Updated 03/06/06
Full Packing List
(Essential items marked with '*' - If you do not have any of these, please don't rush out and buy them immediately! - it may be possible to borrow some items such as hold-alls and sleeping bags from family / friends etc).
| Clothes & Footwear | Toiletries |
| * 3 x walking trousers/tracksuit bottoms | * Sarong or 'pack-towel' or other light weight towel |
| * 2 x pairs of shorts | * Toothbrush |
| * 5 x T-shirts / tops | * Toothpaste |
| * 1 or 2 long sleeved tops/shirts | * Deodorant |
| * Thin fleece jumper/base layer/mid layer | * Shampoo/conditioner/2-in-1 |
| * Thicker fleece jacket/jumper | * Hairbrush / comb |
| * Bed clothes/pyjamas | Flannel |
| * At least 2 good pairs of walking socks (e.g. Thorlo/Bridgedale) | 2 x toilet roll |
| * Other socks x 4 pairs | Pocket tissues |
| * Underwear x 7 | Nail scissors/nail file/nail clippers (must be in main/checked luggage, not your hand-luggage) |
| * Swimming costume/trunks | Small mirror |
| * Wide rimmed sun hat | Dental Floss |
| * Woolly/fleece hat | Universal bath plug |
| * Fleece/wool gloves | Nail Brush |
| * Walking bots/Trail shoes (must have a rigid sole) | Hair accessories ('scrunchies', etc) |
| * Trainers/comfy casual shoes | Shaving foam/gel/oil |
| * Sandals/flip-flops | Razor (must go in main/checked luggage not hand luggage) |
| Breathable and waterproof coat and trousers | Travel wash |
| 1 'smart' outfit (e.g. for meals in restaurants) | Travel washing line |
| Zip off trousers (handy when we start walking in the cold but then it warms up) | Contact lenses + solutions + glasses |
| 'Technical' walking/travel clothes (e.g. 'wicking', and quick drying tops/trousers) | Anti-bacterial hand wash/web wipes |
| Coolmax Liner socks | After sun/moisturising cream |
| Bandana/headscarf | Ear plugs |
| Spare laces of your walking boots are fairly old | |
| First Aid Kit | Misc |
| * Plasters for blisters (e.g. Compeed) | * 50% DEET insect repellent |
| * Any personal medication | * Sunglasses |
| Regular plasters | * Sun cream - High factor recommended |
| Personal choice of pain relief | * Water filter or iodine drops (for water treatment - drops are faster than tablets) |
| Lip salve | * Head torch/regular torch plus spare batteries |
| Oral Rehydration sachets | * Money belt - one that can be worn discreetly under clothes |
| Sting relief | * Pens |
| Anti-histamine tablets and cream | Neutralising tablets (to remove the taste of iodine in treated water) |
| Antiseptic wipes | Plastic bags (e.g for wet clothes, or to segregate dirty and clean clothes) |
| Knee/ankle support bandage | Powdered energy drink |
| Sterile eye wash | Sweets/snacks |
| Micropore/zinc oxide tape | Travel alarm clock / watch with alarm |
| Athletes foot powder/cream | Walking poles |
| Canesten/Diflucan One (if prone to Candida infections) | Binoculars |
| Imodium/other anti-diarrhoeal | Camera + spare batteries |
| Laxatives | 100 or 200 speed film for most of the trip, 800 speed film for gorilla trekking (try www.sevendayshop.co.uk for cheap film and batteries) |
| Antacid tablets | Travel Diary / Note book |
| Travel sickness tablets | Sketch book and pencils |
| List of addresses / e-mail addresses | |
| Luggage | Puzzle books |
| *Daysack (up to 30L) - needs to be big enough to contain a jumper/jacket, sun cream, camera, drink etc whilst trekking | Travel Games (e.g Travel Scrabble, Travel Connect-4 etc) |
| * Large soft hold-all for main luggage | Reading books - paperback! |
| * Waterproof liners for daysack and hold-all (strong bin-bags will do) | Uganda Guide book |
| small 'mascot' to attach to daysack! | |
| Small padlock (consider combination one, no keys to loose) | |
| Sleeping | |
| 3 season sleeping bag | |
| Sleeping bag liner (silk/fleece/cotton) | |
| Travel pillow/Pillow case (can be stuffed with clothes to make a pillow whilst camping) | |
Small groups of students may wish to get together and share certain items, (e.g First Aid kit, bath plug, Iodine, travel wash and clothes line)
Important Information
Bottled water will be readily available to purchase, On the Mount Elgon trek, water will be boiled but for safety it would be best to also treat the water with iodine drops or tablets. The iodine taste can be removed with neutralising tablets.
Staying well hydrated is extremely important so for this reason an 'Camelback' (or similar brand) bladder and hose system is highly recommended. These hydration systems allow regular 'sipping' whilst trekking, (as opposed to having to keep stopping to take a water bottle out of a day sack, gulp from it and replace it).
If you have (or can borrow) a waterproof jacket, it is worth taking as it will provide a windproof layer on top of your other clothes - very welcome for the chilly nights at altitude on Mount Elgon.
If you have knee problems a walking pole is highly recommended for the trek. It may be possible to hire one in Uganda, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Theale Green Staff and the local guides will have full first aid kits for treating cuts, sprains etc. However, you may wish to have your own kit. This could include Compeed/hydrocolloid plasters for your blisters, your personal choice of pain relief medication (e.g Asprin, Ibuprofen), cream to alleviate itching from mosquito bites, sachets of rehydration salts and other personal medication. Theale staff will also be carrying sterile needle and syringe kits. Theale staff will not administer any medicines; in the event of illness students will be taken to a private clinic with doctors used to dealing with tourists.
The Sun is incredibly intense at altitude, so a wide-brimmed sun hat is recommended. A cap will not protect the back of the neck, but could be worn in conjunction with a neck scarf.
Anti-bacterial hand wash/wet-wipes are useful for the odd occasion where there may not be the opportunity to wash hands before eating. Wet wipes can also be an incredibly refreshing pick-me-up on long travelling days (and you get to compare the amount of grime that comes off your face with others!).
Girls should bring plenty of sanitary protection. For those who control their periods with the oral contraceptive pill, please bear in mind that the altitude* can interfere with the absorption of the pill (and other medication). Stomach upsets can also do this, so unfortunately it's not safe to assume the holiday will be 'period free'. (* Some GP's seem unaware of this, and in the past have advised girls to start taking the pill in order to avoid having a period on holiday).