South Africa Expedition Kit List

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Sydney Peters
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1 South Africa Expedition Kit List This document is a guide to the expedition kit you will need for your expedition based on what you will be doing in South Africa and the experience of previous expeditions. When packing you need to be thinking of the minimum amount you can take whilst remaining comfortable and safe; you want to aim for light, compact, durable, quick-drying and versatile equipment. While on the South Africa project there aren t many times where you ll need to carry all your luggage, you ll definitely appreciate a lighter bag in the airport and on transfers. The list below is essential kit unless stated as optional. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Opwall office on or heather.gilbert@opwall.com. Summary Checklist Tick off once you have gone through each section of your kit list Tick Box Kit list video Documentation Hand luggage Terrestrial Kit Marine Kit Clothing essentials Medical Kit Optional extras Resources Purchasing advice Money Food Ensure you watch the kit list video that accompanies this pack: watch?v=vl8-cos66fo What documentation you are required to bring on site. What to include in your hand luggage. What to bring for the terrestrial part of your expedition. What to bring for the marine part of you expedition. Clothing that you will require on site. Guide to the toiletries you will require. Essential medical kit for the expedition. Items you may want to consider bringing. Suggested resources to learn more about the region before your expedition. Where you can buy expedition equipment. What money you need and the easiest way to bring it to site. What food to expect on site. Documentation Tick Box Insurance documents PADI documents Photocopy of passport Under-18 documents If you have your own policy, so you have the details to hand if you need them. If applicable, see marine kit section for more details Always useful when travelling, and make sure you keep a copy in a different place to your actual passport! If you re under-18 at the time of travel this may include Copy of Birth Certificate, copies of your parents/guardians passports, parental consent affidavit

2 Hand luggage Valuables Personal medicine Change of clothes Head torch Sleeping bag/liner Hiking boots Unfortunately, with working in such remote locations often involving numerous flights and forms of transport, luggage can go missing. It is best to be prepared just in case, so here is what we recommend you pack in your hand luggage. Including passport and money. Anything you need to take, or might need to take. Keep these in their original packaging and labelled. Including spare underwear. Essential for your expedition, so this is not something you want to lose. Tooth brush and wet wipes at the very least If you have to borrow a sleeping bag its always nice to have your own liner to use. Should be comfortable, with firm ankle support and good grip as the terrain very uneven. Make sure they re well worn in and wearing them on the plane reduces space in your luggage. Terrestrial & General Kit Remember you usually only have 20-25KG for international flights Rucksack or Holdall Small day rucksack Sleeping Bag Roll Mat/Thermarest Binoculars Water Bottle/Platypus Travel towel/sarong Head Torch Waterproof Wrist watch with alarm You will need a rucksack or holdall, 50 litre minimum capacity. You don t need to carry your bag too far on the project, so a rucksack is not essential although is recommended. Needed for your field work for carrying water, paper, pens, binoculars, cameras etc. A 10 to 30litre backpack is usually sufficient and it s easiest to use this bag as your hand luggage A warm season sleeping bag is recommended as it can get down to around 0-5 degrees at night time. Necessary for both warmth and comfort at the marine site. Roll mats can be purchased cheaply, whereas Thermarests are more of an investment (be sure to buy a repair kit) These are really essential to see much of the wildlife in the bush. 8 X 40 are the best to bring. A combination of leak-proof plastic bottles (minimum capacity 2 litres) is imperative. The hydration systems on the market (Platypus, camelback, Ortileb) have the advantage of packing flat when not in use. Travel towels are perfect as they re lightweight and quick drying. Alternatively a small/thin towel, or sarong. Don t bring a standard towel as they re bulky, heavy and take a long time to dry. It can often be useful to have a second thin towel or sarong with you as well for use on the beach at the marine site, if you have space. Only needed for moving around the camp at night so particularly high-strength torches are not required. Don t forget spare batteries though! The chance of rain is very slim, but a lightweight waterproof or poncho is necessary, just in case. It doesn t have to be anything technical, however if your watch is waterproof up to 50m it can also be used for diving. A travel alarm clock will also do.

