what the weather will be on your adventure.
WARNING! As with several other African countries, Namibia is moving towards banning non-reusable plastic bags and currently bans them in all protected areas and national parks. We strongly advise against bringing any. If you wish to bring a bag for laundry, shoes, etc., we advise a lightweight nylon bag, packing cube, or reusable cloth tote as a substitute. We suggest a reusable toiletry bag in place of a Ziploc-style bag. Violations of the ban could result in fines, so please double-check your luggage before you leave!
Clothing & Gear
Dress is comfortable and informal throughout the trip. Dressing in layers is the best way to be comfortable. Lightweight long-sleeved shirts and long pants make ideal field clothing as they are more protective from sun and vegetation. Also, choose clothing you don’t mind getting dirty or muddy and things that are comfortable and easy to wear and launder. Prepare for dust. Seek an alternative to Ziploc-type bags - sealable, reusable, 2-gal. tight-weave or garmet-type storage bag and microfiber towels is one option to protect your optics. Several of our lodges and camps provide laundry service.
Note on clothing colors and insect repellent: We recommend muted colors of tan, brown, khaki, grey or green, as they are spotted less easily than white or bright colors, though camouflage clothing is not recommended, and in some countries, not legal to wear. It is possible to purchase field clothing permeated with insect repellent such as the Craghoppers Insect Shield collection. Another approach is to purchase Permethrin spray (online or from REI) to treat your field clothing and socks before your departure.
Packing List:
- Lightweight long pants, 2-3 pair
- Shorts (optional)
- Light weight long-sleeved shirts, 2-3 (loose fitting keeps you cool and are great to layer over T-shirts or sleeveless shirts for staying cool)
- T-shirts or equivalent, 3-4
- Lightweight sweater (fleece is ideal, but a sweatshirt will do)
- Jacket and warm hat and gloves
- Poncho – pocketsize/compact
- Comfortable clothes for evening (clean field clothes are appropriate, think comfortable!)
- Personal underclothing and pajamas
- Socks (lightweight, and easy to hand wash and dry)
- Comfortable walking shoes with thorn-proof tread (such as tennis shoes)
- Lightweight hiking boots
- Comfortable sandals or light shoes for evenings, travel day, safari days in vehicles, i.e. Tevas (optional)
- Hat with broad brim– a safari style hat with a tie-down is great for vehicle time
- Bandana (optional, great for cooling off when hot and sweaty, or camera dust cover)
- Bathing suit (optional)
- Field vest (optional a great source is Big Pockets)
Equipment & Miscellaneous
- PHOTO IDENTIFICATION
- Airline tickets or e-ticket verification
- Passport, visa (if required), travel insurance info, money & credit cards.
- A secure pouch to carry the items above on your person at all times (such as a secure, under-clothing document pouch)
- As a backup: copies of all the above (phone and/or paper) packed in a separate location than on your person, plus a set given to your emergency contact at home as a backup. For passport, copy of the ID and entry stamp pages.
- Small daypack or fanny pack to carry field gear
- Cell phone and charger
- Binoculars (a hotel shower cap is great to cover these when it is raining or dusty)
- Camera and charger/extra batteries, memory cards/film, lens cleaning supplies and your instruction manual (optional)
- Spotting scope and tripod (optional)
- Universal adapter/converter combo (**see Electricity section under Essential Information)
- Tablet or laptop with USB cord and charger for personal use and/or transferring photos (optional), or...
- Portable external hard drive if you intend to take many photos (optional)
- Flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries
- Alarm clock (or use your phone)
- Sunscreen/lip balm with SPF
- Sunglasses with neck strap
- Insect repellent (containing DEET)
- Toiletry articles – tweezers can come in handy in this land of thorns!
- Pocket-sized tissues
- REUSABLE, NON-PLASTIC BAGS are good for organizing storage and two-gallon size can be helpful keeping dust from optics (again, NO ziploc-type plastic bags, they are banned!)
- Water bottle (or plan to reuse our store-bought water bottle if prefer)
- Travel-sized laundry detergent for doing a bit of laundry by hand
- Travel sewing kit
- Steri-Pen or other water treatment/filter device (like LifeStraw) to treat local water, this will help cut down on the use of plastic bottles (optional but highly recommended!)
- Walking stick (optional, but recommended if you’re use to using one)
- Earplugs (if you are sensitive to noise at night – optional)
- Notebook or journal and pen (optional)
- Field guides (optional)
- Rechargeable power bank (optional)
- Padlock for luggage (optional)
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRAVELING WITH PRECIOUS OR VALUABLE JEWELRY – don’t tempt anyone and don’t bring things you’d regret losing - your mind will be at ease!
Medical & First Aid Items
- Health insurance information
- Vaccination records
- Personal medication
- Motion sickness preventatives if likely to be needed on bus, van drives, etc.
- Personal first aid kit including medications for general and stomach ailments (Imodium or Lomotil, antihistamine cream or tablets, eye drops, etc.)
- Band-Aids, moleskin to protect against blisters
- Foot powder, lotions for dry skin, general “comfort” items
- Copy of eyeglass prescription, medical prescriptions and any medical alerts
- Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts
- Antibacterial hand-cleaning soap in small bottle or as individually wrapped moist towelettes
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