You could have no idea what to expect when traveling through some rough terrains in east Africa. For your overland travel, you have to prepare well in advance for you to have the best safari. This overland safari will take you to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Choosing your luggage for this trip is such an important thing. For starters, suitcases are a no-go, you need to have a backpack. There is limited storage space on the overland buses/trucks, and there is nowhere to keep a suitcase. It helpful to have a smaller bag. You’ll also need some sort of day bag for excursions or just to have with you on the bus with necessities as your main bag isn’t convenient to reach when on-the-move.
There are a few things that are important to keep in mind when choosing the clothes to come with on your overland safari. It can get cold in the evenings when camping in Africa, so pack layers. Lighter colors are best as darker colors attract bugs, and heat.
Cleaning your clothes is usually an option along the way but it’s often hard for your clothes to dry in time before you’re loading back up on the bus to go to your next destination. If you can pack enough to not have to do laundry, that’s easier. Everything you own will get dusty. Skip the brand-name clothes, or clothes you care about too much, as you’ll be constantly covered in dust.
Wipes, and hand sanitizer are one of the daily use items. As mentioned, you are constantly dusty, and the wipes can be great for wiping down things (including yourself), and naturally hand sanitizer always comes in handy when you don’t have access to proper water sources.
Most of the campsites are pitch black at night and although a flashlight works too, a headlamp is way more convenient when you’re trying to do things like set-up your tent, or eat your dinner in the dark and need two hands. Ensure you also pack some extra batteries!
Take crocs or flip-flops as well as a pair of shoes for every-day use. Normal trainers will do just fine but you will want something more suitable for trekking if you are visiting the mountain gorillas or climbing Kilimanjaro. I know a lot of people like to walk barefoot in campsites etc on an Africa overland tour but it is likely that you will step on thorns or stub your toe at some point.
Toiletries are most important on the overland safari such as Toothbrush & Toothpaste, Face cleansing wipes: The unpaved roads can be dusty, and the bigger cities can leave a layer of pancake on your face, a comb or a brush, whatever you like, SUNSCREEN! Bring one with factor 30 and one with factor 50, After sun for those who turn into tomatoes, Soap and shampoo, preferably in a small bottle, A piece of soap to wash clothes or underpants and Deodorant for the sake of your fellow travelers.
The first item to think and put into consideration is personal documents. Your passport, your visa approval letter from your destination, or 50$ cash to purchase it on arrival, your yellow book with the necessary stamps in it, Passport photos when you plan to cross borders (2 or 3 is enough), your credit card (you can almost always pay with it everywhere), Insurance card… You never know, your phone and small pouch/herb bag to store these important things.
You need to move with some Electronics to facilitate you on safari such as AUX cable, Portable speaker if required, your phone charger, Earphones, Power bank, a world plug, Photo camera and Flashlight!
First Aid is one item you need to move with while on an overland safari such as Betadine/sterilon or another disinfectant, Band-aids, a piece of bandage, blister plasters, and sports tape (to tape heels to prevent blisters, or basically to tape anything), Paracetamol and ibuprofen, Imodium / ORS, A pair of needles (buy at the pharmacy for 50 cents each) and Malaria pills just in case.
