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Botswana seems to have the most sharp pointy thorn trees in the world. One way or another you are going to pick up scratches, possibly some bad ones. Foraging for firewood or just walking around at night usually ends in minor injury. They don’t sell bandages in the bush, so bring your own!
Frequent power cuts in Botswana and not to mention helping you make your way back to accommodation in the dark, find your shoes in the dark etc... I cannot recommend taking one of these bad boys highly enough. We had 3 between the 4 of us - wish we had had 4. They were the most used items, after the camera and were surprisingly bright. don't rely purely on recharging batteries - we suffered frequent power cuts and I was most greatful I had bluk standard batteries in supply too. a book on Southern African animals & birds
Binoculars are a very important accessory for a Botswana safari. It is very frustrating missing out on a cheetah hunt or lion kill just because you forgot to bring binoculars!Ensure the one you choose has a high power of magnification; a large outer diameter and a decent exit pupil size to collect a lot of light early morning and at dusk; and a wide field of view to scan undergrowth, bushes and trees.The binoculars should be light and comfortable to use when wearing sunglasses. For clarity, use the best quality prisms and optical coatings to cut down on light reflection.The binoculars should be fairly robust to survive bumps and drops while on safari.
Make them the soft type, always best for safari holidays Good walking shoes, flip flops to wear in the ablution blocksIn winter a jacket will be required for evenings and early mornings.Safari clothes should be made up of natural colours, avoid blues, whites and bright colours. A great investment I found was some wet whipes, anti bacterial ones I took with me and we used them for everything.Usual medical supplies and malaria tablets. Plenty of camera cards. Know your camera or you will miss that split second opportunity.Lens cleaner and be aware of keeping your camera out of the dusty atmosphere as much as possible when not in use. Bags to put rubbish and uneaten or unused food in. Comfortable, used clothes are the best for this sort of holiday. You will get very dirty and dusty, so be prepared.
Pack concisely. Bags most have durable and flexible sides. Don't pack to much white for game viewing, this includes this white socks. Get the small approximately 4 ounces container of cutter with the orange top. It works best for mosquito repellent, however if you forget it most places have repellent for you to use. Take your camera and lots of battery and memory cards. The bag will be in the jeep so minimal carrying is required. Bring long sleeves it gets cool at night.
If you are doing fly-in trips on the little Sesna planes from lodge to lodge the expectation is that the lodges provide you with everything you need from toiletries to doing your laundry, so you really don’t need to take much – and you can’t because your luggage limit is restricted to something the size of a knat’s hanky anyway. Even if you are allowed to take more, follow the principal that less is definitely more, because everything you take has to go in the back of that Landrover, and adds to the general chaos that can ensue once everything has had a good bounce over the roads and has been tossed around the cab like a mixed salad. This is where lots of little bags come in very handy indeed. Another great packing tip is to put your full itinerary with addresses in an open pocket in your luggage, so if it has gone missing, people know where to send it on to. Snow & Rock are a great...
A backpack is by far the best option, unless you are planning to do an organized trip and then either will do - as long as it is light.... It can get very very hot, at any time of the year, so light breathable clothes, but also take a jumper just in case, because the nights - particularly in the Kalahari can get quite cold at any time of year. Your own needles and also anti-malarials and insect repellant. Away from the tourist centres, it is very difficult to get the film or special camera batteries that you need, so it is probably best to buy in the cities or bring it from elsewhere. A waterproof jacket will come in handy for keeping you both warm and dry, should you need either. A torch is invaluable, particularly in rural areas.
Light weight. No suit cases. Layers people. Its hot in noon but very cold in the mornings. Remember u r in a desert. A beanie cap is a must. Wet wipes you know why ;-) You wil be in a jungle and facilities are real basic.
As most of the moving around between camps is done by light aircraft you have to be able to put all you stuff into a small soft bag as it has to be sqeezed in wherever possible in the plane - either the hold or on a seat. Adventure Travel To do the wildlife justice take a good camera with you, preferably with a reasonable zoom lens. Although most of the time a digital camera will be ok - there will be occasions when they are just not quick enough to capture the moment. For instance just when that lion is poised to leap!!Also a good pair of binoculars are essential.
Pack Light! Good hiking boots. Comfortable socks. Bring warm cloths. I lost my luggage and didn't have it with me, and best investment was a thick sweatshirt. Also bought a knit skull cap there - to cover my ears at night. Malaria medication is a must during certain times of the year and especially in certain parts of country. Lodge supplied insect repellents, but if yours doesn't, have some with you. Get the BEST camera you can afford - digital or analog. Get a good zoom/telephoto. Wear layers. Add/remove as necessary. I especially like those pants that unzip into shorts. Don't BRING YOUR CELL!!! There are spots in high ground with a signal, but WHY? The beauty is you're away from normal life. Don't bring it with you.
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