12 – 18 months

        Contact your Booking Agent or Outfitter       
Decide on your destination
What time of year do you want to go?
What budget are you working with?
What type of traveler are you:  Luxury, Moderate, Rustic
Who will be in your party:  will you be with a small group or independent
Establish travel insurance carrier
Check personal documents (Make sure passport and visas are current)
Contact Travel Doctor and establish immunization schedule
Begin your Journal - you will not want to forget all the details of your trip that happened     before you left!
Get active – you will enjoy your adventure more the more fit you are

9 - 12 months

         Work with Booking Agent for airline tickets
Decide on and book any tourist travel, excursions, and car rentals
Apply for visas if they will be needed
Check kennel information if you have animals
Stay on track with your vaccinations – are they current and what you need for the area you’ll be travelling to?
Get organized:  Set aside a drawer or basket to store items as you accrue them for this trip – this way you’ll know where everything is when it is time to pack
Put a file folder in your “trip basket” to hold the paperwork for your safari

6 - 9 months

        Check with your Booking Agent on travel insurance

        Check cameras to be sure they are working

      Read the Empty Carousel for advice on travelling

        Check luggage (zippers / locks, etc.)

        Check with carriers to learn the proper routine for following-up on lost luggage

        Continue your fitness plan

4 -6 months

        Check with your financial institution and make sure your bank card will work abroad
Complete and return any travel paperwork that is still outstanding (permits, shipment details, etc.)
Be sure to get written confirmation from your Booking Agent or Outfitter
If you need new shoes, buy them now and begin breaking them in
Find out how many miles you will be walking every day on average and what the terrain is like - then prepare yourself physically for this mileage wearing the shoes and socks you intend to wear on your trip.
If hunting:  practice shooting

2-4 months

        Arrange for someone to watch your home / care for your pets / plants
Create or revise your will
Apply for Proof of Ownership for each weapon you intend to take with you
Consider taking probiotics for stomach health while travelling

1 month

        Register your trip with the State Department
Order foreign currencies, traveler's checks
Pay any bills that will come due while you are gone
Make copies of all of your documents; itineraries, packing lists, confirmations
Set up general e-mail account (yahoo, hotmail, gmail)
E-mail copies of travel documents to your general e-mail so that you can access this account while abroad
Get trophy tags from the taxidermist you plan to use clearly labeled with all delivery information

2 weeks

        Take photos of your luggage
Provide a family member or friend with contact information and copies of your documents
Call your credit card companies and alert them you are traveling abroad
Refill any prescriptions that are running low

1 week

        Suspend mail delivery with the Postal Service
Confirm plane reservations
Clean the house, toilets and other places mildew might grow - you will feel better coming home to a clean house!

1-3 days

       Take pets to kennel

        Change voicemail at work

        Activate “Out of Office” message on work e-mail

        Charge Cell phone, cameras, etc.

        Clean out your refrigerator of any items that will spoil while you are away

        Water your plants

        Set home lights on a timer

        Take out your trash

        Unplug appliances

        Lock all doors and windows

        Charge batteries for electronic devices you will be taking with you

Last minute

         Turn off water

         Take a last tour of the house

         Add final toiletries to bag

         Pack chargers
Pack your trip journal