Note: Hindsight is 20/20.. now that I am back in the USA I feel I need to give feedback on my own packing list. It turns out some things I didn’t need after all or not as much, etc. Be sure to look at the bottom of the page for that information.
Tish brought some things such as kitchen supplies, so they were not on my list. There were some things on my original list that I had to exclude because I went over the weight limit.
I am sure I have forgotten some things I will need, but fortunately there is shopping in Gaborone.
We were restricted to two checked bags plus one carry on (my backpack). The weight limit on the check bags was a total of 80 lbs with neither bag going over 50 lbs.
My List…
Electronics | Flash drives (2) |
Electronics | Hard Drives (2) |
Electronics | Camera and extra battery |
Electronics | Laptop and charger |
Electronics | wires/cables/etc |
Electronics | Garmin Forerunner and charger |
Electronics | Blackberry plus charging cradle, earphones and extra battery |
Electronics | Software CD’s |
Household | Sleeping bag and stuff sack |
Household | Nalgene bottle |
Household | Personal photos |
Household | Flashlight |
Household | Headlamp |
Household | Extra batteries |
Household | extra Zip Lock Bags of all sizes |
Household | Umbrella |
Household | Raincoat |
Household | Shaving Creme |
Household | Disposable razors |
Household | Medicines, prescription and over the counter meds |
Household | Stationary, envelopes |
Household | Money belt |
Household | Travel kleenex |
Household | key rings |
Household | electric converters and adapters |
Household | binoculars |
Household | Leatherman (Gerber) |
Household | Solid deoderants and toothpaste |
Household | REI Quick Dry towel |
Household | Screen material for windows |
Clothes | Winter coat |
Clothes | Blazer |
Clothes | 3 Ties |
Clothes | Sweat Pants and Shirt |
Clothes | Long Johns (2) |
Clothes | Gloves |
Clothes | Cheap flip flops |
Clothes | dressy shoes |
Clothes | underpants (10) |
Clothes | undershirts (4) |
Clothes | Jeans (1) |
Clothes | Shorts (3) |
Clothes | T-shirts (5) plus 1 long sleeve T |
Clothes | black socks (8 pr) |
Clothes | white socks (3 pr) |
Clothes | hiking socks (5 pr) |
Clothes | button down short sleeve (4) |
Clothes | button down long sleve (4) |
Clothes | slacks khaki (4) |
Clothes | slacks dressy (4) |
Clothes | belts (2) |
Clothes | Fleece Jacket |
Clothes | Polo type shirts (5) |
Clothes | Merril trail running shoes |
Clothes | Keen sandals |
misc | $300 cash |
misc | Luggage Locks |
misc | Lots of Pens |
misc | School supplies |
misc | 2 pair sunglasses |
misc | Hair clippers, scissors, comb |
misc | Bike helmet |
misc | permanent markers |
misc | 10 passport size photos |
misc | sleeping bag in stuff sack |
misc | sleeping mat |
misc | sleeping bag liner |
misc | Folder containing personal papers, Peace Corps staging documents, etc |
Hindsight is 20/20. Some comments about some of the items on my list… | |
Garmin Forerunner & charger | I used it for cycling, most people won’t need a GPS |
Nalgene bottle | Bring one for PST, but you can get water bottles in Botswana |
Extra batteries | You can get batteries in Botswana |
Raincoat | Unnecessary,.. It hardly ever rains, and you have an umbrella |
Shaving Creme | You can get it there |
Disposable razors | You can get it there |
Money belt | I never used the money belt |
Travel kleenex | You can get it there |
Solid deoderants and toothpaste | You can get this stuff in Botswana |
REI Quick Dry towel | Only used mine a handful of times when traveling, not a bad idea though |
3 Ties | Just bring one tie, you rarely will wear one |
Sweat Pants and Shirt | Only if you want to wear them around the house |
Long Johns (2) | just bring one set. I only wore them once |
underpants (10) | 10 pair was too many, I did use them all, but could have bought replacements in Botswana |
black socks (8) | I ended up wearing my sandals most of the time, and rarely wore my dress shoes, so only needed a couple pair of dress socks |
button down long sleve (4) | You only need one, you won’t wear it often. You can wear your short sleeve button downs on dressy days. |
slacks dressy (4) | Two pair is probably ok |
Polo type shirts (5) | I could have brought a few more |
2 pair sunglasses | Bring 3 pair. I went through the ones I brought and sent for more |
Hair clippers, scissors, comb | My wife ended up cutting my air with scissors only, we didn’t use the clippers |
Bike helmet | Only if you plan to ride a bike. Also, Peace Corps will get you one if you need one. |
permanent markers | I never needed these |
sleeping bag, liner, and stuff sack | I only used mine a couple of times. I used the liner alone more often |
Tish brought some cooking supplies | She said to be sure to bring a few good knives and a non-stick frying pan |
My hat | Every day I told my wife how much I loved my hat |