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[tamiam]

Hello forumites! I'll be doing quite a lot of travel for research this summer - (my first time! I'm so excited!) One of my sites is coastal East Africa. I'm looking for advice on what to bring besides the obvious:

-heavy duty bug spray in non-aerosol container
-energy bars of some sort
-immodium?
-other first aid supplies? - I mean, should I pretend that I'm camping here?
-Iodine tabs for water?

Also, I was thinking about a walking tour with the Masaii. Anybody ever done/heard anything about that? (I'll be alone and I'm a woman, if that matters)

Am I the luckiest person in the world, or what?

[john_proctor]

Sunscreen and bug repellent.  both in industrial strength.

Do have fun.

[wolfster]

How exciting! Great job Tamiam

As a former Peace Corps volunteer who lived and traveled throughout Africa, go to a physician that specializes in overseas travel before you leave (if these sort of arrangements are not made for you). Get medications to prevent malaria while you there - take it as long as you are in the area. I would also check to see if there are other diseases that you can take a prophylaxis for during that time.

If you will not be supplied with a mosquito net when you are there, bring that too (put this over your sleeping area).

Insect repellent with Deet was the only thing that ever did anything

Depending on your location (rural?), you may want to bring along a short wave radio for the news.

I did not do the Masai tour, but I did go to Lamu, Kenya many years ago and would highly recommend that area. Very interesting culture and there were opportunities to explore coral reefs, etc.

[onlyanne]

Very lucky!  We were there last summer...I want more!

Absolutely see a travel doc before you go.  Get a malaria script and hep vaccinations at a minimum.  In East Africa your best bet mey be doxycycline because it protects against more than just plasmodium.  (If you're prone to yeast infections, however, you may do better sticking to something like malarone).  The travel doc will (or should) have all the latest drug resistance data. 

In addition to sunscreen I suggest a lightweight long-sleeve shirt and big hat w/ an ear-covering brim.

For mosquito protection, that repellent-treated fabric stuff actually seems to work.  I bought a treated bandanna and put it on the big hat - two birds with one stone.  

Bring some basic first aid supplies - bandaids, disinfectant wipes, etc. but don't go overboard.
Although you'll be able to restock basic care items (shampoo, soap) in cities or major tourist sites, they're very pricey.  

A lot of this depends on where you'll be staying and how you'll be traveling, but we found the following useful (on the southwest coast, so admittedly, very far away):
flashlight (if you're staying someplace with a generator it may be lights-out at 8pm)
toilet paper  
a small towel
a can opener, utensils, cup, bowl
instant oatmeal
dried fruit
pocket knife (checked luggage!)
dishsoap and laundry detergent
String + clothespins
Ziploc baggies

Don't count on being able to recharge things.  Plug configurations are totally random.  We bought the Radio Shack adapter kit and had probably a 30% sucess rate for recharging the camera (Although possibly whomever you're doing research with would be able to help with that)  

The thorn tree forums on the lonely planet website have a lot of information.  I wouldn't be surprised if someone's posted your exact question about walking tours with the Masaii.  

Also, take baboon warnings seriously.  They are very agressive.

Have a great time!

[spork]

My experience is in another part of the world, but hard travel is hard travel.  To echo what others have said and add some new items:

- see a travel medicine/tropical medicine physician ASAP, or barring that a travel nurse (check your local county's health department), to start getting the necessary vaccinations.  They will know what shots you need to get.  Hep B is a 3 shot series and Hep A is a two shot series; starting the vaccination process is better than not being vaccinated at all.  Tetanus, polio, etc. should be up to date.

- Lonely Planet guides have the best medical advice for laypersons that I have found.  Also the best street maps.

- ask for an antibiotic to carry with you in case of a GI tract infection.

- if an malaria prophylaxis is indicated, low-dose doxycycline also helps prevent UTIs, but as has been mentioned, some women are prone to yeast infections when taking antibiotics.  One advantage of Malarone is that you don't have to take it as long as other drugs.  Choice of drug depends to some degree on what malaria strains are present in the areas you're traveling in -- the travel medicine specialists will know what options exist.

- other medical-type supplies:  some Band-Aids of various sizes, a few individually-wrapped iodine prep pads, insect repellent containing a hefty proportion of DEET in a plastic pump bottle (available at many stores), SPF 25 sunscreen (higher SPFs are very expensive; you can just reapply the lower SPF products), baby wipes or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, adequate supply of tampons/pads.

