PACKING LIST

Very, Very Important Things

• Passport. Make sure you have several blank pages and also that it will be valid for six months after the trip. Make a photocopy of it and carry that copy separate from your passport and also scan that copy and put it online (in the cloud) somewhere.
• Your Kenyan visa (take in your carry on)
• A copy of your birth certificate.
• A paper copy of your plane ticket itinerary. It’s always good to prove that you plan on leaving the country...just in case you get a cantankerous official somewhere.
• It can also be helpful to carry an immunization record and to know your blood type.

Clothing, Shoes, Accessories

When we visit schools, you may want to dress the way you dress when you go to work.

• Jeans
• Lightweight pants
• T shirts
• A shirt or blouse (or two)
• A long sleeved light shirt (for sun protection)
• Skirts, dress or shorts (these should be no shorter than knee length)
• PJs, socks, underwear, all that stuff...
• Very comfortable walking shoes (sneakers or hiking shoes would be good)
• Light casual shoes (that you might wear for presenting a workshop, for example).
• Flip flops or sandals for traipsing around the hotel
• Long sleeved lightweight shirt for protection from the sun.
• Warm fleece / jacket for cold temperatures including airplanes, and air-conditioned places.
• Wide brimmed sun hat (on the day we go to Lake Naivasha, it could be hot and the sun could be intense).
• Sunglasses
• Reading glasses if necessary and/or contacts

Toiletries

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hairbrush, shampoo (take your toothbrush/paste on the plane! Not only because you might want to brush your teeth, but also because just in case your checked bags get lost, you’ve got your basics).
• Prescription medicines - carry on the plane with you. Also, it’s always a good idea to bring the prescription papers you get from the pharmacy and keep the medicines in their bottles.
• Malaria meds
• Hand sanitizer
• Bacteria killing wipes for the plane (planes are dirty places)
• Small packages of tissues or toilet paper (there may not always be toilet paper in places where you gotta go)
• Sunscreen / Sunblock(SPF 30-50)
• Water bottle (plastic or aluminum)
• Lip sunblock
• Hand/body lotion
• Mosquito repellant (I use the serious stuff when I’m malaria zones).
• I really like body wipes like these for when I’m just starting to feel stinky and can’t shower. Like on the long plane trips. In addition, many big international airports have showers - for a cost - and if you have a layover it can be a most refreshing way to spend 15 minutes and $12. (I know these exist in the Amsterdam airport and you’ll find me in there on 3/29!)
• The other usual stuff you travel with...floss, deodorant, etc.

Other

• Ear plugs, eye masks (I highly recommend both for plane travel and also for dealing with jetlag).
• Vitamins
• Snacks such as protein bars or something that can tide you over during short hungry stretches. Especially if you have food allergies, bring something to supplement your diet! We will try our best to meet your needs, but there are some restrictions.
• Camera
• Extra camera batteries and memory cards
• It's fine to bring your smart phones - they won't attract extra attention (we'll be enough for that!) and of course, we like taking photos with our phones.
• Flashlights/ wristwatch / alarm clock
• Binoculars for our day on Naivasha (we can also share)
• Locks for baggage (some people recommend this - you have to remove them when going on the plane. I never lock my bags, but so far I’ve been lucky).
• Cash/ ATM card / Credit card / passports (some recommend using a money belt. I find them bulky and uncomfortable, and so I don’t, and I’ve never had a problem).
• Small backpack for day trips
• A good book or Kindle and journal
• Chargers for everything! Cords, chargers…for phones, Kindles, cameras, computers (Oy! Our devices!!)
• Plug Adapters - Kenya uses the “Type G.” You may want to bring several if you think you’ll need to charge several things at one time. Or get the Universal Adapter.
• If you have a long layover in another country, you may want an adapter there too - and it’s likely that it won’t be Type G. So look into that. Or use the universal adapter.
• Headphones, earbuds
• Electrolyte rehydration powders for flights - super helpful to deal with dehydration (which often occurs on flights) and jet lag.
• A water bottle. We recommend a large one (32 or 40 ounces) so that you can fill it up and have it for the whole day. We want to avoid purchasing plastic water bottles - so please bring a big bottle!
• Personal medical kit with bandaids, antihi Ibuprofen, Aids for constipation and/or Traveler’s Diarrhea http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/travelers-diarrhea
• Little personal gifts for people with whom you feel a close connection: Pens, pencils, notebooks, personalized things from where you live (Golden State Warriors pencils were a big hit the first time I went to Kenya) and so on. Earrings. Etc.