ANN AVEYARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Wildlife Photographer - Capturing nature's beauty through a lens.
Packing for a Safari
If you’ve never been on safari before packing for a trip into the African bush can be a little daunting. Are you taking too much or too little? What will the weather be like? Are there laundry services? How smartly do you have to dress in the evenings? There is a lot to think about.
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I've written this guide to answer some of your questions.
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Documents
Travel Insurance.
Travel insurance is essential.
Check that the policy covers all your needs for the trip, including all health emergencies, personal possessions and for camera equipment. When you travel, make sure you take your insurance policy details with you, including the policy number and your insurer’s emergency assistance telephone number.
Health and Inoculations - check the Government website https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya/health
As soon as you have booked your safari make an appointment with the travel nurse at your GP practice or at a travel clinic at a pharmacy to check if you need any inoculations. I have found the Boots Chemist travel to be excellent.
Antimalarials are highly recommended.
Check the Government website for foreign travel health advice: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya
Passport Validity.
Your passport has to be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive. You should have at least two blank pages in your passport on arrival. Check the Government website for entry requirements for Kenya
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya/entry-requirements
Electronic Travel Authorisation - eTA
A visa is no longer required to enter Kenya, but visitors are required to apply online for an electronic travel authorisation in advance of travel. I recommend this is applied for about 2-3 weeks before travelling.
Link to apply for your eTA https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en
When applying for the eTA have the following documents ready before starting your application
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Valid passport for a least 6 months after your date of arrival in Kenya, with at least 2 blank pages.
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A passport style photo, the photo must have a clear background and be in colour (jpeg max 293mb)
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A photo of your passport bio-data page (jpg max 293mb)
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Contact information, - your email address and phone number
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Name and contact details of the person to be contacted in an emergency
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Details of your flights, arrival and departure itinerary
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Accommodation booking confirmation
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Credit card, debit card for payment
Luggage​
The weight limit on the internal, bush planes it's 15kg, but those travelling on my Photo Safaris will have a generous weight allowance of 25Kg on these flights.
No hard cases, a duffle bag or soft bag is recommended as these can easily be stowed on the bush planes.
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​​​​​​Cameras and photographic equipment - always take as hand luggage in a suitable camera bag.
Personally I use a Think Tank Airport Commuter backpack as it's the perfect size to fit all my camera gear, my laptop and a few bits and pieces such as battery chargers etc.
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Essential ​
These are the most important things. In fact you won’t be going anywhere without some of them.
1. Passport
2. Cash and credit cards
3. Airline tickets
4. Vaccination certificates (yellow fever etc) where required
5 Medication - malaria prophylactics if advised and any personal medication (also take your prescription in case of emergency such as your medication getting lost). It is advisable to carry all medication in hand luggage.
6 Travel insurance policy details, including your policy number and contact details for claims and emergencies.
7 Hard copy of all important documentation - airline tickers, visa, vaccinations.
8 If you wear spectacles then pack a spare pair
9 Mobile phone (you can purchase a sim card at the airport in Nairobi. I recommend safaricom as they have the best coverage. You will find the safaricom kiosk directly in front of you as you leave baggage re-claim at Nairobi airport).
Alternatively you can download an eSim to your phone before you travel and then just activate it when you arrive in Kenya. Previous guests have found this the easiest option as you won't have to remove your existing SIM card, plus you won't have to waste time queuing at the Safaicom desk at the airport.
This is the link to apply for your eSim https://www.airalo.com/auth/signup?referral=ANN3850&referral_name=ann
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10. Hard copy of most important contact numbers in case your mobile phone is lost.
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Recommended​
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1. Binoculars
2. Camera
3. Plenty of spare camera batteries.
4. Charging devices with the correct plug or adapters (kenya uses the same 3 pin plugs as the UK)
4. Camera storage devices - enough memory cards for all those thousands of photos
5. Warm clothing for the chilly mornings and evenings. Scroll down this page for a suggested clothing packing list
6. First aid kit containing such items as:
Antiseptic cream, for minor scratches
Antihistamine cream for insect bites
Paracetamol or similar pain reliever
Indigestion remedies
Medication for upset tummy / diarrhoea
Travel sickness meds (if prone to travel sickness)
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7. Sun lotion
8. Lip balm and moisturiser
9. Notebook and pen
10. Luxury item - a wildlife book to identify birds and animals
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11. Laptop
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Do Not Pack
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Single use plastic, it is banned in Kenya. For environmental reasons plastic bags are illegal, including the customary, plastic, duty-free bags. For liquids in hand luggage it is recommended to use transparent, reusable toiletry bags.
