What to Buy When Going on an African Safari

On June 8, 2021June 8, 2021 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Africa1 Comment

Please note this post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

As we prepare for our trip to Kenya and Tanzania in just a few weeks, there have been several items that we have purchased with the safari in mind. Some of them were items that we needed to replace, some were things very specific to the safari, and all will be useful on other trips in the future. To be clear, we purchased all of the items and none of them were given to us as a promotional product. We are light packers these days, regardless of the trip, but since we’re going to spend 11 nights on safari, we are only taking carry on bags, so everything that we take needs to serve a purpose. Obviously we’re taking more than just these items, but these are the things that we bought in preparation for our trip.

Safari Hats and Shirts – We have several shirts that are sufficient for going on safari that we used when going to the Amazon Rainforest as well as to Egypt, but we decided that it was time to get a few more. One thing that we don’t normally wear are hats, but considering the amount of time that we are going to be exposed to the sun, we definitely needed wide brimmed hats that will protect our heads from getting burned.

Multi-Outlet Power Converter – Although we’ve had a power converter for years that has served us well, we decided to upgrade to a new power converter that has multiple outlets so that we can charge several items at once. The amount of time in the lodge is going to be limited as most of our time will be spent in the jeep, so keeping our phones, cameras, and other electronics fully charged is going to be important. With this power converter we can charge up to 6 items at one time compared to our old converter that could only charge a single item.

DSLR 400 – 800 mm Zoom Lens – We have other lenses for our camera, but we decided that for this trip we should getter a different telephoto lens. We don’t know how close or how far away we will be to certain animals, but we definitely don’t want to miss out on getting that close-up of a lion or other animal just because we couldn’t get close enough.

Camera Backpack – This is certainly something that we should have purchased years ago as will definitely make taking multiple cameras and lenses much easier. It is large enough to put everything into, but small enough to use as a personal item for the flight. It will definitely protect the camera equipment during the times when the cameras are not out and in use.

New Duffle Bags – It was about time for us to get new duffel bags as our other bags had seen 7 years of travel to over 30 countries. We always want duffel bags as carry-on bags so that they can squeeze into tight spaces and collapse when not in use. Hopefully these will last as long as our last ones and make their way to even more countries.

iPhone Zoom and Fisheye Lenses – We take as many photos with our phones as we do our cameras, so having different lenses that simply clip over the phone camera lens provides the opportunity to capture things that we wouldn’t always get. We also like the images that the fisheye lens produces, so we’re looking forward to playing with some of the different images.

Although we did buy these items with our safari in mind, clearly they will all be useful for all of our upcoming trips. It is very rare for us to buy things specifically for a trip, so versatility is important to us. We look forward to all of these items as we head to Africa in just a few weeks.

E-Bag Products that are Perfect for Every Traveler

On August 14, 2018June 10, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Product Reviews4 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of E-Bags. All opinions are our own.

If you travel with any consistency, you are always looking for products that will make your travel better. E-Bags is a company that provides a variety of products that any traveler should consider. From travel handbags, luggage, and backpacks to products like packing cubes. We had the opportunity to try a variety of products and found all of them to be ones that we will continue use on all of our upcoming trips. Not only are they great for taking with you as you travel, but we also found them to be easy to collapse and store when not in use. Another thing that all travelers are looking for in products they purchase.

The TLS Motherlode Weekend is not only perfect for a quick weekend getaway, but also versatile enough to take as a small suitcase on any trip. Like a lot of people these days, we try to limit ourselves to carry on bags when flying and this is a perfect bag as it meets most airline standards. It has many different, zippered compartments allowing you to pack your clothes, shoes, electronics, and bath supplies in a convenient and organized manner. It can be worn as a traditional backpack, but also comes with a shoulder strap that allows you to take it as a traditional suitcase.

Another product that we tried was the Anti-Theft Crossbody Handbag. Having a bag that has slash resistant straps and RFID protection is an absolute must for anyone who travels, whether internationally or locally. This particular bag is made of lightweight nylon and has plenty of compartments to store phones, credit cards, passports, and all of the personal items that you need. It is even perfect for everyday use as well as for when you are traveling.

Packing Cubes are an ideal way to stay organized when you travel. We tried a 4-piece set, which was an ideal pairing to the Weekend Convertible Backpack. When traveling for a couple of days or even a week, using packing cubes to separate clothes or put outfits together works out perfectly. The cubes are thin and lightweight, so they don’t add any bulk to your bag and, if you roll your clothes, they work even better.

E-Bags has a wonderful variety of products, all specially designed for travelers. We believe that they are a perfect resource for anyone who travels, whether for business or pleasure.

Five Tips for Packing Better

On February 22, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Travel Tips12 Comments

With every trip, we get a little smarter about packing for our trips. Along the way, we’ve picked up a few tricks that really do make a difference. We go out both day and night when we travel and usually want a variety of clothes with us. So these tips aren’t about packing for a six month backpacking trip, we wouldn’t even begin to know where to start. This is about making the most of your luggage space or simply packing smarter, whether a suitcase that you’re going to check or a carry-on bag.

Roll Your Clothes – Honestly, it makes a difference. Physics tells us that an object should take up the same amount of space regardless of whether you fold or roll your clothes, but for once physics is wrong. For some reason, rolling your clothes really allows you to put more into your suitcase or carry-on. In addition to making more room, your clothes will also be less wrinkled, a win-win.
Use Contact Cases – For moisturizer, face soap, conditioner, foundation, lotion, creams or gels that you don’t need a lot of while you’re travelling. Rather than taking the large container that the product came in or buying expensive travel size containers, using contact cases can save a lot of space.
Choose One Color Palette – Whether for clothes or make-up for women, sticking to one color palette can save you space and aggravation. You can bring a single belt, single pair of shoes, pants with multiple tops/shirts, etc. Stick with black or brown with warm or cool tones and it will make getting ready to get out the door a breeze and save space.
Put Plastic Wrap on Liquids – Putting plastic wrap over the spray nozzle or top of a liquid container can save you from opening your suitcase only to find that something has leaked over your clothes. An ounce of prevention can make a world of a difference.
Wrap Your Necklaces in Plastic Wrap – Obviously, this one is for the women, but necklaces can get tangled when you travel, even if you use a jewelry travel case. Lay a piece of plastic wrap down, lay your jewelry on it with a space between each piece, then put another piece of plastic wrap on top, pressing down between the necklaces. No more tangled mess.