In order to enjoy you stay in East Africa, it is important pack the right equipments and accessories in your luggage.  The choice of luggage is very important.  Always remember one hold all luggage is much appreciated on a safari.  It is easier to the airlines and tour operators alike.  Besides the holdall-preferably made of canvas material, you need one hand luggage to carry your breakables like cameras.  This list is not exhaustive as you one will always find something of value missing.  The right safari outfit is very important.  So what do you need on a wildlife safari? 

A.  Clothes

• Shorts and t-shirts of light material are good for daytime as it sometimes extremely hot.  For night bring along long sleeved trousers and shirts to protect you from mosquito bites.  For ladies bring along the high impact support bras for safaris due to rough drives.

• For sun protection bring along sun glasses and wide brim hats.  In addition bring a long high factor sun cream as the tropical sun will burn even on overcast days.

• Walking boots- bring a steady pair in case you will do some walking or hiking.

• Remember your swimming suit if you are headed for the beaches.  Most of the lodges and hotels have swimming pools

• Evenings can be chilly in the highlands, Masai Mara and Nairobi. Thus bring a warm cardigan or a fleece jacket.  The rest of the country is mostly hot.

• A rain coat is ideal if you will tracking gorillas or hiking within the mountains like Kenya, Ruwenzoris, Kilimanjaro etc.

B.   Photography Equipment

Lots of photography and filming opportunities arise during the safari.  Bring along a good camera with a zoom lens and plenty of film.  Remember to carry a spare battery.  Also remember a waterproof container for your cameras just in case it drizzles. This is important especially if you will gorilla tracking as it rains almost daily.

C.  A pair of binoculars: the best are tints as they are good at dusk and during the day. They are particularly recommended for bird watching.

D)  Stationery:  Bring your writing material- pencils, note books, pens etc to take notes if need be.  Stationeries are also good give aways.

E)  A bottle of drinking water-Mineral water is readily available.  Most of the safari companies will also pack water for their guests.  Two litres of water daily is recommended to counter dehydration.

F) Field Guides- pack field guides for birds, plants and mammals as you will see these in plenty. 

G) Toiletries- Tissue papers, wet wipes, towels etc are essential. Most lodges and hotels will provide towels and soap. Pack tooth paste just in case.  Who know what will happen on a safari?

H) First Aid Kit and medicines -  A Small first aid kit is ideal.  Also remember to pack your prescribed medicines if you need some.

I) Waste Paper bag:  -  pack a plastic bag to put all your waste as dumping is not healthy for environment.  Again most of the safari drivers will pack a waste paper bag for you.

J)  A torch or flashlight is ideal just in case of power rationing.  Though not frequent in Kenya, sometimes lights can be off and you will need it

Other Travel Tips

A)  Passport and Visa -  A valid passport is essential for travel outside your country.  Some countries will require a passport valid for at least 6 months before the expiry date.  Visa is required to enter most the countries in East Africa. It can be obtained on arrival.  The best practice is to get your visa in advance.

B)  Safety in cities:- All the countries are safe but one should not compromise on safety pre-cautions-  In the cities always avoid dark alleys, crowded streets etc.  Muggings are common in such.  When you shopping carry only enough money with you.  Do not entice locals with expensive jewels and wads of money. Do not expose your watches and be careful when using your camera in towns. Rural areas are mostly safe for travellers.  Always leave your valuables in hotel safes or leave them with the hotel receptionist. Do not photograph people unless you have their permission.  If you do you give some of them an opportunity to accost and steal from you.

C) Safety in the parks- All animals in the parks are wild. Do not entice them or feed them. Some animals- caterpillars and insects might look harmless but can inflict severe stings and skin burns.  Avoid them. Always apply your mosquito repellent to keep insects off your skin.  Bear in mind that most the animals you come across including the often harmless looking monkeys are extremely dangerous when provoked. A claw or a bite from them can be fatal not to forget the life threatening diseases you can get from them.  Do not alight from your vehicles in the parks unless in officially designated areas like picnic sites, campsites and lodge sites. Animals like gorillas, rhinos and buffaloes will charge if provoked.  Avoid flash photography when taking pictures of gorillas.  This may trigger a charge from the silverback

C1) Speed Limit- in the parks speed limit is 40km/h.  Do not honk while in park or pray loud music.

C2  Animals have freedom of way-at all points let the animals pass first. While a small animal will look for alternative route an elephant will toss your car away if you block its route. The claws of a lion are strong enough to tear your tires into shreds within no minute.

C3)  Do not fee animals- animals take care of all their needs.  Likewise do not disturb animals like lions looking for their daily bread.

D)  Environmental issues - Keep the environment clean. Do not litter and more so do not disturb animals.  Keep the flight distance.  Off-road driving is prohibited in all the parks. Driving off road may attract a heavy fine or imprisonment.  Do not disturb predators on hunt. Most of the predators will hunt in the morning and if disturbed may stay hungry the whole day.  Besides their young ones may die of starvation.  Changed animal behaviour may also lead to extinction of some species.

E)  Poaching- all visitors are prohibited from collecting anything from conservation areas.  No collecting of feathers, animal bones, firewood etc as these are treated as poaching.

F)  Domestic animals- do not take your domestic animals into the parks.

G)  Communicable diseases- colds or fluis not allowed to visit gorillas. Also children below 9 years will not be allowed to visit gorillas as they are carriers of communicable diseases like measles which may end up wiping whole populations of gorillas.