When it comes to packing for your luxury safari holiday, all you need to do is head over to Pinterest and find a “safari packing list” template, and off you go. But what if we told you that there are some things on that packing list that you won’t find on Pinterest AND will significantly impact your safari experience?
Our guests often ask how they can help, and our most straightforward answer is: “Pack for a Purpose.”
It’s nearly winter in South Africa, and we know many children and adults in neighbouring communities will be going with winter essentials.
Introducing Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travellers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination.
Pack for a Purpose is an initiative that promotes responsible behaviour and raises awareness among travellers travelling from abroad. Although not limited to international guests, we aim to highlight the needs of our community and how every guest can make an impact on arrival.
The aim of the tourism industry is to help our neighbouring communities as much as we can. Our support has a positive impact on local businesses and the surrounding communities that rely on Thornybush for assistance. Whether this is through donations, financial support, outreach, or our steady flow of guests, international and local, our neighbouring communities benefit from everything we do. We are here to help spread the word about practising a more responsible way of travelling. That leads to Pack for a Purpose, which makes a BIG impact. Plus, it’s a simple way to invite you, as our guest, to be a part of giving back.
This initiative is divided into some of the projects that Thornybush Community are involved in. Each Project has its donation list that tells you what is needed so you can bring it along on your next Thornybush visit. When you Pack for a Purpose, please take only the items requested by the community-based projects. The lists have been well-researched and unrequested items, even with the best intentions, but they are largely inappropriate for the communities and are likely to have few short-term and no long-term benefits.
Nourish is a non-profit focusing on building resilient communities.
Their projects range from supporting toddlers in early development centres to the 50+ learners who are fed and have access to the eco-village library for daily learning. Also included are their elderly beneficiaries, who tend to a vegetable garden for home consumption and have recently started a sewing project.
The List:
Wisani Day Care is a rural daycare centre in the village of Dixie. It allows for early childhood development and socialising for the children, which is a crucial part of a child’s development
The List:
Hananani Primary is a public school that offers education to 253 students ages 4.5 through 13.
The name Hananani means “Giving”. The school has 15 staff members and offers a variety of subjects, including English, Mathematics, Life Skills/Life Orientation, Technology, Natural/Social/Economic Sciences, Creative Arts and Home Language (Xitsonga).
The List:
Hlokomela is an award-winning HIV and AIDS educational and treatment programme targeting workers, including foreign migrants, in the agriculture, nature conservation and tourism sectors in The Greater Kruger to Canyons area in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The programme aims to reduce HIV vulnerability through peer education, raising of awareness, prevention and treatment. The project has been running successfully for the past 11 years and is currently rolled out on 71 subproject sites. An estimated 25,000 people are reached annually through the activities of the programme.
The List:
Check with your airline and travel agent to determine the current luggage allowance to your destination.
For Customs rules and regulations, check with the Embassy of the country you plan to visit. You can also check with the specific accommodation/tour company you plan to stay at or use. They should be aware of the current rules at the specific time you are travelling.
Some participants may offer the option to buy supplies locally. This information will be posted on their individual pages. We support buying locally whenever possible.
To save space, remove the following items from their original packaging and place them in the lightest possible paper or fabric resealable bags: pens, pencils, erasers, individual pencil sharpeners, solar calculators, and protractors. Many countries have now banned plastic bags, even reusable ones.
Crayons, chalk, and coloured pencils should be kept in their original packaging to prevent breakage. Plastic and wooden rulers should be wrapped in bubble wrap to prevent breakage. Games such as Scrabble®, Connect Four®, Dominoes®, and Bananagrams® should be left in their original packages.
Be sure to check the Customs regulations of the country you are visiting if you plan to take any requested medications, as what is allowed varies by country. Even over-the-counter medications may not be permitted in some countries. Any medicines that you take should have an expiration date of at least eight months after the time you are taking them.
Expensive items such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, etc., should be put in plastic or fabric resealable bags and packed in your carry-on luggage.
The following new items should be removed from their original packaging and placed in the lightest possible paper or fabric resealable bags: Band-Aids, bandages, and any other items where the weight would be reduced by eliminating the original packaging.Many countries have now banned plastic bags, even reusable ones.
Soccer balls should be deflated by moistening an inflation needle and carefully inserting it into the valve. After the needle is inserted, gently apply pressure to the ball until deflated. Remove the needle and tape it to the deflated ball. The deflated balls can be stacked to save space. Soft items such as socks can also be positioned in the cavities. Each deflated soccer ball will weigh about 1 lb (0.45 kg).
For your convenience, pack all items so they can be easily located within your luggage and dropped off when you arrive at your destination.
We thank you in advance for your contribution to helping make a little difference; that goes a long way in our communities.
For more information, email: Lindsay@thornybush.com or visit: https://www.thornybush.com/thornybush-community/
Thornybush is a proud member of The Long Run organisation. The Long Run is the largest global collection of nature-based tourism businesses, committed to driving positive impact in the 4Cs of Conservation (climate, environmental management, and the protection and regeneration of nature); Community (internal and external, direct and indirect stakeholders); Culture (including contemporary, living heritage, and indigenous); and Commerce (long-term impact is only possible when financially sustainable and resilient). Please see The Long Runs Impact Report here.
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