Don’t bring the kitchen sink—bring your curiosity.

We get it—packing for Africa can feel overwhelming, especially when the people giving advice have never been. But after hosting over 1,200 international volunteers since 2005, trust us: you need way less than you think.

Whether you’re volunteering or backpacking, the name of the game is travel light, pack smart, and leave room to support Uganda’s economy along the way.

A few important points

• It’s hot, dusty, and real. You’ll sweat. You’ll walk. You’ll get muddy. Embrace it.
• Rolling suitcases ≠ East Africa friendly. Go for a backpack with rain cover + anti-theft zips.
• Pack for 5–7 days max, even if staying 3 months. Laundry is easy.
• Your carry-on should double as a day pack. Ensure it is light weight, has many pockets, and is big enough to carry 2 days’ supplies. This way you can leave your main pack at your home base/hostel for short side trips.
• Get a U-shaped travel pillow. Not only will you sleep better on the plane, you’ll have something soft to lay your head on when you arrive. Culturally, we don’t use pillows out here. The ones available are usually awful.
• Relax, you can buy toilet paper here. Know that most daily use items are widely available in towns and cities.
• Mosquito nets are found in almost all hotels, hostels, and home stays. If not, they’re super easy and cheap to buy here.
• Leave the camo at home—it’s for military only in Uganda.
• If volunteering or visiting a clinic or hospital, you must provide your own personal protective equipment.
• Drone = No. Uganda has strict laws. Don’t bring one.
• Plan for nightlife. Uganda has rhythm, and you will end up dancing. Look cute, responsibly.

Okay, enough said. Here’s our East Africa essentials packing guide, which includes everything you need to bring for a month or 6!

There’s a lot of paperwork involved in East African travel. Put it all in one file. It’ll stay together and you’ll always know everything is.

• Emergency contact information, including whom to call in case of emergency.
• A list of all medications you’re taking, including malaria prophylaxis, any allergies/pre-existing conditions, and dietary restrictions.
• Travel and medical insurance information. Don’t have insurance yet? Read our travel insurance buying guide and buy an appropriate policy.
• Copies of your passport, credit cards, and insurance. You should also leave copies of these at home with someone.
• Printed return airline ticket. Our border guards don’t always accept screen shots.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate.
• E-visa approval letter. All East African countries have an e-visa application process. Here’s how to obtain the one for Uganda.
• East Africa travel guide. While this is heavy, its invaluable for planning weekend getaways and general regional travel. I don’t recommend getting a digital version – way to hard to flip around to quickly access info.

what to wear

Pack breathable, durable, culturally appropriate clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

• 3–4 loose trousers (men); combo of skirts/dresses + trousers (women). Don’t wear shorts in small towns and villages.
• 3–5 versatile tops (mix of short-sleeve and sleeveless)
• 1 nice outfit (you will get invited to weddings, funerals, or parties)
• Bathing suit + conservative beach cover-up like this light wrap or sarong. A sarong can be used to cover your hair during dusty journeys or around your shoulders during random chilly evenings.
• 1 long-sleeved shirt and a pair of long socks.
• Lightweight rain poncho. This one packs down small, but is big enough at the back to go over your backpack.
• Sturdy walking sandals and a pair of flip flops. The flip flops are for the shower or around home, never for the street.
• Enough undies for 4 days. This way you have one on, one washing, one drying, and one for just in case!
• Sunhat and sunglasses. We’re on the equator. The sun hits you directly from above.
• Microfiber travel towel. Packs down super small, easy to wash, and quick to dry.

Show your love for Uganda and shop our online store for uniquely Ugandan tees, caps, bags, mugs.

gadgets

Yes, we use tech here—just differently.

• Your smart phone. If its locked, you’ll find wi-fi in larger cities and towns. But it won’t be awesome. Look into getting your phone unlocked before you leave home.
• Charger for that phone.
• Power bank for that phone. Access to electricity is less than you’re used to.
• Universal electrical adapter with USB ports. This one can be used in 150 countries, including all East African countries, and has a surge protector and 2 USB charging ports. It’s super small too.
• Headlamp/torch This one is small, light, and comes with batteries. There are rolling power outages or no power at all in many places in Uganda. I personally could not live without my headlamp.
• E-reader. Books are heavy and there’s lots of down time out here. This E-reader has a long battery life and glare free screen and works well with a headlamp.
• Portable music player. Try to bring one that uses headphones and connects to a speaker. We like to dance out here.
• Camera (purely optional, a smartphone usually does the trick)

medical kit & toiletries

All these are widely and cheaply available in East Africa. Bring a small starter kit and supplement as you volunteer and travel.

• Small pouch containing pain killers, anti-bacterial creme, electrolytes/oral re-hydration salts, and antacids.
• Small travel medical kit. The I Go First Aid Kit contains 85 pieces, including a range of dressings, gloves, scissors, and even a whistle. It weighs less than 1 pound!
• Something for diarrhea.
• Something for constipation.
• Anti-malaria medication. If you’re going to take doxycycline, you can get it out here for about 5 cents a pill. No prescription required.
• Multi-vitamins for stays over 4 weeks. Your nutrition level may suffer due to the new diet and all the moving around.
• Toothpaste and toothbrush.
• Hand sanitizer. Get a few travel sized bottles.
• Body wash or bathing soap.
• Light moisturizer.
• If you’re volunteering in a clinical or hospital environment, you won’t find any personal protective equipment on site – please bring your own!

Essentials from home

These are neither widely available nor affordable in East Africa. Pack enough to last you.

• An extra refill of any medications you’re taking. Sometimes you lose things…
• Shampoo and conditioner, if you have European hair.
• Basic makeup. Check out a former volunteer’s recommendations above.
• Deodorant.
• Tampons.
• Ear plugs. East Africans like to party and there’s little municipal noise control.
• Sunscreen. An absolute must as anti-malarial medication can make you sun-sensitive!
• Insect repellent.
• Something for sunburn.
• Contact lens solution.
• Granola bars and trail mix (for comfort, not survival).

 Buy Local When You Can

You’ll find soap, lotion, toilet paper, fresh fruit, snacks, and more in Uganda’s markets and shops. Support local business—and lighten your load.

And that’s it – Our comprehensive East Africa packing list for travellers and volunteers. Please use it, share it, and let us know if it helped you.

If you’d like to read our take on what NOT to bring – we’ve got an awesome blog post about it.