Here it is, your packing list:
– Backpack (REI has great ones)
– Sleeping pad
– Sleeping Sleeping bag and pillow
– All necessary medications with refills
– Clothes appropriate for outdoor activities and one semi casual outfit (jeans and nice shirt)
– Ministry clothes. **Ladies: skirts, Guys: khaki dress pants and collared shirt
– Water bottle – unbreakable. Nalgene bottles work best.
– Towel and shower stuff. Showers are outdoor and cold. Shower shoes are a must.
– Basic first aid including mosquito spray, medicine for stomach issues, headaches, allergies (including seasonal), bug bites, band-aids, anti-bacterial wipes and ointment, sunscreen.
– Personal hygiene items.
– Headlamp.
– Bible, journal, and pens.
– Spending money for possibly eating out or spending fun time with your team.
– Camera and batteries
– Rain gear
– Lightweight jacket, sweatshirt
– Running shoes
– Shower shoes
– Outlet converter
Note: Bold items are additional items needed that are not listed on the packing list posted on your profile under "My Mobilization Info" tab. A tent may be needed for a short period of time. However, instead of spending the money to purchase one, we've asked the World Race teams to share theirs with you. So, if you'd like to purchase a tent, go ahead, but it is not necessary.
Don’t feel bad – I’m sure quite a few of us are looking for that answer 🙂
The bagpack is a hiker’s pack, usually a 50-75 liter bag, that will be up to you which size you want.
Skirts need to below the knee. With ministry, you will need to have them on. The girls on the field have suggested having tights underneath, especially when you play with kids.
Rain gear is a rain jacket. Basically, South Africa and Swazi are going to be in their winter season while you are there so there is a higher chance for rain, so a rain jacket is what you will want.
Check the weather online for both countries, so you will know how to pack clothing, accordingly.
As for a mosquito net, I will check with Katie, but I do believe that you don’t need them if you are sleeping in tents.
Ok, checked with Katie. The contact hasn’t said anything about it, so you do not need mosquito nets.
For the outdoor clothes, will we need to wear shorts? When I got my shots they reccommended thing long sleeve shirts. Just trying to get a better understanding of what we need to pack other than the ministry clothes? Sorry for all the questions
In most of the places you go, shorts will not be appropriate to wear outside of your room. You may encounter tourists wearing them or someone in a big city, but as a girl you will probably not be able to wear them. I would suggest capris if you want to bring something of that nature to wear. As for shirts, do not bring tank-tops unless you want to sleep in it (you will see so many people wearing African clothes that somewhat looks like tank-tops), but again, this is something they will most likely ask not to wear. Hope that helps!! Getting excited for you guys.
Hey! I was just wondering if yoga capris were okay?
Yeah. What about yoga pants?
Yoga pants. Yes, you can wear them. However, like everything else, make sure they are not too tight. Really, here’s my overall thought. The more “conservative” you can dress the better. That way, you will be able to wear your clothes in as many places as possible. If you bring shorts/tank-tops, you won’t be able to wear them most places (if anywhere outside of your home). You only have so much space in your bag, so I would suggest filling it with clothes you can wear all the time. So, yes, you can wear yoga pants, just make sure they are lose enough that you can wear them anywhere. :). Hope that helps.
I’m just saying… If we all have one pair of yoga pants and a giant tent, that’s screaming Africa HOMEMADE Music Video. Then again, I’m sure we can all make it work in skirts with yoga pants underneath without the giant tent….
Don’t freak out, deep breaths! 😉
1. You can bring your own tent if you’d like and probably share it with someone. OR they told us that they asked the World Racers to share theirs so we can fit in with them. Either option is viable!
2. Shots: start looking into it. I went to the health department and they gave me loads of information for what I need (they got their info from cdc.gov)
3. Travel insurance..if you go to AIM’s partner (you find that information under the travel tab or something on your profile) then they tell you exactly what to do but basically, I checked that I’d be in BOTH Swazi and South Africa because we didn’t and still don’t know. It doesn’t cost more or anything and it’s really not as expensive as I thought. It meets all the requirements AIM has too since they are partners.
4. Do you have facebook? Why aren’t we friends? (BTW I’m taking care of this problem riiiiight now! 🙂
I’ll check with Katie, but I believe it was communicated you will find out at training camp, which place you’ll go. Remember this, Swaziland is within SOuth Africa, so in order to get to Swazi (for those who will go there), you have to land in Jo-burg, South Africa, and drive to Swaziland.
Also thanks, Kristen. 🙂
so we need a tent?
i am incredibly confused.
the packing list doesn’t say that.
or maybe it does
and i missed it?
should i get a tent?
They have asked the WR team you’re with to share them with you. You can bring one, only if you want to be by yourself in a tent. Otherwise, you’ll be in a tent with another person.
I got all my shots and they were the same for both countries. Typhoid fever, hep A and a Tdap are the three I had to get! Hope this helps!
I looked it up and it says the whole country of south africa & swazi are in the Central Africa Time Zone, (CAT).
