Your first safari, considered

How long to go for

Three nights in one park — for example the Maasai Mara — gives you an afternoon drive on arrival, two full days and a final morning, which is enough to see the resident wildlife. A week lets you add contrasting parks such as Lake Nakuru and Amboseli without every day being a travel day. Long drives are the most common regret on a first safari, so favour fewer places and more nights.

What a day is like

Game drives start early, often before 7am, because animals are most active at dawn and dusk. A full park day may run until late afternoon with a picnic lunch; other days split into a morning and an afternoon drive with a rest at camp in between. Transfer days involve hours on the road. Read the daily programme and ask how these are balanced.

Our safari game drives use a 4x4 Land Cruiser. Mornings are cool and the vehicle can be dusty, so pack layers, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars. Soft bags are easier to stow; check each operating airline’s weight, dimensions and bag-type rules before packing.

Documents to sort before you fly

• —Kenya: check eTA eligibility and apply at least two weeks before travel when required. Check the separate mandatory inbound health-insurance requirement and exemptions.
• —Tanzania: check visa eligibility and advance-approval rules for your passport. Mainland inbound insurance began on 1 October 2026; check the applicable NIC or ZIC policy and exemptions for your first entry point and full itinerary.
• —A passport valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
• —Health: check vaccination and malaria advice with your doctor or travel clinic; yellow fever certificates can be required when arriving from some countries.
• —Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.

Questions to ask before you book

Ask for property names rather than “or similar”, whether every park fee is included, whether the vehicle is private or shared, and the deposit, balance and cancellation terms. Keep the written itinerary, the list of inclusions and the final price together. Our safari cost guide has a full checklist for comparing quotations.