3 Marine site equipment: Below is a list of essential equipment required. With spending so much time in the water, you want to make sure that you have the correct equipment. Some of this can be hired on-site but in terms of comfort, temperature, hygiene and time on-site some of you may wish to buy your own. If you do wish to buy any of these we strongly suggest that you call the agents that we work with directly (see purchasing advice) as they will be able to provide you with both excellent advice as well as giving you information on their best deals! Marine Specific Kit PADI Pack All those learning to dive will need to bring a PADI Open Water manual, RDP (Recreational Dive Planner), PIC (Personal Identification Card) and logbook with them. The cheapest and most reliable place to purchase these from is If you want to buy these items elsewhere, please remember that the PIC is rarely included with the training materials, but it is still required. You can buy them on their own from us, but they re 26 (or equivalent) each. You will not be able to complete the Open Water course if you arrive on site without these items. PADI forms You must complete these online via the Opwall portal ( at least 3 months prior to travel. If you need a form signed by a doctor in order to dive then you must bring this form with you to site. Proof of dive qualification If you are already a qualified diver, we will require proof of your dive qualifications on site. We do accept non-padi qualifications, as long as it is equivalent to or more advanced than PADI Open Water. Wetsuit Mask and Snorkel Fins and Booties Dive watch or computer A minimum 5 mm full-length wetsuit is essential as the waters are cold. We strongly recommend buying one and bringing it out if at all possible, but in extenuating circumstances they can be rented on site. This must be organised and paid for before the expedition. Ample supply available for hire, but you may want to purchase your own to ensure a good fit. Fins come in two varieties, full foot fins (booties not necessary), and fins with straps that require neoprene booties. It is completely down to personal preference, but the ones available for hire on site are full foot fins. This is a requirement under PADI regulations for qualified divers. However, PADI allows Open Water divers to go off diving in buddy pairs on their own without a Dive Master whereas Opwall regulations require that all divers are accompanied by a Dive Master who times their dives. Under these circumstances we don t consider it necessary but if you have a waterproof watch or dive computer please take it.

4 Clothing Essentials Sandals or Flipflops Lightweight long trousers (1-2 pairs) For the working in the field at your terrestrial site it is vital you wear neutral or dull-coloured clothing (khaki, beige etc). There are safety reasons for this we will not let anyone out into the field with brightly coloured clothes on. Black and white should be avoided wherever possible, although a small amount of black is acceptable. This doesn t apply to the marine site. Also, don t forget to buy your Opwall t-shirt from Anything that is comfortable to wear that allows your feet to air, and be used on the beach at the marine site. Make sure they are loose and comfortable. You will need long trousers instead of shorts for wearing in the field as you ll be operating in the bush where there could potentially be ticks. Warm trousers / combats (1 2 pairs) Shorts (2 pairs) Needed for early morning surveys. For wearing around camp in the midday warmth and for down-time at the marine site. T-shirts (5) Avoid bright colours for anything you d like to wear on the terrestrial site, but any colours / styles are fine for downtime at the beach at the marine site. Long-sleeved shirts (2) Fleeces/hoodies/jumpers/ sweatshirts (1-2) Coat or jacket Hat with Brim Woolen Hat / Beanie Woolen Gloves Swim Suit/Board Shorts Light layers are ideal to prepare for the changing temperatures. These will also give some protection from biting insects in the early evenings. Non-bulky if possible, but it s a good idea to bring a couple of different thicknesses in order to help with the change in temperatures. It s cold in the mornings regularly as low as 5 degrees centigrade so you need something to wrap up warm in. Something to keep the sun off your head for the hot afternoons. Something to keep your head warm in the cold mornings. For the cold mornings. For the beach and the water! Underwear, nightwear, and socks. Nightwear Sunglasses Bring enough to last the two weeks, including thermal underwear if you get cold at night and hiking socks if you prefer. Bring something fairly warm for the cool nights. A good pair will be useful at both sites. It is a good idea to keep one set of clothing clean for your flights to and from country, this makes your travel and the people around you more comfortable. Temperatures in South Africa can occasionally drop below freezing at night so make sure you bring warm clothing, especially for those early mornings on the back of an open vehicle. Remember you need to travel light so wear your hiking boots onto the aeroplane to keep the weight of your pack down, and then you can kick them off during the flight for comfort. Label your baggage, clothes and kit; there are many volunteers, and some may have the same or similar items to you. At the marine site you will spend most of your time in and out of the water so shorts and t-shirts or lightweight dresses / skirts are fine. Please note there are no clothes washing facilities at either site, so please do bring sufficient clothes to cover your two-week trip.

