Adventure ToursThe first fly camp I slept in sat on a low ridge above the Ewaso Ng’iro River in Laikipia. Dinner arrived by lamplight, my tent held a real bed, and the canvas smelled of wood smoke. My packing was the weak part. I had carried books, extra shoes and a washbag the size of a small duffel. The list below is what I use now. To build my own fly camping packing list, I subtracted what the camp team carries and kept only what you actually need each day. These 15 essentials answer what should i pack for fly camping with room left for the good kind of empty.
What should I pack for fly camping: the core list
Pack soft-sided luggage, lightweight neutral clothing, sturdy walking shoes, sandals, a fleece or warm layer, rain jacket, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, toiletries, medication, headlamp, reusable water bottle, phone charger, power bank and a small daypack. Most fly camps provide tents, beds, bedding, meals, chairs and cooking equipment, so leave bulky camping gear at home.
That core list breaks into fifteen practical lines:
- Two or three quick-dry shirts.
- Two pairs of lightweight trousers.
- Underwear and socks.
- Sleepwear, even shorts and a T-shirt.
- A fleece or warm jacket for early game drives.
- A waterproof rain shell that folds small.
- A wide-brimmed hat.
- Sunglasses with a hard case.
- Closed walking shoes you have already broken in.
- Sandals for camp.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Toiletries and wet wipes in a soft pouch.
- Prescription medication plus a small first-aid kit.
- A headlamp and spare batteries.
- A daypack with a reusable water bottle, phone charger and power bank.
Clothing and footwear for a fly camp
Take two or three quick-drying shirts, two pairs of lightweight trousers, underwear, socks, sleepwear, a fleece or light jacket, a waterproof shell, a wide-brimmed hat and comfortable closed shoes. Add sandals for camp. Neutral colours are practical, and layers work better than one heavy garment because mornings, game drives and evenings can feel very different.
At 5am the ground under bare feet is cold, so the fleece goes on first. Quick-dry shirts handle the reverse moment, when a dusty walk has soaked your collar by lunch. On a Kenya fly camping safari, your clothes need to dry fast, work hard and pack small. That is why layering beats one thick jacket every time.
Personal, health and hygiene essentials
Carry prescription medication in your hand luggage, plus basic pain relief, personal toiletries, lip balm, moisturiser, hand sanitiser, wet wipes, tissues, glasses or contact-lens supplies and a small first-aid kit. Pack a headlamp even when the camp supplies lighting, because it is useful for walking between the tent, dining area and bathroom after dark.
Paracetamol, an antihistamine and antiseptic cream always travel in my daypack. In a simple fly camp, the toiletries corner is often a canvas basin and a small shelf, so a roll-up pouch fits better than a rigid case. Wet wipes fix more small problems than any other single item on this list.
Rain, sun and insect protection
Bring high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses, a brimmed hat, lip balm with SPF, insect repellent and a lightweight waterproof jacket. A dry bag or waterproof pouch protects your phone, camera and documents during rain. A long-sleeved shirt and long trousers provide useful protection from sun, cold air and insects without adding much weight.
The key word in rain gear is light. A packable shell around three hundred grams beats a heavy parka at noon and inside the aircraft. If you want tested options, our guide to essential Kenya safari camping rain gear covers the jackets that survive real storms. Laikipia’s high plateau also sharpens the sun, so carry a real brim, not just a cap.
What not to pack and what a camp provides
Do not pack a large tent, sleeping bag, camping stove, fuel, cookware, folding chair, heavy suitcase or excess food unless your operator specifically requests them. Fly camps commonly supply the shelter, mattress, bedding, meals, water, furniture and basic camp equipment. Confirm the inclusions before departure, because the exact list varies between mobile camps and lodges.
The region of your fly camp changes a few lines of the list.
| Region | Published fee | Packing adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Laikipia plateau, including Loisaba | All-inclusive fly camps run roughly USD 650 to USD 950 per person per night | Add the fleece for cool nights |
| Chyulu Hills National Park | Non-resident entry USD 40 per adult per day | Rely on sturdy shoes and a dry bag |
| Mara North and Naboisho conservancies | Conservancy fees of roughly USD 80 to USD 150 per person per night | Pack a bandana for dust and wind |
Fees change and packages differ. Confirm the current figure before you book.
Ask before you buy anything. When BestCamp Safaris arranges a fly camping safari, the crew carries the tents, beds, bedding, towels, chairs and washstands. Your duffel holds personal kit only, so the list stays at 15 lines. Vehicle-based routes such as one through Samburu can carry heavier extras. Our Samburu safari camping essentials guide shows which gear belongs in the support car, not in your bag.
How to pack for luggage limits and camp moves
Use one soft-sided duffel that meets your airline and safari aircraft limit, plus a small personal daypack. Keep cameras, medication, documents, valuables and one change of clothes in your carry-on. Use packing cubes, avoid hard-sided luggage and leave room for rain protection. The less you carry, the faster and easier each safari camp move becomes.
A soft-sided duffel bag is the workhorse. On domestic flights from Wilson to places like Loisaba airstrip, a flexible bag squeezes into the storage pod more easily than a hard case. Ask about the exact limit when you book. Most of these flights ask for a soft bag around 15 kilograms, but the allowance can change by aircraft and season.
If you are curious about the camp team’s rhythm, our what happens during a fly camp move guide explains why the crew asks for packed bags by mid-morning.
Pack for the quiet you choose
When the list feels complete, pack for the place you want to wake up in. A Laikipia fly camp with published all-inclusive rates near USD 650 to USD 950 per person per night wants the fleece on top. A Chyulu Hills walking camp that starts at the current USD 40 park entry wants sturdy shoes and a dry bag at hand.
Pick your quiet first. Then ask BestCamp Safaris to shape a route around it, because the real magic starts at 5am, on the ground, with the sound of canvas moving in the wind. Start a conversation on the contact page when you are ready.
