Light weight packing suggestions

[Wendy38]

We have booked a holiday of a lifetime.. safari in Africa but limited to 15kg luggage each. Going for 10 days including a beach hotel resort. Would really appreciate any suggestions of light weight packing alternatives for example shampoo flakes.. anything really to keep to 15kg. Thank you

Just buy your toiletries once you get there (or in the airport if that would work for you). Suncream, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, after sun etc.

Bring minimal pairs of shoes as they always weigh a lot.

Wear your heaviest clothes/shoes on the flight and make sure you use a lightweight bag. Some suitcases can weigh a few kilos.

Agree with buying toiletries airside in the UK if you don't want to think about finding them at the destination.

Do you also have a rucksack type bag allowance as cabin baggage? Put some of your heavier items such as electronics in that - you're not supposed to put things with lithium batteries in the hold anyway.

That's a very measly allowance. I'm curious which airline it is - so I can avoid them !

You presumably have a cabin bag allowance, so you could maximise the weight allowance there. I use a very lightweight re-inforced nylon cabin bag. It's squashable, & I've never been told to put it in the hold.

I've never done it, but I've read that people take out the stuffing of those horseshoe neck pillows & replace with knickers etc.

I decant all toiletries into small containers like these

Blackace Silicone Travel Bottles, Leak-Proof Travel Container BPA-Free TSA Approved, 4-Pack Portable Travel Accessory for Shampoo, Toiletries, Lotion, Conditioner : Amazon.co.uk: Beauty

Sistema Dressing Pots To Go Food Container Sauce Pots With Lids 35 Ml Bpa-Free Blue, Green, Pink & Purple Lids Recyclable With Terracycle 4 Count : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

I hope you have a wonderful holiday. I've been on a safari holiday, & want to do it again.

You'd be surprised what you can get in 15kg. I wouldn't bother putting toiletries in, I'd just stock up at boots once you're airside and put it in hand luggage. Don't forget you'll need deet spray.

You shouldn't need any heavyweight clothing so lightweight linen trousers/tops/long sleeved shirts/dresses etc. I'd get lightweight walking trousers for the safari (I like craghoppers kiwi pro ll)

When are you going? We went to Kenya in August and we did need a fleece at night but you can potentially wear that to travel.

I'm guessing the allowance is actually for the safari itself, or possibly internal flights on a small plane, rather than the flight to get there? So all the suggestions about buying toiletries at the airport won't help. I'd take a combined shampoo/conditioner bar if your hair would suit, otherwise decant into silicone bottles, and probably take some hand wash in one of those as well. One lightweight fleece, one pair of shoes to wear and one spare, and, depending where you are staying possibly a pair of flipflops. 15kg shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Also share toiletries where possible.

Is that 15kg including hand luggage.

You can do some laundry at the hotels

Is it 5/5 split safari / beach?

I'm so jealous!

Presumably you're limited to 15kg because of an internal flight on a small plane?

If so, stocking up on toiletries there won't help. You need to stay light the whole time.

Get clothes laundered at the hotel. Worth the expense to travel light.

Dump the unnecessary make up and skincare. Just take spf and a serum. Old tester sachets. One make up product you can't live without.

Hotel will have shampoo and soap etc.

Take the absolute bare minimum.

Uniqlo do a lot of small foldable items like jackets that stuff in to a small drawstring bag and lightweight dresses and trousers.

For a recent trip to the USA a friend gave me a little stack of mini solid bars - so shampoo, body wash, face. They were small flat squares and obviously didn't count towards the liquid allowance.

Wear your bulkiest clothes to travel - so trainers/walking boots, jeans and hoodie on the flight.

15kg plus any carry on bags? Or 15kg in total?

Beyond clothes what do you need to take ?

O have form for travelling light - does you husband ? Can you have sone stuff in his bag ?

