Gear List

"Be prepared, work hard, and hope for a little luck. Recognize that the harder you work and the better prepared you are, the more luck you might have." Ed Bradley

"It is well to be prepared for life as it is, but it is better to be prepared to make life better than it is." Sargent Shriver


What do you bring for a potential 6 month road trip in west Africa? I enjoyed packing for this trip. I attempted to be in the moment, to find pleasure in getting things ready. In the past I've been so focused on the goal of actually going, that the enjoyment of preparing was the one thing I forgot to pack.

I always enjoyed seeing those massive gear photos, the ones with everything that was going to be taken laid out in neat, organized piles, and perfectly staged. After contemplating making one, I realized just how much work such a picture would be, and waited for a day when I would have a few hours to get things ready.


Here it is! This is more or less everything I am taking (or took depending on when you are reading this), minus my clothes. I am hoping to get by with just my back pack and a duffle bag (pictured) to carry it all in. I like traveling light, but I also like being prepared, so looks like it might be a bit heavy.








The ukulele in the upper right hand corner might be the most important thing being brought!








I have tried to organize this list of equipment in a way that makes sense to me, a simple list and a detailed one. For those looking for the simple list, I have put this at the top. Below that is a more detailed list about the equipment (not inclusive of all things on the simple list, but some things are just not that interesting to read about in detail). When possible, I have included pictures, or links to stock pictures when it was easier to do so. I hope it might be of use to anyone planning such an adventure. Enjoy.

Simple equipment list

 The car:
A 2000 4x4 Fiat Panda. Bought in Switzerland for $2800.00. The car has about 60,000 miles on it, and has a new clutch and transmission. The back spring have been replaced with stiffer ones to give more clearance when heavily loaded, and a roof rack put on top. I really don't think you need more than this. Many people want a LandCruiser or LandRover, which is fine, but not necessary.



Camping equipment simple list
  • Tent:  North Face Starfire 2 person tent
  • Sleeping bag:  35 degree mummy bag
  • Sleeping pad:  Klymit Static V
  • Camp stove:  MSR WhisperLite International with fuel bottle
  • Cooking equipment:  1 pot, forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, coffee mug, coffee filter, bowl, salt/pepper, green scrubby for cleaning, 2 lighters, matches, 1 spork, cork screw, 
  • Ground tarps:  10x12 foot medium weight, and a 6x11 foot lightweight
  • Leatherman multi tool:  Juice S2
  • Headlamp:  Black Diamond Spot

Medical/Health simple list
  • First aid kit
  • Wilderness Medicine Field Guide
  • Malaria Medicine, 5 month supply (Doxycycline 100mg daily dose)
  • Personal medicines (Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen, allergy meds, cold/flu meds, antacids, anti diarrhea, sleeping pills) 
  • Toiletry bag (shaving razors, soap, washcloth, shaving mirror, tooth brush, tooth paste, lotion)
  • 2 bottles mosquito repellent (40% Deet)
  • 1 bottle sunscreen
  • 1 bottle hand sanitizer
  • SteriPen Ultra for drinking water sterilization
  • 2 five day courses of Ciprofloxacin antibiotic
  • Vaccinations: HEP A+B, Typhoid, Meningococcal, and Yellow Fever. Also have the CDC Yellow vaccination booklet. 
  • International health insurance
  • Wormwood extract and Grapefruit seed extract (anti parasitic medicine)

Car equipment simple list
  • Roadside emergency kit (high vis vest, warning triangle)
  • 2 200 watt power inverters for charging electronics in the car off the cigarette lighter
  • Car tow strap
  • 1 role of duct tape
  • 1 role of electrical tape
  • Spare fuses, tools (we are not brining any as our friends in Switzerland already have them)

 Financial/documentation simple list
  • Passport and copies
  • International driving permit
  • 3 ATM cards (Visa and Mastercard), 1 Credit Card
  • Papers with researched information on where to apply for what visa
  • 30 passport sized photographs
  • Fiches: information cards to give to police at roadside checks
  • Money belt pouch

