17 things to bring to Africa
1) LifeStraw – Avoiding tap water is probably the #1 thing visitors should do to stay healthy in Africa. Bottled water is available almost everywhere, but buying it everyday gets pricey and creates a ton of plastic waste. The LifeStrawis a cheap and eco-friendly alternative, and it’ll take up very little space in your bag.
2) Activated charcoal – If you’re careful about what you eat and drink as you travel around Africa, hopefully you can avoid getting sick. But there’s always some risk, so bring a bottle of activated charcoal to be prepared. If you do get sick, it’ll stop diarrhea by absorbing whatever toxins are in your system.
3) Power adapter: Universal and South Africa – If you’re coming from North America, you’ll need a power adapter anywhere in Africa. Several different types of plugs are found throughout the continent, though, so a universal adapter is the way to go. If you’re headed to Southern Africa, you’ll want to bring a South Africa-specific adapter as well, because that plug is typically not part of the universal ones.
4) Travel insurance – Even though visiting Africa can be just as safe as anywhere else, it’s a place where you need to expect the unexpected and buying travel insurance is a very good idea. It costs a tiny fraction of your total trip cost and will cover you in the unlikely event of an emergency. This should give you some welcome peace-of-mind that you’ll be covered no matter what happens. World Nomads is a popular company among frequent travelers, and it’s the one I like to use.
View their plans at WorldNomads.com ➜
5) Passport holder – You’ll obviously need your passport to travel around Africa (and to get there in the first place), and a holder is useful for protecting it and keeping other valuables organized, too. This one will hold cash, credit cards, and even a cell phone, and it’s much less likely than a regular wallet to get stolen.
6) Stainless steel water bottle – Staying hydrated in essential in hot climates, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside, so keeping a water bottle with you is a good idea. You can use your bottle with the LifeStraw, or just refill it if you have access to a treated water source.
7) Flip-flops: Women’s and Men’s and/or Chacos: Women’s and Men’s or Crocs: Women’s and Men’s – The best shoes to wear in Africa depends on what you’re doing, but you’ll definitely want to bring a pair of sandals. Flip-flops are useful for staying someplace with shared showers or hanging out at the beach or pool, and sturdier sandals, like these Chacos or Crocs, are a goodchoice for light hiking or water activities.
8) First-Aid kit – While the risk of injury is no higher in Africa than elsewhere, it’s easy to get small cuts or scrapes, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside. Packing a First-Aid kit like this one will ensure you have basic supplies you might need, like Band-Aids, gauze, and antiseptic wipes.
9) Hiking shoes: Women’s and Men’s(hot weather);Women’s and Men’s – For strenuous hikesor treks, you’ll be more comfortable in protective hiking shoes. In Africa’s warmest climates, waterproof shoes are too hot, so you should bring a pair of ventilated shoes instead. For colder climates and higher elevations, though, keeping your feet dry is critical, and you’ll want the warmth and protection that waterproof shoes offer.
10) Sarong – I pack a sarong almost every time I travel, because they can be used in place of so many other things: sheet, towel, picnic blanket, curtain, swimsuit cover-up, scarf, the list goes on. Plus, sarongs cost less than many of those items, and they’re small and lightweight, making them ideal for travel.
11) Rain jacket: Women’s and Men’s – Depending on the time of year and the countries you visit, you may see rain every day or not at all. That said,it’s always a good idea to bring a light rain jacket to be safe.
12) Solid shampoo – The stringent requirements regarding liquids on airplanes make solid shampoo appealing, because it means one less thing to worry about fitting in your little Ziploc bag. Even if you have checked luggage, packing fewer liquids means less chance of one of them leaking and making a mess in your bag.
13) Electrolytes – Electrolytes are also great to bring to Africa, just to be safe. Diarrhea can leave you seriously dehydrated, which is especially problematic in a hot climate. If you get sick, mix these tablets with water to replenish the electrolytes you’re losing. In especially hot areas, it’s hard to stay hydrated even if you’re not sick, so you might consider using them on a regular basis.
14) Protein bars – Because meat is expensive, there are parts of Africa where it’s not eaten on a regular basis, at least not in large quantities. And you’re probably not going to find a substitute like tofu (though eggs and beans are extremely common in many African countries), so you might want to supplement your diet with some high-protein snacks, like these Clif bars.
15) Sunscreen – The sun can be relentless in much of Africa, so using sunscreen is absolutely crucial. It’s one thing that’s very difficult to find there, even in large cities(and if you do find it, it’ll probably cost three times what it does at home). So make sure you bring sunscreen with you, regardless of which country you’re visiting.
16) Flash drive – A flash drive is an easy way for you and your travel companions to share photos from your trip, as well as music or movies you might want for the long flights. Many parts of Africa lack reliable WiFi, so you don’t want to get stuck needing to send files over e-mail or through Dropbox.
17) Wet wipes – I recommend packing wet wipes for Africa because they have a bunch of different uses. Not all bathrooms will have soap and water, so you can use them to clean your hands. If you’re camping, or your water goes out (as is common in many areas), or you just have a hot, dusty bus ride, they’re great for freshening up a little. And in Africa’s deserts, wet wipes also work well for cleaning sand off anything.
