Ok, I’m ready to travel: Now what do I need to bring?

Matt AschenbrenerSpring 2009

Background Information Travel Guides:

The Brandt Travel Guide: Ghana (~$16)

Lonely Planet West Africa (~$20)

The Rough Guide to West Africa (~$20)

Other books of interest Commerce and Economic Change in West Africa Sacred Sites and the Colonial Encounter: A History of

Meaning and Memory in Ghana Ouidah: Social History Of Western African Slaving Port Slavery, Colonialism and Economic Growth in Dahomey,

1640-1960

What are you interested in learning about when you get there? Buy a book about it before you leave and read it on the trip!

Travel Websites http://www.backpackafrica.com/ http://travelindependent.info/whattopack.htm http://www.africaguide.com/

For those staying longer in Europe… http://www.raileurope.com/us/index.htm

The Essentials – I’ll go through these Suitcase Backpack Clothes Medicine Things you can’t live

without (contacts, glasses, etc.)

Camera or Video-camera Food (Peanut Butter) Gifts Journal

Passport w/ visas Money

Really Helpful Items (but not essential)

Extra reading material on the animals, history, culture etc. of West Africa Books Maps

Binoculars Umbrella Laundry kit

The Not-So Essential Computer I-pod, etc.

Expensive jewelry or watches

If you want it when you get back, don’t bring it on this trip…

Suitcases & Backpacks Only one suitcase

50 pounds (23 kg) linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches

Only one backpack Cannot exceed 40 lbs European travelers

need large backpack

Money belt

Clothes – Shirts Shorts Pants Underwear Socks

Comfortable Shoes

Plan for 7-10 days min.

Dirty Clothes bag

Alarm Clock

WHO IS YOUR PACKING BUDDY?

Clothes Other items:

Swim suit Hats Sandals

Do NOT Bring: Tank tops Short-shorts

Toiletries Soap Shampoo Brush Deodorant Toothbrush Toothpaste

Hand Sanitizer Toilet Paper Kleenex

Medicine Anti-malarial medicine

(required) Gatorade/Powerade mix

Plan 3 bottles per day 2-3 packs per bottle =with ELECTROLITES

Immodium A-D Bug Spray

Aspirin Vitamins Suntan lotion

~60 packets

Things You Can’t Live Without Spare glasses Contacts/solution Wet Wipes

Phone numbers E-mails

Camera/Video Camera Things to consider:

Down-loading pictures Batteries

(what will you use in 3 weeks?) Back-up

Electrical conversion

Food to Bring Granola Bars Gum Other snacks – what would you bring to the

beach?

Gifts Pencils What other things would Candy you want to bring to

share?

Exchange Rates U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Ghanian Cedi

$100 92.70c .9270c (-5%)

U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate CFA Franc$100 50,587cfa 505.87cfa (+7%)

U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Euro$100 76.70e .767e (+13%)

Money How much to bring? $200 - $500 est.

How do I get it exchanged? (except in Amsterdam) Through Zeno. Bring $100 bills to exchange – they work the best.

What should I buy? There will be lots of opportunities to buy things from silver, jewelry,

drums, masks, batik, kente cloth, etc.

When & where should I but it? How much should I buy?

There won’t be opportunity to ship things back. You can leave a bag in Accra and fill it when you get there.

Things to buy…

International Art and Craft Fair, Ouagadougou Craft Bazaar, Accra

Masks

Jewelry

Leather, Bronze, Textiles, Pottery

Wood carvings, Aburi/Accra

Things to buy…Kente Cloth

Oware

Xylophone

Drums

Batik

Other items Sunglasses Towel – probably want to bring 2 for packing Binoculars - Umbrella Laundry kit Laundry Bag

Non-essential items Computers I-pod, etc.

Watch – may need this as we’ll break off into groups in the parks, Ouga, Kumasi, Accra, etc.

If you want it when you get back don’t bring it on this trip…

In your backpack (carry on) Travel restrictions!

The following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols you want to carry through a security checkpoint: All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller

containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.

All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed.

Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening.

Other things to bring Patience A spirit of Adventure! And willingness to try

just about anything…