Kenya First-Safari Planning Checklist

1. Choose when to go

Decide what matters most: the Great Migration, fewer crowds, lower prices or green scenery.
For migration river crossings, plan for July to October, with August and September the usual peak. Herds follow the rains, so no operator can promise a crossing on a given date.
Expect the main rainy seasons to bring quieter parks and lower rates. Our best-time guide compares each month.
Keep two or three travel dates open if you can; wildlife timing moves from year to year.

Shortlist two or three parks, not six. A first safari works best with 3 to 5 nights in one or two areas.
Match parks to your wishes: Maasai Mara for big cats and migration, Amboseli for elephants with Kilimanjaro behind them, Lake Nakuru for rhinos and birdlife.
Add a coast or beach leg only if you have time; road and flight times between regions are longer than maps suggest.
Read how to plan your first safari in Kenya before you pick.

Check whether you need a Kenya eTA (electronic travel authorisation) and apply only on the official government portal; unofficial look-alike sites exist. Apply well before you fly, since processing time is not guaranteed.
Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after you arrive, and carry at least two blank pages.
Check whether a yellow fever certificate applies. It depends on the countries you travel from or through, not only your nationality.
Ask a travel clinic or doctor about malaria prevention and routine vaccines, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before travel.
Buy travel insurance that covers medical care and evacuation.

Ask each operator what is included: park fees, transport, meals, guide, drinks and airport transfers.
Confirm the vehicle (a 4x4 with a pop-up roof), the number of travellers per vehicle and a window seat for everyone.
Ask who the local operator is, and whether the guide is certified.
Get the cancellation and payment terms in writing.

Neutral, layered clothing (khaki, olive, brown); early game drives are cold, midday is hot.
A warm jacket, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Closed, comfortable shoes and a light rain layer.
Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards.
Insect repellent, any prescription medicines in original packaging, and a small first-aid kit.
Cash in small notes for tips and local purchases, and a card for larger payments.
A soft-sided bag; small safari planes often limit hard cases.

Checked 11 October 2026. Entry rules and fees change: confirm on the official eTA portal and with your airline before you travel.