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Conservation Kit List - Kit-List-Africa - Africa and Asia Venture

Conservation Kit List

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT FOR KENYA/UGANDA COMMUNITY/CONSERVATION/ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

FOR YOUR PROJECT WORK ATTACHMENTS

White clothing is difficult to keep clean and is not recommended. It is advisable to take clothing that is made from natural fibres. For your project, you will spend a lot of time outside and will get very grubby. Bring clothes to suit. We recommend you wear long trousers whilst working to protect yourselves from the sun, insects, thorns and dirt. GOOD CHEAP CLOTHING CAN BE BOUGHT in local markets, so be ruthless and do not take too much. Here are some ideas:

• Gardening gloves (for working) (optional)
• Hat/cap
• 1 fleece
• 2 pairs of shorts (loose and comfortable for dirty work)
• Sports clothing (optional)
• 1-2 pairs casual trousers (loose and comfortable for dirty work)
• 3 T-shirts/Polo shirts
• Walking/working boots (light ones). You only need these if you want to go climbing and nearly everyone copes well with trainers even if they do.

The mountain slopes can be very cold in the early mornings and evenings so an extra fleece might be useful if you are planning any climbing. For those who may wish to climb Mount Kenya or Mount Kilimanjaro, you will need extra clothes: thermal vest and leggings, gloves, woollen hat, thermal top/fleece, thick walking socks, a decent wind/rain proof jacket, water-proof over-trousers and comfortable walking boots (not trainers). It gets very cold at 17,000 feet and the top is always covered in snow.

LEISURE WEAR

This will be largely up to you, but you will certainly need something smarter than ‘project clothes' for the bars/restaurants and clubs you might visit at weekends and when on the coast. Most girls buy and learn to live in a Kikoy, rather than a skirt, when they are out here, but a knee length, or longer, skirt will be necessary if you decide to help in the schools. We suggest you consider the following:

GIRLS

• Blouses/strappy tops
• Casual footwear e.g. trainers and flip-flops
• Casual shorts
• Jeans
• Medium weight anorak (for the rains)
• Skirt
• Swimming costume/bikini
  

BOYS

• Casual shirts/T shirts
  Casual footwear e.g. trainers and flip-flops
• Casual shorts
• Jeans/casual trousers
• Medium weight anorak (for the rains)
• Swimming trunks

Between May and August, additional warm clothing is necessary for the cooler evenings.

SUGGESTED ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR WORK ATTACHMENT

Notebooks, biros and pencils, Gaffer tape and batteries are all very useful. Batteries are readily available, but not the same quality as obtainable in UK. Take paperback books for your own reading. Photographs of your home/family/friends are useful talking points.

FOR GENERAL USE

• Binoculars (important for birding and game drives not cheap ‘toy' ones) (optional)
• Body belt (large enough to take passport and money)
• Calculator (useful for currency conversion) (optional)
• Camera (inexpensive) and charger (optional)
• Cards and travel games e.g. backgammon (optional)
• Credit/debit card (with VISA sign) for emergencies
• Day sack/Holdall (small rucksack for daily use)
• Flip flops (available everywhere in Africa)
• Hooks (stick on type - optional)
• ISIC card (important for getting student rates in game parks and Mt Kenya)
• Quality combination locks (x 2) for doors, drawers and baggage.
• Mirror (optional)
• Mobile phone - unlocked to take other SIM cards
• Mosquito net (treated) - pop up/fold up framed type is most popular
• Notebook (reasonable quality for work/data collection) and journal (for your personal use)
• Penknife (optional)
• Phrase books: Swahili (optional)
• Pillow (blow up type) (optional)
• Radio (World Space, or equivalent, is best) (optional)
• Rucksack, (for storing clothing/equipment, not required during your travel and safari period)
• Sewing kit with scissors
• Sleeping bag (average weight, if climbing a mountain must be at least -5°C rated)
• 2 liners/sheets (optional)
• Sleeping mat (optional)
• Sun cream (high and medium factor - slightly more expensive in Africa)
• Sunglasses (optional)
• Toiletries (available everywhere but not so much choice)
• Torch and batteries
• 2 travel towels
• Universal plug (optional)
• Walkman/mini discMP3/iPod player (with a mini speaker), spare batteries (lots) and CDs/mini discs (optional)
• Washing kit
• Watch (inexpensive)
• Wet Wipes (some) (optional)
• Wire mesh security net for rucksack (optional)
• Documentation: photocopies of all documents, including your passport should be taken; leave one copy at home. Include original receipts for your travellers' cheques. Don't forget copies of telephone, email and physical addresses for correspondence.
• Money: Don't forget to bring about £50 (in US Dollars) for changing at the airport after arrival and a small amount in travellers' cheques (Sterling or US Dollars). You can exchange travellers' cheques at the airport too, but you will get a better rate for cash. ATM (Visa) cards are the most convenient and offer a better exchange rate than travellers' cheques.

MEDICAL PACKS

In addition to those items suggested in the Homeway brochure you should take the following:

• Sun cream (high and medium)
• Anti malarial tablets
• Multivitamin pills (optional)
• Antihistamine pills (optional)
• Paracetamol
• Antiseptic spray/cream
• Plasters/blister repair kit
• Antiseptic wipes (lots of them) (optional)
• Rehydration sachets
• After sun cream (optional)
• Thermometer (optional)
• Diareze/Immodium
• Iodine based water puritabs (optional)
• Insect repellant (see medical pack contents)

Recommendation: it would be helpful if you can find out your blood group before arrival. This is not essential. The easiest and cheapest way to do this is to give it and ask for your blood type.

(Note: Shampoo and toiletries are widely available in Africa although there isn't the choice that is available in UK. Sanitary towels are easily and cheaply available in East Africa. Tampax will not be available in the villages but can be found in larger towns. However, they are more expensive than in the UK so bring at least a month's supply.)

CONCLUSION

We recommend you bring "The Lonely Planet" or "A Rough Guide" book with you. They are both excellent. Lonely Planet offers a 10% reduction to AVs.

A lot of the items listed are available in shops in the main towns. However, you may not have the time to shop for them during the first few days. Do not take any valuables, such as jewellery. You will enjoy shopping for the wide range of inexpensive, ethnic jewellery available in all markets.

Finally, virtually all of your predecessors have said that they took too much clothing and equipment, so be ruthless on yourself and try to travel lightly. Remember you will have to carry your luggage and nearly everything you bring is available in Africa anyway.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SECURITY REGULATIONS ARE QUITE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT CAN BE CARRIED INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT. IF IN DOUBT, CHECK ON THE AIRLINE'S WEBSITE BEFORE LEAVING HOME. YOUR BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE FOR THE FLIGHT IS 20 KGS

AND YOU ARE PERMITTED TO TAKE ONE PIECE OF HAND LUGGAGE. THE DIMENSIONS OF YOUR HAND LUGGAGE SHOULD NOT EXCEED (INCLUDING WHEELS, HANDLES, POCKETS, ETC) MAX LENGTH 45 CM, WIDTH OF 35 CM AND DEPTH OF 16 CM (I.E. 17.7" X 13.7" X 6.2")