What to Bring
Contact Information \| Home \| Previous \| Next \| Top
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING Keep in mind that this cultural experience is intended to help you live as they do, but not to make you uncomfortable. There may be conditions in which you may be unfamiliar. We will do our best to inform you of what to expect. Packing Packing the necessary clothes is somewhat of an art form for travel to (and in) Africa. Although the usual luggage capacity is available on the airlines, space is rather limited in the vehicles we use overseas and most find that they just don,t need too much in this tropical region where our programs are. The list below is intended to be informative and is what we recommend. However, personal comfort is important so there may be a need for things we don,t mention. We recommend you use a soft travel bag (medium backpack size at most - no external frames) that can be locked at the zippers, and that doesn,t' have a lot of straps hanging off - or one where the straps can be stored. Even though there will be no hiking with your bag, there may be times you have to carry it some distance. In addition, we recommend a small daypack for stuff (water, first aid, camera, and raincoat) that can double as your carry -on for your flights to and from Kenya (this daypack must conform to carry-on size restrictions, so keep it minimal). Once you have everything, we recommend you pack it up as if you were leaving. If everything does not fit, look at what your clothes requirements are and start to "thin" out towards our basic list requirements. small towel socks underwear 1 pair cotton pants 1 pair of jeans two pairs of shorts comfortable shoes (for lots of walking) sandals (that can get wet) first aid kit several t-shirts 2 long sleeve shirts (cotton is best) jacket (nights can get chilly) rain jacket sweater/sweatshirt toiletries bandana money belt camera plenty of film passport immunization records day pack light sleeping bag mosquito netting flashlight (extra batteries) small folding knife (swiss army) couple of ziplock bags any medications journal soap hat (sun can deceptively strong at times) sunglasses water bottle bug repellant Gifts and Candy Small gifts are a nice gesture for someone who you may get to know real well during your stay. And children all over the world love candy - it is a luxury in many places of Kenya. These things can help you create good-will relationships, or they can cause a lot of turmoil in some situations. If you bring these items, use them carefully and fairly. Feel free to consult with is at any time for advice and recommendations. A Little Extra Something Part of our program includes transportation of donated materials, equipment and/or supplies to the communities each time we go. Since you will not need all your designated airline check- in luggage space, we ask that, as part of your service to these communities in Kenya, you try to bring a small to medium-sized duffel bag with clothing and/or books (in English). You can get these things donated by members of your community or nearby institutes of higher learning. All materials donated to these communities in Kenya through SEEDS are tax deductible. (Note: any equipment or materials SEEDS brings over to Kenya, i.e. computers, is pre-arranged and not expected from participants of this program)

What to Bring

Contact Information | Home | Previous | Next | Top

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING

Keep in mind that this cultural experience is intended to help you live as they do, but not to make you uncomfortable. There may be conditions in which you may be unfamiliar. We will do our best to inform you of what to expect.

Packing

Packing the necessary clothes is somewhat of an art form for travel to (and in) Africa. Although the usual luggage capacity is available on the airlines, space is rather limited in the vehicles we use overseas and most find that they just don,t need too much in this tropical region where our programs are. The list below is intended to be informative and is what we recommend. However, personal comfort is important so there may be a need for things we don,t mention.

We recommend you use a soft travel bag (medium backpack size at most - no external frames) that can be locked at the zippers, and that doesn,t' have a lot of straps hanging off - or one where the straps can be stored. Even though there will be no hiking with your bag, there may be times you have to carry it some distance. In addition, we recommend a small daypack for stuff (water, first aid, camera, and raincoat) that can double as your carry -on for your flights to and from Kenya (this daypack must conform to carry-on size restrictions, so keep it minimal).

Once you have everything, we recommend you pack it up as if you were leaving. If everything does not fit, look at what your clothes requirements are and start to "thin" out towards our basic list requirements.

small towel
socks
underwear
1 pair cotton pants
1 pair of jeans
two pairs of shorts
comfortable shoes (for lots of walking)
sandals (that can get wet)
first aid kit
several t-shirts
2 long sleeve shirts (cotton is best)
jacket (nights can get chilly)
rain jacket
sweater/sweatshirt
toiletries
bandana
money belt
camera
plenty of film
passport
immunization records
day pack
light sleeping bag
mosquito netting
flashlight (extra batteries)
small folding knife (swiss army)
couple of ziplock bags
any medications
journal
soap
hat (sun can deceptively strong at times)
sunglasses
water bottle
bug repellant

Gifts and Candy

Small gifts are a nice gesture for someone who you may get to know real well during your stay. And children all over the world love candy - it is a luxury in many places of Kenya. These things can help you create good-will relationships, or they can cause a lot of turmoil in some situations. If you bring these items, use them carefully and fairly. Feel free to consult with is at any time for advice and recommendations.

A Little Extra Something

Part of our program includes transportation of donated materials, equipment and/or supplies to the communities each time we go. Since you will not need all your designated airline check- in luggage space, we ask that, as part of your service to these communities in Kenya, you try to bring a small to medium-sized duffel bag with clothing and/or books (in English). You can get these things donated by members of your community or nearby institutes of higher learning. All materials donated to these communities in Kenya through SEEDS are tax deductible. (Note: any equipment or materials SEEDS brings over to Kenya, i.e. computers, is pre-arranged and not expected from participants of this program)