What to take on a kitesafari?

This year's Kitesafari season is underway! 

Due to numerous questions, we have prepared some tips for you on how to pack for your trip. Be sure to read this text to find out what to take with you on a kitesafari. Warning – a few things may surprise you! 

What to take on a kitesafari – equipment

One of the most frequently asked questions is what equipment to take with you to the cabin? Wind is nature, it is not 100% predictable, and forecasts may not come true. The truth is that the weather forecast for more than two days is a bit of a guessing game :)

Of course, we do not hide the fact that once such a wind forecast is available, it is checked to at least have an outline of how it may blow in a given week. And in Egypt the wind really varies, it may be 12 knots or it may be 40.

Therefore, anticipating any questions - take as much equipment as you can :)

The larger the wind range you can cover with your equipment and skills, the greater your chances of making the most of your hours on the water. It is worth taking into account that your skills are a very important factor here, so it is good to constantly polish them, for example during our camp progress.

When it comes to kite equipment, you often ask whether you should take it on a kitesafari push-up? 

On the beach, we inflate kites from bottles, so a pump is not needed.

However, it is worth having a hose with you tip for your kite, in case there is no such thing on the boat. Of course, if you like to pump your kayak yourself, take a pump with you. It is also a good form of at least a minimal warm-up before the session.

Foam – yes or no?

Another frequently asked question is: Should I take a wetsuit?

At the beginning of May the water was quite cold, we even used long wetsuits. However, when I write this post, it is already halfway through the month and the water is quite warm, so it is enough for swimming short foam.

During the day, the water warms up enough to swim in lycra and boardshorts, and for swimming at sunrise and sunset It is a good idea to take the sun with you for thermal comfort an additional layer. Of course, you won't need a wetsuit in full summer. Similarly, for September sessions it is worth having some protection, at the end of September - a short wetsuit, etc. 

Which clothes are worth taking on a kitesafari?

Considering that we will spend most of our time on the beach or in the water, you will not need a lot of clothes. It's also worth having with you:

• several pairs of board shorts, 
• lycra, bikini
• something to wear between sessions and after sunset,
• something a little more outgoing is also useful, for a party on the beach or a yacht, or for dinner in El Gouna,
• for the evening, we recommend taking a sweatshirt and one of these surprising things - a hat without a visor (like a winter one). Not so much because it can be so cold, but because sometimes in the evenings, when it's windy, only a hat can keep your hair in order 😉

What should you pack for a kitesafari? – sun protection

The sun can be brighter in Egypt intense than one might sometimes think, especially for those bodies that will be exposed to its rays for the first time after winter. Therefore, it is very important to equip yourself with appropriate sun protection:

• long sleeve lycra, 
• caps/hats,
• glasses, 
• short shorts, but also leggings, 
• good sunscreen (preferably zinc pomade),
• comin/buff.

Why leggings - you will be on the water for several days, several hours a day, and the sunscreen simply washes off, so it is worth having additional protection with you.

When it comes to glasses, in addition to those you will use on land or on a boat, it is a good idea to have a pair with you for water use - for swimming or training. It is important that such glasses have a polarizing filter and that you will not be very sad if they get lost or scratched 😉 what might happen during lessons or swimming. That's why we recommend polarized glasses, e.g Decathlon.

Water shoes and additional swimming accessories

It is very important to take with you water shoes! Also for people who are independent and spend more time on the water than walking on the bottom. It is worth having additional protection for your feet, if only to check the bottom, where there are shells, stones and reefs and where there are none during the first few moments on a new spot. It would be a shame to hurt your foot at the beginning of the trip!

It is especially important for students to have water shoes with them, because they will be walking on the bottom quite a lot.

For people swimming and learning various tricks, a good tip is to take a life jacket with you impact vest. 

For people training from the beginning, all equipment except a wetsuit and water shoes - i.e.: kite, board, bar, trapeze, vest and helmet are provided by KITEAWAY. 

For independent people, the vest may also be useful during longer kayaking trips, i.e. the so-called downwinds or crosswinds. It is also worth having with you during such crossings waterproof backpackto store water, sunscreen, a hat, etc.

What else to take on a kitesafari – others, no less important 😉

Speaking of water - we try to limit the use of plastic and waste production, so we suggest you take your own water with you. private water bottle. There are dispensers on the boat with large water cans that you can use to refill your bottles.

We often conduct kitesafari trips warm-up or stretching. So it's good to have it with you something comfortable to wear while training.

Towels – they are on the yacht, but their own poncho It's always good to have 🙂

Let's not forget about one of the most important and invaluable attributes of a kitesurfer - Ikea bag! 😁

If you have any questions or suggestions about what should be included in your travel kit - please contact us!