Before you travel
- Check passport validity and current visa/entry requirements using official government sources.
- Confirm travel insurance that suits your activities and destinations.
- Discuss vaccinations and health precautions with a qualified travel-health professional.
- Pack light layers, rain protection and suitable walking shoes for highland activities.
- Carry soft luggage where internal flight restrictions may apply.
Money and connectivity
Card use is common in many tourism businesses, but cash remains useful for small purchases and tips. Connectivity is generally good in cities, while remote safari areas can have slower or intermittent service.
Photography and respect
Always follow park rules, never pressure guides to approach wildlife unsafely, and ask permission before taking close photographs of people. Responsible travel protects both the experience and the places you came to see.
Weather
East Africa has strong regional and altitude differences. A single trip can include warm savannah, cool mountain mornings and rain in forest areas, so layered clothing is more useful than packing for only one climate.