- clothing:  convertible pants, comfortable footwear (I prefer Teva-type sandals in hot climates), lightweight and quick-dry but non-revealing tops, UV-blocking sunglasses, hat with wide brim.  Be aware that most of the world has a more conservative dress code than what you see on the OC, and the more skin you cover the fewer insect bites you'll get.  Pack light as possible -- you can get laundry done at hotels for very little money.  Rinsing clothes in the shower and letting them dry overnight makes them wearable the next day.

- stuff you can buy locally:  mosquito nets (even low end hotel will have them), soap, toothpaste, bottled water, used books for leisure reading, etc.

- energy bars:  beware of the chocolate coated ones, they will melt into goo.  Individually wrapped fig newton bars are indestructible inside a Tupperware container, and you can use the Tupperware to protect fragile trinkets on the way home.

What NOT to bring:  jewelry, iPods, Palm Pilots -- anything small and easy to lose/easy to steal.  Leave the trinkets at home where you won't have to worry about them.  I wear a $7 plastic watch when I travel; if it breaks or I lose it, no big deal.

Something that I tell my students:  most of the world is very safe (safer than the USA in fact), but Americans abroad often make two mistakes -- they think everyone in the world thinks like they do, and they don't observe the same safety precautions that they observe at home.  I.e., getting drunk and staggering home alone at night isn't a good idea anywhere.
 

[spork]

Tamiam, I just read your post in the other thread.  Re:  vaccinations.  Hep B is a blood-borne disease with very serious consequences.  Hep A is temporary, but it is more easily contracted and can knock you down (literally) for a month or two.  Hep B and Hep A vaccinations are good for life and worth the investment, IMO. 

[goldenapple]

I was in West Africa last year, and I got a whole battery of vaccinations (typhoid, yellow fever).  Make sure you leave yourself enough time for them (my doctor made a mistake and gave me a live vaccine early on that meant I couldn't take another particular vaccine for 2 months -- almost cost me the trip!).  The people at the travel clinic were great, too.  I was also given a bottle of Cipro to take along, just in case of a violent infection. 

One tip:  check to see what organizations will take your unused medications, should you have any, after your trip is done.  You can donate them, instead of taking them to your pharmacy to be destroyed.

Handi-wipes are invaluable!  And zip-loc bags are not only useful, they make great gifts!  Only half kidding on that one -- they aren't available, and they are so much better than the ubiquitous black plastic bags. I also brought a supply of Nature Valley granola bars (they're dry and don't melt), as well as a bag of ginger candy, which is great when your stomach is a little shaky.  I'd also recommend bringing a few packets of some energy drink that you can add to your water.  This is good if you're doing a lot of walking and getting dehydrated quickly or if you've had diarrhea.  Buy dried fruit while you're there.  It's easy to eat and nice to have for sharing with the occasional kid who wants a treat from you.   

On the clothing issue: I used to live in an American desert, so I covered up completely: long sleeves and long pants all the time, all 100% cotton.  As for sandals, I wore tevas most of the time, but did go through a patch of desert that was full of sand burrs.  Ouch.  Glad I brought my sneakers. 

If you're taking a camera, I recommend using a digital.  That way you can show people the pictures you've taken of them -- makes you a lot friendlier! 

[monkfish]

I agree with most of the above, but would add/change the following (based on much travel/research in West Africa and other parts of the world).

1. Clothes. 100% cotton is absolutely the best. I know they make a lot of fancy synthetic blends that are supposed to be great for travel, but in my experience they are nowhere near as comfortable in hot weather. Besides, if you are in the city wearing the super-snazzy safari convertible pants in a high tech poly blend it is like screaming 'i am a tourist, take advantage of me.' Unless you really are going camping and hiking (it sounds like you might do a little bit of everything), go with lightweight natural fabrics, light colors, reasonably loose fit. Covering your body is good against bugs, and it is culturally appropriate (you may travel in some Islamic areas where modesty is even more important).

Also keep in mind that, in general, Africans dress up a lot more than Westerners, and if you are there in any kind of official capacity or expect to meet with academics, you should dress appropriately (this may vary a lot by field). Another caveat is that depending on what part of East Africa you're in, evenings can be quite cool so definetely bring a light cotton sweater.

