What to pack for your kenyan coast safari

Once you decide to travel to the Kenyan coast, you should be aware there are several activities and attractions to see so it is better to be prepared! Our travel virtual assistants will expose you to all the things you will see and advice on useful things you might need.With what  for Kenyan coast holidays and handful travel advice information, you will enjoy stress free Coastal adventure

                                Travel Tips

• The kenyan coastal towns of Diani , Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu and Kilifi are of Muslim majority, and long dresses are strongly recommended. Try to avoid clothes that show much of your bodies, or “skin-tight” clothes unless you are at the beaches. Muslims are more often offended by seeing skimpy dressing. The coastal people are generally very friendly and easy going so its often advisable to reciprocate this by respecting their culture by dressing decently . Also pack in a few semi-formal apparel such as trouser pants, polo shirts and dresses so you can enjoy the romantic dinners at your beach side resorts

• The most recommendable modern taxi company is uber who have qualified drivers.If  you want to hire a self drive car , under no circumstances should you stop in the night! No matter what you seen or no matter who was waving on you!

• Carry first aid medication, personal hygiene products and toiletries when travelling to the Kenyan coast. Among medicines, carry anti-malarial prophylactics and anti-allergy antihistamines to counter insect bites. Also bring some common painkillers like Ibuprofen, Tylenol or Panadol, Aspirin, antacid for indigestion, tablets for diarrhoea and a complete supply of the prescription drugs you take.
• Make sure you have travel size packs of toothpaste, deodorants, hand sanitizers and toothbrush. You will also need to carry an ample supply of sunscreen with the appropriate SPF and mosquito/insect repellent.
• In case you have to deal with minor cuts, keep a supply of Band-Aids (plaster) and antiseptic ointments.
• If you wear contacts, make sure you also carry glasses. Women must carry adequate feminine hygiene supplies such as tampons and pads, and panty liners are also recommended for trickle drying in case the ladies need to urinate in the bush when going for safari
• Carry all supplies in zip lock bags for protection against moisture and dust. Accommodations carry general first aid boxes.
• Supplies of shampoo, conditioner and soap are available in your hotel  bathroom, but you can also bring your own if you prefer.
• Carry cameras ,zoom lenses, binoculars,  memory cards and other digital recording equipment so you can preserve every moment of your expedition .
• You can buy beautiful coastal artifact, jewelry, swahili clothes  at local markert price  between 5-20 USD
• There are many internet cafe and most of the hotels have internet connection
• Always ask before you take photos of people or private places!
• Do come prepared with the proper converters, enough batteries  and power banks for recharging your mobile phone ,camera and laptops. The sockets available are the British-type three rectangular blade pins.
•  Make sure you carry large-sized zip lock bags into which you can pack your expensive gear to keep it safe from dust and the possibility of them getting wet when canoeing or on a boating trip.
• Always drink only bottled water!
• Tipping is much practiced in Kenya and small tips of 100-1000 ksh are highly appreciated.
• Be aware of beach boys and try to avoid booking a safari with them as it might end up as a big disappointment.
• Although some accommodations have laundry services, they are sometimes restricted by the weather, and you might not be able to get them back the same day. In case you are traveling during the wet seasons, you must have a light waterproof raincoat with you.
• Pack in sunglasses, swimsuit if your  lodge or hotel  has a pool, durable, lightweight shoes for walking and sandals for wearing around the hotel.
• You also need a safari hat with a strap that can be fastened at the chin, so it stays in place in breezy conditions.if you will be going for to a safari in Tsavo or you will be spend a night in lodges ensure that you have 2 full-sleeved shirts and 4 t-shirts along with a sweatshirt or a fleece-lined shirt  for both men and women. Also carry 2 pairs of cotton pants or trousers, 2 cargo pants and 1 pair of comfortable shorts. 3 pairs of socks and 5 sets of undergarments should suffice since you can wash and dry them overnight. for women, 4 sports bras are also very essential for the uneven safari terrain over which you will be travelling.

• The best time for photography is morning and afternoon light. You will get amazing pictures of on the beach an attraction areas
• Print a copy of your hotel reservation and place it inside your checked baggage for identification purposes while you are traveling.
• Make copies of passport, visas, airline tickets/schedule, travel itinerary, credit cards (front and back), frequent flyer numbers, travelers checks’ numbers, travel insurance, and emergency contact information. Leave a copy with someone at home and put a copy in a travel companion’s luggage or send them per email to yourself (or Google Docs).
• When arriving in Kenya, have your passport and stamped visa ready for inspection by customs officials.
• Ensure you have your itinerary for your tour in Kenya, return tickets, medical and travel insurance papers.
• Include a document that has details of close relatives or friends that can be contacted in case of emergencies. Keep a digital copy of your passport pages and other travel documents on your phone . While you can use Visa or MasterCard credit cards, you will have to pay a high transaction fee, and they are acceptable only in the cities.
• Most big restaurants, stores, hotels, lodges, camps, car rental firms, etc. take international credit cards. American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa and MasterCard Traveler’s Checks find easy accepted but you should always have some cash!

• Children are welcome on safari in Kenya, however some hotels and lodges have child policies. Always advice.
• You need to apply  for all your vaccinations at your local GP’s including those above, yellow fever. Have them just a day before the trip so that you don’t have any side effects while you are actually on holiday.
• You need a money belt for each of you to wear under your clothes which will also contain your passport and credits cards.

• Carry your belongings in soft-sided, sturdy duffle bags. This is because the smaller air crafts that transfers you to the parks and reserves of Kenya have luggage compartments that cannot fit suitcases. Also, they allow you a luggage allowance of only 15 kilograms or 33 pounds per passenger. Any added baggage weight is chargeable. If you expect you will be carrying extra baggage, make sure you inform your  travel planner in advance and prepay the excess fee to ensure your excess luggage is allowed on your flight dates.

• when  going for a safari, store your luggage in your  hotel but at their front desk storage room to avoid incurring room charges.

• It is strictly forbidden to take photos of police and their properties!

• Do not carry lot of cash! Do not walk in dark empty streets! Do not show your camera or phone visibly, carry it in a bag. Keep money in body belt under your clothes and be careful with valuables in crowd places!

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