You’re all booked up for a trip of a lifetime to the Masai Mara, staying in an exclusive and luxurious safari lodge in Kenya with your loved one. There is so much to get excited about, from the trips to the local villages, hot air balloon rides above the plains and getting up close and personal with some of the finest wildlife on the planet in game drives early in the morning and late at night. There is nothing quite like a holiday to the Masai Mara, but if it is your first time going, you might be wondering about how to pack your suitcase. What do you need to take with you on a Masai Mara holiday?
As with any holiday destination that you’ve never been to before, it is always really tempting to be overcautious and to pack too much. In reality, there is no need to overpack your suitcase, with a trip to the Masai Mara requiring only the bare essentials to help you have the time of your life.
You must also think about the travel to and from, especially if you have to take internal domestic flights at either end of the journey. In most cases, domestic flights have a maximum luggage limit of 20kgs per person (which provides you with more than enough space to pack the essentials and have a great Kenyan holiday). In terms of the travel itself, always look to maximise space by using a soft case or holdall to travel with, although as with any travel, if you are taking expensive or delicate items with you it might be better to have a hard case suitcase to protect those goods.
So, what should you pack for your Masai Mara holiday?
For clothing, think about neutral colours and fabrics that are light and breathable. Although you might expect it to be warm during the day, early morning and evening game drives can become quite cold, so you must be able to easily layer up to keep warm. Wear long sleeves and long trousers to help protect your skin from both the sun and insect bites. A hat and sunglasses will also help you remain comfortable throughout your trip. Blue and black colours are known to attract tsetse flies, whilst camouflage clothing is not allowed. You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so make sure you have comfortable shoes on at all times.Away from clothing, have all the toiletries that you’ll require, such as sun cream, after-sun cream, insect repellent, cream to help relieve any bites you do get and lip balm to help prevent cracked lips from exposure to the sun. Take a reusable water bottle to fill up and limit your waste, though tap water should not be used to top up. Thinking about your camera, always bring more memory than you think you’ll need, just in case, and bring a pair of binoculars.
You should also be aware that there is a ban on all plastic bags in Kenya, and you will be made to leave this behind as you enter the country, even those duty-free plastic bags that you have just bought. Look for alternative carrier bags before you travel to make sure you are not hindered at entry point.
Now that you’ve got this article as a base guide to help you when it comes time to prep and pack your suitcase for your trip to the Masai Mara, you can relax a little bit. It won’t take too much trouble to pack the right things and before you know it, you’ll be off on your holidays and sitting on the private veranda of your luxury room on an exclusive Masai Mara holiday lodge. Watching the sun go down over the plains, with the sound of nature all around you and a glass of wine in hand with your loved one by your side, there is nothing else quite like it in the whole world. Enjoy your Masai Mara holiday, you’ll love it.
