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| Your Baggage on a Safari Tour | Expeditions
A large and comfortable pack is essential, as you’ll be lugging a lot of kit. Remember that a top-loading rucksack distributes weight very evenly while convertible travel bags are easy to pack and unpack.
In case you’re trekking with your main pack, a waist pouch is handy for keeping small bits and pieces to hand. Such a shoulder bag is good for your camera, water bottle, map, compass and so on. A light daysack used as a stuff sack in your main pack will come in useful when you’re in a different environment.
Security is much less of a problem in the middle of nowhere but it’s still important to keep your passport/money/tickets safe, and a hidden pouch is a simple but effective solution.
Keep your night clothes in a watertight bag to ensure they stay dry if there is a sudden downpour or if you are crossing water – you will have a much better night’s sleep in dry clothing. Split all your other clothing and equipment as much as possible with stuff sacks – this really helps keep your rucksack organized and prevents the spread of dirt and dampness.
Overland
Backpacks on overland get some serious abuse (on and off transport, crossing cities, by the beach, up a mountain, through the desert). A convertible one is perfect with its’ easy accessibility. Select one with decent zips, a stream-line finish and a decent back system. Take light – the smaller you can manage, the better.
If you have a convertible with a detachable daysack consider a waist pouch for extra convenience. In case your pack doesn’t incorporate a daysack, you’ll need a separate one, or possibly a shoulder bag.
Security is a one of the main issues, as you are constantly moving into unknown territory and you will be watched most places you go. In case you are with a tour vehicle, they may have a built-in safe, although whole vehicles have been known to disappear. Keep away from being a victim of opportunist thieves by following all the tips. You may be going through a high risk area as an independent, so you may need to consider extreme methods such as lining your rucksack chicken wire or using the more modern Pacsafe.
If you’re heading for the jungle or coinciding with a wet season, you will need waterproof stuff sacks. See-through zip wallets are great for separating insect repellents, cutlery, toiletries and so on.
City
Take a convertible travel bag large enough to carry everything, or take a smaller carry case with wheels combined with a 35/45 liter weekend sack. Such a combination gives flexibility, useful if you know you can leave part of your luggage behind at a base to go off for short trips.
A 35 liter pack is small enough to use as a daysack. Options include waist pouches and lightweight packable daysacks. If you are planning to spend a long time in a city, it would be worth taking a robust daybag.
Towns are renowned for pick pockets, bag slashing and stealing from rooms. Learn all the security tips and consider a Doorguard, Personal Safe and Personal Alarm.
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