The rainy season has its perks for travellers and if you want to capitalise on it, then you need to know what to pack when you travel. In Nigeria, some places experience torrential rain throughout the season while others have intermittent rainfall. So you need to pack for when the weather is hot, and the rain is falling, and when the clouds in the sky make air cool without rain. Here is what you should pack when travelling in Nigeria during the rainy season:
1. Clothes
The wet season calls for layering of clothes. Because of the temperature variation, it is best to take clothes made with light, breathable and eco-friendly materials. Fabrics like wool, organic cotton, etc are perfect during this time because they provide warmth and dry out easily. If moving around with an umbrella is a burden, get shower caps and or hooded raincoats. A Rain Poncho or Coat/Jacket is also great to have with you this season besides sweaters and jeans. Shorts and Three-quarter pants are cool but if you stay in a mosquito or sand-fly infested area, best to go for trousers and long sleeves that cover your legs and arms.
2. Shoes
We rarely give thought to our feet but you can’t wear your usual shoes during the rainy season when moving around. This is when having crocs or non-slip trekking sandals come in handy. Rubber shoes are not bad but beware, you can slip while moving around in the wet. If you must wear a canvass, go for trainers that have grippy soles, mesh-like materials that dry out easily. Make sure you change out wet socks after wading through a pool of water with your shoe to prevent leeches or fungal infections from getting to your feet.
3. Gear
Now is a good time to get a water-resistant backpack for your laptop or a soft leather handbag. Also, get a dry bag or fancy-looking nylon/rubber bag to package your important documents inside your bag. That way if the external bag gets wet, your documents stay dry. A travel-sized (compact) umbrella is a must because you never know when the rain might fall. Get surge protectors to protect your devices while charging.
If you love taking pictures, get a waterproof camera or get a LensCoat raincoat for your DSLR Camera. You can also use a ‘dry sack’ to protect both camera and phones, so you can get one for your Android camera phone if that’s what you use to take pictures. A microfiber towel that dries quickly is also great to travel with since drying things this season will be hard. For ladies, now is the time to test out your waterproof lipstick and mascara; though light make-up is best during the rainy season.
4. Medication
Mosquitoes are rampant this season. While carrying an insecticide or a mosquito net to sleep with is good, it is also important to carry anti-malaria medication and multi-vitamin pills. Note that while vitamin C is good for preventing flu/cold, it might increase the malaria parasites activities if you have already been infected by mosquitoes. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables to boost your immune system. Make sure you drink clean water and carry it and insect repellent cream/spray around with you if you plan to go backpacking in the rainforest.
Now you know, planning a trip during the rainy season shouldn’t be a mind-boggling affair any more.