What To Pack for Volunteering in South Africa
by Alyssa Ramos
It’s tough to know what to pack for a place you’ve hardly ever been to in advance of, in particular somewhere a whole lot unique than your dwelling. Confident, you can look up a generic packing listing, but it’s a good deal a lot more useful to ask a person who has been there! Just before my IVHQ South Africa journey, I contacted other bloggers in Cape Town (see Blogger Guides) to inquire them for community guidelines on what to do and see, but also on what to put on, giving me an insight on how to pack.
I had somewhat of an plan, but it’s a good deal different when you’re volunteering with small kids at college and living in a volunteer house! So here is my common checklist for what I would carry for one week (you can modify the volume of stuff based on your system length), and some packing strategies! (Note: I went in the winter/rainy season)
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The Luggage
I only went for 1 week (but I went to Thailand and Australia following) so experimented with to only use one carry-on rolling luggage, and brought a duffel bag (that I filled up with college supplies to bring over) in situation I bought souvenirs….I ended up using both the full time, so am fairly absolutely sure a single major bag would have worked, particularly if you’re staying for longer. Some individuals like to use people significant backpacks that backpackers used, but I substantially preferred “Glampacking” with a rolling, lockable suitcase. Bring a backpack if you approach on accomplishing weekend excursions considering that you won’t be needing all of your stuff and can leave most of it at the volunteer home (make positive to lock your bags just in situation).
Luggage Packing Tips
– Pack light – I seriously wore the very same outfit just about every day in various combinations and didn’t even touch the “cute outfits” I packed. Don’t stress about working out of points to wear, there’s a laundry area a number of blocks away that will do all of your laundry for about $five, and if you fail to remember anything, there’s a cheap clothing retail outlet in the identical plaza as the Checkers (grocery retailer) a few blocks away.
– Verify the climate – Everybody will tell you that South Africa is capable of going as a result of three diverse seasons in one particular day. They aren’t lying. It can be scortching hot in the course of the day and beyond freezing at evening. The solution to this is:
– LAYER! LAYER LAYER LAYER LAYER!!! – There had been times wherever I could just dress in 1 lengthy-sleeved shirt, and there have been occasions when I wore ALL of my shirts, jackets, scarfs, and whatever else I could discover (one guy even ended up Providing me his jacket). Deliver a climate-evidence jacket if attainable and warm socks for nighttime.
– Pack like you’re going camping – You’ll be staying in a volunteer household, not a hotel. Though there is clean bedding, it is not incredibly warm or comfy (in accordance to the woman who lives in LA 😉 ). I brought a low-priced microfiber blanket that I acquired from Ross (a low cost clothing and items shop) that was practically my very best friend. I utilized it on the plane, in my volunteer area, and a handful of nights when I ended up snuggling on the sofa ). You’ll also have to have a towel, and I would recommend getting a light one particular since no matter what, your towel will hardly ever fully dry and often be cold. (Tip: hang it in the shower when you’re showering to heat it up). These goods are certainly bulky so the resolution to that is:
– Use Travel Spacebags – I’m obsessed with these. They’re like the vacuum-seal storage bags except you can squeeze the air out just by rolling them and then unrolling them. I shrank my blanket, jackets, towels, as very well as clothing and had SO A great deal additional area. They’re also great for storing dirty laundry as a substitute of piling it up in a ball. If you can’t uncover them, or fail to remember to get them for some weird purpose…I guess the next ideal factor would be rolling all of your stuff rather of folding it. (Get the spacebags.)
– Use travel and sample sized toiletries – Unless you’re staying for extra than a month, you possibly won’t have to have any total-sized toiletries. Save room (and income) by making use of travel sized goods or if applicable, trial-sized things (I collected a ton from my Birchboxes and hotel stays). Otherwise you can get quite substantially something at Checkers but it might not be as top quality as what you can get at home.
– Safe your passport and some money – Despite the fact that I stored these in my travel bag even though flying, when I wasn’t I manufactured positive to lock them inside of my suitcase along with any valuables that I wasn’t applying like my laptop or GoPro.
