Uganda Packing list

We are taking the ENTIRE family to Uganda.  Call us CRAZY!!  But that's how we roll...

Thanks to some near and dear friends, we have a family packing list that i'm going to share:

For plane:

Luggage scale to weigh suitcases upon return

Packs of tissues (for toilet paper later)

Pens

Snacks

Empty water bottles (so you can fill up after going through security)

Travel blanket (airplane size)/Earplugs/Neck pillow

Tooth paste and toothbrush for plane

Headphones

Sweaters

Kindle/books for adults
Kindle/Ipod/Books for children

Medications and prescriptions needed during travel

Kid's card games
Baby wipes

Any liquids in quart sized ziplock

Extension cord/surge protector for recharging in airport

Laptop (DVD player)

ipod with music for me, video, audio books for kids

ipod charger/phone charge/All chargers

Change of clothes/Court clothes & shoes for court

Court paperwork/kids birth certificates/Yellow fever documentation

Eye drops

Hand sanitizer

Tickets/Itenararies/Crisp $50 bill for each traveler for visas

Snacks

Electronics:

Camera

Surge protector and converter
Check all electronics for voltage (if the range is through 220, you should be able to plug it in with only an adaptor, without a converter)

Camera charger

Extra camera batteries

Memory cards for camera

Mini flashlight

Battery charger

Flash drive and/or card reader with USB with all of court documents uploaded (We also uploaded them onto Amazon cloud).

DVD’s and kids video games
Walkie talkies for kids(helpful if you split up and they love them)

Electricity converters

Phone (arrange to rent, borrow, or buy one)

Security:

Piece of rope (to tie bags together) or hang laundry on later

Dummy wallet with old credit card, fake license, and little cash

Local US Embassy contact and security info

Embassy registration (do this on the website)

Dog tags for kids (with name, nationality engraved; can also put local info on masking tape on tag)

TSA approved luggage locks (only lock allowed)

Bike lock (in case you have to lock bags together)

Copy of passports (in case of loss or theft)

Copy of birth certificates

Copy of front and back of ATM and credit card

Pepper spray

Phone numbers and addresses for home

Phone numbers for local contacts, shared with family at home

Passwords, copies of important papers, and wills shared with family at home

Color copy and laminate driver’s license (for corrupt police)

Notarized parent authorization letter if only one parent is going

Note card for thank you notes for people on the trip and small gifts from your hometown

Financial things:

Credit card (bring one that you rarely use and call the company to tell travel dates and locations)

Suspend magazine, newspaper subscriptions/mail at home

ATM card (bring one that is not attached to your main bank account and call the company)

PIN’s for credit and ATM cards

Copied front and back of credit and ATM cards or scanned onto flashdrive

Cash (bring as much cash as you feel comfortable carrying)

Important financial account and phone numbers (in case of theft or loss)

Old or fake credit card in case of theft put in dummy wallet

Back up ATM or credit card for emergencies

Health:

Small candle (for light and for smells!)

Band-Aids/First Aid kit

Antibiotic cream

Fever reducer for kids

Pain reliever

Diaper rash cream (in case of diarrhea irritation)

A couple old towels you can leave when trip is over

Small packs of tissues

Chapstick

Baby wipes

Flossers

Visit pediatrician before trip.

Malaria medication (by prescription)

Diarrhea medicine (by prescription)

Liquid benadryl

Lotrimin for fungal rashes

Antibiotics for family

Over-the-counter diarrhea medicine

2 bars of soap (if you have a favorite)

2 sticks of deodorant (if you have a favorite)

Cold medicine for kids and adults

Hydrocortisone cream

Tylenol/Mortrin for adults

Gauze

Gauze tape

Shampoo and conditioner
Laundry soap/plug/line for hand washing

Cotton swabs
Lotion

Mosquito netting if not provided by guesthouse

Mosquito repellant

Alcohol pads

Feminine products (tampons are hard to find)

Tweezers

Nail clippers

Sunscreen

Razor

One towel (super absorbent camping ones are great)

Kid’s vitamins

Thermometer

Skin so soft for mosquitoes

Alcohol wipes

Clorox wipes

Personal hygiene (toothpaste/floss/toothbrush/hairbrush)

3 months worth of contacts and solution

Body wash

Face soap/wipes

Nail polish (kids love their nails painted)

Make up (Makes us feel pretty when we are grimy)

Hair dryer/straightener (better to have than not have and wish you had)

Clothing:

In the villages:  Long skirts or dresses/modest tops/shrug or cardigan

In Kampala:  Capris and pants are fine.  Very similar to what is worn here.  I wouldn't advise shorts.

Lots of underwear

2 pairs of pjs--it gets hot at night

Swimsuit

Hair things--what you would use at home

No expensive jewelry

Bras

Shoes: 1 pair of dress shoes for court, flip flops (for bathrooms), shoes for walking (I wore a Mary Jane leather teva style that went fine with capris or skirts).
Sunglasses

Watch

Eye Glasses

Umbrella

Kids:

We are traveling with our 3 ages 10, 7, and 5.  Our adopted daughter is the same size as our 7 year old.

8 outfits for each girl.  Some skirts/leggings/capris.  1-2 pairs of bermuda shorts.

Light jacket

4-5 socks. 

Pair of sneakers/pair of crocs/shoes for court

Bathing suit

8 outfits for my son.  Long shorts/collared shirts/swim trunks/jeans/khakis

2 pairs of pjs each.

Lots of games/legos/coloring books/a whole suitcase of fun stuff to do and we will leave it there.

Lots of baby wipes

Misc

Reusable, washable bags for dirty clothes, shopping, storage, etc…

Mesh laundry bag

Dry bag (if you’ll be in a lot of water)

Stop mail at usps.com

Variety of Ziplock bags

Give neighbors a letter

Photos of home to share (people are always interested; you can put them on your ipod)--Locals love to look at photo albums

Small notebook (to carry daily to jot things down)

Journal

Leatherman/good quality knife

Matches or lighter

Rope or laundry line

Small dish detergent and sponge

Laundry powder/Woolight for hand washing

Sink stopper

Plastic bowl and cup for each traveler

Utensils for each traveler

Several storage containers

Several food bag clips

Gifts for new friends

Bungy cords (just in case)

Gifts
Tape

Duct tape
Scissors

Large trash bags (to keep things dry)

Lantern or light (if somewhere without electricity, I like the round, small stick-up LED lights)

Flashlight/headlamp

House/pet sitter for home

House sitter’s list

Over door hook

Safety pins

Masking tape (to write on and label things)

Candle (in case of smelly rooms and emergency)

Contact info from home

Back up computer on USB

Calling cards for home to call you or Skype account

Donations (bring used kids’ toys to donate if desired)

Umbrella

List of must know words in child's language
Begin blog/email list to update family

Collapsible suitcase or duffle bag for souvenirs

Envelopes (you never know)

Pencils, colored pencils, pens, sharpener, crayons, eraser, note books, folders

Ant/Roach traps

Washcloths/towels

List of Questions to ask birth family

Bring photo to leave with birth family

Backpack

We are also packing a whole tote box of snacks

Crystal light

Gum

Oatmeal

Cereal

Goldfish/pretzel

Protein bars

Granola bars

Peanut butter

Dried fruit

Tuna/Cracker packets

Trail mix