Planning a Kenya safari involves more than choosing where to stay a little preparation goes a long way. Here’s our practical guide to safety, currency, connectivity, climate and other essentials for your trip.
The best time to go on safari in Kenya depends on rainfall patterns, wildlife movement, and travel preferences. Kenya experiences seasonal variation rather than fixed safari seasons. Wildlife viewing is possible year-round, with changes influenced by rainfall and vegetation cycles. The Great Migration occurs seasonally within the Serengeti–Masai Mara ecosystem, while other regions such as the Great Rift Valley offer consistent wildlife viewing throughout the year.
Planning a multi-region safari itinerary in Kenya involves selecting complementary regions based on travel duration and wildlife interests. Common itineraries combine the Masai Mara with the Great Rift Valley to balance savannah wildlife viewing with lake environments. Itinerary planning requires coordination of flight schedules, driving distances, and accommodation availability. Multi-region planning helps distribute travel time and diversify safari experiences. Our Classic Mara Safari itinerary is a good starting point if you’re planning your first trip.
Governors’ Camp Collection operates safari camps and lodges across the Masai Mara National Reserve and the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. The collection has operated in Kenya since 1972, bringing long-standing expertise in safari logistics, regional travel coordination, and conservation compliance. This operational presence supports integrated travel planning across protected areas and ensures consistent guiding and service standards throughout Kenya-based safari itineraries.
All visitors to Kenya (except holders of a valid Kenya passport, or nationals of eTA-exempt East African Community states) must apply for a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before travelling. Read our full guide to the Kenya eTA for eligibility, fees and how to apply.
Travellers are encouraged to follow general personal safety practices during their journey – for example, keeping valuables secure (either on your person or in a safe) and avoiding walking alone at night in unfamiliar urban centres. For destination-specific information, we recommend checking official government travel advisories; for accurate, local insight, please consult your Guest Experience Liaison or Travel Designer, who can provide context on the areas you’ll be visiting, especially in relation to any nearby security concerns.
Our risk management team continuously evaluates safety conditions and works proactively with our operational teams to ensure all guests are well cared for. Criminal incidents affecting our guests are rare, largely due to the remote locations of our camps, far from urban centres.
Upon arrival at camp, and before taking part in any activity, guests receive a safety briefing from their guide and management. These briefings are essential and must be followed for the safety of guests, staff and wildlife. All our properties, like those of many similar operators, are located in unfenced, wild areas where animals roam freely, so all activities are led by qualified and experienced guides who explain safety procedures clearly before any activity begins.
If at any point you feel unsafe or have any concerns, our expert team is available and ready to support and respond promptly, whether in camp or during your transfers.
When travelling between our camps, you will most likely find yourself on a light aircraft at some point. Due to strict weight and space restrictions, airline staff must insist that you comply with the following:
Baggage allowance is strictly 15kg (34lbs) per passenger, inclusive of hand luggage, in soft bags.
Excess baggage will be charged at prevailing rates and only carried subject to space availability.
If you arrive with oversized or overweight baggage, you will be asked to repack into suitable bags that comply with internal airline regulations, so please bear this in mind when packing for your trip, as failure to do so may result in a delayed departure or even a missed flight. See our Safari Packing Guide for guidance on what to bring. When flying with Governors’ Aviation, we offer storage facilities for any excess luggage at our office at Wilson Airport, for collection on your return to Nairobi.
All of our camps and lodges have Reverse Osmosis filtration systems installed and it is from these systems that all of your drinking water is derived. You will be provided with a complimentary (Governors’ branded) drinking water bottle at the first of our camps/lodges that you arrive at.
Tipping is customary in Kenya though not mandatory. Please speak to the camp manager if you would like advice on tipping guidelines for the camp/lodge staff or for your safari guide (guides are usually tipped separately from the rest of the staff).
We understand that you will want to take as many pictures of your holiday as possible, but before you begin to take pictures of people or their property, please ask for their permission. In some cases, you may be required to offer a tip for those pictures. Your guide is the best person to ask for advice.
Never approach or attempt to feed a wild animal at any stage, even if they appear harmless or habituated. You may hear sounds outside your tent or room during the night – do not be alarmed. Animals do not understand the concept of a hollow tent and they will simply move around it as if it were a boulder or mass of another kind. Please do not step outside your tent or room at any stage to investigate, during the night.
Many visitors to Africa feel a strong urge to help the less fortunate whom they may encounter on safari, or when visiting a local village or school. It is best to seek an appropriate opportunity to buy gifts or supplies while you are travelling, rather than carrying them along from home. Many of our properties are actively involved in working with their local communities to sustain schools, clinics and other projects – ask about this in camp, and visit the local school, clinic or project if you can.
A donation to something you have seen on the ground will bring you more satisfaction, and directly help the neediest. Resist the temptation to offer ‘hand-outs’ to children on the side of the road, as this only encourages dependency and teaches children that begging brings reward. A rather fun idea is to gift a football; children across Kenya love soccer, yet not all of them have a ball to play with.
Voltage in Kenya is 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. All rooms and tents have electricity for lighting, and universal electrical sockets that can charge mobile phones and camera batteries. The sockets in our Mara camp tents will not support hairdryers for more on what to pack and which of our properties can support high-powered appliances, see our Safari Packing Guide.
The dialling code for Kenya is + 254. Kenya has quite a widespread mobile network with an extensive range of 5G, 4G and 3G. Our properties all have Wi-Fi in the main areas.
Kenya is on East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3, year-round. There is no daylight saving time, so the time difference between Kenya and your home country stays the same throughout your trip.
The local currency is Kenya shillings but US dollars are widely accepted, and are accepted at most hotels, lodges and camps. Most properties (including Governors’ Camp Collection) will accept card payments from major credit cards – Visa and Mastercard. We suggest that you carry a combination of cash (preferably USD and Kenya Shillings) as a back up. Small notes are helpful for paying bills or tipping porters etc.
In the Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha regions, the mornings and evenings can be quite chilly. During the day it can warm to 30 degrees and, being near the equator and at altitude, the sun can feel quite strong. Do bring sunscreen and a hat. A light long-sleeve shirt will provide good protection from the sun.
Governors’ offers complimentary laundry services throughout our properties with a 12-24hr turnaround. This is not a specialist service and garments requiring special care should not be sent to the laundry.
Please note that we do not wash any underwear but bras will be laundered if needed. Laundry powder is provided in guest bathrooms incase you need to wash your own underwear.
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