Kenya is the land of safari. Nearly the entire country is occupied by parks and reserves filled with Big Five animals. From the cold foothills of Mount Kenya, to the dry deserts or Turkana and the pristine savannah’s of the south, all of Kenya is a safari, and knowing what to pack for Kenya safari is essential. When packing for Kenya you need to plan where you are headed hot or or cold, north or south as the climate can varies enormously. The below packing list for Kenya includes all the basics, but to help you below is a destination guide and the average climate for that area.
What to pack depends on where you going in Kenya?
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 youare packing for Mombasa and the coast then sweaters are rarely required (mosquito repellent and anti-malarials are)
Northern Kenya
Northern Kenya is an arid region blessed with abundant year-round sunshin 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.
Safari camping in Kenya
So you’re off to the bush. Whether you are wild camping in Kenya, glamping in a posh retreat or even luxuriating in a safari lodge below is a list of items to pack for a safari in Kenya.
Absolute essentials to pack for any camping trip
- Tent / poles pegs
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows – come on we aren’t savages
- Tarp/marquee – in Africa it’s either 500 degrees or raining either way, you will need shelter
- Picnic blanket
- Camping table and chairs
- Jiko/ gas stove – not essential but useful if you are going for more than a couple of days.. there are only so many sausages you can eat
- Triangle, grill and poker- we use a cooking triangle. You simply place it over any fire and cook your food. No hassle with BBQ’s. There is a similar one on amazon here.
- Coal/wood/firelighters – you can often collect firewood on safari /bush but not always, so best to bring your own.
- Torches and lanterns, head torches are great for kids, buy ours on Amazon here (take a nightlight for inside the tent if you have little kids, my daughter has a unicorn one at home and I think it comforts her to see the familiar light in the tent. Buy hers from Amazon here)
- Chargers –in car or ideally solar chargers. Still trying to find one to buy in Kenya but when I’m back in the UK I’m buying this one.
Extra items you should pack for a Kenya safari
- Spade – yes you will end up digging yourself out of mud or sand at some point
- Tow rope – ditto the above
- Jumper cables
- Shade cloth/floor mat – there are lots of acacia thorns/safari ants other beasties in safari in Kenya. The more you put between yourself and them, the better. This floor mat is the bomb. My friend bought from South Africa but I’ve found another like it in the UK (click here). Failing that some shade cloth with eyelets may do just as good a job.
- Extra fuel – nothing like running out of petrol when its 50 km and 50 lions between you and the petrol station
- Water for washing and drinking. More of it than you think – minimum 3L per person per day if you aren’t planning on washing much. We buy a huge 20 litre bottle from the shops and then stick a pump on it. I bought this one yesterday from Kenya but there are similar pumps in the UK (click here)
- Additionally, buy lots of 2L water bottles, freeze them and use them as extra ice packs to keep food cool.
- Washing up bowl/brush/liquid – Game has a fold up bowl in store now or buy it online in the UK here..
- Dustpan and brush – acacia thorns in your tent – ouch!
- Bog in a bag – they don’t sell these in Kenya, but they do in the UK or the US. Buy them there and get them shipped over. Otherwise it’s peeing in a bottle or bucket. You can’t leave your tent at night. If you are a geriatric mum of 3 kids then you need to make a nighttime peeing plan. You can buy this one from Amazon which I’d recommend but if you have people that are less mobile then consider this one that uses a seat. Either way, I’ll say it again YOU NEED TO MAKE A PLAN.
- Swiss army knife
- Washing line to string up between trees
Living essentials to pack for Kenya
- Toilet roll
- Bin bags – no plastic allowed in Kenya though. Buy these compostable ones online.
- Tea Towel
- Coffee plunger – again, we aren’t savages
- Kettle that can deal with direct flame/fire – my friends use their Le Creuset one – I’m cheap and have one like this
- Cups/ Cutlery / Plates
- Chopping board
- Veg peeler/corkscrew/bottle opener/knife
- Tin foil
- Food covers – beeswax wraps keep flies away from food and keep our animals and environment safe. Buy from Greenspoon in Kenya or in the UK (click here)
- First Aid Kit
- Lighter/ matches
Packing list for moving to Kenya. Read the blog here
Storing food on safari
Pro campers have portable freezers. I’m struggling to find a decent one to buy in Kenya, although I occasionally see them on Facebook groups like this one. If I were in the US or UK I’d be buying this one. It’s invaluable. On a hot day our meat is mouldy and milk rotten by tea time, whilst our friends with freezers are still dishing out gin and tonics with ice by day 5. There are lots of cheaper and more expensive options out there too.
If you are freezerless then you have to make do with handy tricks and packing tips.
- 1st rule: freeze everything you can. Water, juice, milk, meat. Frozen stuff keeps longer and cools everything else down
- Pack a freezer box per day. Everything you need for day 1, 2 3, etc. Pack it full of frozen stuff and then tape it shut. Things will remain frozen for a lot longer if it is totally insulated and not opened.
- Separate freezer box for drinks as that gets opened the most.
Extra items to pack for kids on safari in Kenya
- Books
- Board games
- Boule/frisbee/football (watch the kids don’t run into the bush on safari)
- Lego
- Drawing stuff
- Treasure hunt – you can create a spot the animal competition if you are on safari – fun for game drives or spotting from the camp. This is one is great for older kids or this one more appropriate for smaller children
- Or set a challenge – find me a red flower, white feather, black stone etc.
- Word of warning- don’t let kids go off on their own looking for items. Always keep kids close when on safari in Kenya .
- Teddies / snuggly things
- Those all in one snuggle pyjamas. It can get cold at night even on the hottest of days
Packing for glamping – because who wants to rough it?
- Music
- Blow up mattresses and pump
- Blankets
- Cushions
- Rugs
- Fairy lights
- Bunting
- Cocktail shaker and fancy glasses
- Boot slippers
- Hot water bottles
- Hammock
- Front door mat
Safari in Kenya
Some might say I’m a little biased but Kenya is the best place in the world for safari. We have the world famous safari destinations: Maasai Mara, Tsavo National Park, Amboseli, Ol Pejeta, Samburu and that’s just a few of the over 300+ reserves, conservancies and parks. If you are thinking of coming on safari then Kenya is your place and with this list you will nail your packing list. If you want some help outside of packing your suitcase then visit my trip planner for details of getting here and getting around.
Best place to book accommodation is through Booking.com which covers all the major hotels, camps and safari lodges. If you are coming through Nairobi then I have compiled a list of the best, and by best I mean reputable and clean, there are some real dives out there.
Travelbag are offering discounts on international flights to Africa at the moment and Easycarrentals are offering 5% off car rental in Nairobi.
TourRadar are offering discounts on Africa safari’s but I’m all for going it alone. Check my DIY safari blog here
If you leave this blog with any one insight then let it be DON’T TRAVEL TO AFRICA WITHOUT INSURANCE. I use Nomads. (See link below)
Affiliate links are included within this blog
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