I did quite a lot of research around the internet to compile a list of items I would need on an overlanding trip. Although I’ve traveled to over fourty countries on trips varying in length, from a few days to a couple of years, I have no previous experience on this type of travel, of changing locations daily and camping in remote campsites, often going on for days without access to shops and such amenities. Also the tour company told us to pack light because there is very limited space for luggage in the truck, so packing was going to be tricky.
I’m used to always traveling with hand luggage only, so this concept of having a lot of stuff with me all the time was alien to me. However, I managed to come up with a list that seems quite comprehesive at the time of writing, though only time will tell whether there is something I could’ve left out, and other things I should’ve brought.
Lists are boring, so I’ll show what I have in pictures. On the top of this post is the 60l sports bag that I had to fit everything in. I would’ve preferred an 70-80l bag, but unfortunately in my price range it was a choice of either 60l or 90l, so I chose the smaller one.
Most of the items were really straightforward. I’ll need this, everyone says so, it makes sense, I’ll bring it. The most difficult bit was the clothing. It will be really hot in some places, yet I need to cover myself from the sun, because I’m one of those people that burns time after time after time, and tans only slightly. In Australia it took my skin three months to learn how to produce melanine, until then I only burned again and again. I’ve since learned my lesson. Sun screen is not enough, I need to cover my skin. So what would be lightweight, yet bring enough coverage? Also I live in a country where winter lasts for eight months, so my closet isn’t excactly full of light summer clothes. In the end I decided to bring just a few essential items, and hoped to find more suitable options once I get there.
My 60l bag ended up being packed to the brim (even without the pillow, which I will carry in my hand luggage so that I can sleep on the plane, as my flight leaves late at night). I couldn’t take a small backpack in my handluggage because I was carrying my camera backpack, so I had to fit all my stuff and the day bag inside the 60l bag. It was only just big enough, so I’ll probably have to buy another bag for all the souvenirs for the return flight! 😉
I didn’t take pictures of the clothes (because I kept changing them until the last minute, but what I had were: two t-shirts, two tank tops, one light long-sleeved shirt, one pair of shorts, one pair of light pants, one pair of hiking pants, one summer dress, five pairs of socks and six pairs of underpants and two sports bras. I also packed a rain jacket, a hoodie, a tube scarf, a cap and a fishing hat and two pairs of sunglasses.
Bag is now ready for check in!
Jenni's Africa 