When you pack for a trip to Africa, it can be an exhausting experience even for experienced travellers. Packing for a Safari or a Maasai Mara trip is more of a simple affair, with careful consideration for the weather, comfort, and local culture. This can apply to a Tanzania Safari.
What to Pack
This is just a general guide on what to take on your Kenya Safari. Please ensure you pack minimally and use a structured layer since local airlines flying to various parks within a country have a typical luggage restriction of 15 KGs allowance per person(including carry-on bags). Soft-sued bags or folding duffel bags are recommended.
While we list most things down below, your packing list should include the following essentials: Clothing suitable for safaris, shoes, a hat, Sun protection cream, insect repellent, vital medication if needed, and if you can bring a camera to capture photos, you can also include it on the list.
Don’t forget the most important part, which is your travel documents, which include your passport, health cards(vaccination certificates), airline tickets, and credit card insurance papers. Ensure all the documents are in order and up-to-date. Your passport must include at least 2 blank pages and six months of validity from the proposed date of exit from Kenya.
NOTE: Kenya aims to eliminate plastic bag usage for environmental reasons, and these have also been banned and are illegal.
Clothes
The ideal clothes to pack for your safari should be casual, lightweight, and loose-fitting to help you cope with the cool weather. You can also pick a neutral colour or shades of a brighter colour for optimum suitability with the wilderness. Khaki and forest green colours are all-time safari favourites and mostly recommended. Please also note that camouflaged, military-pattern clothes may be considered unlawful in most East African countries since they’re worn by most local forces. Make sure to pack a fleece or a light jacket for the cool early mornings during game drives.
When packing, keep in mind that most lodges and camps provide laundry services. Below is a list of essentials you should carry when planning for a safari
- short-sleeve casual shirts
- khaki long sleeve shirts
- light jacket or fleece jacket
- safari multi-purpose safari vests
- khaki trousers
- pair of shorts
Shoes
For most safaris that don’t include trekking or bushwalking, fully closed, lightweight walking shoes are recommended. Safari boots are always a great all-around choice. These are also known as Chukka boots. Hiking boots are also useful, but they are inconveniently heavy unless you’re planning on going for a hike during your trip. You can also carry sandals if you’re staying in a luxury hotel that has swimming pools or in-room use.
Hats And Sun Protection
For protection against UV sun rays, we recommend you pack some sunscreen lotion( a high enough SPF) as well as a wide-brim safari hat(pictured), which will help keep the sun off your face and neck. A pair of Sunglasses and prescription glasses for those who wear contact lenses, which sometimes tend to be uncomfortable due to too much dust.
Insect Repellant
Some of the lodges and camps provide insect repellent, but we still encourage you to pack your own preferred brand. Repellant containing DEET, which is said to be more effective against most insects and bugs. All-natural citronella repellent can also get the job done if you’re concerned about the DEET effects. Please make sure you consult a doctor or pharmacist in order to know which repellent is more suitable for your skin.
Medication
Remember, you will be in the wilderness, which means the nearest town or city may be hours away. Be sure to pack your most essential personal medications, especially brands or medicines that may not be available locally in Kenya. Pharmacies in Nairobi stock a wide variety of medicines for basic requirements such as pain relief, anti-malaria pills, or anti-acids.
Cameras, Binoculars, Travel Adaptors & Laptop
As for cameras and photography equipment, we recommend packing these into your carry-on luggage rather than checking them in for enhanced safety. East Africa offers amazing photo sceneries, so bring along with you a decent camera to make the most of your trip. Binoculars are very useful, and though some Safari operators provide a pair in their vehicle, these may be basic in specs, so if you can bring a set you prefer. For serious photographers, you may want to carry your laptop, which is useful for processing and downloading the photos taken by your camera.
Also, make sure you carry your phone charger and adapter that has more than three triangular patterns. Kenya operates on a 240V supply at 50Hz
Pros & Cons Of Flying to Masai Mara
- Flights from Nairobi to Masai Mara carry a luggage of 15 kilos per passenger, combined for check-in and carry-on, we often get asked if driving down would be a viable option, since some tourists carry photography equipment that passes the weight limit