Footwear. Sandals are great, but you may want to bring a light pair of sneakers and, if you plan to hike, appropriate footwear for that. If appropriate, bring a pair of somewhat dressier shoes as well.

2. Medical stuff. I second what everyone said. If they try to push you to take a cholera vaccine, decline. Last I heard they don't work well at all and have side effects, and cholera is very, very, rare for travellers. Be realistic about your medical needs, don't take risks, but don't fret. the most dangerous things to worry about are (a) car accidents (can't do much about those) and (b) dehydration and sunstroke. On the latter, drink water all the time. This cannot be emphasized enough. You do not want to be severely dehydrated..  Boil water, use iodine pills, a filter, or buy bottled water (accessible most of the time). If you go with a filter, do your research as not all of them filter out the same things. You may want to bring a few packets of ORS or pedialyte for emergencies, though you may not use them. You may also want to bring immodium for emergencies (immodium does not cure anything, just block you up. It is often better to just let nature run its course--while drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated--but if you need to travel that may not be an option and in these cases immodium is handy) and something to help you stay 'regular.' Ask for Cipro as goldenapple indicated, you might need it, and bring Benadryl or other allergy drug as your system may go a litte nuts sorting out all the new flora. If you wear contacts dont expect to be able to wear them all the time so bring glasses, and also bring all the contact lens solution you expect to need.

Re: anti-malarials. Having tried them all, I like malarone the best but it is expensive. For some people, doxy causes increased light sensitivity (not good in Africa), and there is a ton of rumors linking meflo. to psychotic episodes. My sense is that those rumors are enormously inflated, but nonetheless something you may want to be aware of. Keep in mind that you can probably get malaria drugs in country (though you need to start the process before hand), but you may have a limited choice.  Finally, doctors usually recommend that women do not plan on being pregnant for 6 months to a year (!) after an extended stay on anti-malarials.

Other medical issues: you can bring a small first aid kit, but you can probably get most of your supplies in a major city (like Nairobi). Do bring high quality band aids though. The one's available in Africa are often cheap and not very good. Whatever leftover band aids (and other medical supplies) make good gifts when you leave.

Several people above recommended snacky stuff, and while I see their point I would not take up the space in my bag. Unless you have a super-sensitive stomach, eat the local food as much as possible (I know LP and similar books often caution against street food, but that is one warning I disregard). Instead of granola bars, eat the local fruit. If you really want 'western' snacks, you can get them in the cities, usually imported from Europe or the Middle East and priced accordingly.

3. Technology/gadgets. The golden rule, of course, is if you can't stand losing it, don't bring it. Africa is rough on your stuff, especially electronics, and I am not taking about theft here but about heat, humidity, dust, etc.... all those things electronics don't get a long with. If you need to bring a laptop or similar for research purposes, do so but otherwise I wouldn't. Camera-wise, digitial cameras are great but real pictures can be left behind and make more permanent gifts. Photos are often very expensive in Africa--a luxury item--so giving somebody a photo can be a nice thing. So, I guess, ideally, bring both a 35mm and a digital one (I am not sure how easy it is to get decent quality print outs of digital photos where you are going. I would imagine it can be done in the major cities). In terms of other electronics, unless your current cell phone is with T-Mobile or Cingular and is a quad-band one, it wont work in Africa. You can probably by a beat-up used one there if you need one though.

4. Other things: sun screen. Bring a fair amount as it can be surprisingly hard to get. Business cards. This is very important. Giving somebody a business card is a sign of respect and a demonstration of your desire to have more extended contact with somebody, so do hand them out as appropriate. African cultures (to make broad generalizations) are very focused on social networks, so you not only want to be part of such networks but other people will want you as part of theirs.  Oh, ziploc bags are great!

The Lonely Planet and Rough Guide books are usually pretty good for general advice, but always double-check. The guide book industry is a bit of a rackett as they sometimes just copy each other, but if you talk to the locals you should be fine.

[tamiam]

Wow everybody! Thanks!

It looks like this trip is actually happening - as of today! So I'm doing the travel doc Monday and probably heading out at the end of the week, then away for a week, back for a week, and off again for the rest of the summer!

