Bring a photocopy of your passport and license and leave a copy with someone back home. In case you lose your bag, they can email you a copy and it will be much easier for the American embassy to identify you (we’ve had this happen).
Pack light. Jeans, khakis or cargo pants are appropriate. We move around a lot and recommend you try to stick to a carry-on bag. Bring travel size toilet paper & toiletries, wet wipes and lots of sun block (50+). Again, bring bug spray with DEET. Other items you might want: your iPod, a notebook and pens and a good camera. A small backpack is another nice item to have when traveling out to the villages so that you can store small items that will be needed for the day trips. We suggest leaving any valuable jewelry at home to be culturally sensitive.
Bring one skirt that falls below the knees. The culture here is pretty traditional and you never know where you’ll be going. You’ll mostly want to wear pants, but if we go to a church or a village celebration, a skirt might come in handy. Avoid short shorts to be culturally sensitive.
We highly recommend you visit your doctor and/or a travel clinic before the trip.
Shots: Get whatever your doctor or travel clinic professional recommends (could be any combination of the following or more: Yellow Fever, Hep A and B, Typhoid, Meningitis, Rabies & Polio). Remember that this might require some advance planning so go to the travel clinic as soon as you can.
• Anti-malarials (depending on prescription, you may need to start a course before leaving)
• Any prescription medications you take
• Tropical insect repellent (DEET recommended – pack in checked luggage)
• Anti-diarrhea medication (Imodium, etc.)
• Painkillers/anti-inflammatories (Advil, Tylenol, aspirin, etc.)
• Antihistamines if you are allergic to anything