The Ultimate Backpacking Packing List

THE ULTIMATE
BACKPACKING
PACKING LIST

It´s getting close now! Soon you will be putting on your backpack and leaving your comfort
zone so that you can experience some on the most amazing things in the world! To pack
your whole life in a backpack can be hard, but we hope we can make it a little bit easier for
you with this packing list.
STORAGE
Let´s begin with the most important – storage items! You won´t get far without the
luggage, and for your trip it is crucial to bring a good backpack. Remember to try on the
bag before leaving, and get someone to help you tighten the straps properly to make
sure you don´t hurt yourself on the trip.
• A big backpack (Do not pack in a bag bigger than 60 litres, or it will get difficult to handle.
If you choose an even smaller bag, you will be able to check it in as hand luggage. This will
save you from some waiting time at the airport, and make it easier to walk with)
• A small backpack (This is great for flights, long car rides, etc. Can be carried on the
stomach or left in the car)
HOT TIP: Do not fill your backpack all the way to the top. You might need some room for gifts
and souvenirs on the journey.
• Fannypack (A MUST. This is something you can use every single day. It is easy to handle,
and safe to carry your phone, passport and wallet inside.)
• Backpack dividers (Find yourself some dividers to keep the bag organized. This makes it
easier to access what you need, and makes it easier to fit more into the packpack)
DOCUMENTS
We highly recommend that you keep all your documents
organized and in the hand luggage, to minimize the risk of
loosing important documents. You should also bring a copy of
your documents (especially passport!) in your luggage in case
you loose the original ones.
• Passport (Remember to check if you need a visa to
the country of your arrival. It is also important to
check your passport. It should have a couple of
pages available as well as an expiration date more
than six months after the return of your journey.
• Flight tickets (A tip is to keep the tickets on your
phone. Not only is it easier to keep track with,
but it is also better for the environment.)

DOCUMENTS
• Hotel information (Many countries demand name and address of the hotel you are staying
at when you pass through immigration control.)
• Personal ID other than the passport
• Travel money (dollars are always good to bring, because it is easy to exchange. Many
countries also approve dollars as a currency. Keep the money different places in your
luggage to secure yourself if some of it should get lost.)
• Credit card (It is a good idea to bring a Mastercard as well as a visa. The master card has less
chance of getting hacked, and it is good to keep two cards in case you loose one of them. Put
one of the cards in your luggage and one in your carry on.)
• Travel insurance (if you have an accident, it is important to remember to let your insurance
company know as soon as possible to make sure you get your money back. If you have to stay
at a hospital, remember to take care of all receipts for the insurance company to look at.)
• Vaxcards/immunication cards (talk to your local vaccination office a few months before
travelling to check if you have all the vaccines you need. Personally we took hepatitis A and B,
as well as a refil of the vaccines you take as a child and yellow feber. Some countries in Africa
won´t let you in without having taken the yellow fever vaccine)
• Emergency contacts (it is smart to keep a list of contacts you can call in case of an
emergency. We will provide you with the name and number of your local ambassador before
you begin your travel.)
• Passport photos of yourself (some countries require passport photos when you apply for visa
on arrival. It is always nice to bring – and if you don´t use them they can be used as remem
brance gifts to your new friends!
• A COPY OF EVERYTHING

CLOTHES
The Kiwano globetrotter explains “Something important we have learned on this trip is that
clothes do not define you or your character. We used the same top for five-six days without
washing it, and we felt amazing! Clothes are just clothes; we are here for the experiences!”
We highly recommend simple clothes that you don´t care if gets ruined, especially when
going hiking. Check the weather conditions in your country of arrival before packing, and
pack accordingly. Rule number one: WASH ONE, WEAR ONE!
• A rain coat (find yourself a multi-purpose coat that you can use in both wind and weather.
Nights might get freezing both in Africa, so it is nice if the jacket has some form of padding.
Lightwaight is key!)
• A warm sweater (For cold evenings and chilly plane rides)
• Thermal underwear (A winner. It takes up a small amount of space, is warm, breathes easily,
and keeps you warm during cold evenings or nights in a tent)
• 5 tops (2 t-shirts, 2 sports tops and a light top. Monochrome tops makes it difficult to see
that you are wearing the same top multiple days, and a dark top shows less stains. Bring
multipurpose tops that are comfortable to walk in)
• 5 pair of trousers (2 for training, 1 longer shorts, 2 loose pair of trousers. Loose trousers are
KEY for those hot summer days.)
• 3 bras (1 regular + 2 sports bras – this can also be used for swimming)
• A maximum of 5 pairs of underwear (you don´t need more. Wash one, wear one.)
• 4 pair of socks (bring a few long ones, to use in hiking shoes and to hide your ankles from
the mosquitos.)
• A swimsuit/bathing shorts (it is better to bring a bikini than a swim suit to make sure every
thing stays in place while doing water activities. Some countries may also appreciate you
not being to revealing.)
• Sneakers (You need GOOD shoes for long walks. Just bring one pair! You don´t need more.)
• Hiking shoes (Again: bring GOOD shoes)
• Slip-on shoes (A MUST. Preferably waterproof. This is super practical if you don´t want to
step barefoot into the shower, or are going swimming in a rocky spot. They dry fast, and
can be used every single day)