 Personal/clothing simple list
  • Deuter 60 liter backpack
  • Large black duffle bag for camping gear
  • Small dry bag
  • Mountain Smith day bag
  • Climbing shoes
  • Rain jacket
  • North Face puff jacket
  • Google Nexus 7 tablet with keyboard
  • Google Nexus 6 phone unlocked (with Project Fi sim card which gets service in 126 countries)
  • Ukulele
  • Aux cord to plug into the stereo from our phones, for playing music
  • Travel towel
  • 1 pair pants
  • 1 pair of loose fitting sleeping pants
  • 1 pair shorts
  • 3 pairs socks
  • 5 pair underwear
  • 5 t-shirts
  • 1 long sleeve shirt
  • 1 pair trail running shoes
  • 1 pair flip flops
  • 2 journals
  • sketch book and small pencil case
  • Cannon camera
  • Combination lock
  • Electrical adaptors


Detailed equipment list

 Camping Gear detailed list
  • North Face Starfire tent.  (Link is to the Tadpole model, which is more or less identical, except my tent has solid walls, not mesh). I have had this tent for nearly 20 years. It is a decent two person, or a spacious single person tent, with an excellent rainfly. Its a little heavy, definitely not an ultralight, but it has never let me down. It has an waterproof bucket floor, with solid side walls, and the rainfly forms a nice little vestibule for wet boots and gear. I sprayed a ScotchGuard waterproofing treatment on the rainfly, and seam sealed both the fly and tent, as I'm anticipating lots of rain. 
  • Sleeping bag. This is a cheap, 35 degree sleeping bag I picked up on Sierra Trading Post's website. It is warm, well made, and collapses down pretty small. It weighs 2.3 pounds, so a little heavy, but I don't like being cold. 
  • Sleeping pad.  The Klymit Static V. I tested a few pads out in the local camping supply store, and this was the winner. It takes about 13 breaths to blow up, packs down small, and is light. I can lay on my side and my hips don't even touch the ground. Should be very comfortable.  
  • Camping stove. MSR WhisperLite International. This little stove is great. It is small, burns very hot if you need it to, and is very durable. The international version will burn just about any fuel you put in it, so unleaded gasoline works just fine. One of the small fuel bottles (20 ounces) will boil a pot of water about 5 to 6 times. Filling the bottle often costs less than $1. I have used this stove before on a similar trip to Mongolia, and it worked amazingly well.  
  • Leatherman multi tool, Juice S2.  It has a knife, a pair of pliers, and some simple tools on it. It packs down small, doesn't weigh a lot, and has can be quite useful. I've taken it with me most places I've traveled, and always found a reason for having it around. 
  • Headlamp, Black Diamond Spot. This light uses 3 AAA batteries, has a dimming system, and a touch sensitive switch between the normal light, and the high beam spot. It keeps your hands free when doing most anything, and is an essential piece of kit. 

