Below are items to bring on safari based on weather and climatic conditions. Almost all safari supplies needed can be bought in one of the big towns or cities near destinations visited. Technologies such as cameras, binoculars and tablets should purchased prior to traveling, because the price for them might be twice in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania than in the US or UK.
Clothing
When packing your clothing, pack as little as possible. The climate in sub-Sahara Africa East Africa is moderate to warm throughout the year. The long rainy season is March-May, the short rainy is November-December, and the rest time of the year is summer. You should pack sun hat, sun creams and screens, both long and short pants, light cotton clothing that covers all of your body, insect and mosquito repellant, warm clothing such as light sweater and trousers at night and fleece and rain jacket during the rainy season.
While in the bush, you are advised to wear colorless clothing that provides camouflage in the natural environment so as not scare the animals. The most preferred colors are: gray, light green, light brown or any pale color and if trekking the mountain gorillas, bring gloves.
Medical Items and Vaccines
Although our jeeps have first aid kits, we suggest you also bring your own medical kit including a pain killer, diarrhea ’stoppers’, antihistamine for allergy relief, tweezers, scissors, band aids, sunscreen / sun cream, antiseptic for cuts, lip balm, and insect repellent spray or jelly. Deet is a great product to repel mosquitoes. You should also bring personal sanitary items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, contact lens, and other toiletries. Please buy your own travel insurance from your home country.
Vaccinations and Inoculations: Routine vaccines for African travel include protection against chickenpox, measles, polio, influenza, measles, diphtheria, mumps and rubella, pertussis, and tetanus. A traveler must consult a travel medicine clinic or personal doctor before your travel to receive right inoculations. When traveling to Africa vaccines needed include hepatitis A and B, yellow fever typhoid. When traveling to some countries in sub-Sahara countries, a yellow fever certificate is required. There is a high risk for hepatitis B in sub-Saharan Africa, when visitors get in close proximity to animals in the African bush. Therefore, pre-exposure vaccinations are recommended. There is no vaccine to fight against malaria so consult your doctor or travel clinic to prescribe the specific anti-malaria medication.
Electronic Items and Technologies
Phone: Get unlock phone (if locked) prior to your safari and just buy a SIM card for around $2 as soon as you arrive. The local SIM card will enable you to communicate locally, make local calls, send text messages, and receive international calls.
Bring power adapters using a square plug, as most electrical outlets in East Africa are the kind used in the UK.
Camera with film, memory cards and USB devices for transferring information will help you preserve all of your memories in Africa. Please bring flashlight and batteries.
Passport and Visa
Make sure to bring travel documents such a passport, Visa(s), travel insurance, credit cards, plane tickets, passport photos, and cash for Visa’s.
Money Issues
Spread out your money so you never carry all of it in one pocket. This is for security purpose. Your expenditure will determine how much you should have in you brought with you. Vistream Tours and Travel company covers the cost of all accommodations, meals and transportation expenses, except for items not mentioned in your safari package. You should have cash available for tips.
Banks and ATM’s are available in all major town and cities.
Food
Vistream Tours and Travel company offers various kinds of food options, including vegetarian meals. All special meals must be communicated in advance. Bottled mineral water is provided for all meals. Travelling in sub-Sahara can create dehydration, so you need to drink plenty of water. Bottle water is sold at your accommodations and lodging restaurants.