A Kenyan Safari: Kilimanjaro to Masai Mara - for November this year.

Feeling excited and nervous at the moment.......

Does anyone else on this trip or anyone been on it before have any tips or advice, things to help me plan? 

I know it's still along way off but now I'm booked, just want to prepare myself.

Thanks all

Paula

What a great tour you have booked, I have been on Kenya safari with JY but not this one, it has changed since I went , I am sure you will have a great time I know I did..

Cindy

This is a new tour for JY this year although they have run Kenya tours many times in the past.  I haven't been to Kenya but I've been on safari in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia and it is a wonderful experience!  The only real bit of advice I'd give you is to bring a really decent camera with you, with a long zoom lens.  The animals and birds may well be quite a distance away!  I had a 16x zoom on my compact camera in South Africa and it was fine for the most part but I did miss a number of shots because the zoom wasn't long enough.  Before going to Namibia last year I bought a new bridge camera with an amazing 65x zoom (which can be expanded further still) and I got a fantastic shot of a lion at the edge of the salt pan - and you couldn't even see the lion with the naked eye!

My other tips would be to see your doctor/practice nurse well in advance to see what jabs you need and whether you need to take Malarone as an anti-malaria precaution (I'm guessing you will).  Bring lots of sun cream and mosquito repellent (containing 50% DEET) - you put the cream on first and when it has dried in (wait around 15-20 mins), then apply the DEET.  Drink lots of water and maybe wear a sun hat.  If you have a slightly delicate digestive system, think about taking a pro-biotic with you (I use Boots Digestion Support Travel pills and find them very good but they can be hard to get - my local Boots has ordered them in for me before).  

A friend of mine, SallyC on the forum, is booked on this tour for October and I'm sure she will write a review on her return.

Hope you have a brilliant time - the itinerary sounds wonderful!

Bob

Well six months have past since I booked the trip and now it's only seven weeks away.......the nerves are really starting to kick in.

Visa and Jabs are sorted. New camera bought (I've even been to the zoo to practice!) But now I'm really starting to think about what else I need to sort..........

Has anyone that's been on this trip or booked to go, got any advice on what I should take.........e.g. ~.clothes for during the day I think I'm ok with but not sure what evening plans are like.........or anything else that I really haven't thought off.

Thanks in advance for any help to stop a nervous first timer from getting too panicky.

Paula

When I did a Kenya safari, the clothes in the day were very practical, no bright colours as it attracts the insects etc.

Smart casual clothes and layers are what I always take. Also a back pack came in very handy.

Make sure you have hand cleansing gel, wet wipes, tissues, on tours like this I take dioralyte or similar to replace salts etc, anti histamine, mossy spray With at least 50% Deet, upset tummy stuff, and general first aid bits and pieces.

When I visited Kenya I went to a Children's orphanage for children suffering from AIDS, so I took pencils, crayons and colouring books etc.

I am sure you will have a great time..

Cindy

I did this fantastic trip 8 years ago, which instilled my love of Africa! One vital tip - make sure you have spare camera batteries, and charge them before you go, and don't forget to take all chargers with you (I suggest put these in your hand luggage - I have had my luggage go astray for 6 days!).

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Cheers,

Hils

Hils and Cindy are spot on (as always) with everything they say. I'm doing this trip in thirteen days time (yippeeeee) and am so excited.

Clothes - for the safari game drives muted colours - I go with cargo trousers, tshirt and fleece (the mornings are as cold as here at the moment). For the evenings I simply do black cargo trousers and a colourful tshirt - really casual but one of the positives of a JY holiday is that no one judges what anyone else is wearing. As long as you are clean and comfortable that it all that matters.

I think the main points have been covered but if you can think of anything else, just ask. As Bob said, I will post a review when I get back but will try not to give too much detail as I don't want to spoil any nice surprises!

Sally

Looking forward to reading your review Sally . Hope you have a fantastic time.

Paula