If you are in Central Time Zone its 7 hours ahead of you
If you are in the Pacific Standard Time its 9 hours ahead of you
If you are in the Mountain Time Zone its 8 hours ahead of you
If you are in the Eastern Time Zone its only 6 hours ahead of you
But if anyone is changing time zones to training camp keep that in mind too!
hope this helps 🙂
I was told that yellow fever was required in a lot of countries in south Africa but NOT south Africa in particular… Or Swaziland. Hopefully we can clear this up.
We don’t have to get yellow Fever. I went to a travel clinic through my university (all they do is travel vaccines and conaultations year round) and also looked up shots for south Africa/Swaziland on the cdc’s website and yellow fever isn’t needed for either country. It costs a lot more to get certain shots so I would check into it before you go.
I went to South Africa last year (on a whim with only 2 days of notice and no shots) and we didn’t need to show any proof of vaccinations. I think Yellow Fever is more for the East African countries. I’m no expert though so I guess just go by what your doctor says!
The reality is that it is your choice if you get Yellow Fever. There are possibilities that they will ask you if you have it, if your flight path gets changed or if you have been to other countries in Africa.
just wondering if there is anything we can bring in terms of clothes, toys, or other humanitarian supplies for the people of Swaziland or South Africa?
I was thinking the same thing… Could we bring a soccer ball?
Greetings from Ghana, Africa!!! I have a question, I know we are meeting in the airport on the 28th.. but what about training camp? have we heard anything about that? or are we just flying straight to africa on June 28th? Thanks so much! I’m so excited!!!
My best friend is going on an AIM trip for two months to Africa on Friday and her leader told her to bring peanut butter in her backpack because it’s filling and can last a long time. Just wanted to share this tip with everyone! One month away!!!! Can’t wait!!!
I was just wondering what everyone else’s dr said about malaria pills? Mine said I only need to take it if im in certatin parts of africa like Krugar Park. Has anyone else been told to take it for where were going?
Hey Sarah,
I was prescribed them and I think a lot of other people have as well. I’m not sure if it’s required though. I have a friend who is actually in Swaziland right now and she did not get them, and neither did anyone else on her trip. They knew exactly where they were going, though, so it might vary?
Thanks that helps. How many pills did you get? My dr prescribed me 30 not sure if thats going to be enough if we do need them.
It depends on which malaria medication you take. I only needed ten because I only need to take mine once a week, but again it varies. Another girl going on the trip got prescribed 65 pills of a different malaria medication, because she’s taking it everyday, and needs to take it for a month after too.
Are we going to be hiking alot? I’m not sure how badly I’d need hiking shoes vs. tennis shoes?
I have some more specific questions about what some of these items mean, for instance do we need a school sized backpack or a large excursion pack that all our clothes, etc will need to fit in? also, do the girls need to be in skirts while at all times while ministering in the field? if so, do they need to be full floor length or just past the knee? do we need a mosquito net for nights? what is meant by “rain gear” ? umbrella? rain boots? pancho?
Who do these questions need to be directed to to get an appropriate answer does anyone know? Sorry to be a drag but I am a detail oriented type. 🙂
@ Davis Renee Harley, hey! I have been doing some research on weather patterns in both Swaziland and South africa during the month of July, and what I’ve found is a general variant of highs around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with lows anywhere from 38-50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. This depends on how far north, south, close to the coast, etc that the location is. Since we have no idea exactly where we will be located, I am thinking that we need to be prepared for fairly cold temperatures at night and cool during the day. Also thinking about packing maybe 2 pairs of shorts, for training in Atlanta (since we Know it will be hot there 😉 and for just in case it gets warm, but from the research I’ve seen we will be in southern Africa during their winter. Just thought I’d share what I learned! Don’t quote me though.
I think I’m going to like you, Kristen.. Haha.
Do we need to bring our own tent?
Also, I haven’t gotten my shots yet or bought my travel insurance because I don’t know where I’m going…. Any thoughts? Aren’t we supposed to wait and hear if we are going to Swazi or South Africa? Heeelppp!
Important about shots: for most of the shots you need to have had them 4-6 weeks before entering the country so if you haven’t had them, get on that ASAP. I got mine at the local health department. proof of having the Yellow fever vaccine is REQUIRED for entering and leaving the country of south Africa. also recommended to have are typhoid, hep A, hep B, and the tdap. Its also recommended to have a polio booster shot. I received 5 shots total and you are supposed to get them all at the same time, but I strongly suggest having a friend or family member drive you because you may feel kinda sick after wards and your arms Ache. Again, documentation that you have had the yellow fever vaccine is REQUIRED to be able to enter the country and to come home to the USA in the event that we enter an area that has had an outbreak of yellow fever. Also look into antimalaria medications, some of those you have to start taking a week beforehand.
Question: how large is the time difference between central time and south Africa? anyone? because the anti malaria meds have to be taken at the same time every day, and we will have to calculate that time difference between home and when we are overseas that we make sure and take it on time.
Thank you guys for being so informative! So it’s a no-go on Yellow Fever?