One of the first things we learned when we got the information packet for the Africa trip was that it was not as simple as other trips. In addition to the vaccinations, the anti-malarials, and the ciprofloxacin (don’t ask), there was the weight limit. For the charter flight from the mainland to Zanzibar, luggage and personal items are limited to 33 pounds. Two weeks’ worth of clothing, camera gear, toiletries, and all the rest in 15 kilograms.
We’ll be describing some of our stranger purchases in the next few months, but I’ll confess that one of the first was a 3 ounce luggage scale so we will know how many presents we can buy when we’re there.
Another thing that makes this trip different is that we have been warned not to wander the grounds of the lodge at night without an armed guard. The lodges are in the middle of the game preserves, and they’re not fenced.
An unexpected advisory on clothing was the warning not to wear dark blue or black during the daytime because of the tsetse flies. And, of course we all know the warnings about the water (typhus), walking bàrefoot (parasites), and wading in fresh water (more parasites). There are also cautions on local customs and inappropriate clothing.
We’re going anyway.
Safari So Good 