Medical/Health detailed list
  • First aid kit. I have made my own first aid kit. I completed the Wilderness First Responder course from NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), and used their recommendations to build my kit. You can find a list of items in the kit they sell here. My med kit contains basic supplies for cuts and scrapes, personal protective equipment (gloves, breathing barriers), cleaning supplies, some medicines (Benadryl, aspirin for cardiac patients, pain killers, anti diarrhea), a thermometer, tweezers, and scissors. It is pretty simple, but with proper knowledge, I feel it is more than adequate for this type of trip.
  • NOLS Wilderness Medicine Field Guide. This is a new purchase. This little book contains a simplified version of the entire 9 day Wilderness First Responder course. It is light weight and waterproof. In times of stress, I think having somewhere to look up information will be very useful. It is small enough to fit into most first aid kits as well. 
  • Malaria medicine. You can find information about malaria at the CDC's webpage. I have lived and traveled in many malaria zones in the past, and I mostly never taken any preventative medication. I have usually had a house, or a hotel room, with adequate mosquito netting, and windows that keep the mosquitos out. On this trip however, we will be camping almost the entire time, in malaria zones, with the most deadly type of malaria present (Plasmodium Falciparum). Due to these reasons, I decided to pick up some preventative medicine before leaving. I chose Doxycycline (100mg daily) as it is effective, has limited side effects, and is affordable. With medical insurance, 160 pills costed around three dollars only, which is not too bad! You begin the medication about a week before you arrive in the malaria zone, and continue it for 30 days after you leave the malaria zone. If I run out, I will just buy more along the way, but it feels nice to have this supply going into the trip. 
  • Personal medicines.  I always take a container of random pills that I use at home. Nothing crazy in here, just pain killers, anti diarrhea meds, my favorite brand of cold/flu meds, allergy medicine that works for me, a few sleeping pills, and some antacids that I like. When you get sick, I like to have things that are familiar, and that I know will work well.
  • SteriPen Ultra. This is for drinking water sterilization. You fill your 1 liter water bottle from any source, as long as the water is clear. You put the UV light in the bottle for 90 seconds, and you have drinkable water. It's a bit like magic. The SteriPen can treat 1 liter, or 0.5 liters. I have used this model in east Africa, India, and Central America, daily, for months on end, and have not gotten sick once due to water. The Ultra has an internal, rechargeable battery, which lasts surprisingly long. There are cheaper models that use 4 AA batteries, or a smaller one that uses an odd sized battery. For ease of use, the Ultra is the way to go. You will save on purchasing water, and will leave less of a footprint by not throwing away countless plastic water bottles. After having traveled with a SteriPen, I can't imagine not having one. 
  • 2 five day courses of Ciprofloxacin antibiotic. Having studied antibiotic resistance a bit, I understand the importance of not just taking any random antibiotic any time you are sick. That being said, sometimes when traveling, you do not have access to prompt medical care. I have always traveled with a few packs of Cipro, and only use them when I am extremely sick. Having a powerful, broad spectrum, antibiotic when you are sick and far from home, can be a wonderful thing. 
  • Vaccinations. I am up to date on Hep A+B, Typhoid, meningococcal, and yellow fever. I have never bothered to get the Japanese encephalitis vaccination, and I have only gotten the rabies vaccination one time, but it has since expired. Almost of equal importance to the vaccinations themselves, is the yellow booklet produced by the CDC.  This is the officially recognized document that proves you have your yellow fever vaccination, which is often a requirement to get a visa into many west African countries. It's a good idea to bring along a few copies of the yellow fever page as well!
  • International health insurance. If your health insurance does not cover you while traveling, it is worth the peace of mind to get an international plan. I used Square Mouth to find my insurance plan. This website allows you to choose only the parts of an insurance plan that you need. I wanted emergency evacuation, and not much else. I did not care about medical insurance so much, as most treatments in the developing world cost very little. I ended up with a 6 month plan through Trawik, that costed me $200. Be careful that the insurance you get is a PRIMARY insurance, and not secondary to your own personal primary insurance that probably does not give you international coverage. 
  • Wormwood and grapefruit seed extract. I began carrying these two medicines with me about 4 years ago. When I start to feel sick, I add some of these to my water everyday, and more often than not, I feel better in a few days. Wormwood is an anti parasitic, and grapefruit seed extract is a type of natural antibiotic. I have heard excellent things about oregano oil as a natural antibiotic, but it's price is often too much for me, so I go with the cheaper things that seem to work well. Be warned, both wormwood and grapefruit seed extract have a very bitter taste!

Car equipment detailed list
  • Roadside emergency kit. Many countries require every car to have equipment in case the car were to breakdown on the side of the road. The minimum I have seen is a warning triangle, and a few high visibility vests to wear while you are repairing your damaged car. Each country has unique rules. Some require a fire extinguisher, others do not. It is best to have some form of emergency equipment, as sometimes a police officer will look for any reason to get a fine from you. The kit in the link is not the kit we are taking, but similar. 
  • 2 200 watt power inverters. We need more power! These power inverters plug into the cigarette lighter and give you a place to plug in just about anything you need. They are great for charging cameras, phones and computers while driving. They are so important, that I bought a second one, just in case the first one was to break. 

