Living Her Vision

Although I was excited about the trip to Madikwe, I was not excited about the long travel days ahead. Our flight on South African Airways to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg was scheduled to be 14 and a half hours. Until this trip, my longest international flight was about five hours.

Most people I know want to visit Africa, Europe, or Asia, but the length of the flight prevents them from going.

For me, I knew it was going to be about preparation. I had to prepare my mind to be okay with sitting for hours, and I knew I had to keep myself entertained in the event that I couldn’t sleep. To help, I downloaded books on my iPad and shows from Netflix.

Our flight departed at 10:40 am Eastern time, but in South Africa, it was already 5:40 pm.

After a few hours, all the lights were turned off to mimic bedtime to allow passengers to sleep. Passengers were given a package that came with a complimentary blanket, a small travel pillow, and a small toiletry kit that contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a sleep mask.

Though it was dark, I could not sleep. My body was having a difficult time and couldn’t be tricked into thinking it was bedtime.

The first eight hours of the flight were easy, but by the ninth hour, I started to get a little restless…even with all the in-flight entertainment. By that point, I was tired of reading and watching movies.

While onboard, we were given two meals and a small snack. Let’s just say, I’m glad I brought my own snacks.

In my carry-on, I packed my own toiletries which included toothbrush/paste, face and body wipes, lotion, deodorant, and other items so that I could feel as refreshed as possible during the long travel day.

My advice for those who are traveling internationally on a long flight is to bring your own snacks, toiletries, and other items that will make the flight as easy and comfortable as possible.

Once, we got to Johannesburg, it took us about thirty minutes for all eight of us to get through customs. Then, we had a four-hour drive to Madikwe. When my in-laws visited before, they took a one-hour flight from the airport to Madikwe, so that is an option as well.

Tip 1: If your feet have a tendency to swell on long flights or drives, pack a pair of compression socks. During the last two hours of the flight, my feet did become swollen.

Tip 2: You all know that I try to get the most perks out of my credit card. For this trip, I used my Chase Preferred Credit Card to book through their travel portal. As a result, I was able to save on our flights. If you travel often or are planning to travel more, look into a travel rewards credit card. It is definitely worth it, in my opinion.

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