Female Packing List for Kenya

Trying to figure out your packing list for Kenya? Kenya is hot and cold, high and low, glamorous and grubby faced, hair blown safari. Figuring out what to pack for Kenya is a challenge. Having spent some significant time wearing the wrong clothes on safari and impractical outfits at the beach, I’ve arrived at the ultimate female packing list for Kenya.   

What you pack for Kenya will depend on a number of things: the destination, time of year and what type of Kenya vacation you’re going on. Many visitors combine safari, city and beach which may tempt you to fill a couple of suitcases. To keep our packing list concise, I enlisted the help of some seasoned travellers to find out what they pack when they are travelling Kenya.

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Packing list for different Kenyan climates

Nairobi and the Central Highlands

Nairobi in Kenya’s Central Highlands region and enjoys a temperate climate for most of the year. Average annual temperatures fluctuate between 52 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit (11 to 26 degrees Celsius). Like most of the country, Nairobi has two rainy seasons, although they start a little earlier here than they do elsewhere. The long rainy season lasts from March to May, while the short rains are from October to November. The sunniest time of year is December to March, while June to September is cooler and often more overcast. Pack sweaters and shorts for Nairobi, whatever time of the year you visit.

Mombasa and the Coast

Kenya’s coastline and second-largest city, Mombasa are hot and humid all year. The rains arrive here in April – June and October-November but it doesn’t temper the heat and inevitably adds to the humidity. If you are packing for Mombasa and the coast then sweaters are rarely required (mosquito repellent and anti-malarial are)

Northern Kenya

Northern Kenya is an arid region blessed with abundant year-round sunshine and limited rainfall. The best time to travel Northern Kenyan highlights like Lake Turkana, and Sibiloi National Park is June through August. During this time, temperatures are cooler and more bearable.

Western Kenya and the Maasai Mara National Reserve

Western Kenya is generally hot and humid with rain occurring throughout the year. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is located in Western Kenya.

Mount Kenya

In highest elevations near Mount Kenya, it’s cold all year round, especially at night, when the temperature can drop as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, early mornings on the mountain are sunny and dry, with clouds often forming by midday. Pack your suitcase with warm clothes, extra blankets and sleeping bags and wet weather clothes.

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What to wear on safari?

My friends always look fabulous on safari, they got the boots, the hats and the glamorous wraps, but these are also items that serve a purpose. The wild tangle of hair after you have stuck your head out of a safari van for 8 hours defies belief. Safari boots are essential for when you have to push your car out of a mud rut, and sarongs are the perfect multi-tool – cover your hair, wrap up warm, use it as a picnic blanket.

Safari guides may tell you that safari clothes should be in neutral colours, but in reality, you will be in a van or car and your clothing colour doesn’t matter. Scratch this if you are doing a walking safari where you want to blend into the background. Bring loose lightweight, breathable clothing and bring layers, it can get incredibly hot in the day and if you are in a higher altitude surprisingly cold at night. Pack lightly, most places will offer laundry service. Bring a soft but sturdy bag as your precious luggage will often be thrown on and off buses and squashed into jeeps with little consideration for its survival.

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The best female packing list for safari

I never want to advocate someone walking around head to toe in Khaki looking like Croc Dundee, there is a place for fashion even on the hot Mara plains, but a survey of my friends and seasoned safari-goers identified a few essential safari items.

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The best safari hat – Tilley hat

The sun is intense in Kenya, we sit on the equator and without proper headgear sunburn and heatstroke are almost inevitable if you are new to the country. The ultimate safari hat should have a wide brim, enough to cover the forehead, ears and neck. They should be breathable, should have a wide brim of 2.5″ to 3″, which is good enough to cover the forehead, the ears and the back of the neck. It should be breathable, absorb sweat and ideally be waterproof as well. Choose a soft hat which can be put in a bag, rather than the gorgeous but somewhat cumbersome hard hats which become a pain in the butt to tote around everywhere. Finally, make your hat washable; the dust, the sweat… say no more. The expensive but worth it Tilley hat comes with a lifetime guarantee and is voted the best safari hat many times over.

View all the Tilley hats on Amazon

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The best Safari boots – Palladium boots

My friend and I won’t travel without our Palladium boots. They are lightweight enough to squash in a bag, sturdy enough to survive that impromptu hike and comfortable. They also look good.

Find the best prices on Amazon here.

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Kenya packing list for the coast

The coast is hot, even in winter its hot, if you are staying off the beach and it is summer you may be hotter than you have ever been in your life. And it is humid, so, so, humid. If you are travelling to the Kenyan coast in the summer then forget all other clothes and bring swimming costumes and cool floaty dresses.  

Best dresses for the coast

Indian Ocean Boutique has dresses designed for the coast by people at the coast. Using cool light Indian cotton these dresses are perfect for throwing over a bikini or even dressing up for more formal evenings at your hotel.

