Divided by the equator, Kenya experiences a tropical climate and enjoys warm weather most of the year. There is plenty of sunshine during the day and cool nights.

Kenya has two main dry seasons and two rainy seasons spread from the start to the end of the year. Interestingly, all these periods have their charms, making Kenya a year-round safari destination. Let’s take a detailed look at the seasons:

The East African country has two rainy seasons – the long rains from March to May and the short rains from November to December. The wettest month is usually April.

During the rainy seasons, there is no dust and the landscape is green and beautiful, making it the best time for nature lovers to visit Kenya. Also, crowds are usually small at leading destinations such as the Masai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli National Park, which means you can enjoy off-season rates on accommodation and tours.

The East African country has two rainy seasons – the long rains from March to May and the short rains from November to December. The wettest month is usually April.

During the rainy seasons, there is no dust and the landscape is green and beautiful, making it the best time for nature lovers to visit Kenya. Also, crowds are usually small at leading destinations such as the Masai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli National Park, which means you can enjoy off-season rates on accommodation and tours.

Let’s now look at what to pack for a safari in Kenya. As earlier indicated, we recommend you pack light because you’ll need to move with your luggage around the safari camps during your visit. You should leave those elegant outfits and expensive jewelry at home and carry comfortable, lightweight clothes.

Below, we explain what you need to pack for a fantastic adventure:

The ideal clothes to pack for a safari in Kenya are lightweight t-shirts (long-sleeved), light pants, shorts, and jackets. Also, you must carry warm windproof jackets, sweaters, and warm pajamas because it sometimes gets chilly in the evening.

Avoid clothes that have bright colors like red and white because they can attract insects such as tsetse flies. The most recommended colors are forest green and khaki. However, do not bring military-pattern clothes because they are only worn by the security forces in Kenya.

The best and most essential shoes for a safari in Kenya are a solid pair of boots, whether you opt for a combat style or a more nostalgic knee-high.

You don’t need proper walking boots unless you’re doing a long walking safari. Most days, you’ll be sitting in the game drive vehicles and then just walking around your camp, so ‘fashion’ boots are more than fit for purpose.

You may opt for a waterproof pair if traveling during the wet season. But again, it’s hardly like you’ll be trekking through the mud, so not especially essential.

You need something to protect yourself from the African sun. Carrying a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses will significantly protect you from sunstroke or bad sunburn that could ruin your trip.

Since most luxury hotels and lodges in Kenya’s wilderness have swimming pools, you must carry a swimming costume and a quick-drying towel.

A travel pillow is your neck's best friend. A lightweight travel pillow will help you avoid any unwanted neck pain after traveling from A to B (and avoid nodding off on your neighbor's shoulder).

A travel pillow is your neck's best friend. A lightweight travel pillow will help you avoid any unwanted neck pain after traveling from A to B (and avoid nodding off on your neighbor's shoulder).

A travel pillow is your neck's best friend. A lightweight travel pillow will help you avoid any unwanted neck pain after traveling from A to B (and avoid nodding off on your neighbor's shoulder).

A travel pillow is your neck's best friend. A lightweight travel pillow will help you avoid any unwanted neck pain after traveling from A to B (and avoid nodding off on your neighbor's shoulder).

A travel pillow is your neck's best friend. A lightweight travel pillow will help you avoid any unwanted neck pain after traveling from A to B (and avoid nodding off on your neighbor's shoulder).

A travel pillow is your neck's best friend. A lightweight travel pillow will help you avoid any unwanted neck pain after traveling from A to B (and avoid nodding off on your neighbor's shoulder).

A travel pillow is your neck's best friend. A lightweight travel pillow will help you avoid any unwanted neck pain after traveling from A to B (and avoid nodding off on your neighbor's shoulder).

While most accommodations (including campsites) will provide a bare mattress, you might also like to bring a Thermarest to add an extra comfy double layer and get a good night's sleep.

If you're traveling during the hot season, pack a sleep sheet. It's not essential, but it does help you to stay comfortable no matter what the weather is like.

You'll be driving a fair bit on your Kenya trip. A good book, travel journal, and/or pair of earphones to listen to music or podcasts will help you pass the time. It's also a good idea to bring one of these items if you fancy some downtime away from your group in the evening. A travel journal is also an excellent way to jot down memories, funny things, stories you hear, or the names of places or things you eat on your trip.

Binoculars aren't essential like clothes and footwear, but if you're going on safari in Kenya, it's a different story. From lions to elephants to wildebeest, Kenya is jam-packed with incredible wildlife. We hope you'll get to see the wildlife relatively close to the safety of your jeep, but if they're a little too far to see well with your naked eye, a trusted pair of binoculars will give you a helping hand.