As far as clothes went, I was surprised…and pleased…to see that I really didn’t need to buy a lot of specialized clothes for the trip. Most people already have washable, easy-care cotton t-shirts and shirts and slacks, and those are perfectly fine for Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.
One of the lists recommended bringing a jacket with lots of pockets and, if possible, zip-off sleeves. That seemed like a really good idea, as we are going to be in Africa at the end of winter, when nights can be cool and mid-days really warm. So I Googled “Safari Jackets” and found dozens of sites. Amazon, in fact, had just what we wanted, for a very reasonable price.
Another article mentioned that having a hat that would protect the back of your neck was a really good idea, as the African sun can be really powerful. I never wear hats, but what they said made sense. Again, just Googling “safari hats” located dozens of possibilities, and I found some good, reasonably priced ones at www.OutlandUSA.com. [Susan: Tilley hats are by far the most recommended. Mum and Doug got a good deal at Outland USA. I got mine at EMS using a coupon for $25 that I’d earned from a previous purchase.]
After reading about the strong sun, we decided that having a few long-sleeved shirts that would protect us from burning might be a good idea, and found them at www.Coolibar.com. [Susan: LL Bean and Lands’ End also have good alternatives. Watch for end of season sales, and generally buy big. Many of these shirts seem to run small. I’ve also had better success buying the men’s versions.]
Susan has already mentioned the walking shoes I found (in our recommended products section} …they weigh practically nothing, which is great when you are watching baggage weight, and they are soooo comfortable. I found my shoes at Magellan’s. There are lots of other travel goodies there, which I have managed to resist. So far.
I have gotten a few hints from other “Pondies” at the National Geographic website, who have been to Botswana and South Africa at the same time we will be going. They have recommended a warm jacket and gloves for evening or early morning game drives. I have a very comfortable fleece vest that will take up very little room in my duffle bag, so I think that will be coming along to Africa, perhaps with a pair of gloves in the pocket.
With less than a month to go before we start our trip, we are pretty much ready. We have all been wearing the clothes we plan to take — no point in bringing anything that doesn’t fit, or isn’t comfortable, after all — and learning to use the binoculars and cameras we are bringing. Well, I am learning to use the binoculars and camera…Susan and Doug are both very proficient at that sort of thing already. I have finally learned which end of the binoculars to look into, which is definitely progress.
Next: A brief rundown on books we are reading to prepare ourselves for the trip of a lifetime.