Gear

The gear on the following tabs should provide you a good idea of what will be needed during your trip.

You may wish to download / print this gear list which contains all the gear required for this trip as listed on the remaining tabs of this page. You may find this helpful as a checklist while preparing for the trip.

Items that you pack should be lightweight, dependable, and adaptable to a variety of conditions.  If you tend to get cold easily, bring one extra medium layer such as a vest, which would be great for additional warmth around camp in the evenings.  Please remember that figuring out what to pack is a balance between taking just enough clothes, yet not overburdening yourself or others with items you probably won’t use.

BUYING GEAR:

If you don't already own the items needed for the trip, the brand of gear you choose is entirely up to you, and there are many options available.  A good place to start here in Atlanta is REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) www.rei.com and sale prices are often found at www.rei.com/outlet/.  Patagonia (www.patagonia.com) has very high quality gear, and a strong environmental commitment.  Other companies include North Face (www.thenorthface.com) and Mountain Hardwear (www.mountainhardwear.com). If this trip is pursuing a passion that will extend for years into the future, making an investment in gear by Arch'teryx (http://www.arcteryx.com/) may be something to consider. This is often some of the best gear available. Outdoor Research (http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/index.html) also makes some excellent gear. NLA's founder is especially fond of their hand gear and gaiters. For certain items it is probably best to find an outdoor store in your area, so you can ensure a good fit before you purchase. A few reliable online gear companies are Backcountry.com (http://www.backcountry.com/) and Moosejaw.com (http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/)

Clothing

• 2-3 pairs of sturdy cotton shorts. Bring these in addition to the shorts you wear on the Kili climb, which will get very dirty.
• 2 pairs of lightweight cotton pants
• 1 skirt or dress slacks for hotel evenings
• 2 long-sleeved shirts
• 4-6 short-sleeved shirts or t-shirts
• 1 plenty of changes of underwear and some warm socks for evening.
• 1 warm sweater or fleece jacket
• 1 lightweight waterproof jacket or parka
• 1 pair walking shoes, tennis, or running shoes
• 1 bandanna (many uses)
• 1 pair sandals, Tevas, or rubber thongs (great for camp showers)
• 1 shade hat with wide brim or baseball cap
• 1 bathing suit (some lodges have pools)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Equipment

• 1 duffle bag
• 1 small padlock to lock suitcase or duffle
• 1 daypack
• wide-mouth plastic water bottle, minimum 1 qt. Capacity
• toilet kit including biodegradable shampoo and soap
• plenty of sunscreen
• flashlight (head lamps are great) with spare batteries
• nylon stuff sacks or plastic bags to organize clothes, laundry, and other items in your duffle
• pocket knife
• thin, quick-drying washcloth (towel is provided on safari)
• binoculars, essential for good wildlife viewing
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Optional Safari Items

• camera, film, and spare batteries
• paperback reading and writing material (keep weight at a minimum)
• travel clock or watch
• snacks: trail mix, nuts, hard candies, decaf beverages, powdered electrolyte replacement drink mixes such as Gatorade
• clip-on book light