South Africa Expedition packing guide

Another key piece of equipment, like your rucksack, think of these as an investment; a good pair of boots can last for many years. Please ensure that your boots are comfortable, strong, and that you have practiced walking in them before you arrive.

• Please buy or borrow your boots as soon as possible, and break these in by going for walks. You may get blisters at first when wearing them in, but it is easier to deal with blisters at home where you can dress these in a sterile and clean environment. We recommend doing at least a few short walks (up to 5 miles) in your boots to wear them in.
• If you already have a pair of good quality walking boots that fit and are comfortable then bring them, just check all the stitching and that the sole is still firmly attached to the boot.

If you are buying or borrowing some things to think about are:

• They are a good fit and comfortable. If you’re not used to wearing boots, they will feel uncomfortable at first, but the more you walk in them the more they mould to your feet.
• That they are a good quality; you don’t want your boots to fall apart halfway through your trek.
• That they give you ankle support. The boot must come up over your ankle; a lightweight ‘traveller boot’ or ‘walking shoe’ won’t provide enough support when walking over rough terrain/working on construction sites.
• That they fit in both length and width. Different brands suit different foot types, so tryout different brands and styles on to find which fits the best.
• The material of the boot. Both leather and suede/mesh, waterproof/non- waterproof boots have their pros and cons, and it comes down to personal preference.
• That they are not Timberland/Caterpillar style work boots. These are unsuitable for hiking!
• If you have US style military boots (Wellco), take extra care to wear them in properly.Unless you already own a pair, we do not recommend buying this type of boot.

You won’t want to be in your boots all the time, so you’ll need an alternative. It’s essential to always have something on your feet. Open toed sandals must have toe and ankle straps to keep them on your feet and allow them to dry out. They can be worn for washing in, and rivercrossings.

Due to the change in weather throughout the year in our programme countries, and the difference in altitude of our different projects (particularly the trek phase) we recommend the following sleeping bag temperature level:

• South Africa – Comfort Level 3 seasons (0°C to 10°C).

Some people feel the cold more than others, so choose a higher temperature range accordingly. Down sleeping bags are not suitable because they are harder to dry out and deteriorate in wet and humid conditions so try to borrow or buy a synthetic one if possible.

There is a low risk of malaria in South Africa, so a mosquito net is essential to mitigate the risk.

• We recommend trying to get a box shaped net, as it is the easiest shape to put up because it can be attached by all four corners to the walls or rope set up.
• The net must be impregnated with permethrin which further protects against mosquitoes. Most new nets will have been pre-dipped but, do check before you buy. If you have an old/untreated net you can buy a bottle of permethrin from outdoors shops so that you can treat it yourself (this can be cheaper than buying a new net).
• Tie long pieces (minimum 2 meters) of string to each corner of the net to allow you to hang it more easily and save time on your first attempt.

Try to bring both hard bottles (such as a sports bottle) and collapsible containers with a 1 litre capacity allowing you to purify the water easily (1 puritab = 1 litre of clean water). You should bring enough to carry at least 3 litres.

• Collapsible water bags are good because they take up less space when empty and you can drink from them without having to remove them from your rucksack – great when on the move, walking or short on time and space.
• Although water filter bottles are now widely available, whilst you are on Expedition you will be asked to always drink the purified water, if you have a filter bottle this just means that your water will be double purified.

This is an essential piece of equiptment as there will rarely be electricity on project sites. Ahead torch allows you to work hands free, it is a lot easier than a handheld.

• You’ll need to bring spare batteries – they may not be available in country, particularly if they are not AA batteries.
• Torches with LED bulbs are great – they use less battery power and can be brighter
• A head torch with a red-light capacity is useful, as it attracts fewer flying insects at night
• It is worth bringing a cheap back up hand torch, in case you lose your head torch

It’s likely going to be bright and sunny at some points. Ensure that the lenses have effective UV protection. It is worth bringing a hard case for them.

You should always have a copy of your essential travel documents kept separate from the originals; having them will greatly help should your documents get lost or stolen.

• Passport (the photo page).
• Vaccinations (a copy of the dates you received your vaccinations).
• The overseas contact details of your bank or credit card
• Insurance documents. You will need to take out your own insurance to cover your personal kit and equipment. You should keep a copy of your policy number and emergency contact
• Flight e-tickets (print out a spare copy).

