Neutral colours, layers for the cold mornings nobody warns you about, and the three things travellers most often forget.
The single most common surprise on a Kenyan safari is the cold. People picture Africa and pack for heat, then find themselves in an open-sided vehicle at 6am in the Mara highlands at around ten degrees, doing sixty kilometres an hour into the wind.
Here is what actually earns its place in the bag.
Clothing
Stick to neutral colours — khaki, olive, beige, brown. Bright colours are conspicuous to wildlife, white shows the dust within an hour, and dark blue and black attract tsetse flies in some areas.
- Two or three pairs of lightweight trousers
- Three or four breathable shirts, at least one long-sleeved
- A warm fleece or insulated jacket for early mornings
- A light rain shell, even in dry season
- Closed walking shoes plus sandals for camp
- A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
The three things people forget
First, a power bank. Camp generators often run only part of the day, and a full day of photography will flatten a phone by mid-afternoon.
Second, binoculars. Guides carry a pair but rarely one each, and the difference between watching a leopard as a distant shape and actually seeing it is a decent 8x42.
Third, a soft-sided bag. If any part of your trip involves a light aircraft, hard suitcases are frequently refused — the luggage holds are moulded and will not take them.
Health and documents
A yellow fever certificate is required for entry to Uganda and Tanzania from Kenya, and it is checked. Carry antimalarials if your doctor recommends them for the parks you are visiting, plus a basic kit with rehydration salts, plasters and any personal medication.
Keep a photograph of your passport on your phone and a paper copy in a separate bag.
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