Travel Checklist – Overlanding Africa

By Shannon Beekman

Living out of a backpack is one thing, living out of a backpack while travelling across Africa is something else…

When you’re travelling through countries like Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania, with no guarantee of where or when you’ll next get to a store that’s stocked with the things you want or need, you really need to think long and hard about what to pack. Careful considerations need to be made with regards to the space available (which is limited by the size of your backpack) and the weight (how much are you physically able to carry).

Here’s a checklist I’ve put together to help you prepare:

ESSENTIALS
- Rucksack fitted to your body with the waist straps comfortably resting on your hips.
- Day bag that you can carry comfortably on your back (or in front of you when you’re carrying your rucksack).
- Padlock for your day bag to deter pick pockets.
- Money belt that fits around your waist and under your clothes for those times you might be carrying around large amounts of cash.
- Dry bag or some good quality zip tight bags for your electronic devices.
- Sleeping bag that’s warm, has a hood and comes with a stuff bag (so you don’t have to meticulously roll it up every time).
- Sleeping bag liner/sheet that fits inside your sleeping bag, to provide extra warmth on cold nights or to be used on it’s own when it’s really hot.
- Foam camping/yoga mat or inflatable camping mattress for comfort.
- Travel pillow that can be used as a neck pillow when travelling and transformed into a normal sleeping pillow when camping.
- Microfiber travel towel that will dry quickly when you’re on the go.
- Hand towel for drying personal areas/difficult to dry areas.
- Reusable water bottle that won’t break easily if/when battered around.
- Head torch with different brightness options. You’ll use this often.

TOP TIPS
Do a mock pack a few weeks before you set off, just to check everything fits and your rucksack isn’t too heavy.
Pack your rucksack with your heaviest items at the bottom and your lightest items at the top, otherwise you might topple over.
Leave some room in your bags for all the souvenirs and keepsakes you’re likely to collect along the way.
Using a plastic container with an airtight lid is super useful for keeping important documents and small electronics dry, safe and organised.
Make sure you pack some extra batteries for your head torch. You’ll be surprised just how much you use it.

CLOTHING
- Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support.
- Casual shoes for nights out in towns and cities.
- Flip flops (also called sandals, slops or thongs) for the shared showers.
- Tops with different sleeve lengths (strappy, short sleeve and long sleeve).
- Shorts for wearing on most days.
- Long pants for cool evenings or going out.
- Light sweatshirt (also called a jumper or pullover) for layering on cooler days.
- Thick fleece for any really cold nights, especially in the desert.
- Waterproof jacket for cold and/or rainy days.
- Waterproof pants for heavy rain days.
- Underwear that keeps everything firmly together during those bumpy drives.
- Socks with reinforced toes and heels for wearing with your hiking boots.
- Lightweight pyjamas that you are comfortable being seen in.
- Sun hat (also called a baseball cap, bucket hat or safari hat).
- Sunglasses with polarized lenses for increased eye protection.
- Swimming costume (also called bathers, cossie, trunks or togs).
- Wrist watch for keeping track of meeting times.

TOP TIPS
Break-in your footwear a few weeks before you leave. Wearing two pairs of socks with your hiking boots when they’re new will help to prevent blisters.
Breathable underwear and shorts/pants are good options for long travel days to prevent bum pimples, especially if the seats are vinyl.
Avoid really short-shorts if you don’t want your legs sticking to the seat.
For those with boobs, would highly recommended wearing a sports bra on the long travel days. I used to ask the driver how bumpy the journey was likely to be, to decide if I needed to wear a sports bra.
Lightweight clothing is easier to wash and dry, plus it’s more comfortable to wear on hot days but can also be layered up on cold nights.