If you do put liquids in a plastic bag before going through security at the UK airport then please dispose of this bag before boarding the plane.
Camouflage / military print clothing
Unnecessary jewellery and expensive accessories
Disposable water bottles
Drones
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Clothing ​​
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Pack very minimal, earth-toned / neutral coloured clothing. Most camps have a laundry service so think 4 - 5 outfits
Shirts with long sleeves and cotton trousers are ideal to protect from bugs and sun and to keep you warm in the mornings.
Layer up for early mornings and cool evenings. Biting insects like tsetse flies are attracted to blue and black colours so avoid these colours. White clothes stand out more than any other colour in the African bush and so isn’t suitable to wear.
You’ll also need sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.
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Suggested clothing packing list:
​* 2 pairs khaki or neutral coloured cotton trousers (jeans are rather hot). I love the ones with lots of pockets for batteries, lens cloths etc
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* 2 pairs sturdy shorts or 3/4 length trousers (personally I don’t bother with shorts, I pack extra cotton trousers instead)
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* 2 long sleeved shirts (for sun protection as well as warmth).
* 2 warm sweatshirts
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* 1 lightweight waterproof windbreaker / puffer jacket
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* 2 pairs sturdy plimsols / trainers
* 2-4 short-sleeved shirts or T-shirts
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* snood, bandana or lightweight scarf
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* 5 changes underwear and socks
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* night clothes
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* ladies may be more comfortable wearing a sports bra on the game drives
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* lightweight cagoule that can be folded up in your camera bag, to have in case you are caught in rain on a game drive
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* 1 sunhat with a brim (baseball caps might cover your nose but not your ears and neck)
* If you feel the cold then a warm hat, a beanie hat is perfect, and gloves for the early morning drives
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* Compression stockings (you'll be sitting for long hours in a jeep)
Early mornings and evenings are cold, particularly on the game drives as the jeeps are open. Wear layers so as the temperature warms up during the day you can gradually take off layers and the reverse at the end of the day. By mid day it can be very hot and the African sun is very strong so lots of sun lotion is recommended.
Toiletry bag - Shower gel, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner are usually supplied by the camp so no need to pack these.
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Clothing in camouflage / military print is not permitted.
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Personal recommendations for clothing
Mountain Warehouse always have some good and very reasonably priced clothing suitable for a safari
https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/
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Craghoppers are excellent, I particularly like their boots
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Currency
Kenya’s national currency is the Kenyan Shilling. The US dollar is widely accepted, but it’s useful to have a small amount of currency in Kenyan shillings for smaller tips as some safari workers may not have access to exchange bureaus.
If travelling on one of my photo safaris your trip will be ‘all inclusive’ so you will just require some currency for tips and such things as premium drinks eg champagne, spirits at your camp / lodge, souvenirs and food and drinks in Nairobi on evening of arrival and departure. Credit cards are accepted at the camp and the hotel in Nairobi.
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Tipping
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Tipping is more appreciated than you can imagine. Kenya is a poor country and safari workers rely on tips to meet basic needs such as food and shelter for their families, so rest assured that the money and tips you spend on your trip to Kenya will go a long way. As a general rule of thumb in the Mara, guests who are happy with the service usually tip the following:
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Tipping in camps
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In safari camps and lodges you’ll find a gratuity box, and anything put inside this will be distributed to all members of the general camp staff from the chefs to the laundry attendants. A tip of 10-20 USD per guest per day is recommended, 20-40 USD for couples.
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Drivers/guides are not included in the tip box share which is why you tip them separately.
Tipping your safari guide
- On safari the recommended tip for your guide is 15-20 USD per guest per day (30-40 USD per couple), handed directly to your guide at the end of your stay.
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