What to pack for South Africa in May

Lows around 45°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

Lows drop to 45°F on rural terrain at altitude.

Coastal glare reflects off water and pale soil.

May brings insects even when rain stays sparse.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Rural terrain means distance to medical help.

Tap water isn't safe here. A filter bottle beats buying plastic twice a day.

This country runs on Type C, D, G or N. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Rural guesthouses have limited charging infrastructure.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 5:25pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Overhead bins fit carry-on only across regional airlines.

Day hikes into rural areas need a separate pack.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Wind at 15 km/h cuts through without a neck layer.

UV hits 7 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

UV index of 7.0 burns exposed skin in 10.8 hours of daylight.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Altitude and dry climate dehydrate faster than expected.

Tap water isn't safe and stomach trouble derails travel.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel requires document security.

Bag theft happens at transport hubs.

Two weeks of layered clothes need organization.

Rural guesthouses wash slowly, so frequent laundry matters.

Lows around 45°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Transport noise and shared walls require isolation.

Thin air at 1749 meters means stronger sun on lips.

Remote areas demand hand sanitizer between washings.

Sunburn and insect bites both happen here.

One outlet means devices must share power time.

Border crossings need passport protection from wear.

Hostels and shared accommodations need luggage security.

Long flights and shared rooms make sleep difficult.