- A zippered rucksack (backpack)
- Lions Bluff gets very cold in the evenings. A very warm pullover or fleece
- A windproof/waterproof jacket
- Walking boots or shoes and socks
- Long-sleeved shirt and long trousers
- A pair of sunglasses and a sun hat
- A Swiss Army knife
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Flashlight
- Compass
- Sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellent
- Bottled water
It helps to have a mini-medical kit with you -here are some suggestions as to what it should contain.
- Anti-malarial prophylactics
- Aspirin or Paracetamol for pain or fever
- Antihistamine for allergies, insect bites or stings and to prevent motion sickness
- Cold and flu tablets/throat lozenges.
- Diarrhoea ‘ stoppers’ (note these should not be used for children and only under desperate circumstances for adults)
- Oral Re-hydration solution for diarrhoea
- sunstroke Insect repellent, sunscreen lip balm and eye drops
- Calamine lotion, sting relief spray or Aloe Vera – to ease sunburn, insect bites or stings
- Antiseptic – for cuts and grazes
- Alcohol swabs – to clean minor wounds
- Bandages and sticking plasters
- Water purification tablets
- Scissors/tweezers
- A kit containing syringes and needles
This serious and potentially fatal disease is a risk in Kenya all year round, though normally not in areas of the country which are over 2600m. Because the disease is spread by the bite of the mosquito, it is essential to avoid being bitten whilst taking preventative measures against infection, in the form of prophylactic tablets.
Note: These must be taken for the prescribed time before and after your visit to Kenya. You should consult your doctor to determine which is the best type for you.
Prevention is imperative, so wear light coloured clothing, long trousers and long-sleeved shirts in the evening, use effective mosquito repellents, anti-insect room sprays, sleep under a mosquito net or behind mosquito-proof window screens.
Note: Malaria-carrying mosquitoes bite from dusk until 0630 hrs in the morning so you should be especially vigilant between these times.
Never invite trouble
It is always unwise to carry large amounts of money or wear valuable jewellery when travelling. It also pays to remember that calm, politeness and a measured attitude are invaluable assets in a crisis.
For travellers from temperate countries, the greatest problem is the dramatic difference in climatic conditions. The sun’s rays near the equator burn fast.
How to Avoid Sunstroke or Sunburn
Protect yourself with clothing, hats and sunscreen (SPF 30-45) and remember that to ration your daily dosage of sun is your most effective form of protection. On safari; stop frequently to rest, drink and eat before you need to and if you should suffer from heat exhaustion or heat stroke, cool yourself with shade and/or cold water, take ample fluids and if necessary take Aspirin to lower your temperature and relieve headaches.