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Best flip flops and sandals – Havianas

Kenya sells beautiful beaded sandals in most towns and markets until you get your hands on some is there anything better than Havianas?

Shop many gorgeous colours of Haviana here

Best sarong wrap – Kikoy

In Kenya, we have the Kikoy. This light cotton single piece of material is used as a skirt, wrap, blanket or beach towel. Available everywhere from as little as 4 USD. We also have the Shuka the heavier larger wrap that is used by the Maasai and is a good alternative wrap for colder safaris.

The Pink Gecko sells Kikoys in the UK although they will cost you considerably more.

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Packing list for Kenyan cities

Nairobi has its share of 5-star restaurants and groovy nightclubs and Kenyans love to look good. Kenyan women spend lots of money on hair, nails and clothing and pride themselves on their appearance. If you plan a night out in Nairobi then your packing list for Kenya should include something that makes you feel fabulous. In general, restaurants are low key, there is rarely a dress code beyond shoes on / shirts on unless you are invited to a private members club.

Nairobi has its fair share of adventures, the glorious Nairobi National Park is a bonafide safari in the distance and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the Giraffe Centre and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, so bring practical outfits even if just visiting the city.

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The best female packing list for Kenya

Clothing for Kenya

A list of all the clothes you should pack for Kenya, for safari, beach and city

• 3 thin and simple tank tops
• 3 t-shirts
• 2-3 long-sleeved shirts for layering (avoiding mosquito bites)
• 2–3 pairs of shorts of varying lengths.
• 2 long skirts or dresses
• 2–3 pairs of light cotton pants and/or leggings
• Waterproof jacket – light and not too heavy
• 2 sets pyjamas – warm & cold
• Sufficient amount of underwear that will last you at least a week. I suggest 7 pairs of panties, 2 bras and 2 sports bras
• 2 sets of interchangeable swimwear
• 2 pairs of thin socks and 1 pair of normal socks for hiking
• 1 pair of pallidum boots
• 1 pair of flip-flops
• A safari hat
• A good pair of sunglasses

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Personal items/toiletries to pack for Kenya

You can buy everything you need in Nairobi and the larger Kenyan cities. I say need and not necessarily want. While some international brands (Pantene, Dove) are here many are not. You may find your favourite brand secreted away in a mall in Nairobi but the prices are formidable, so bring your essential product with you.

Out of Nairobi in the coastal villages and safari destinations, items may be harder to find. Stock up before you leave.

• 1 hanging toiletry bag – the Komalc toiletry bag is made from the finest Full grain buffalo leather with a high end canvas lining on the outside and water resistant inside lining inside all pockets .
• Shampoo / Conditioner
• Facial moisturiser – you probably have your favorite but my choice is Roche-Posay with SPF 30 which is the only creme with SPF that doesn’t make me sweat the minute I put it on. Buy it here
• Sun Creme kids – 9 years in Africa and 3 kids, I’ve trialled many a suncreme, Child’s Farm is my favorite – buy it here
• Ibuprofen/malaria pills
• Mosquito repellent/deet – Buy Jungle Formula mosquito repellent here
• Birth control for the length of your trip
• Travel first aid kid – this one is specifically for travel to foreign countries and includes sterile needles. Buy it here
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
• At least one deodorant
• Sunscreen – possibly the most important item you will bring to Africa. Sunscreen is serious business. Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport was voted the most effective sunscreen of 2020 – Buy it here.
• Tweezers
• Makeup – few people wear makeup on the beach/safari but you might want to glam up for a night out in Nairobi

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Travelling essentials for Kenya

• Packing cubes – the single most important thing I use for organizing my clothing and compressing what I bring
• Headlamp – handsfree for walking back to you tent at night, reading on the verandah after the sun goes down, not spilling red wine all over your clothes by the campfire at night, spotting ghost crabs on the beach in the dark. This one comes with a dimming function so you don’t blind your friends . Buy it here.
• Leatherman – for making spears, cutting sticks for marshmallows and opening wine. This cheap(ish) one is perfect travelling. Buy it here
• Binoculars – is that a lion in the distance? You may never know without binoculars
• Camera – Kenya is a once in a lifetime kinda place. Don’t forget to preserve those memories.
• Good water bottle – especially one that has a mist function. This one is great and highly rated – Buy it here.
• Fireproof/waterproof document bag – Did I ever tell you about that time that I feel out a boat with my passport in my bag. It wasn’t pretty.
• Powerpack – you will spend time without electricity, whether it is in the bush or thanks to the many power cuts. This one is popular on Amazon
• Surge protector – Kenya can experience huge power surges which will blow your plugged in prize possessions right out the park. Don’t lose every charger and half your electronics like it did, buy this surge protector/multi-plug and protect your things.
• Plug adaptor – Kenya uses a 3 point UK plug, so you may need an adaptor
• Kindle – there aren’t many books shops in Kenya. Buy it here.
• Travelling to Kenya

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