TOILETRIES
- Toiletry bag that’s waterproof and can be hung up.
- Face cloth for morning/night time bathroom routines.
- Toothbrush (opt for the old school manual version rather than an electric one).
- Toothpaste with a screw-on cap to avoid spills in your bag.
- Mouth wash for those days you don’t have access to fresh water for brushing your teeth.
- Body wash that is mild enough to use as a face wash too.
- Razor with a blade cover for hygiene purposes.
- Shampoo with citronella will help to keep the mosquitoes away.
- Conditioner for the drier seasons and/or beach days.
- Deodorant (roll-on stick or spray) with a secure cap.
- Moisturising body lotion for the drier seasons.
- Lip balm for chapped lips during the drier seasons.
- Insect repellent containing DEET (spray, roll-on, lotion or wrist band).
- Sunblock SPF50 for skin protection from the harsh African sun.
- Aloe vera aftersun lotion for if/when you get sunburnt.
- Wet wipes for those days a decent shower isn’t available.
- Travel tissues or toilet paper for roadside relief stops.

TOP TIPS
Consider using fragrance-free toiletries, especially if you are going on safari as strong fragrances can make animals nervous, which reduces your chances of spotting them.
If you don’t like body washes, cut up a bar of soap into smaller “single use” pieces so you don’t have to pack and carry a wet bar of soap around in your bag.
Dry shampoo is great for those times you don’t have access to enough fresh running water to wash your hair normally.

PERSONAL HEALTH
- Personal prescription medication with proof it has been prescribed to you (this could be a pharmacist’s adhesive label on the box/tube/bottle or a letter from your doctor).
- Antimalarial medication (speak to your health care professional about which options are best for you).
- Hand sanitiser for those times you don’t have access to soap and water to wash your hands.
- Painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin etc…) for aches and pains.
- Anti-histamines (tablets and/or cream) for allergy relief from dust, different pollen, insect bites etc…
- Eye drops for relief from dust and other particles that might get into your eyes.
- A variety of waterproof plasters (Band-Aid, Elastoplast etc…) for small cuts, grazes or blisters.
- Anti-fungal cream and/or powder for athletes foot (which you can get from sharing shower facilities with strangers).
- Talcum powder (also called baby powder) to freshen stinky shoes.

TOP TIPS
There is usually a first aid kit on the truck so you don’t need to worry about taking your own. I just liked having my own supply of things I used often.
Take an extra week’s supply of prescription medication (including antimalarials) in case you choose to stay a bit longer than originally planned. There are often add-on trips on offer.
If you don’t get a chance to break-in your shoes, take a blister kit with you as normal plasters just don’t cut it.

OTHER
- Nail care kit (including nail clippers, nail scissors, metal nail file and tweezers).
- Travel clock with an alarm function.
- Tent light which you can hang up and take a break from wearing your head torch.
- Waterproof camera for water sports and other water related experiences.
- Zip tight bags to protect your camera from fine desert sand.
- Adaptor plugs for charging your electronics at campsites.
- Power banks which you can recharge at camping sites.
- Travel washing line for hanging up clothing in your tent or dorm room.
- Mosquito net to hang over your bed when you’re sleeping in dorms.
- Packing cubes for better organisation of your belongings.
- Duct tape to repair rips to clothing or your bags.
- Spare batteries for your headtorch, travel clock and tent light.
- Notepad and pen for taking notes of your experience.
- Cards (or travel games) for entertainment on long drives.

TOP TIPS
Nail scissors are small and compact, and they come in handy for all sorts of things.
Instead of taking a full roll of duct tape with you, wrap some around a straw to make your own travel size version.
Some tent lights come with a bug zapper built in which are fantastic but they only last a few hours. Most include a rechargeable battery with a USB-C port but you’ll need access to electricity or a power bank to charge it.
After a while, everything in your rucksack will start to smell the same. Use your travel washing line to air out your dirty cloths before packing them back into your rucksack.
Doing your own washing is time consuming and exhausting in the heat; rather wait until you arrive somewhere with a washing service. It’ll cost you a little extra financially but it will save you emotionally.

Let me know in the comments below which of these items you’ve added to your list and if there’s anything I’ve missed.