# What would be a good gift for someone going to visit Africa? And other questions about a trip to Africa **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [November 5, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638 "2023-11-05T16:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/1 "2023-11-05T16:58:58Z")
Hi youse guys, My sister is going to Africa in February and I’d like to get some ideas for a good gift I could get for her trip. She’s an extremely picky eater and so I know she’s a bit worried about food. She mostly eats macaroni & cheese and fries and grilled cheese sandwiches. She is planning to take fewer clothes in order to pack snacks. What can I tell her about food there to help her? Any other advice? She is scheduled for a safari. Thanks everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/2 "2023-11-05T17:04:29Z")
Get a travel guide for Africa, which there are a lot of just as there are for any other country or continent or city: > **[Amazon Best Sellers: Best African Travel Guides](https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-African-Travel-Guides/zgbs/books/16703)** > > Discover the best books in Amazon Best Sellers. Find the top 100 most popular Amazon books. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/3 "2023-11-05T17:10:34Z")
“Going to Africa” encompasses a diversity almost as large as “going to Earth”. Care to narrow it down a little? I’m inferring from safari plans that it’s like to be Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana? The southern destinations would be very hot and humid in Ferburary, it’s about the most uncomfortable time of year to visit. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/4 "2023-11-05T17:14:50Z")
I’m very sorry. That was dumb of me! So Johannesburg and Botswana are two of the places I remember from the ticket she showed. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/5 "2023-11-05T17:15:29Z")
Oh this is a great idea. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/6 "2023-11-05T17:18:22Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > She mostly eats macaroni & cheese and fries and grilled cheese sandwiches. I think anyone who travels anywhere far away who only eats those things will have problems. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/7 "2023-11-05T17:20:25Z")
Safari camps offer a wide variety of food, especially the higher end ones, so I wouldn’t sweat that. I hope she has a good camera with a telephoto lens. As mentioned, that’s the hotter time of year, but it’s still a good idea to wear long sleeves to ward off insect bites. Perhaps a lightweight shirt made from wicking material? If she’s going to be in Jo’burg proper, tell her to practice good personal safety: keep her phone out of sight and her head on a swivel. > [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I think anyone who travels anywhere far away who only eats those things will have problems. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/8 "2023-11-05T17:21:41Z")
It’s summer in South Africa & Botswana - very hot and humid, especially in the lowveld safari destination Kruger NP. She should take lightweight clothing, but be prepared for heavy convectional rainshowers, remembering that she will be in an open-sided safari vehicle. A light waterproof poncho that’s easy to slip on and off and completely covers you and the camera on your lap works well. She will have no difficulty finding the junk food she likes anywhere in South Africa and Botswana. Oh, and that time of year she should take malaria prophylaxis. It’s a much easier decision now - most people have no side effects at all with **Malarone**. Health insurance won’t cover it, but if you shop around it’s a few bucks per tab. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/9 "2023-11-05T17:24:45Z")
Picky eater on safari? I’m sure she’ll survive just fine eating outside her comfort zone. But she can bring with backpacker style ready to eat stuff. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/10 "2023-11-05T17:27:04Z")
Good gifts - power adapters for South African plugs, power banks for devices. > [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > She mostly eats macaroni & cheese and fries and grilled cheese sandwiches She will be able to eat exactly the same foods in Joburg, although [the macaroni cheese](https://www.ubereats.com/za/category/johannesburg-gp/mac-and-cheese) will not be that Kraft crap, if that’s what she expects. In Botswana, less likely to get M&C but grilled cheese & fries would be easy enough to get in the city or airport. On safari, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/11 "2023-11-05T17:28:11Z")
Yes, she loves to travel and hates to eat anything fun and different. I feel bad for her. She’s really missing out on so much, but what can you do? Thanks for all the great ideas. I’ll make sure she knows how hot it will be then. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/12 "2023-11-05T17:30:23Z")
I’ve started to use [packing cubes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packing_cube). One has my t-shirts, another my underwear, a third has the socks. Some are designed to compress the clothes, which might leave more space for her food. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/13 "2023-11-05T17:30:58Z")
How big a part of her trip is the safari element? I spend a lot of time there for wildlife photography, so I can give you gift ideas for the safari part of it, but most would not make sense if she’s not really an animal/bird enthusiast and just going to get a taste for a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/14 "2023-11-05T17:36:09Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > In Botswana, less likely to get M&C but grilled cheese & fries would be easy enough to get in the city or airport. On safari, not so much. I don’t think she’ll have any problem. Grilled cheese & fries certainly easy to find in any of the public rest camps in Kruger, and even on a high end private safari that offers haute cuisine for the adults they will probably be ready with this stuff for fussy kids. Mac & cheese maybe not so much a staple. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/15 "2023-11-05T17:46:32Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Certainly easy to find in any of the public rest camps in Kruger Kruger is not Botswana. Depending where she’s going, it _might_ have a selection, but just as likely to be all braai, stew and buffet if it’s one of the full-on bush camps with the very tourist-y experience. She could probably get it made special, but it wouldn’t be on the menu already, is my point. Closest she’ll get ready-made would be [braaibroodjies](https://braai.com/traditional-braaibroodjie/), but in my experience, when Americans are expecting grilled cheese and you serve them that, they are quite taken aback… ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/16 "2023-11-05T17:51:14Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Closest she’ll get ready-made would be [braaibroodjies](https://braai.com/traditional-braaibroodjie/), but in my experience, when Americans are expecting grilled cheese and you serve them that, they are quite taken aback… Really? I’m constantly offered the braai sandwiches when I socialize with other huts at the rest camps, and usually try to politely turn them down because for me it’s an odd thing to eat with dinner. But when I’ve tried them they just seemed like pretty tasty ordinary grilled cheese sandwiches. But I’m not American-born and not a grilled cheese connoisseur. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/17 "2023-11-05T17:57:50Z")
It seems to be the chutney that is weird to them, more than how they’re cooked. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/18 "2023-11-05T17:59:16Z")
Surely, though, the cook would be willing to modify the recipe to accomodate the guest’s tastes? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/19 "2023-11-05T17:59:17Z")
Ah, I grew up with Branston Pickle as a key ingredient… ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638/20 "2023-11-05T18:11:57Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Good gifts - power adapters for South African plugs, power banks for devices. This is a good suggestion, but note there is a difference between power “adapter” (physical - allows you to plug in your electronics to local plugs) and power “converter” (physical/electronic - will convert local electrical current for safe use with your electronics). I am not sure about destinations mentioned, but most modern electrical devices only need the adapter (which is cheaper), as they have built-in converters. It’s also wise to check battery banks for how they handle it - it would suck to get somewhere remote and blow-up your battery bank and end up with no way to charge your phone or camera. Sounds like an awesome adventure! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-a-good-gift-for-someone-going-to-visit-africa-and-other-questions-about-a-trip-to-africa/992638.md?page=2)