Practical advice for a safari in Kenya
some useful notes for visitors on safari:
GETTING HERE
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If approaching from somewhere other than Nairobi, ask us for directions or check with your agent.
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Arriving By Air
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Start your safari in luxury at Keekorok Airstrip - usually from Nairobi Wilson Airport. There are several flights daily with Air Kenya or Safarilink. Flight time is about 45min-1hr from Nairobi to Keekorok Airstrip. Meet and transfer to Osero - about 25mins away
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Arriving by Road:
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With a Tour Vehicle or Self-drive (contact us for detailed directions). If travelling from Nairobi, come via Mai Mahiu - Narok - Sekenani. Turn first left after the Sekenani gate and left again after the police post. Approximately 6km after the Sekenani gate, after climbing a hill from the valley, turn left to Osero
WHAT TO BRING
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NOTE: There may be a weight limit of as little as 15kg in a soft bag for the light aircraft transfers; no such limit when travelling by road, of course.
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Layers, a mixture of long and short sleeves, are best for the fluctuating temperatures. Fleece/jumper plus windcheater/light waterproof jacket - it's cold on early morning game drives. Sticking to neutral colours is normal when on safari.
A wide brimmed hat for sun protection. Good sunglasses - to minimize brightness and glare. Sunscreen (rated SPF15 or higher) and insect repellent are both useful
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Binoculars are good for game viewing; a torch/flashlight is of course useful at night;
Spare batteries, glasses etc are a good idea and general or prescription medicines if required
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Photocopies of Passports, Air tickets. Info re:vaccination certificates. Traveller’s Cheque numbers noted and recorded. Credit Cards and/or Travellers Cheques and some cash.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
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Good times for wildlife and landscape photography are: mornings and early evening. The sun is still bright but with golden hue, not so high in the sky and pronounced shadows are cast.
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A sturdy camera and kit bag to cope with travel and handling; even a cloth outer bag is a good idea to protect against dust. Lens cleaning accessories, eg. a blower brush, may also be necessary to cope with the dust of a Kenya safari. Spare (rechargeable) batteries can be a good idea.
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A long lens (80mm-200mm zoom is good) for wildlife photography, while a 35mm-70mm lens is a good general lens for landscapes. For bright daytime conditions a UV filter may be helpful. For flowers or insect life, you may wish to pack a macro. Birders may wish to bring a spotter scope and tripod. If possible, bring your own rooftop camera mounts or bean bag camera rests.
HEALTH:
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Tourists should use bottled water or water that has been boiled. Locals are resistant to the micro-organisms that can exist in untreated water, but visitors might not be so lucky. Food in tourist facilities is prepared using clean water - and cooked food is generally safe in most places. Some of the food from stalls or 'rural' bars can be delicious - but occasionally speed up the 'digestive process'.
Medicines
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It is advisable to travel with a small medical kit including antacids, painkillers, anti-histamines and cold remedies. You may also want to bring anti-diarrhoetic (eg Imodium) and even re-hydration (eg Electrolade) treatments.
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Standard vaccinations (to be obtained before travelling, of course)are: Tetanus; Typhoid; Hepatitis (A/B) and Yellow fever (Kenya does not require a certificate as do some other countries). Any necessary personal prescription drugs should be brought; also bring the generic names for these drugs in case they need to be replaced locally.
Malaria
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Malaria risk is fairly low in Masai Mara, but prevention mainly consists of using effective protection against bites (mosquito repellant). Of course, visitors should take anti-malarial medication according to medical advice. Malaria symptoms are unpleasant and it is routine in Kenya to be diagnosed by a local doctor, to be treated immediately, and to initiate a quick recovery. A very important reason to take anti-malaria precautions is because sickness can take time to develop and its diagnosis and treatment in your home country is unlikely to be as efficient as it is in Kenya.
Flying Doctor Service
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Operated by AMREF The Flying Doctor Service provides outreach and emergency care to local communities in remote regions and it also provides a medical air evacuation service to tourists. By joining the Flying Doctors' Society you can help the service reach the people who need it most and also ensure a free emergency evacuation flight for yourself should the worst happen on your travels.