10 sets of undies
1 set pjs- rinse and reuse T-shirts for sleeping later
Wear heavy boots, carry 1 pair smarts and possibly some sandals or trainer
Wear one jumper and waterproof on flight
Then just three pairs of trousers or shorts
One smarts dressing up thing if that's your thing
, 10 T-shirts , one swimsuit
Kindle , battery pack , binos
Toothbrush , hairbrush , general purpose soap , meds
Lightweight camping towel

Way less than 20kg

I would ditch the PJs unless you are sharing a room with someone other than your partner. I simply sleep in a vest and pants or nothing and don't change that on holiday.

https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/submit

and

https://www.reddit.com/r/HerOneBag/

This lot are professionals.

Hi op
I’ve had a similar experience on a trip to South America - low weight limit due to internal flights. I took a small sample pack of solid shampoo and conditioner bars from Ethique (Holland And Barrett) They were small but perfect amount for 10 days away.
Also took toothpaste tablets to further reduce weight.https://www.anythingbutplastic.co.uk/product-page/denttabs-toothpaste-tablets-with-fluoride

We had an even lower limit of 8kg going to to a Seychelles atoll.

• your toiletries - small sizes, pare them down (hotel will provide soap), basic make-up
• one pair trousers for travel / safari, and 3 cotton / silk tops and one cashmere plain jumper (for on plane) that goes with it all
• A foldable hat / baseball cap
• a pool side kaftan
• bikini
• one black, one beige bra, 4 knickers
• 3-4 silk dresses (folds to nothing but can be absolutely stunning - I favour Dea Kudibal)
• sandals, 1 x nice shoes (neutral colour that match all of the above) and if needed trainers or walking boots (plus two x socks)

You'll be under 8 kg

PS This is my packing list for all holidays now and I tell you it is the most liberating thing I have ever done in my life!

Do laundry when you’re there… then you only need to take 6-7 days worth of clothes. 15kg is a lot.

Dr Beckman laundry sheets if you need to do any washing.

15kg is loads! I did six weeks on 10kg including a tent, sleeping bag, bear spray and stove once. It was fine.

Lightweight water/windproof jacket. Three tops, of which one slightly smart. One pair shorts, one pair of slightly smarter long trousers. One lightweight fleece. One merino base layer. 3x underwear. 3x socks, preferably lightweight wool. One small bottle of shower gel, which can also be used for washing clothes. Toothbrush. One tube toothpaste per two people. One 500ml bottle of sunscreen. One pair boots (on your feet so they don’t count for luggage allowance) one pair lightweight espadrilles or similar. One sun hat, one pair sunglasses. Possibly swimming costume if relevant. Lightweight duffel bag to carry all this in, plus one super light rucksack from Uniqlo or similar. Phone, one charger per two people. No make up. Done.

15k? Why so limited? Unusual.

A very timely thread op! I'm off on safari later in the year and am facing the same dilemma. The 15kg weight is because of the internal flight. I am limited to one soft bag weighing no more than 15kg and this will also have to include my camera, big lens, binoculars, batteries, laptop etc.
It's going to be a struggle!

Me too!

I'm very good at packing light. DH not so much...

Second the Dr beckman laundry squares - cut them down to quarters, one quarter is plenty for a hotel-sink handwash. If there’s such a thing as a plastic universal plughole plug, get one and take it, in case the basins where you’re going, don’t have plugs.

Take half of what you think you need and wash things as you go along. You don't need to wear something different every day.

Thanks.. Will have a look at all suggestions.
It's because of the internal flights and prop plane :) 4 days safari 5 days beach resort one day setting in Nairobi in airport hotel

It's doable. But evening and morning are cold and warm during the day.

Travel in

Fleece, t shirt, long trousers and trainers / walking boots

Hand luggage in small thin backpack you will use day to day - dress and flip flops and spare pants. Swimwear
Plus usual travel stuff and a cross body bag sunglasses

Main bag
5 pants
2 bras
5 socks
1 trouser
2 shorts
5 tops
Thin nightie (primark do one that is fabulous)
2 dresses/ or skirt
Hat

I managed 2 weeks in Iceland on 15kg without thinking too much. My top tip would be a Kindle for reading as books are heavy and minimise shoes. If you are stating in lodges they will usually do laundry if you are there for more than 1 night.