These are waterproof bags (sometimes called canoe bags) that you can put inside your rucksack to keep your kit and clothing dry. You should try to borrow/buy 2-3 bags in a combination of sizes e.g. one small one for things like a camera/notepad etc. Use a larger one for your sleeping bag and a change of clothes. This may seem like a lot of waterproofing, but there is nothing worse than opening your sleeping bag to find it wet at the end of a day’s trekking. A rucksack liner can be used as an alternative to smaller dry bags and should be the same capacity as your rucksack. They are 100% waterproof when used correctly.

Raleigh will provide all your in-country travel, accommodation, and food costs for the duration of Expedition, excluding any day off activities. However, we recommend that you bring some money if you’d like to buy any extras like souvenirs, extra snacks, stamps, toiletries and Raleigh country t-shirts.

• You are advised to bring ZAR South African Rand.  You can withdraw this at an ATM on arrival.
• Most places accept card payments, so we suggest having funds available in your bank account and only bringing minimum cash (approx. R200). You can use the ATMs in Hoedspruit to withdraw money if required, at very minimal charge.
• It is difficult to exchange money in Hoedspruit, so please exchange money in advance if you would like to bring cash (maximum recommended amount to bring in cash is R200).
• If you bring any debit or credit cards on Expedition check if you need to tell your bank/credit card company, otherwise they may block your card if you try and use it abroad. 
• Do not bring traveller’s cheques as these cannot be exchanged. A travel money card (available from travel agencies and the UK Post Office) are a good alternative to traveller’s cheques and debit/credit cards, as they can be pre-loaded with money with less impact if lost or stolen.
• Remember to budget fully if you are planning on travelling before or after Expedition.
• These are our recommended amounts for each phase & length of Expedition. You will have time at each changeover to get out cash at an ATM in Hoedspruit.
• • 4 weekers – optional spending money: R900 (including maximum cash amount of R200) 
  • 7 weekers – optional spending money: R1300 (including maximum cash amount of R200) 
  • 10 weekers – optional spending money: R2000 (including maximum cash amount of R200) 
  • (Plus, optional Kruger Day Trip, approx. R2000) 

As we have a ‘no phones on project’ policy, so we recommend bringing a camera with you to capture some awesome Expedition moments.

You can bring all types of cameras of Expedition, from cheap disposable ones through to Digital SLRs. If you do take an expensive camera, please ensure that it is insured as Raleigh’s insurance does not cover loss or damage to personal items. Please do not bring expensive or bulky items such as iPads, tablets, laptops etc as we will not be able to store these high-value items. If you do want to bring items like cameras, then you need to be happy taking these to your projects and communities.

• If it takes rechargeable batteries, it is a good idea to bring spares if you have one as it is unlikely that you will always have access to
• Disposable AA or AAA batteries are widely available in most food stores.
• Make sure that you bring enough memory cards if using a digital
• Make sure that you have a waterproof case. It may also be worth using some silica gel bags to help reduce moisture in humid

In the evening there will be some down time, so it’s great if you can bring games to entertain the team.

A luxury, these lightweight bags cover your whole rucksack and are great for putting your rucksack in for flights, as they stop straps from being damaged. You can also padlock (TSA approved) these for added security. Make sure that the size you buy has a greater capacity than your rucksack. This bag can also be left at Field Base to hold any kit you want to leave behind during your trek.

You may bring vest tops, but these may be culturally insensitive to wear on certain projects, so do ensure you bring 2-3 standard t-shirts as well. One of these could be the Raleigh t-shirt you will receive on your first day.

The temperature at night and in the mornings can be significantly cooler than the daytime temperature, particularly when at altitude; therefore, a fleece or warm top is required. If possible, it should be a fleece material as they are quicker to dry than a thick hoody. 

A decent jacket that is warm and can protect you from the wind.

A good set of thermal leggings and long sleeve top can give you a lot of extra warmth on cold evenings / mornings.

Try and bring 1 reasonably nice pair and 1 pair that you don’t mind getting dirty on project sites.

• They should be light/medium weight cotton or polycotton, loose fitting and quick Cargo style trousers are good.
• Do not bring jeans for project site, they are too hot, and take too long to dry. Feel free to bring a pair for travelling and changeover if you want.
• Trousers that zip off to make shorts are useful and save on packing space.

You must bring at least:

• 2 x pairs of walking socks. Look for ones that are not too warm.
• 4 pairs of normal cotton/sports socks. Good for keeping your feet cooler when still required to wear socks (at dusk to avoid mosquitoes).

As previously mentioned it is worth having clean clothes to come back to a changeover, as well as for special community events and making your flight more comfortable. A casual short/t-shirt with loose trousers ora loose-fitting dress/skirt are good options.