Practical advice for a safari in Kenya

some useful notes for visitors on safari:

    GETTING HERE
  • If approaching from somewhere other than Nairobi, ask us for directions or check with your agent.
    • Arriving By Air
    • 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
    • Arriving by Road:
    • 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
  • 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.
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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:
  • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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:
  • 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
    • 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.
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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.