ESSENTIAL FOR A BACKPACING JOURNEY
Long walking tours, sleeping under the open sky, trekking in the jungle, hot summer days and so
much more is waiting for you on your journey! Here are essential that we hope will make your
adventure as smooth as it can be!
• Mosquito spray (You don´t want to go scratching bites all day. Keep a mosquito spray
near, especially after rain showers!)
• Camera and/or gopro (Save the special moments and magicals view by bringing a
camera.)
• Sunglasses and sunscreen (It is easy to get sunburned whilst hiking. Put sunscreen on
always. This is to make sure you don´t have to carry your backpack on sore shoulders)
• Towel (Microfiber towel will do wonders! Takes little to no space and dries in a couple of
minutes)
• Waterproof pack and a waterproof phonebag (if you are planning on doing water
activities – it´s a must!)
DIGITAL TOOLS
• Telephone
• Optinal: multiple memory cards,
laptop, hard drive and extra batteries
• Earphones
(For the long lasting plane rides...)
• Chargers
• Portable charger
• Headlamp (When it is pitch dark and you
have to pee, you will regret not bringing a
headlamp)
• Adapter
(Check online if you need adapters for
the country you are going to. They are sold
all over airports.)

TOILETRIES
Key words: practical solutions! Practical trumps pretty when you are packing up for active days
spent in the bush. We will give you some practical solutions to keep yourself fresh
(and sustainable) throughout the whole trip!
• Optional: Makeup
• Tooth brush and -paste
(PST! Choose a bamboo tooth brush!)
• Shampoobar (It is better for the
envoirnment, takes up less space than a
regular shampoo and will last you the
whole trip)
• Soap bar – (Lush has some incredibly
good shampoo- and soap bars)
• Lip balm (choose one with SPF!)
• Vanity kit: Nail cutters, tweezers, razor
• Cleancup (A perfect alternative to pads
and tampons. They last up to 12 hours,
which means you don´t have to worry
about anything while swimming around in
the sun or sitting long hours in a safari car)
• Hair brush and hair tie
• Dental floss
• Deodorant
• Makeup remover (Try ”take the day off”
from Clinique! It is better for the
environment than wipes, and will last you
the whole trip – and longer!)
• Toilet paper (Out in nature it is difficult to
find toilet paper)
• Aloe vera/aftersun
• Contacts or glasses (if you need it)
HEALTH
The single most important thing you can do when it comes to travelling is to
remember to take care of your health. Remember to drink enough water, eat plenty
of food and sleep enough even when you are exploring a new place.
FIRST AID KIT
MEDICINES
(Pain killers, tablets against travel sickness etc.)
ANTIBACTERIAL
(Soap and clean water is not always an alternative)
MALARIA TABLETS
(optional, consult with your local vaccination
office before departure)

EXTRA TIPS FOR A MOST
PLEASANT JOURNEY
A deck of cards (YES! Ask the locals to teach you their favorite game, and then you
can teach them yours in return)
Pillowcase (stuff your clothes inside, and voila! A soft, homemade pillow)
Earphones and a sleeping mask (for long plane journeys and nights in the nature)
Sleeping bag
A pen (to quickly fill out any immigration forms)
Mosquito net (Not a necessity, but better safe than sorry if you have more room
available. You never know if you accommodation keeps mosquito nets or not)
Cutlery (Good to have if you don´t want to eat with your hands. A reusable straw
and food container can also be practical to bring – say no to single use plastics!)
Water bottle (WE