Financial/documentation detailed list
  • Passport and copies. I always have a few spare copies of my passport information page stashed away (1 in the bottom of my backpack, and one in my money belt pouch I keep hidden on me at all times). For this trip I have made about 30 copies of my passport information page and cut them out to save space. These will be used for applying for visas. Yes you could get the photocopies as you need them, but sometimes it's a bit of a hassle, and other times it is quite fun! I make sure to leave a copy of my passport with a family member as well.
  • International driving permit. A US/European driver's license is valid in most countries in the world, but often times, local authorities have no idea what to make of your local license. This is where the IDP comes in. This document is translated into 10 languages, and is internationally recognized by most local policemen. In the USA, they are easily obtained from your local AAA. They cost $20, and you need to bring in 2 passport sized photographs. I have only been asked for this document one time, but it is worth having I feel, just to cover all your bases. 
  • 3 ATM cards and a credit card. Visa seems to work better in Africa than Mastercard. I have both. I split my money up in my bank accounts, and have electronic transfers set up between all of them, so as to easily move money between them should one card not work, or get lost. I also have a credit card that I keep to be able to buy an emergency plane ticket with online. I make a photocopy of the front and back of each card that I keep in my money belt pouch. This makes it easier to cancel the card if they are lost or stolen. I leave a copy of the cards at home with a family member who knows where I am going. Finally, make sure to call each of your cards and tell them that you are traveling. 
  • 30 passport sized photographs. These are just easier to take a lot with you, to apply for visas along the way. Take your own picture with a camera, and put about 6 of them on a standard sized picture, then take them to WalMart or Wallgreens and print them out for much cheaper. There are also plenty of passport picture apps to help with this process. 
  • Information Fiches. These are little sheets of paper that you fill out and bring multiple copies with you. The police checkpoints can take a long time if they have to manually copy down all the information each time. Luckily some very nice people have made templates that you can simply print out and take with you. Download the templates here. I have a Morocco and Mauritania specific one, then a general one in French, and a general one in English. There are some things that I do not have yet, such as the visa numbers or ports of entry, but those can just be written in as needed. 
  • Money belt pouch.  There are many different styles of these. I have always had good luck with the ones that attach to a belt and go under your pants. I do not feel they are uncomfortable, but many people I know do not like them. Here is a link to a money belt that I enjoy using. I also use an actual money belt to hide spare cash in. Having US dollars is good, as many visas are priced in dollars, and some countries it is just easier to change dollars in, such as Angola. Here is a link to the money belt I use. With the money belt and pouch, I feel protected from most opportunistic crimes. 

 Personal/clothing detailed list
  • 60 liter Deuter backpack. I have used many backpacks over the years, and I keep coming back to Deuter. My original 45 liter bag lasted about 8 years of heavy daily use before I replaced it. I think the 45 liter size is more than enough to travel in, almost too big really, but for this trip, I needed a bit more space for bulky gear, so I brought the big bag. I like Deuter because they are simple, durable, and have an attached built in rain fly in the bottom of each bag. 
  • Mountain Smith Scream 25 day bag. This little bag is super light, and I just learned that it folds up into itself. I like having a day bag for a carry on during flights, and to take out with me in the day when exploring. I also have a small rain cover for the bag that I carry at the bottom. 
  • Climbing shoes. These are just for fun. My friends are all climbers, so we are hoping to find some things to boulder on during the trip. They are small and light, so why not toss them in.
  • Rain jacket and puffy jackets. These are pretty standard really, nothing special about them. A lightweight rain shell for rainy days, and a puffy jacket that packs down small and light, but keeps you warm. 
  • Electronics. I'm taking my Google Nexus 7 tablet along with a great keyboard folio case, for blogging along the way. I have also loaded offline maps of most of the places we are going to be traveling to. I am also taking my Google Nexus 6 phone for quick pictures, and I have Project Fi service as well. Project Fi has service in 126 countries, texts are free to send and receive, and phone calls are not that expensive. The service is pretty good in most places, but often slow to load anything. I have found Project Fi to be pretty good, and a handy way to stay in touch while away. 

So there you have it. I'm sure I have left a few things out, but this is mostly all I'm taking with me. I don't know if this is a lot to be taking or not? As often happens, I'm sure I will get rid of things along the way, or find things I wish I had taken. I considered some type of camp chair, but decided against it. I don't mind just sitting on the ground. 

As I said before, it was a lot of fun packing for this trip. I hope it is sufficient, and if not, we will make do. 

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