Packing List

My suggestion is this: Make a note of EVERYTHING you touch in the day and pack it.

That includes a pen...and hangers.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The following instructions are written with notations for some trips that include nights at University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (UEAB).

If you have any questions about this list, please feel free to ask me on our orientation call.

• Your own water bottle for refilling. Water will be provided at some locations, like on the safari, but not all. You may need to purchase it.
• Coat - You will definately need this.
• Underwear & socks for all 13 days, unless you want to wash at night. It will take about 2 days to dry.
• Easy to slip on shoes/sandals for midday.  When it's time to see the animals, you will be standing on the seats.  *PLEASE TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF*  It gets warm on the Mara, so you may want slip-on sandals/thongs in land rover.  However, the mornings are cold. One option is shoes (Crocks) with socks in the morning, and pack sandals for noon to 4 in the afternoon. Everyone wears them there for many reasons. Maybe not attractive, but very useful.
• Coat hangers --the closet may have 1-2. But it may not. Remember, they don't have much there, and there is no Walmart/Target down the road.
• A good camera. It would be worth it to RENT a camera for this trip. You will find your cell phone is OK, but won't be able to capture the animals that are just not willing to walk over to the landrover for your awesome desired shot. www.Sharegrid is a great site because it gives you a MAP where you can see all the options and their prices. I would find a DSLR and a telephoto lens. Ask if they have weekly prices and explain you are going on a safari. (see notes on "Maasai Mara" page of this site)
• LOTS of extra external battery chargers for your phone or camera, a cord, check your phone's memory before you leave the USA. I was stuck deleting pics because right as we entered the mara--my phone wouldn't take anymore pics. I bought more cloud. Useless. The pics in the phone were hogging space. I spent precious time and battery power deleting pics so I could take animal pictures. Many of us suffered dead battery problems through out the trip, and by days end were unable to take any pics of animals, etc. Only the DSLR was still getting pics. ;-) On trip 3, even the DSLR ended useless because of a dead battery.
• At least $400 in kenyan shillings. Make this conversion at the airport. You won't miss the counter on your way to the baggage area. It's the most convenient place to exchange. This should give you enough for souveniers, tips and any sudry items you may want. Most places take US dollars. It's easier for them if they don't have to do the conversion in their head. Whatever you don't use, you can convert it back at the airport. Makes for inexpensive souvenier tokens, too ;-) *Shadow box /w other artifacts*
• International plug - not the same as a transformer. AKA "adapter."
• Transformer - this is absolutely necessary, especially for use at the clinic. 

• Binoculars or a monocular with a camera attachment. Or a good camera.

• Hair dryer that has switch for 210v from 110v (otherwise it will burn up--like mine)
• ALL electronics need this switch, except Apple products. They are fine.
• Pens.   *You will not find any there. Every penny matters to these students who are helping us. Borrowing a pen from them (and especially not returning it) is a big deal. Keep in mind lunch for the students is $1.10. A masters degree is just $4,000 for the 2 years.
• Gifts for your helpers, if you want. Not required. *Pens, notebooks, school supplies, personal hygiene supplies.
• WARM pajamas - your room is not heated
• Warm socks
• Heating pad (it is cold at night in this part of Kenya)
• House slippers. If you are a guest to someone's house, you will have to take your shoes off at the door. At night, your feet may get cold. Carry the slippers with you in a pouch or bag. We are typically invited to dinner at least one night.
• Jeans or khaki pants /w pockets (cargo pants), 7 shirts (including a sleeveless modest shirt), walking shoes (there is red dirt there. White shoes are not a good idea), dark socks (1 pair of socks for each day you are not at home), Flip flops or crocks, walking shorts (opt), sundress for the mara, sun hat or visor, sun glasses, coordinate for layering (cool mornings, warm mid-day, cool evening), Bathing suit for safari portion. You may have a chance to use it, you may not. Depends on safari length.
• Sunblock
• BALLOON RIDE: Fanny pack for use on balloon ride. Backpacks/daypacks are not permitted. Closed-toed shoes. Sunscreen. Power cord for camera/phone (safari commences immediately thereafter). A jacket. Hair clip/tie for long hair when landing. Aloe vera. Personal fan for around your neck (opt). 

For Dental &/or Dental:

• Lab coat or your choice of PPE. They don't have any.
• Enough gloves your size for 200 patients as "back up"
• Scrubs/dark work shoes/socks
• Sharpening stones, Peizo (~$199 on eBay, but discuss with me, as we do have 2 of them already), or, your own Cavitron/inserts, 2X2's, anesthetic carpules, needles (they have syringes), topical, dyclone, box of tissue, bibs, bib clip, wipes. 

SOME OF OUR TRIPS INCLUDE A STAY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AFRICA, BARATON, "UEAB"

• At UEAB, If you are a coffee drinker, bring your own coffee. The school does not have this, only non-caffinated substitute version. It is not coffee or de-caf. It is made from grains and roots. I find it quite pleasant tasting.At UEAB, As a reminder, there is no smoking or alcohol on campus, ever.
• If you are lactose intolerant like me, bring non-dairy milk powder. There are ($$) non-dairy options in Kenya, but liquid only, and it just seems a bit more troublesome to get/use that. They have their own dairy and serve LOTS of cows milk! I used mango puree on my cereal each morning ;-) because that was my only alternative. Just go with the flow...
• At UEAB: You are given 1 water each day by the guest house on campus.
• Wash/face cloths (3, because it will take more than 24 hrs to dry). Highly advisable if you wear make-up.
• Hand towel. There is none in the room or the building, or that matter.
• Rubbing alcohol & cotton balls. It's the best way to stop breakouts. Just trust me on this. They do not have alcohol there. It's all being used to manufacture hand sanitizer. 
• At UEAB, Small basin if you want to wash your face in warm water. I took a collapsible food container.   
• Shower cap. You may want to warm up or rinse off and avoid getting your hair wet. I was lent one. I used it just to wash my face where the water was warm (in the shower) because the sink was so cold.
• 1 black trash bag to cover transom window if you want the room dark. A hall light illuminates your room like daylight. 
• Masking tape to secure black bag. I bring a remnant of a roll.
• Heating pad (it is cold at night in this part of Kenya)
• Flip-flops for the shower. They have them but they are HUGE!
• You can ask the kitchen staff for a bath mat because there isn't one in the room unless requested.
• UEAB guest house has no functional washing machine.  All laundry is done by hand. You can have them do your laundry for you. It's very inexspensive to pay them.