What To Pack For A Safari in Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park
What to pack for a safari Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park is an important aspect about your planning process lest you run short of what to use whilst on your ultimate safari in Kenya and Tanzania, visiting the 2 famous and much sought after Africa safari parks of Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya and Serengeti National Park Tanzania.
Packing for any trip can be daunting, but packing for a Masai Mara and Serengeti safari just like any other Africa safari can be equally daunting, even for avid travelers! Careful consideration for weather, comfort, local culture among so many others is required. While packing for your ultimate safari in Kenya and Tanzania, do mind that most domestic airlines have a minimum luggage restriction of 15kgs per person including carry-on bags; soft sided bags or folding duffel bags are highly recommended. Packing light is thus important, and layering is a good thing to consider.
Your typical packing list for a safari in Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park should include essential items like clothes that are suitable for safaris, comfortable shoes, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, vital medication, good camera (you do not want to not keep some really beautiful sightings, do you?), among so many others. Here is a detailed packing list for a safari in Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park, and generally for any Kenya safari as well as a Tanzania safari.
Clothes
Among the things most wondered about what to pack for a safari in Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park is the kind or type of clothes. Ideal clothes to pack for your safari in Masai Mara or Serengeti National Park are casual in nature, loose fitting and lightweight that they can keep you cool and dry. As to colours, packing neutral pastel shades over brighter colours for suitability in the wilderness; khaki and forest green colours are an all-time safari colours’ favourite to many travelers.
Note that camouflage and military-pattern clothes are considered unlawful in both Kenya and Tanzania as is in the rest of the Eat African countries; do not consider packing them.
Be sure to pack a fleece, light jacket or cardigan for the chilly early mornings and evenings irrespective of the season of travel.
Basic essential clothes to pack for your safari include short sleeve causal shirts, khaki long sleeve shorts, wind cheater or light jacket or fleece jacket, safari multi pocket safari vest, khaki smart casual trousers or chinos, safari shorts, sport socks, t-shirts, nightwear, swimwear, sports bra. For travelers staying at luxury 5 star camps and lodges, carrying along smart but basic dinner wear is to be considered. 1 or 2 of each item is deal, or as per your need.
Shoes
Safaris that do not involve bush walking excursions a traveler can carry closed lightweight and comfortable shoes like sneakers with a good grip. Flip-flops or sandals for in-room or around the pool area can come in handy.
Hat and Sun Protection
For your protection from the sun, packing sunscreen with a high enough SPF as well as a safari hat is very important. While the wide-brimmed hat will keep the sun off your face and neck, the sunscreen will definitely block it from other parts of the body. Sunglasses and prescription glasses is important for it can be quite dusty, especially in the dry season which also doubles as peak season seeing so many cars raving through the parks raising dust.
Insect Repellent
Carry your own insect repellent suitable for you and best you liaised with your physician in regards to the best to use. Repellents that have DEET are considered by travelers to be more effective. Some lodges and camps however do provide insect repellent to their guests.
Medication
To many travelers, coming to a safari in Masai Mara or Serengeti National Park would be the very first time in Africa, a quite different area in comparison to your home country. Keeping in mind that you would be in the “bush” for your safaris far off from towns and cities necessitates you carrying necessary medication. Be sure to pack your most essential medication as prescribed by your physician, especially medicines that may not be easily got while on safari. Do talk to your physician about necessary medication to take for your safari in Africa; malaria and pain killers should be considered. Remember to carry your prescription for any medicines just in case it is required that you showed it at the airport.
Tech and Gadgets
As mentioned, you wouldn’t want to not miss taking back proof f your visit, and memories from your time of the safari. Be sure to pack a good camera with good lenses, enough batteries and storage that you can keep all the photos and videos you may take whilst on a safari (I recently had a client take back 3,500 photos from a 21 day safari through Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar!). Binoculars are a must carry much as you shall have a pair already in the car, carrying an extra pair and more depending on the number of persons you are for the safari is important.
Avid photographers would make use of their laptops to download and process theory photos, especially in the evenings after the safari.
Other important items to consider for your packing list to Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park include toiletries, sanitary products, sanitizers, small scissors, and money pounce or money belt.
