Before You Travel
Everything we tell our own guests before a safari.
What to pack, how park fees really work, the rules inside the parks and the health and photography advice that makes the biggest difference on the ground.
Packing
What to bring
Clothing
- Neutral colours — khaki, olive, stone. Avoid bright white and dark blue or black (tsetse flies are drawn to dark blue).
- Two or three long-sleeved shirts for sun and evening insects
- A warm fleece and a windproof layer — dawn game drives are genuinely cold, especially on the Mara and the Ngorongoro rim
- Comfortable trousers, one pair of shorts, closed walking shoes and sandals
- Wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a light rain shell in the green season
- Swimwear — most lodges from mid-range upward have a pool
Kit & gear
- Binoculars — 8x42 is the sweet spot, and one pair per person, not per couple
- Camera with a zoom of at least 300 mm, plus double the memory cards you think you need
- Universal adapter: Kenya and Tanzania both use UK-style three-pin, 240V
- Power bank — some camps run generators for limited hours only
- Soft duffel bag, not a hard case: light aircraft luggage limits are typically 15 kg including hand luggage
- Head torch, insect repellent with DEET, high-factor sunscreen and lip balm
Documents
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, with blank pages
- Kenya eTA or Tanzania e-visa, applied for online before departure
- Yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from, or transiting, a yellow-fever risk country
- Travel insurance including medical evacuation — we ask for the policy number before departure
- Printed and digital copies of your itinerary, vouchers and emergency contacts
In the parks
The rules that actually matter
Stay inside the vehicle unless your guide says otherwise, and never stand on the seats or roof edge.
Keep your voice down at sightings, and never call out or whistle to attract an animal's attention.
No off-road driving in national parks and reserves; private conservancies may allow it at the guide's discretion.
Never feed any animal, including baboons and monkeys around lodges.
Do not litter, and take all plastic out with you — single-use plastic bags are banned in Kenya and restricted in Tanzania.
Drones need written permits from the aviation and wildlife authorities and are effectively not allowed for visitors.
Park gates open at 06:00 and close at 18:00 in both countries; night drives happen only on private land.
Ask before photographing people. In Maasai and Samburu communities, arrange it through your guide.
Costs
Where your money actually goes
Park & conservation fees
Charged per person per 24 hours and set by the wildlife authorities. They are a large, non-negotiable share of any safari cost and we always show them as a separate line.
Concession & bed-night fees
Payable in private conservancies on top of park fees. They fund rhino security, ranger salaries and community leases.
Vehicle & guide
Priced per day. A private 4x4 costs more than a seat in a shared vehicle but transforms how you experience the parks.
Internal flights
Light aircraft between parks save hours of rough road. Luggage is limited to roughly 15 kg in a soft bag.
Tipping
Discretionary. As a guide: USD 15–25 per day for your driver-guide, and USD 10–15 per day into the camp staff box, per couple.
Taxes
Kenya quotes include 16% VAT, 2% catering levy and 2% tourism levy where applicable. Every one appears on your proforma.
Health & safety
- Speak to a travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure about malaria prophylaxis — all the parks we cover are in malaria areas.
- Yellow fever vaccination is required if you arrive from a risk country, and is often advised anyway for East Africa.
- Drink bottled or filtered water; every camp we use provides it.
- Altitude matters on Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro — build in the acclimatisation days, they are not padding.
- Carry your own small kit: rehydration salts, antihistamine, plasters and any prescription medication in its original packaging.
Getting better photographs
- The good light is the first and last 90 minutes of the day. Plan drives around it, not around breakfast.
- Shoot from a low window rather than the roof hatch when you can — eye level is far more powerful.
- A beanbag on the window frame beats a tripod in a vehicle every time.
- Ask your guide to switch off the engine and position for the light; a good guide will anticipate this.
- Bring a dust blower and change lenses as little as possible, particularly in Amboseli and Tsavo.
Ready to put dates against it?
Read the park guides to decide where you want to be, then send us your dates and budget — we will come back with a costed itinerary that itemises park fees, stays and transfers.