Africa Packing List
The Africa teams face a serious reality check. They are severely restricted on their baggage weight. They have to pack light: 42lbs TOTAL for carry on and checked baggage. This is because the kid’s flights in Africa are on small missionary aircraft that severely limit the baggage weight (we are talking planes that carry no more than 5-6 people total).
The good news is, I have purchased for the kids new cots, tents, and mosquito nets that will be transported in on another flight. That way the weight of these items won’t count against them. Also new bikes have been purchased for the kids and are being flown in the first week of January.
Below please find a basic packing list for Africa. Please feel free to contact Scott Brawner or Shawn Branscum with your questions. We welcome your thoughts!
Individual Packing List:
-Bible
-Passport
-Journal
-$100 personal money MINIMUM (New bills; series 2006 or newer. No tears or marks)
-3 pr of pants (wear one pack 2; you can by nylon pants that zip off or bring your BDU pants as they are durable)
-1 pr of lightweight shorts (or use the zip off pants)
-3 shirts (wear one, pack 2)
-1 pr flip flops (optional but great for showers)
-2 pr shoes/boots/sandals (wear one pair, pack one pair. Fusion boots are good if desired; wear them over to Africa to save on the packed weight. Teva or Keen sandals/shoes are an excellent compromise or a lightweight pair of tennis shoes is good as well.)
-3 pr underwear (wear one pack 2)
-4-5 pr socks
-1 cap with a brim or your Fusion boonie cap (people love that boonie cap in the sun…)
-Camp towel
-Multivitamin supplement (one bottle is fine)
-Small individual first aid kit (bands aids, etc) There is a team first aid kit with larger bandages and supplies being brought over…
-10-20 clothespins (the ones in Kenya are expensive and very poor quality)
-Insect repellant (I recommend a higher DEET concentration; over 75%)
-Sunscreen (I recommend 45+ SPF)
-Sunglasses
-Small Pocket knife/Multitool (rememember your weight issues)
-Glock knife
-100' 550 Cord (parachute cord with the five individual strands in the middle)
-Flashlight (I recommend a cheap head lamp and a small AA/AAA flashlight)
-Extra batteries
-1 mess kit light weight, (either a set or individual plate and bowl and fork and spoon)
-MRE’s or other dehydrated food for supplement/travel food. (There are lots of carbs in African meals but protien is in short supply. I recommend that you bring either dehydrated food or the single entrée from an MRE. The entire MRE is unessary and robs you of precious weight.)
-Other light weight snack foods (comfort food)
-Sauce packets, like spaghetti sauce (3)
-OTC cold medicine, Imodium or other antidiohreal (you WILL need that...)
-Chapstick! (really dry weather)
-Individual toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, contact lens solution, etc.) Remember you are limited by weight…
-Feminine products (please pack down: take any items out of the original packaging and "shrink wrap" them with a ziplock bag or a space saver bag)
-1 dish towel
-Camera/camcorder (rechargeable batteries are best)
-Power Adaptor/converter (check your electronics. If they are marked 100-240V on the plug then you DO NOT NEED a converter; only the plug adaptor).
-1 Hand held Bike pump (the small lightweight type that connects to the bike; NOT the one that you set on the ground with a long tube)
-Bicycle tire repair kit (you’ll get lots of flats so bring a good supply of patches)
-Other personal survival items as you see fit (perhaps a lighter or so; please leave your liferafts at home...)
Questions? Please call Scott at 816-210-7925 or email
sbrawner@imb.org