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USEFUL AFRICAN TRAVEL TIPS
Luggage and What to Take
I personally like to travel with hard-shell luggage. International travel can be hard and sometimes thieves take a razor or sharp knife and cut right through cloth luggage. A friend of mine went to a flea market or "swap meet" as they are known in Los Angeles, and purchased some cloth luggage that ripped up before he made the return trip. I do not go cheap on the luggage. I am strictly a hard-shell Samsonite or American Tourister person. They have proven to me that they can take the stresses of international travel. However, even they can break up because some of my Samsonite luggage has been damaged while traveling. Because of luggage and weight limitations the airlines have I try to carry two large suitcases, one tightly packed and one empty, so I have ample room to bring back souvenirs and gifts. Do not over pack and take only what you need. If you take anything extra, take extra underwear and if you are a woman take extra feminine items you may need for your menstrual period.
Suggested Items to Take Besides Clothing
· Sunglasses
· Mosquito repellant
· Toothpaste
· Bars of Soap
· Towel & Washcloth
· Small Sewing Kit
· Electrical Adapter/Converter
· Medium to large Ziploc bags
· Small Garbage Bags
· Imodium and other Anti-diarrhea medicine
· Advil or Tylenol
· Antiseptic and Antihistamine cream
· Travel Diary
· Camera & film & batteries
· Extra passport photos (8)
· Small flashlight (in case of mini blackouts)
· Swiss Army Knife
· Three copies of your passport identification page, visa, airline tickets, driver's license, travelers check information and the credit cards you plan to bring
· Pouch or money belt that can be worn under your clothing
· Language Book (Since West Africa is predominately French and English speaking I recommend Barron's French at a Glance. Since you are reading this book I assume you speak English).
What to Leave Behind
· Leave a copy of your itinerary with family and/or friends and contact information for your country contact if you made one. Also leave a copy of your passport identification page, airline tickets and credit cards you plan to bring.
· Anything you would hate to lose
· Valuable or expensive looking jewelry
· Irreplaceable family objects
· Unnecessary credit cards
· Unnecessary items that you routinely carry in your wallet
· Leave a copy of the serial numbers of your travelers checks with family and/or friends
Research the Present Conditions of the Country or Countries You Plan to Visit
The Department of State's Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world. The sheets inform you about entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, the crime and security situation, political disturbances, areas of instability and special information about driving and road conditions. The sheets also give you the addresses and telephone numbers for U.S. embassies and consulates. I find the sheets to be very good, even though a little over cautious, but I suggest that you check them out. They can be found on the Internet. At www.travel.state.gov. You may also call 202-647-5225 or from your fax machine 202-647-3000 and listen for directions on how to proceed via fax.
When to Go
Conventional wisdom says travel to Africa during the cooler months and avoid the rainy season that runs from May through October north of the equator and November through April south of the equator. I say go when it is most convenient and when you can get the best deal.
E-Mail Contacts
The Internet is widespread in most West African cities. There are Internet Cafes, computer centers, telecenters and business centers that have the Internet as well as fax machines and telephones for international calling. You can monitor your e-mail while traveling as well as send e-mails to your family and friends.
Bring Items to Trade
You can save a considerable amount of money is you bring items to trade in exchange for souvenirs, arts and crafts etc. Used American clothes are big in Africa. They seem to like jeans, shoes, nice shirts and children's clothes. African people know good quality so do not bring junky clothes and please have them dry cleaned. Bring to trade your barely used clothes that you do not wear much or that gift you received last Christmas or birthday gift that you never used. On one trip to Senegal I traded some jeans, linen shorts and sneakers (tennis shoes is the term for sneakers for those not from the East Coast) and received some very nice artwork in exchange.
International Driving Permit
If you plan on renting a car and driving while in Africa you will need an international driving permit (IDP). Most countries accept an international driving permit but do not recognize a United States driver's license. The IDP functions as a substitute for your U.S. driver's license and allows you to legally drive in over 150 foreign countries and virtually all of Africa. However, while you are in the U.S., you must use your U.S. driver's license and not your IDP.
Before you depart for Africa you can obtain an IDP from an Automobile Association such as the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. They are the only authorized issuers of IDPs in the US. In order to qualify for an IDP, you must be at least 18 years of age and posses a valid driver's license. When you apply, you must present two passport sized photographs, show your driver's license, and pay a $20.00 fee. Be careful, as there are a lot of scam artists that are issuing unauthorized IDPs for fees that are in excess of the $20.00 fee.
Tips for Driving Safely in Africa
· Try to avoid driving at night outside of major cities because there may be no streetlights on the road and it gets very dark in Africa. (I have done it but don't you do it).
· Always carry a reflective triangle with you in case you have to stop on the side of the road.
· Familiarize yourself with that particular country's driving rules.
· Always wear a seat belt.
· Find out if your country requires a road permit, if you have one
· If you rent a car get liability insurance that is at least equivalent to what you have at home.
· Find out who has the right of way at traffic circles.
· Get a driving map so you will not get lost.
· When entering your vehicle be aware of your surroundings.
· Do not pick up hitchhikers or strangers.
Embassy Contact
It is advisable to register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate while you are in Africa. They can help you out if you have any problems. When you go to the embassy they will make a copy of your passport, ask you to fill out a paper, which asks for pertinent information such as, where are you staying in that country and how you can be contacted. You are a taxpayer, therefore the embassy is there to serve you. They have a lot of useful information about the country you are in and are a valuable resource.
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