The Mara sits high, mostly between about 1,500 and 2,200 metres above sea level. Mornings in an open vehicle can be cold, middays are hot, and the dust gets everywhere. Pack for all three.
Clothes
- Layers. A T-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt and a warm fleece or light jacket for early drives. You will peel them off by mid-morning.
- Neutral colours. Khaki, olive, beige and brown are best. Avoid bright white, which shows dust, and dark blue or black, which attract tsetse flies in some areas.
- No camouflage prints. In Kenya these are associated with the military, so leave them at home.
- A wide-brimmed hat and a buff or scarf for dust on the roads.
- Comfortable closed shoes for walks, and sandals for camp.
- A light rain jacket if you travel in April, May or November.
Camera and viewing
- Binoculars, one pair per person if you can. They change what you see.
- A zoom lens if you have one. Many animals are close, but birds and shy cats are not.
- Spare batteries and memory cards. A big sighting can fill a card fast.
- A power bank and a zip bag or cloth to keep dust off your camera.
Health and comfort
- Sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses.
- Insect repellent for the evenings.
- Any personal medicines, plus anything your travel clinic recommends.
- A refillable water bottle.
Good to know
- Use a soft bag. If you are flying into a Mara airstrip, light aircraft have strict luggage limits and usually ask for soft bags. Check with your airline.
- Leave plastic carrier bags at home. Kenya has banned single-use plastic carrier bags.
- Bring a little cash for tips and curios, as card machines are not everywhere in the bush.