Other things

First aid

This is an area which is easily over looked but can make a huge difference. Once again this means different things to different people but we carry the following:

• Malaria test kit (note that this only 70% accurate so it not always reliable)
• Malaria treatment (we use Coartem and when in doubt take the tablets – early treatment of Malaria is vitally important to protect liver) We only started carrying this when we moved to East Africa, but it's one of the first things that gets packed.
• Snake bit kit (know how to use this – if you have to use it it’ll be a matter of minutes to get it right.  Touch wood, we've never needed it!)
• Thermometer
• Antibiotics
• Cold and flu treatment
• Cough syrup
• Throat lozenges
• Pain killer
• Stomach treatment (lomatil for the runs and Buscopan for cramps)
• Antihistamine
• Antiseptic cream and cleaning agent
• Bandages, cotton wool, dressing, scissors, tweezers, safety pins
• Stingoes (things will bite you)
• Eye drops - the dust can get to you, if you have sensitive eyes it can be very painful without eye drops

What else to carry

There's always plenty to carry!

This usually results in everything including the kitchen sink but space is limited and the mode of carrying the endless list of things is important. Do not just throw everything in the back of car as that will result in endless searches for things that may already be destroyed or covered in dust.  We use ammo-boxes of difference sizes and separate them accordingly to content and how it fits in the car. Make sure the box lids are secured (use a strap)so they don’t empty out at the first turn.

Make sure you know what is where or you’ll be emptying boxes each time you need to find something so some pre-planning is important. For example you don’t want to arrive at an isolated campsite in the dark and have to search for your torch – you must know where it is and be able to get it quickly, and of course it must work, which you would know if you tested it before you left! Following a list of things we carry and the basis we travel is we try to be prepared to face extended periods in the bush:

Make sure your roof tent legs and roof lining is strong enough to take the load

• Water (2 x 20 liter plastic jerry cans in the car, 2 x 20 liter metal jerry cans secured  on the roof with a metal jerry can holder)
• Fuel – metal jerry cans ( 4 X 20 liter jerry cans secured to the roof with a metal jerry can holder )
• Gas – 2 bottles (lighting and cooking – secured to the roof with metal gas bottle holders)

Axe, spade, sand mats, jerry cans, gas bottles all on the roof.

• Firewood – a must to keep animals at bay in open camp sites and your first defense. A lot of parks don’t allow for the collection of firewood so get it outside and secure it on the roof. Also make sure you have a mixture of sizes to ensure you don’t burn through the firewood too quickly (large pieces) and can get a fire started (smaller sizes). Firewood must be secured on roof and not inside the car as it can carry ants and other creepy crawlies.
• Firelighters (you don’t want to be messing trying to start a fire in the dark. Firelighters are best specially if firewood is a bit wet)
• Camping chairs and table
• Temporary shelter (a sheet that is used as an awning when it starts raining – make sure you a method for this, tent poles, guy ropes)
• Dry food – often in the heat, fresh food will go off or ice could melt faster than expected and you don’t want to be faced with a food shortage. A box of dry food is a must and include pasta, rice, tuna tins, two minute noodles, tins of corn beef, biscuits, chips, sweets)
• Kitchen box – crockery and cutlery, cleaning detergent, sponge, oil, tea towel, steel wool, pot, fry pan, gas cook top, thongs)
• Batteries for torches
• Matches
• Rope
• Ponchos
• Fire extinguisher
• Vinyl toilet compartment (this is only required if there are no toilets and there are other campers around).

Ensure you have room on the roof to carry firewood

Payment for parks

Botswana parks require advance bookings and payment in advance. When we last checked bookings are reserved for a while and released if not paid in full. In Tanzania all National Parks require a TANAPA card to enter. This requires you to deposit US$ to the TANAPA bank account and obtaining a ‘credit card’ which is used to pay for fees. Cash can be paid for game reserves such as Selous but not at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which requires a different 'credit card' to the TANAPA card. Both Mikumi and Ruaha NP in Southern Tanzania accept hard currency (as at Oct 2013) 
Update April 2014: Cash is no longer accepted at Mikumi or Ruaha - credit cards or debit cards are now the way to pay, but I'd still carry cash in cash the card machine links are down.

Roof tent and mosquito net

The best way to get a mosquito net in to your roof tent is to attach/clip the net to the roof tent with cable ties. To make this workable the cable ties must be attached to the roof bars of the roof tent as close as possible to the corner of the roof and wall. This ensures the mosquito net hugs the wall and doesn’t make you feel claustrophobic . Basically the idea is to ensure the mosquito net takes the shape of the roof tent and tucks under the mattress which enables you to open all windows and doors to get the breeze in.  We installed this in Dec 2012 and now in October 2013, it is still working brilliantly!

Mozzy net clipped to the roof tent.

Ice and cooler box ( X 2 )

Unless you have fridge connected to a separate battery through an isolator, you are faced with trying to keep your drinks and meat cold for your stay (1 week) in the bush. The key is to get a top of the range ice box with reinforced walls that is made to keep things cold for 7 days (that’s just the manufactured claim). The lid cannot have any ‘play’ (as with cheap ice boxes) or your ice will melt fast. Forget about cheap ice boxes working for more than 2 days, it simply doesn’t work. The other key is to plan your stuff so that you don’t open your second ice box (full of ice blocks) till the 4^th day. Only use ice blocks and more ice the better rather than less ice and more drinks. Finally freeze your meat a week ahead of the trip in sealed freezer bags to ensure when the ice melts your meat from what will be day old ice water.     

Unless you have GPS and other gadgets, its down to maps and books.

Maps and travel books 
Make sure you have reliable maps of the area traveling to and the most reliable is Veronica Roodt. We have also found travel books such as Bradts and Rough Guides helpful in finding places to stay and local attractions. Always read the books and study the maps well before your trip so you are aware to enable you to get local and current knowledge as you travel. This is especially important with road conditions.