I like to take pictures of myself traveling, whether to post on social media or send to my boyfriend. I'm not into selfie sticks, and unfortunately, I can't always rely on strangers to take photos for me. So, having a cellphone tripod is a good compromise.

I love my ToneOf universal cellphone tripod because it easily slips into my carry-on luggage and expands when I need to snap a picture. It also includes a rechargeable remote control for the shutter.

When I'm traveling by myself, I always carry my LectroFan Bluetooth speaker with me. The sound is incredible considering its tiny size, and it has several white-noise settings to drown out noisy neighbors or street sounds.

When I'm feeling lonely, I also like to use it to have a solo dance party in my room.

Since I often travel to tropical places, I prefer to pack bottles of sunscreen lotion since the coverage is heavier than spray. However, it's tricky to apply the lotion to my own back and shoulders.

Foam brush applicators are clunky to pack, but luckily, I found a cloth applicator from Steugo that folds up and doesn't take up much room in my suitcase.

I pour some lotion onto the fabric and then use the handles to rub it onto my back as if I'm drying myself with a towel. I rinse or hand-wash it between uses and throw it in the washing machine once I return home.

When I get injured or start to come down with something while traveling alone, there's no one to run out to the drugstore to get medicine or first-aid supplies for me.

Sometimes, I'm not even in an area with a nearby drugstore, so I make sure to bring along any items I might need.

My first-aid kit is stocked with bandages, cleaning wipes, gauze, tick removers, nosebleed plugs, sting relief, burn ointment, and a thermometer.

I also pack some over-the-counter medicine for pain, gastrointestinal issues, motion sickness, and congestion.

One of my biggest concerns when traveling alone is my cellphone battery running low.

After all, I need my phone to navigate cities, book Uber rides, make restaurant reservations, and research tourist attractions. That's why I always carry a USB portable charger with me.

When TSA PreCheck isn't available, I often have to remove my shoes and coat and take my laptop and liquids out of my bag when I go through security.

Without a travel partner to double-check I grabbed everything, I like to make sure the process is as quick and easy as possible. That's why I always wear my favorite slip-on sneakers from Kizik.

They're also incredibly comfortable even after a long day of exploring.

I never check my luggage, and being a single traveler means I can only bring one carry-on with me. Even though I can fit a lot in my bag, I sometimes need to re-wear and freshen up my clothes.

Because hotel laundry service is often expensive, I bring my own Scrubba portable wash bag with me.

To use it, I fill the packable bag with socks, underwear, and t-shirts and then add water and a laundry sheet. Then, I deflate the bag and rub my clothes along the inner washboard before rinsing, wringing, and hanging my garments to dry.

My bags weighed 31 pounds the night before my trip. Most of the small-plane bush flights I was about to board had weight restrictions of 33 pounds.

If I wanted any souvenirs, I'd be tight for space. I eyed what I could leave behind and initially considered ditching the pair of binoculars I had packed.

Ultimately, I took out a few pairs of shorts instead, a choice I'm thrilled I made. It's not guaranteed that your safari lodge will have binoculars for guests, but having a pair enhances the entire experience.

Sure, I got close to lions and elephants from my safari vehicle, but a pair of binoculars could showcase details — like whisker patterns, bird feathers, and skin textures — that I couldn't see from the car.

For future trips, I'll be investing in an even nicer pair — and making sure there's enough room in my bag.

A few days before my trip, I spoke with Meg van Niekerk to discuss my trip's final details. As a safari expert for Go2Africa, van Niekerk knows just what people need for a safari trip.

"Leave your perfume at home," she said. "Your DEET cream becomes your safari perfume."

DEET is the active ingredient in most bug sprays, so van Niekerk stressed that I should pack bug spray and sunscreen for my trip.

I was glad I did. The Serengeti sun was harsh, and even on shorter safari drives, I could feel my face burning. Meanwhile, bug spray gave me some added reassurance against malaria.

While some lodges provide bug spray and sunscreen, I was glad I didn't rely on others and packed my own.

