What to pack for

What should I pack?

1. It is often said that Kenya is a cold country with hot sun as the blend of high altitudes and tropical sun make for a unique and variable climate. This should be kept in mind when packing for a visit. Both temperatures and climate vary drastically from region to region and even throughout a single day. Basically the traveler should come prepared for hot, cold, wet and dusty conditions.
2. Packing for a trip to Kenya and the other East Africa countries requires some careful thought and consideration. Ultimately your packing should be dictated by the activities you are planning to undertake. A medium sized suitcase and an overnight bag is the usual baggage allowance on most safaris. Departing Kenya, please ensure that the baggage total weight does not exceed 23 kilos per person. On the local charter flights only 15 kilos baggage is allowed. We suggest that you limit the baggage weight as much as possible to avoid payment of excess weight.
3. If you are traveling extensively throughout the country make sure that you bring suitable luggage. Suitcases and bags should be able to withstand plenty of handling and dusty conditions. Hard suitcases are ideal but can take up a lot of space.
4. If you are traveling by domestic/chartered flights within Kenya, remember that there are luggage restrictions, particularly on smaller aircraft. Check in advance with your Charter airline or Safari/Tour operator.
5. For those planning a lot of travel by public transport or trekkers, a backpack is advisable. Bring a sturdy, well constructed pack with orthopedic support and lockable zips and catches.
6. A small daypack is ideal for carrying cameras, travel documents and basic everyday items.
7. Equal consideration should be paid to what you bring with you.
8. Casual, lightweight, and comfortable clothing is usually the best. For walking safaris or game viewing on foot clothing should be of neutral color, and white, bright or vividly patterned clothing avoided. Studies have proven that most African game animals are able to see bright blue over any other color.
9. Strong footwear is advisable if you are planning to do any walking. For serious climbers and trekkers a good pair of hiking boots should be brought with you.
10. Remember that the tropical/Equatorial sun is strong and burns quickly. Wide brimmed hats are preferable to baseball caps for sun protection. Both sunglasses and a good quality sunscreen (rated SPF15 or higher) should be used.
11. A good quality insect repellent is worth bringing.
12. In some areas, mostly coastal, it is considered inappropriate for women (and in some cases men) to wear shorts or short sleeved shirts. It is always best to seek local advice.
13. For some up-market lodges and nights out in Nairobi you may wish to bring some more formal evening wear.
14. You should bring your own Toiletries with you. Basic toiletry items are widely available.
15. Any personal Prescription drugs should be brought if necessary. Also bring the generic names for these drugs in case they need to be replaced locally. If you have prescription glasses it is wise to bring a spare pair.
16. For those planning lengthy treks or camping expeditions, a basic medical kit is also a good idea. A small Flashlight/Torch and a Swiss Army knife are good accessories to carry.
17. If you have a video camera battery charger or any other electrical items, bring your own converter plug set if needed (the electricity supply is 220 Volt, 50 Hz with a square pin 13 amp plug).
18. A good quality pair of Binoculars is essential for effective game viewing.
19. Climbers can hire equipment, ropes and gear in Kenya, but may wish to bring their own personal kit and equipment.
20. Divers will find excellent dive gear for hire in Kenya, but may also wish to bring their own regulators or dive computers. Those with prescription masks should definitely bring them along. Dive Certification Cards and log documents should be brought along.
21. All travel documentation should be kept together securely. This should include tickets, Passports (with appropriate visa entries), Vaccination Certificates, and Travel Insurance documents.
22. Additional photocopies of Passport, Air ticket and Traveler’s Cheque numbers should be brought and packed separately. Use our personalized Kenya Travel kit to print records of all this information. Take several copies with you and leave some at home.
23. Carry your credit cards together with Traveler’s Cheques and some U.S. Dollars cash.

What will I see on safari?

1. The greatest profusion of animal, bird and plant life on earth. You roam across the countryside in search of Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard (the so-called “Big Five”). On any given day, you will encounter Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, large variety of antelope species, Gazelle, Giraffe, Baboon and Hippo. The bird life is fantastic – in some areas up to 400 bird species have been identified! Think of the majestic Baobab tree (some tribes believe that the tree was indeed planted upside-down!) and the hundreds of varieties of thorn trees! The acacia-dotted landscape, endless plains, majestic mountains and the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises’ one could ever imagine. Think of a late afternoon thunderstorm, short but violent then the beautiful rainbow when the clouds clear.
2. And oh!… The romantic evenings around a camp fire, with a star-filled sky like you have never seen before!

What is the level of comfort like?

We use a combination of luxury safari lodges and wilderness camps for accommodation purposes. The average Afrika Hub safari expedition will spend 3-5 nights at various luxury lodges / hotels and 3 – 7 at wilderness camps.

All of the safari lodges offer haute cuisine, fine wines and five-star service. The wilderness camps are of a traditional outdoor camping style rather than offering the glitzy trappings of some safari lodges. The emphasis is on exclusive locations, stunning wildlife, your own all-terrain vehicle and a first-class guide who provides you with the freedom to go wherever you could possibly fancy.

How many hours will we be driving per day and do we drive at night?

We aim to leave by 8am each morning. The early morning is the best time to view wildlife in Africa and the African climate warrants early morning departures.Our guides always aim to avoid travelling in peak heat. We intend to arrive at your final destination early afternoon so as to allow plenty of time to set-up camp. If we are staying at a safari lodge, this allows you to check into the lodge and be able to relax and enjoy your dinner at sunset.

Do I need special skills and/or fitness?

Other than enjoying spending time in the outdoors, our safari expeditions are suitable for all reasonably fit people. You can pick and mix whichever activities are realistically achievable for you.  The upper age limit for our safari expeditions is 70 years, however clients between the age of 70 and 75 years may be accepted provided they produce a medical certificate stating that they are fit enough to travel.

If you are disabled please contact us to find out if the particular safari expedition will be comfortable for you. We will do our very best to fulfill your requirements.

Is an Afrika Hub safari expedition for me?

Of course yes. We believe we have the Key to unlock your dream of an African vacation!

So why not take a break from the rat-race, reconnect with nature and try looking at life from a different perspective for a while? We guarantee to put a big smile on your face as you hangout with us!