The Travel Bag
Don’t deliver any great-searching purses or bags, they are straightforward targets for theft. A whole lot of men and women wore backpacks but they look humorous on me and really feel unsafe on my back, so I made use of an awesome, magical tote bag/purse by Harvey’s that’s made out of seatbelts and zippers shut. Not only did it somehow fit all the things I could probably want within of it, but it was also slashproof and capable of currently being applied as a defensive weapon (in accordance to me).
Travel Bag Packing Suggestions
– Pack only what you’d want to survive – I could usually obtain anything at all any person could possibly need at all occasions inside of my bag. I organized each and every of the 3 pockets for (light) makeup and hygiene wipes, electronic-connected objects, and the zipper-pocket for my wallet and copy of my passport. It was also just major sufficient to fit my travel wallet, a scarf and from time to time my jacket, my laptop (Macbook Air) and it’s charger, GoPro and accessories, granola bars, water bottle, and so forth.
– Bring moveable chargers – These are Lifestyle SAVERS due to the fact there’s a great chance you both won’t have the appropriate adapter (African adapters are distinct than any other individuals but commonly demand an worldwide adapter as properly anyway), another person will be borrowing it, or you won’t be capable to get household to charge it for long intervals of time. These are minor chargeable batteries that give you a battery increase that you can charge overnight.
– Deliver nourishment – If you’re like me, and have a fast metabolic process (and picky appetite) you ought to contemplate bringing protein or granola bars. Althought the volunteer household usually has foods readily available, they’re fantastic on the go or if you’re late waking up (which you will be). I also brought Resqwater which is meant to be an anti-hangover drink (which I needed for those functions from time to time anyway), but it’s also packed with electrolytes which helps to recharge your body and energy in the morning.
-Use Safety – Get your mind out of the gutter, I meant sun protection! (Although you must constantly use other protection anyway.) The sun is wicked bright and solid so keep a pair of sunnies that are designated for UV safety like my super neat Community Supply ones below. Also deliver smaller bottles of sunscreen and bug repellent (there weren’t lots of bugs but just in case), and chapstick, and did I currently mention hand sanitizer? Tons of hand sanitizer.
– Your itinerary and regional data – Chances are you’re going to have a good deal of itinerary information to maintain track of, so consider to organize it all onto a single piece of paper and keep it in your bag. It’s also a fantastic thought to consider a image with it to store on your phone, and to retail outlet the local taxi driver’s numbers as well (you’ll get this from the volunteers and it’ll be posted in the residing space).
Other Tips
– Don’t Stress – if you neglect something, youll most most likely be in a position to get it there. I ended up possessing to obtain a sweet pair of boots from the regional clothes store due to the fact I was so cold but they were literally 250 Rand ($25US) and are going to be an great trend statement in LA this winter.
– Be intelligent – Don’t deliver items that are going to appeal to attention or you’ll miss if it gets misplaced or dirty. Girls dress conservatively, even however we all want to search cute, we’re way cuter when we’re not kidnapped or frowned on by locals. Also, you’re going to be like a human jungle health club at school, so carry clothing that can get tugged on.
-Packing Hacks – a number of very little genius things I brought that have been truly super valuable:
– Dryer sheets – I put them all over the place in my suitcase so it wouldn’t smell and you can also rub them on your clothing and hair. Sounds gross, but it operates.
– Infant powder and dry shampoo – ladies (or guys if you want) you’re not usually going to have time, or want to wash your hair, so this things is wonderful.
– Double wallets – I employed a decoy wallet along with my travel wallet (mainly because I’m paranoid), just in situation another person experimented with to pick pocket me.
– Travel Size Awesomeness – I brought travel dimension bottles of Febreeze, Lysol (primarily for the plane), and Wrinkle Release (in situation you detest wrinkles, I didn’t really use it) to keep my outfits somewhat tidy.
*****As stated in advance of, most airlines give you TWO Free CHECKED BAGS – get a thin duffel bag that is quick to roll up and retail outlet and fill it with school supplies or little ones T-shirts from residence! (Come to feel totally free to say I advised it 😉 ) *******
If you have any other concerns come to feel no cost to request me on here, my Facebook webpage, or on the IVHQ South Africa group page! The following submit will be regional factors to do, and must see/do’s in South Africa!
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