1) LifeStraw – Avoiding tap water is probably the #1 thing visitors should do to stay healthy in Africa. Bottled water is available almost everywhere, but buying it everyday gets pricey and creates a ton of plastic waste. The LifeStrawis a cheap and eco-friendly alternative, and it’ll take up very little space in your bag.
2) Activated charcoal – If you’re careful about what you eat and drink as you travel around Africa, hopefully you can avoid getting sick. But there’s always some risk, so bring a bottle of activated charcoal to be prepared. If you do get sick, it’ll stop diarrhea by absorbing whatever toxins are in your system.
3) Power adapter: Universal and South Africa – If you’re coming from North America, you’ll need a power adapter anywhere in Africa. Several different types of plugs are found throughout the continent, though, so a universal adapter is the way to go. If you’re headed to Southern Africa, you’ll want to bring a South Africa-specific adapter as well, because that plug is typically not part of the universal ones.
4) Travel insurance – Even though visiting Africa can be just as safe as anywhere else, it’s a place where you need to expect the unexpected and buying travel insurance is a very good idea. It costs a tiny fraction of your total trip cost and will cover you in the unlikely event of an emergency. This should give you some welcome peace-of-mind that you’ll be covered no matter what happens. World Nomads is a popular company among frequent travelers, and it’s the one I like to use.
View their plans at WorldNomads.com ➜
5) Passport holder – You’ll obviously need your passport to travel around Africa (and to get there in the first place), and a holder is useful for protecting it and keeping other valuables organized, too. This one will hold cash, credit cards, and even a cell phone, and it’s much less likely than a regular wallet to get stolen.
6) Stainless steel water bottle – Staying hydrated in essential in hot climates, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside, so keeping a water bottle with you is a good idea. You can use your bottle with the LifeStraw, or just refill it if you have access to a treated water source.
7) Flip-flops: Women’s and Men’s and/or Chacos: Women’s and Men’s or Crocs: Women’s and Men’s – The best shoes to wear in Africa depends on what you’re doing, but you’ll definitely want to bring a pair of sandals. Flip-flops are useful for staying someplace with shared showers or hanging out at the beach or pool, and sturdier sandals, like these Chacos or Crocs, are a goodchoice for light hiking or water activities.
8) First-Aid kit – While the risk of injury is no higher in Africa than elsewhere, it’s easy to get small cuts or scrapes, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside. Packing a First-Aid kit like this one will ensure you have basic supplies you might need, like Band-Aids, gauze, and antiseptic wipes.
9) Hiking shoes: Women’s and Men’s(hot weather);Women’s and Men’s – For strenuous hikesor treks, you’ll be more comfortable in protective hiking shoes. In Africa’s warmest climates, waterproof shoes are too hot, so you should bring a pair of ventilated shoes instead. For colder climates and higher elevations, though, keeping your feet dry is critical, and you’ll want the warmth and protection that waterproof shoes offer.
10) Sarong – I pack a sarong almost every time I travel, because they can be used in place of so many other things: sheet, towel, picnic blanket, curtain, swimsuit cover-up, scarf, the list goes on. Plus, sarongs cost less than many of those items, and they’re small and lightweight, making them ideal for travel.
11) Rain jacket: Women’s and Men’s – Depending on the time of year and the countries you visit, you may see rain every day or not at all. That said,it’s always a good idea to bring a light rain jacket to be safe.
12) Solid shampoo – The stringent requirements regarding liquids on airplanes make solid shampoo appealing, because it means one less thing to worry about fitting in your little Ziploc bag. Even if you have checked luggage, packing fewer liquids means less chance of one of them leaking and making a mess in your bag.
13) Electrolytes – Electrolytes are also great to bring to Africa, just to be safe. Diarrhea can leave you seriously dehydrated, which is especially problematic in a hot climate. If you get sick, mix these tablets with water to replenish the electrolytes you’re losing. In especially hot areas, it’s hard to stay hydrated even if you’re not sick, so you might consider using them on a regular basis.
14) Protein bars – Because meat is expensive, there are parts of Africa where it’s not eaten on a regular basis, at least not in large quantities. And you’re probably not going to find a substitute like tofu (though eggs and beans are extremely common in many African countries), so you might want to supplement your diet with some high-protein snacks, like these Clif bars.
15) Sunscreen – The sun can be relentless in much of Africa, so using sunscreen is absolutely crucial. It’s one thing that’s very difficult to find there, even in large cities(and if you do find it, it’ll probably cost three times what it does at home). So make sure you bring sunscreen with you, regardless of which country you’re visiting.
16) Flash drive – A flash drive is an easy way for you and your travel companions to share photos from your trip, as well as music or movies you might want for the long flights. Many parts of Africa lack reliable WiFi, so you don’t want to get stuck needing to send files over e-mail or through Dropbox.
17) Wet wipes – I recommend packing wet wipes for Africa because they have a bunch of different uses. Not all bathrooms will have soap and water, so you can use them to clean your hands. If you’re camping, or your water goes out (as is common in many areas), or you just have a hot, dusty bus ride, they’re great for freshening up a little. And in Africa’s deserts, wet wipes also work well for cleaning sand off anything.
