Packing

I am trying to squish way too much into my carry on so I will need to re-assess the situation. However, I can have 2 bags on the KLM flight, not like the 1 check in bag only for domestic flights now (I paid $18 for the 2nd bag when I did the web check in for Air Canada, which was about $4 cheaper than West Jet). Here's what will hopefully all fit in 2 bags of 55 lbs or less each:

sleeping bag
fleece blanket
small pillow
rain jacket
wind breaker
extra pair of shoes
alarm clock
head lamp with extra batteries
reading lamp (clips onto the book)
2 towels
facecloths
mesh laundry bags ( 1 big, 1 small)
camera
extra battery
world plug adaptor
battery recharger
2 extra memory cards
memory card USB transfer thing (only $20 CAD)
4 paperback novels
5 magazines
travel diary
pens
sudoku puzzle book
I.D. and wallet
money belt
Sunlight laundry/cleaning soap bar
socks
undies
2 pairs of khakis
2 pairs of Capri's
6 t-shirts
1 long sleeved shirt
2 button up shirts
1 hoodie
bathing suit and cover up
1 wrap skirt
Swiss Army knife
safety pins
band aids
tensor bandage
tape
shampoo
conditioner
tooth brush
toothpaste
floss
brush
hair elastics
2 hats
head scarf
hankies and Kleenex
emergency toilet paper
hand wipes
insect repellent
sun screen

What am I forgetting?

Last minute details

It's a bit hectic but I am trying to get access to the Internet to get last minute e-mails & itinerary printed off. I booked a room in Hoedspruit for my last day via roomsforafrica.com. If I calculated it right it's only about $40 plus breakfast & they had a cute dog in their picture so that won me over. They'll also give me a ride to the bus stop so that's awesome. I also finally got an extra battery for my camera. It was discontinued but I found a place that still had some which makes me feel much more secure. That way I can have backup if I am mid-Elephant herd or something. Almost there...

Almost there...

It was a bit of a struggle to do the final payment for the safari - my credit card just would not work and I had to call the credit card company a bunch of times, repeating the same info over and over and I spoke to at least 5 different people. I kept getting an alternate number to call which always redirected me back to the main line. I almost banged me head against my computer monitor while screaming my guts out, but I pulled myself together and finally gave up. I went to the bank the next day to do another money transfer and my bank was closed due to a power outage. If I were less invested in this I would have considered that a sign. I did finally get it taken care of, at a different branch with moderate patience and various bank fees, and got confirmation that the payment went through today. Now it's all paid for. I still feel like it's not quite real, but I leave shortly so it must really be happening. I am starting to pack which is going to be a challenge. I need to bring enough, but not too much, prepare for a variety of weather and activities, and somehow keep it all to 1 or 2 bags. One of the suggested items is an umbrella - yeah, that's not going to fit. Perhaps a garbage poncho will suffice?

I took Dukoral, which you have to keep refrigerated by the way, and need to take the next dose Friday. The pharmacy was one pill short to fill my malaria prescription so I was supposed to pick it up today. I didn't make it though, so I will have to make sure I do it tomorrow. Then I am fully medicated/vaccinated and hopefully will stay healthy. The doctor assured me that the certificate he gave me would be sufficient for Yellow Fever, which gives me a medical exception so I should not need the shot. But, I guess we'll see. It's apparently a new law that anyone travelling from Zambia to South Africa needs it so I still feel a little doubtful. However, I have to trust the expert so I will just leave it at that.

The mystery of Visas

I need to get a Visa for entry into Zambia and I think maybe Zimbabwe too, but Zambia for sure. However, I kept trying to find out how to get this exactly and it was a bit difficult. What I read in the travel books I have and other info I found just said that I needed a Visa, and seemed to assume I knew what the hell I had to do to get it. I of course resorted to Google which is the answer to most of my questions but when I looked into the government's website that came up I just got more confused. I e-mailed the info e-mail on the Government of Canada's website that was posted on the page that was linked to the Visas info page and their response was that they do not normally reply to those kinds of inquiries but they suggested contacting the representatives of the country I was visiting - which by the way was the contact info I had requested. This made me feel like a complete idiot and was also completely not helpful. I found another information site but I put off looking into it more. I then finally went to the Zambian tourism website and that was a bit more specific but there was an option to pay at the 'port of entry' or in advance and there was a 1 day option, a travel option, and a long term option so I didn't know which was correct anyways. I finally just e-mailed Wild Wings Safaris back and asked if they knew exactly what I had to do. As usual, they were super helpful so I really just should have asked them right away instead of depending on the web but live and learn.

This is their very helpful explanation of how it works:

You can purchase a single & double entry visa at the port of entry for Zambia.  Since you are staying one night in Zambia, and then travelling to Zimbabwe, and flying back to Johannesburg from Zimbabwe, you only need a single entry visa.  You would have needed a double entry visa if you were going back to Zambia for either a flight out or an additional activity. 

For Zimbabwe you will also need a single entry visa – as you enter the country only one, for your night at the Kingdom Hotel, before flying back to Johannesburg from Victoria Falls Airport.  All visa fees are payable in cash at the port of entry.

The transit visas are necessary if you simply travel through the country to your next destination without actually sleeping over somewhere – that is no applicable to you.  I hope this makes sense & helps.

The costs (as we have them on record at the moment) are:

Zambia (single entry): USD 50 per person

Zimbabwe (single entry): USD 30 per person

Please note that since you are visiting Zambia you will also need to receive a Yellow Fever vaccination from your local travel clinic before leaving for this trip (preferably 2 weeks prior to travel).  This is a new law that has been put in place for travellers from Zambia into South Africa.