So you’ve booked your Kenya safari — congratulations! Whether you’re heading to the Masai Mara, Amboseli, or Samburu, your first African safari is an experience that will stay with you forever. But what should you actually expect? Here’s our comprehensive guide to help you prepare.
What to Pack
The most important rule: dress in neutral colours. Khaki, olive, tan, and brown blend with the bush environment and won’t startle wildlife. Avoid bright whites, blues, and blacks — white attracts tsetse flies, and dark colours absorb heat.
Mornings and evenings on safari are surprisingly cold, especially at altitude. Pack a warm fleece or softshell jacket for early game drives. During the day, lightweight, breathable clothing works best. A wide-brimmed hat, quality sunglasses, and SPF 50 sunscreen are essential under the equatorial sun.
Your most valuable items will be binoculars and a camera. A pair of 8×42 or 10×42 binoculars transforms your wildlife viewing. For photography, a 200-400mm telephoto lens is ideal, though even a smartphone with a decent zoom can capture memorable images from a safari vehicle.
The Game Drive Experience
Game drives are the heart of your safari. Most parks offer morning drives (departing around 6:30 AM) and afternoon drives (starting around 3:30 PM), when animals are most active. Some parks allow full-day drives with a packed lunch, which maximizes your wildlife time.
You’ll be in a modified 4×4 vehicle — usually a Toyota Land Cruiser or safari van — with a pop-up roof for 360-degree viewing and photography. Your guide doubles as a driver and will communicate via radio with other guides to locate the best sightings.
Patience is key. Not every drive produces a leopard kill or a river crossing. But the quiet moments — a herd of elephants feeding at sunset, a lilac-breasted roller perched on an acacia branch — are just as magical as the dramatic encounters.
Tipping Culture
Tipping is customary on safari. A general guideline: $10-20 per person per day for your safari guide, and $5-10 per person per day for camp or lodge staff (placed in a communal tip box). For exceptional service, tip more generously. Always tip in cash — USD or Kenya Shillings are both accepted.
Health and Safety
Consult your doctor about malaria prophylaxis before travelling. Yellow fever vaccination is required if you’re arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever zone. Drink bottled or purified water throughout your trip, and use insect repellent during dawn and dusk hours.
Safari vehicles are safe — always follow your guide’s instructions and never stand up in the vehicle when near predators. At night, use a torch when walking between your tent and common areas, and always listen for nocturnal wildlife sounds.