Wildlife ToursSeven days out, most of the big decisions are already made. Your camps are booked, your flights are ticketed, and you’ve probably read three different packing lists that all say “bring neutral colors” and stop there. What nobody tells you is which of those seven days actually has a deadline attached to it. This week before Kenya safari checklist is the one we hand our own guests before they fly, organized by day, not by category.
7 Days Out: Documents and Malaria Meds
This is the week to stop putting things off. Two items have real deadlines attached.
First, your Kenya ETA. Kenya replaced its old eVisa with an Electronic Travel Authorization system, and most BestCamp guests get approval within 3 business days of applying online. That still leaves you cutting it close if you wait until the weekend before you fly. Apply now, while you have a buffer if the system asks for a resubmitted photo or a corrected passport number.
Second, malaria prevention. If your doctor has you on mefloquine, you should have started that two to three weeks ago, so check your pill pack today. If you’re on Malarone or doxycycline, most guests start one to two days before arrival, which still gives you room this week to fill the prescription and confirm the dosing schedule with a pharmacist. Either way, call your doctor now if you haven’t already. Also check that your travel insurance covers medical evacuation. Kenya’s flying doctors service is excellent, but you want that coverage confirmed on paper before you’re in the Mara, not after.
5 Days Out: Sort Your Money
Kenya runs on a mix of cash, card, and M-PESA, the mobile money platform nearly everyone uses locally. Camps and lodges take cards for the bill, but tips, curio stalls, and small purchases at airstrips still run on cash. Bring US dollars printed in 2013 or later, since older or damaged bills often get rejected. Change money in Nairobi or at your first camp rather than ordering Kenyan shillings from a bank at home. Home exchange rates are worse, and you’ll end up carrying shillings you can’t use once you’re back in dollar territory for tips.
Budget for park and conservancy fees too, since these are billed separately from your camp rate. Here’s what non-resident visitors pay right now:
| Park or Reserve | Managing Body | Non-Resident Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Masai Mara National Reserve | Narok County Government | USD 100/day (Jan-Jun), USD 200/day (Jul-Dec) |
| Amboseli National Park | Kenya Wildlife Service | USD 90/adult/day |
| Lake Nakuru National Park | Kenya Wildlife Service | USD 90/adult/day |
| Tsavo East / Tsavo West | Kenya Wildlife Service | USD 80/adult/day |
| Nairobi National Park | Kenya Wildlife Service | USD 80/adult/day |
| Chyulu Hills National Park | Kenya Wildlife Service | USD 40/adult/day |
| Naboisho / Mara North Conservancies | Private, bundled into rates | roughly USD 80-150/person/night |
Note that the Mara is run by Narok County, not Kenya Wildlife Service, and its peak-season fee doubles from July through December. If your trip lands in that window, budget accordingly.
4 Days Out: Build the Kit
Now the actual packing starts. Stick to neutral colors, khaki, olive, sand, since bright colors and pure white stand out to animals and dark blue or black can attract tsetse flies in some areas. Pack for layers. Mornings at camp start cold enough that you’ll want a fleece over your shirt at 5am, and by 10am you’re down to a t-shirt in the sun. A wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and a good pair of closed walking shoes matter more than a full safari wardrobe.
Bring binoculars, ideally one pair per person rather than sharing. A 300mm or longer lens is worth the extra bag weight if you’re serious about photos, since animals in Naboisho or the Mara North Conservancy don’t always sit close to the vehicle track. Most mobile camps run a canvas bucket shower and a laundry line strung between two acacias, and many camps do same-day laundry for a small fee, so you genuinely do not need seven days of clothes. Five outfits, washed twice, gets most people through a ten-day trip.
3 Days Out: Pack for the Flight, Not the Airport
This is where a lot of first-time travelers overpack and then get stuck at a bush airstrip. Scheduled flights into camps on carriers like Safarilink and AirKenya typically cap checked luggage around 15kg per person, packed in a soft-sided duffel rather than a hard case, plus a small daypack. Exact limits vary by aircraft and route, so confirm the number with your specific flight before you pack.
| Bag Type | Typical Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Checked duffel (soft-sided) | ~15kg | Hard suitcases often won’t fit the cargo hold |
| Daypack or camera bag | ~5kg | Carried on your lap in small aircraft |
| Rigid suitcases | Usually not accepted | Leave these at your Nairobi hotel or with your operator |
If you’re flying with a big lens or a second camera body, weigh your bag at home. It’s a much better place to discover you’re over than the tarmac at Wilson Airport.
2 Days Out: Reconfirm Everything
Email or message your operator to reconfirm pickup times, camp names, and any dietary notes you gave months ago. Mobile camps move with the seasons and the wildlife, so the exact site your tent sits on this month may not match what was booked back in March. A two-minute reconfirmation avoids a driver waiting at the wrong airstrip.
Check connectivity while you’re at it. Most permanent camps have WiFi in the mess tent, but true mobile camps out in the conservancies often run on satellite signal only, and it can drop entirely during a storm. Tell family now that you may go quiet for a few days. It’s easier explained in advance than apologized for after.
The Day Before: Final Pack, What to Leave Home
Lay everything out before it goes in the bag. Leave the hair dryer, the multiple pairs of jeans, and the hardback novel you won’t finish. Skip camouflage clothing too, since it’s restricted for civilians in Kenya. Do bring a headlamp, since walking to your tent after dark happens by lamplight and staff-led escort, and your own light source helps you find your book before bed.
Charge everything. Camera batteries, phone, power bank. Most mobile camps run generators for a few hours a day rather than round-the-clock power, so top up whenever you can, not just the night before you leave.
Morning Of: Last Checks
Passport, ETA confirmation printed or saved offline, malaria pills in hand luggage, cash in a few different pockets rather than one wallet. Weigh your bag one more time if you added anything overnight. Then go. The version of you sitting in the vehicle at first light, watching the mist come off the grass in Naboisho, won’t remember whether you packed six shirts or five.
The BestCamp Safaris Difference
We’ve run mobile camps in the Mara ecosystem long enough to know which of these deadlines actually bite. Our guest coordinators send a reconfirmation message five days before arrival, not the night before, so there’s time to fix anything that’s slipped. We quote park and conservancy fees separately and in writing, so nobody discovers the Mara’s peak-season rate on arrival day. And because we run the camps ourselves rather than subcontracting them out, when we tell you your tent looks over the Talek River, that’s still true the week you fly.
FAQs
How many days before a Kenya safari should I start malaria medication? It depends on the drug. Mefloquine needs two to three weeks. Malarone and doxycycline are usually started one to two days before arrival. Confirm timing with your doctor, since this isn’t something to guess on.
How far in advance should I apply for the Kenya ETA? Apply at least a week ahead. Approval often lands within 3 business days, but leave room in case of a resubmission request.
Do I need cash on safari, or can I use cards? Both. Camps take cards for the main bill. Bring US dollars from 2013 or later for tips and small purchases along the way.
What shouldn’t I pack for a Kenya safari? Camouflage clothing, hard-sided suitcases, and a full week of unworn outfits. Camps do laundry, and bush flights charge for extra weight.
Your Week Before Kenya Safari Checklist: Ready to Go?
If you’re still finalizing camps or want help thinking through this last stretch before departure, our Kenya safari trips are a good place to start, or reach out through our contact page and we’ll help you plan the rest.
