Jibal Akakus Packing Lists
Tips on what to pack for a trip to Jibal Akakus, posted by real travelers and Jibal Akakus locals.
Local Time 1:40 am Sunday, September 7, 2008
Jibal Akakus Map
Jibal Akakus Map
on December 17, 2007
Desert nights can get very cold - even as summer approaches - so bring something warm but lightweight for chilly evenings and early mornings.
Pack a hat and sunglasses - the sun and glare make both items a necessity.
Good, sturdy shoes make sense.
Lightweight daytime clothes - loose fitting and reasonably modest - Libya may be a nominally secular state but it is a Muslim country and people are traditionally conservative
A neck cooler - the later in the Spring season (or earlier in Autumn) you go, the hotter the days will be. These ties filled with water-absorbing crystals really work at keeping you cool
Desert camping means no taps, let alone showers - hand-cleaning gel and moistened wipes are very handy.
Don't forget to bring toilet paper - which should be burned, not buried - the wind is sure to expose buried items sooner or later and the aridity of the region means litter of all sorts may never break down.
30+ sunscreen - and use it!
Basic first-aid stuff - bite/sting cream, antiseptic cream, plasters, broad spectrum antibiotic (see your GP), asprin or paracetamol, rehydration sachets, diarrhoea stopper, these are my essentials
Insect repellant
Something to seal your camera equipment from flying sand and all-invading dust is essential - you may be unlucky enough to experience the "gbili" - a desert sand-storm. If you do, you'll find sand in everything!
Lots of memory/film and, if your wild camping is extended - extra batteries. You should be able to recharge batteries in the town camps.
You may want to bring your own sleeping bag and/or sleeping sheet. We were fine with the thick all-purpose blankets provided.
A towel - there's no calling down to housekeeping here
Some good books - nights are long and very quiet and you'll probably wake at dawn too, so there could be lots of hours to fill in
A torch - useful for finding your way around to the back of a private rock at night
A few packets of nuts, dried fruit mix or other snacky thing. It can be a long time between dinner and breakfast and there's no minibar or little shop around the other side of that sand dune
A folding fan takes no room and is very effective , especially in a hot car back seat.
on March 17, 2005