5 Medical Kit Antihistamine Tablets Antihistamine Cream Paracetamol Ibuprofen Rehydration Salts Antiseptic / Alcohol Wipes Plasters/Band-Aids Sea sickness tablets, antinausea tablets or aquastraps/seabands Prescribed medication and antimalarials Staff will be carrying medical kits and the medical provision on site is excellent. However, there are some items listed below you should carry yourself (as appropriate). If you are travelling as a group or with friends, one full kit can be shared amongst a few students to spread out the cost. For allergic reactions and mosquito bites. For allergic reactions and mosquito bites. For headaches etc For headaches or inflammation. At least 6 sachets. To clean any open wounds, scratches or blisters. Assorted sizes, and include blister plasters The sea conditions can be fairly rough at Sodwana Bay, so even if you don t normally get seasick it s a good idea to be prepared. It is vital that you bring any medications that you need to take regularly, including malarial prophylaxis (if prescribed by your doctor/travel nurse). Important If you are diving you Tick box Insect repellent Suncream/Sunblock Good tip to travelling light is to get into small groups to combine things like toiletries, foot powder and sun block as you don t all need to bring a bottle each! Tooth brush, tooth paste, hair and body wash. Due to the dry conditions and wind on the back of the vehicles, we also recommend bringing a good quality, natural lip balm. The mosquito count is generally fairly low during the expeditions as it is winter in South Africa. However, it is still recommended that you bring a natural insect repellent to use in the evenings. Many of our staff use Mosi-guard, which can be bought from Amazon. Factor 30, minimum, is recommended as the winter sun can still be very strong and you will potentially be outside in sunlight all day. Please ensure it is a coral friendly sunblock if you intend to use it in the water. Sanitary Towels/Tampons Travel can disrupt your cycle so don t assume you won t need them, and they are not available to purchase when on site. Please bring green or biodegradable toiletries to minimize the impact on the environment. Most biodegradable soaps are multiuse. Sanex 0%, Lush, The Body Shop, Ecover and many health stores offer green detergents.

6 Optional extras Here are some items you may want to consider brining. Camera IPod/music player/cards/ book South African plug adaptor Spare Batteries Notebook and Pencil Mask and Snorkel If you have one bring it you will come back with some amazing pictures. You will have lots of opportunities to take pictures but be aware the animals will often be at a distance so a camera with a decent zoom is recommended. There will be some down time during the expedition where you may want some form of entertainment. Be aware that SA uses a fairly unusual Type-M plug with three large round pins, and frequently this cannot be found on universal adaptors. Electricity is available at both camps. Good idea to bring spares for any electrical equipment such as your head torch. For taking notes during lectures, or writing an expedition diary. Optional as you can get them through dive hire, but sometimes having your own means they will fit better. Money Spending money is an optional extra to cover personal on-site expenditure. Both your terrestrial and marine sites have small shops that you can access that sell basic snacks, and there is a large tourist market at Sodwana for souvenirs. The local South African currency is Rand, and it s a good idea to have it in small denominations if possible. We d recommend getting the money out before you get into South Africa, although you can get cash at the airport or service stations during transfers. You will not be able to get cash out on site. We d recommend budgeting between 20 and 50 per week, depending on how much you like snacks or souvenirs! Food When on expedition 3 meals a day are provided, but please be aware that due to the remote location of the sites that food can be basic. Special dietary requirements are catered for as much as possible, but we would also suggest that if you are a vegetarian or particular about certain foods that you bring cereal bars/snacks/vitamins out to site. If there is anyone with food allergies you must let us know in advance so we can make the necessary preparations. Lunch on the transfers between the airport and the research sites are not included, so you will need to budget for these meals with your spending money.

7 Purchasing advice You may find that you have suitable gear already, so don t feel you have to buy everything new! Shop around as there are some really great deals out there and you may even be able to borrow from friends or relatives. Tick box Nomad Travel (UK) Healthy Travel (UK) Cotswold Outdoor (UK) Mountain Warehouse (UK) Watersports Warehouse (UK) 20% off online and in store using code OPW % discount for Opwall volunteers using code 10OPW 15% off online and in store using code AF-OPWAL-9P 20% discount for Opwall volunteers if you show your Opwall support letter Excellent for dive gear with a 10% discount using Voucher ID: and Password: OpWa10 Cycle Surgery (UK) Runners Need (UK) 15% off online using the code AF-OPWAL-9F 15% off online using the code AF-OPWAL-9F Most supermarkets now offer very inexpensive wetsuits, but with the cold water in Sodwana these may not be suitable. Please ensure your wetsuit is at least 5mm. Another good website if you want to invest in a more robust wetsuit is which offers free returns and we have also experienced excellent customer service with them. Resources The Elephant Whisperer Lawrence Anthony Don t Run, Whatever You Do Peter Allison South African ID guides If you want to learn more about the region you will be visiting these resources are a fantastic place to look. When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of 'rogue' elephants on his reserve at Thula Thula, his commonsense told him to refuse. But he was the herd's last chance of survival - notorious escape artists, they would all be killed if Lawrence wouldn't take them. However, as soon as they arrived at Thula Thula they started planning their escape... Peter Allison works as a top safari guide in the Okavango Delta, an oasis of wetland in the middle of the Kalahari desert, rich with wildlife. As he caters to the whims of his wealthy clients, he often has to overcome the impulse to run as far away from them as he can, as these tourists are sometimes more dangerous than a pride of lions! You can find these with the rest of the training materials we have provided. These are very useful on site to help you with getting to know the animals. If you would like more detail, the following guidebooks are highly recommended: Kindgon Pocket Guide to African Mammals Jonathan Kingdon Sasol Birds of Southern Africa Ian Sinclair Tick box

Ecuador Terrestrial and Marine Expedition Kit List

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