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 Tilley Hat - Cool Mesh Lightweight Airflo Hat Khaki with Olive Underbrim (KHOL) LTM6 |
Pith helmets are charming but hot, and you will do better to choose a style that folds up for packing; hats are a smart way to protect your hair as well as your ears and face. | 
Packable Felt Hat |
 Scala Wool Felt Crushable Safari Hat, The Wellington |
The standard suggestion is DEET, but more pleasant solutions include Skin so Soft and Oil of Citronella, the preferred anti-mosquito scent employed by the Leakeys at their research camp near Lake Turkana. Wear long sleeves and long pants in the evening, and tuck your slacks into your socks. Use the coil and the mosquito nets provided. Italians insist that basil plants repulse mosquitoes, but garlic seems to repulse only two legged creatures. A dot of ammonia will reduce the itch and inflammation of a bite, even those caused by Tse tse flies.
A few ATM in major cities; check with your bank. For currency exchange, www.oanda.com
Check your expiration date when you begin to make plans; renewing a passport can take weeks. Make a photo copy of your passport ID page and keep it in a separate place, maybe with those receipts for your traveler�s checks. How to Apply for a Passport Renewal
Never
underestimate the power of the sun to zap your energy or wrinkle your
skin. Certain destinations, such as Australia and Africa, demand extra
care, as do many outdoor activities: skiing, sailing or snorkeling, for
example. Sand and snow reflect the sun so the impact is multiplied. It
takes a tight weave of cloth to protect your skin; the difference in
shirts can range from 5 to 30 SFP. Some shirts and slacks actually have
indications of sun protection, but the simple test is to hold them up
to the light. Even if you wear protective clothing, apply sunscreen to
your hands and face. While there are some reports that sunscreen itself
can do harm, you should be able to tell by doing your own personal test
for a day. If you use Retinol or alpha hydroxy on your skin, you may
need a special kind of sunscreen, because the combination of sunscreen
and these treatments may create a reaction as unattractive as sunburn.
The great news is that protected skin can recover, and the second best
thing you can do for your skin, after protecting it from the sun, is
drinking healthy amounts of water.
One packing trick is to carry a very small container of sunscreen in your
pocket or backpack so that you can reapply during the day, even if it means
replenishing the small bottle from a larger one
Check with your lodge beforehand to see what is provided. Even remote tented camps provide shampoo, shower caps, soaps, and hair dryers. Consider leaving much of this behind to lighten your load. One lifesaver, a small can of Evian provides a refreshing facial mist on those long international flights that are so dehydrating.
For your camera, your swimsuit
Blue jeans take forever to dry, are not welcome in many restaurants or clubs, and only look good on a perfectly slim tush. Sandals are not smart footwear in areas where there are poisonous snakes, thorns, rough terrain, or when a rain shower can flood unsanitary gutters, especially in developing countries. Taking your jewelry is generally not a good idea, but you can buy beautiful local necklaces, bracelets and earrings.