Do you suppose that my backpacking equipment - i.e. bug protection, water filter, iodine, etc. is worth bringing? I had thought about it, but my know-it-all husband poo-pooed it. (This is the same guy who practically got me hit by lightening above tree line 10 years ago - I don't know why I ever listen to him about this kind of stuff, but there you go.)

Also, as far as the actual type of luggage to haul around - we have it all from North Face mega packs to standard-yuppie issue rolling things. Is it a good idea to have my stuff in a backpack and carry a typical briefcase-style laptop bag, or should I carry my normal backpack-style laptop carrier and wheel around the clothes?

Did you know that Target sells travel-style TP rolls? Oh, the exotic excitement of it all...   

[spork]

I second the previous recommendations about cholera vaccination (don't bother unless you'll be spending a lot of time in an overcrowded refugee camp), cotton clothing (it's breathable and lightweight), and a warm but lightweight long sleeve sweater or jacket (interior spaces are often overly air conditioned).  I do like the convertible pants though because the synthetic blends breathe, are lightweight, and have an SPF factor (at least the good ones do).

Unless you're going on a multi-day jungle trek, I'd leave the water filter/iodine tabs at home.  Bottled water was always readily available when I've traveled.  One recommendation:  stay away from ice cubes unless you're in an upscale establishment that uses purified water for ice.

I've used both backpacks and roll-away luggage.  Personally I prefer a internal frame backpack.  I find them easier to haul through airports and between hotels, plus they have a lot of room to stuff foreign treasures in.  I've even put a frameless pack inside my Mountainsmith Frostfire II and used it as an extra piece of luggage on the way home (I bought a lot of stuff that trip).  For walking around I just use a knapsack or locally-produced shoulder bag. 

[monkfish]

Regarding water: a filter is probably overkill, may not filter what you need, and is a PIA to deal with. Whenever I go to Africa I always throw some iodine pills in the bag because the bottle is tiny so you don't sacrifice space (unlike a filter). I have only actually use them a few times as it is almost always possible to get bottled water unless you are way out into the bush (and if you are camping in Africa, then you have your question answered...). The other nice part about the pills is that they are relatively discrete. If you are staying in somebody's compound you dont want to sit in the courtyard filtering water. You'll look silly or it may be taken as an insult.

Regarding luggage: I have used backpacks and wheeled ones, and it really does depend a lot on what you are doing. if you are just going from the airport to a hotel in Nairobi or whatever, the wheeled ones are fine if you bring a small day pack that can handle a change of clothes and essentials if you go away for a night or two. In all other situations, the wheels only get in the way and a backpack is the way to go. I like the convertible travel packs (with internal frame) that allow you to zip in all the straps and everything like that.

OP: I forgot to add one thing to my previous message. I have a looong info sheet on research with electronics in Africa somewhere that I wrote for a different purpose. If you PM me (I think we have that function now), I can send it to you.

[chabooi]

Bon voyage!   

There's a lot of good advice posted ...

May I further suggest:
-- duct tape (You would not believe how versatile it is - can use for bandages!).
-- waterproof matches (esp if you are camping on your own).
-- a mossie net for your hat ( good for dusk & I sleep in mine sometimes).
-- silk sleeping bag liner (comfy & great for keeping out bugs)
-- little blow-up pillow (good for the plane trip)
-- nick the eye blind & earplugs that you get on the plane (helps you get shut eye in bright places and drown out animal (esp hyena!) noise when you need to).
-- blister band-aids (they really help and you cannot buy them !!)

Zip Loc bags and extra batteries are key.
Extra Pens can be given away.
Sandals you can take in the shower are great.
Take a picture of your family with you -- people you meet will like to see!!

When you get there you can buy mossie coils --if the MOZ are particularly rampant you can use to smoke them out before retiring to bed.

Have a super trip.

[helpful]

I hope tamiam has already started the malaria pills.When I travelled in Africa it was recommended to start the pills 2 weeks before departing and keep takingthem 2 weeks after returning.

[tamiam]

Hi gang!

I got the shots today. Polio (!?), yellow fever, typhoid, tetanus booster, and hep A.

The travel doc actually said to me with a straight face "you'll want hep B and C if you're planning on having unprotected sex with the locals or sharing needles."

Tonight I feel like I've been playing tackle football. My arms are killing me!

[case_insensitive]

The arms will get better in some days.  :o)