Absolute Essentials You Can’t Do Without
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- Passport (but you probably knew that).
- Yellow Fever Booklet with the required stamps, if applicable. Check the NHS or travel clinic website to see which vaccinations are mandatory for your trip.
- Bank card (don’t forget to set it to worldwide use!) and your credit card (you can pay almost anywhere with it).
- Insurance card—you never know!
- Mobile phone (yes, in case you forget it).
- A small bag or waist pouch to keep these important items safe.
- DEET! Absolutely essential. Preferably two bottles.
- Something you absolutely mustn’t forget: a deck of cards! It might rain, and in Southern Africa, you can’t just pick up a deck of cards on every corner like you can in the UK.

Travelling to Southern Africa: What Clothes to Pack
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- A few comfy summer outfits (ladies, maybe save the hotpants for your Spain holidays).
- Lightweight trousers! It can get quite chilly at higher altitudes, and they’ll also protect your legs from thirsty mosquitoes.
- At least one jumper if you’re travelling in summer, and definitely a few warm jumpers/jackets/trousers if you’re travelling during the colder months.
- Raincoat—yes, it rains in Africa too.
- Around five pairs of underwear (you’ll have to wash these yourself in the shower).
- Enough pairs of socks so you don’t need to wash them every day.
- Flip-flops & sandals.
- Trainers (suitable for hiking as well).
- Swimwear.
- Sunglasses!
- A hat or safari-friendly cap to protect against sunstroke.
Packing List for Southern Africa: Toiletries
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- Toothbrush & toothpaste.
- Face cleansing wipes (yes, even for men!). The unpaved roads can get dusty, and the cities might leave a thin layer of dirt on your face.
- For the ladies: a bit of makeup (but don’t overdo it—you’re travelling. A bit of lipstick is fun if you’re going out!).
- Comb or brush—whatever you prefer.
- Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! One SPF 30 and one SPF 50 should do.
- After-sun for those who turn into tomatoes.
- Soap and shampoo, ideally in small bottles.
- A small bar of soap for washing clothes (or underwear).
- Deodorant (your fellow travellers will thank you).


Travel Safely in Southern Africa: First Aid Kit
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- Antiseptic like Betadine or Sterilon.
- Plasters, some bandages, blister plasters, and sports tape (great for preventing blisters or patching up anything else).
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen.
- Imodium or ORS, for when things start moving a bit too quickly...
- Malaria tablets
Packing List for Southern Africa: Other Essentials
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- Sleeping bag liner and pillowcase—a must if you’re staying in a hotel and not sure when the bedding was last washed.
- Universal travel adaptor (unless you fancy buying one at your destination).
- Possibly an impregnated mosquito net.
- Sarong—incredibly handy. Use it as a towel, dress, or skirt.
- Binoculars.
- A small, quick-drying towel.
- Driving licence (if you have one and plan on driving).
- Earplugs (essential for sleeping on buses while local TV dramas blare at full volume).
- A combination padlock.
- Possibly a pocket knife.
- Tissues—great for when you need to go but there’s no toilet paper, or just for a runny nose.
- A deck of cards! It might rain, and in East Africa, finding cards isn’t as easy as it is in the UK.
- A book. Just one will do—you can easily swap with others once you’ve finished.
- Alternatively, an e-reader.
- A notebook and pen for jotting down special experiences.
- Optionally, a thin money pouch to wear under your clothes. Handy but not essential.