East Africa is about 8 hour time change from Dallas. Generally we fly from Dallas to Europe (approximately a 9 hour flight) arriving early morning. (London on BA or Amsterdam on KLM.)

Then we fly on to Entebbe, Uganda, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania or Nairobi, Kenya (another 8 to 9 hour flight). Here we will stay overnight and the next day fly (Precision Air) to Mwanza or Shinyanga (1 to 2 hour flight).

With flight times and layovers it can be 24 hours or more before you get a night in a hotel. Therefore carry on any essentials that you might need.

Accomodations
Most hotels/guest houses are not air conditioned. Some have window type air condition units. You sleep on a wooden bed with an approximately 4” foam mattress on top of the wood.

Electricity is not dependable – sometimes off for 10-24 hours.Some hotels have generators – not all. Many have TV but only CNN & weird stations.

Water pressure is not reliable – often only trickles of water. Hot water is not dependable – rejoice when you have it.

We can find hotels with western toilets, but during the day when we are out, you will only have outhouses and/or eastern toilets and no TP, so you will need to take some from the hotel.

• Hats
• Bug Spray for room
• Bug Repellant (for your body)
• Hand Sanitizer
• Sanitizer Wipes (for wiping down items)
• Women – Hair band, visor, clips (Hair will be blown in open windows on dirt roads)
• Sunscreen
• Energy bars, crackers, nuts (nothing that melts like chocolate)
• Mixes for bottled water (I like the iced tea ones)
• Converter (220 plus adaptor)
• Camera(s)
• Medicine (Larium critical – Get all shots prior to travel)
• Also aspirin, sleeping pills, Nyquil, Imodium and Laxatives
• Sunglasses
• Reading materials, crosswords, etc.
• Itty bitty Book Light (battery powered)
• Shower Shoes (Flip flops)
• Tote Bag (for taking various items out daily)
• Skin Lotion – It’s very dry there and your skin will dry out quickly
• Vicks VapoRub (for upper lip in outhouses)
• Recommend TP, but not essential
• Laundry Detergent (for hand washing clothes)

Hotels do laundry relatively inexpensively. Clothes are hand washed (no dry cleaning, no washing machines or dryers).