Before spending a week in the Serengeti, I pictured long days in the sun, afternoons driving down dusty roads, arid climates, and sweat.

Thankfully, I was smart enough to check the region's weather, where lows dipped into the 50s.

As someone who hates the cold, I knew I'd need more than the tank tops and T-shirts I originally planned to pack.

For this trip, I made sure I had a sweater, puffer vest, lightweight button-downs, tank tops, T-shirts, shorts, pants, and rain gear.

I was thrilled I had options throughout the trip. Mornings and evenings in the bush are chilly, afternoons are scorching, and some afternoon showers also hit.

Having a variety of clothes for all temperatures and weather was key to being comfortable.

Packing layers was key to my successful safari wardrobe, but surprisingly, I didn't wear any of the light, long-sleeved shirts I packed.

That's because the temperatures changed drastically in the Serengeti. When it was chilly in the mornings, I needed heavier layers like jackets and sweaters. When the sun finally came up, it got hot quickly. Instead of wanting a tight, long-sleeved layer, I opted for looser button-downs.

Next time, I'd skip packing base layers altogether.

Everything I saw, read, and heard leading up to my safari trip emphasized the need to pack neutral colors.

Olives, tans, browns, and khakis were good. Blues and blacks were a no-go since those colors attract tsetse flies, which carry a sleeping sickness disease.

Meanwhile, bright colors can alarm and scare off animals.

As someone whose wardrobe consists of 80% black clothing, discovering this was a major stressor, and I ended up on a shopping spree before my trip.

But when I spoke to van Niekerk right before my trip, she reassured me that safari attire is much more casual and flexible than I had read online.

Her advice is to pack what you already own. Don't stress too much if you don't have a complete khaki-colored wardrobe. Instead, prioritize neutrals where you can. She added that you don't need to avoid colors completely.

Besides a walking safari, there was never a time when I felt like the color of my clothing would have impacted my trip or animal viewing. By the end, I regretted buying clothes I might not wear again.

"This might change your whole packing list, but I actually take a lot of dresses," van Niekerk said. "You want to be comfortable."

As we chatted via video, I eyed my packed bag. It was stuffed with hiking pants, sweat-wicking athletic shirts, and hefty khaki cargo pants.

My focus had been on packing clothes for the outdoors, but van Niekerk reminded me that much of a safari vacation involves a lot of lounging — you're often sitting in a safari vehicle or hanging at a lodge.

"People are dressing like they're rangers going into a park. You're on vacation," she said.

After our call, I swapped a few pairs of pants for a dress and squeezed in a pair of sandals. I'm glad I did.

While I did need closed-toe shoes for a walking safari, there were days when I only wore sandals. The same goes for my clothing. I did need some pieces designed for hiking, but most of the time, I could prioritize comfort.

If I were to pack again, I'd listen to van Niekerk even more with a packing list full of dresses and comfy clothes.

Tipping is the norm across most of Africa.

Travel agents and outlets like Go2Africa have outlined the standards of what to tip, so figuring out the currency and how much cash to bring wasn't difficult.

What I didn't know is that people prefer (and sometimes require) new, undamaged dollars.

When I landed in Tanzania and went to pay for my first taxi ride, the driver refused my $10 bill — it had a small tear in the middle.

For the rest of the trip, I sorted out my nicest dollars to give to lodge staff, safari guides, butlers, and drivers. When I landed in Uganda for the second portion of my trip, the guidelines were clear, "Please be aware that only post-2006 US Dollar bills are acceptable. Bills should be in excellent condition with no tears, stains or markings," my safari outfitters website said.

Next time, I'd make sure my bank was giving me new money for tips.

Thankfully, the lodges I stayed at had almost everything I needed. Most had reusable water bottles, bug spray, and sunscreen ready.

There were just a few small items I wish I had packed.

For example, I would have loved to have a reusable plastic straw. Safaris are bumpy rides, which means drinking out of a water bottle's open mouth was nearly impossible. A reusable straw would've allowed me to drink while we were on the move.

There were also a few times I used public restrooms — at airstrips and park entrances — where there wasn't toilet paper. A pack of tissues would've solved that problem.

The safari experience was much more casual than I anticipated.

Between the clothing and lodges stocking necessities, it was hard to make any significant packing mistakes.

For a future safari, I'll prioritize comfy clothes, packing new money, and having a reusable straw handy.

I packed everything I'd need with me in my room in a smaller bag, including snacks, entertainment devices, toiletries, and clothes for sleeping.

I put everything else I needed in Sacramento in a larger bag. I ended up having space to keep both bags in my room, but I was still glad to have everything organized and in one place.

I booked a roomette so I had access to the dining car, which included complimentary meals.

I ate a salad for lunch and had dinner on the train. I thought the train food was decent but I wasn't a huge fan of dinner and dug into the snacks I brought with me instead.

I didn't eat everything I brought on the train, but my own variety of snacks was helpful, so I didn't have to spend money at the café.

Upon boarding the train and arriving in my roomette, the space felt clean. But for my own piece of mind, I was glad I brought a small package of disinfecting wipes.

Cleaning the armrests, door handle, and high-touch items such as the attendant call button and air-temperature dial made me feel more comfortable.

When I boarded the train, two small plastic water bottles were already in my room. Though I could've asked my car attendant for more water, I had already brought my own reusable thermos with me.

Bottle filling stations were also in the same car as my room so it was easier to get my own water than continuously ask my busy attendant for a beverage.

I didn't have access to my own bathroom in the roomette. A shared bathroom was just a few doors down from my room on the same floor and others, as well as showers, were located downstairs on the first level of the sleeper car.

Still, I was thankful I brought easy-to-grab makeup-remover wipes to use at night. The shared bathrooms were quite small so I thought washing my face in a public sink wouldn't have been a pleasant experience.

Amtrak provided a blanket for each sleeper-car bed but I chose to bring an additional one from home.

It was nice to have a piece of home with me on my trip. Plus, I could better adjust my temperature and comfort throughout the night with two blankets.

Some Amtrak trains don't have WiFi, and in my experience, cell service can be spotty for much of the journey.

Though I spent a lot of time talking to other travelers, I was glad I packed a book to read in my downtime. I also downloaded a few episodes of one of my favorite shows at home to watch before I went to sleep.

This was my first Amtrak trip so I didn't know what to expect. Because I sometimes get travel anxiety, I brought a few items that have helped me on other trips.

I packed CBD and essential oils and an aromatherapy mist to help create a calm space if I needed to.

The most important item I wish I had packed was something to help with motion sickness. Since I'd never experienced motion sickness before, I assumed I'd be just fine on a train.

I was OK throughout the entire ride but when I arrived in Sacramento, I felt like I was still on the train and was nauseous for most of the day.

I think having something on the moving train, like a travel wristband or some kind of medicine, would've helped to alleviate motion sickness.

Though a temperature dial in the roomette controlled an air vent on the ceiling, it didn't seem to do much. Even with the dial all the way down to cool, I felt really warm in the middle of the night.

I'd brought heavier clothes to sleep in because I thought I'd be cold but now, I wish I packed lighter pajamas.

There was a latch to lock the roomette door from the inside, which I appreciated at night, but I didn't see one on the outside the room.

When I was roaming the train, I carried my phone and wallet with me so they weren't left unattended. While walking around, I noticed that other travelers had used their own padlocks to lock their sleeper-car rooms.

Next time, I might bring a padlock so I can lock my room and leave my items without having to worry.

After I boarded my train, I learned Amtrak passengers who stay in a sleeper car are allowed to bring their own alcohol on the train.

According to Amtrak's website, bringing private-stock alcoholic beverages are welcome, as long as they're kept and consumed in your own room.

Next time, I'll definitely bring my favorite bottle of wine or hard cider to enjoy while watching the sunset out the window.

This story was originally published on October 2, 2022, and most recently updated on November 27, 2024.