Sometime Never ✦ Kenya 2026

Before
you go.

Everything you need to know.

A note from us

We're so excited to have you join us in Kenya.

Here's everything you need ahead of the journey.

Before you leave

The
essentials

Documents, insurance, and the things that live in the "do not forget" drawer.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your departure date, signed, and have at least two blank pages available.

You'll have to apply for your Kenyan Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) which only takes a few minutes online. You are required to obtain it prior to landing. The expected processing time is 48–72 hours, but we advise applying at least two weeks in advance.

Apply for ETA →

The link above is the official Kenyan government site — it's the only one we'd recommend using.

We will send you an accommodation confirmation letter for the application.

Our journeys take place far from the expected. For this reason, travel insurance is required for all guests. Your policy must include comprehensive medical cover, emergency evacuation from remote areas, and coverage for all safari experiences, as well as standard protections such as trip cancellation and lost or delayed luggage.

Please send us a copy of your policy.

Your destination is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Nairobi — just 10 miles from the city centre. We'll be there to pick you up on arrival. Please share your flight details with us once booked.

All inter-country flights are included and have been booked.

No mandatory vaccine requirements for arrivals from the US or Europe. That said, we recommend consulting a travel doctor — most will suggest Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid, which you probably had as a baby.

If arriving from or transferring through a Yellow Fever risk country (Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, etc.) you'll need proof of that vaccination — otherwise it's not required.

Malaria is present in Kenya and should be taken seriously. The mosquitoes that carry it are most active after dark (approximately 9pm–6am). Simple precautions go a long way: covering up in the evenings and using a good repellent. You may wish to consult your doctor about preventative medication, though this is a personal decision due to potential side effects.

What to wear

A little bush,
a little beach.

Safari mornings are cool and the coast runs warm and humid. Think light layering.

Think Out of Africa — unhurried, classic, quietly considered. Neutrals across the board: ivory, khaki, tawny, dusty olive, warm white, biscuit. Nothing bright, nothing neon. We have a photographer joining us throughout the week, so dress for the memory. You'll be photographed in extraordinary places.

Early game drives are crisp — bring a light layer. By mid-morning it warms up considerably. Lightweight, breathable fabrics work best. Long sleeves and trousers are recommended for evenings (and helpful for mosquitoes). Earth tones blend beautifully with the landscape and photograph well in golden hour light.

Warm and tropical with sea breezes. Loose linen, light cotton, easy dresses. The pace slows down on the coast — your wardrobe should too. Swimwear, sandals, and something effortlessly elegant for evenings.

Lamu is a Muslim town. Ladies, please keep shoulders and knees covered when out and about — a light scarf or sarong works perfectly.

A few Pinterest boards to get you in the mood:

A few favourites that nail the aesthetic — these aren't required, just a direction:

Women

Sézane
Zimmermann
Reformation
Madewell
Nili Lotan
Aritzia
Farm Rio
Anthropologie

Men

Blundstone
Buck Mason
Todd Snyder
Ralph Lauren
Alex Crane
Banana Republic
Industry of All Nations
Patagonia

Packing

Travel light.
Really light.

33 lbs total. One soft bag, no wheels. We know — but laundry is included, and you won't miss anything you left behind.

One soft checked bag + one carry-on, max 33 lbs / 15 kg total. This is a strict safety requirement for Kenya's domestic flights, not a suggestion. No hard cases, no wheels. Leave your computer at home if possible.

Pro tip: Anything you're wearing won't be counted in your weight limit.

Everything in neutrals. Think linen, cotton, canvas — nothing synthetic or shiny.

Clothing2 lightweight trousers · 2–3 shirts or blouses · 2 long-sleeve layers · 1 pair shorts · 1 easy dress or smart casual option

FootwearBoots for the bush · sandals for walking around camp and Lamu. Sneakers aren't needed.

OuterwearLight rain jacket or packable poncho · wide-brim hat · scarf or bandana for dust and sun

SwimwearOne swimsuit for the lodge stay at Lamu

GearBinoculars · small head torch · belt · external battery pack · a good book for siesta

Health & sunSunscreen · insect repellent (essential for evenings) · personal medications

CameraWhatever you shoot with — plus spare batteries, memory cards, and a dust cloth

Provided at campShampoo · conditioner · body wash · laundry service · water bottles

Yes — laundry is included throughout the itinerary. Pack half of what you think you need. Note that ladies' underwear won't be washed at camp for cultural reasons — pack one pair per day.

There will be electricity throughout the trip to charge your items. Kenya runs on 240V with British three-prong sockets. Bring a universal travel adaptor. Leave high-voltage items like hair straighteners and blow dryers at home.

It's Kenya, and Wi-Fi is unreliable — don't count on it too much. Use the disconnection as part of the experience.

Climate

You're arriving
at the right time.

Late May into early June is shoulder season — fewer crowds, vivid green landscapes, and superb wildlife activity.

Masai Mara — Safari

14–25°C / 57–77°F. Cooler and greener at higher altitude. Crisp mornings, comfortable afternoons, cool evenings. Lush grasslands, occasional afternoon showers.

Tsavo — Safari

19–30°C / 66–86°F. Hotter and drier at lower altitude. Strong sun with heat building through the day, warm evenings. Red earth, baobabs, and dramatic open terrain.

Lamu — Coast

25–30°C / 76–86°F. Hot, humid, and tropical, softened by steady sea breezes. May brings the most rainfall of the year — usually brief and warm. White sand, salt air, palm-lined shoreline.

On the ground

A few things
worth knowing.

"Pole pole" (slowly, slowly) isn't just a phrase — it's a way of life.

English is widely spoken, so you'll always be understood. But a few words of Kiswahili go a long way — people genuinely love it when you try.

Jambo — Hello
Karibu — Welcome (you'll hear this constantly)
Asante sana — Thank you very much
Pole pole — Slowly / take it easy
Nakupenda — I love you (useful for the landscape)

And the wildlife: Simba (Lion) · Twiga (Giraffe) · Duma (Cheetah) · Tembo (Elephant) · Punda milia (Zebra).

The bush is wild — and deeply respected. Your guides and hosts know it intimately, and you're in very experienced hands.

A few simple rules keep everything as it should be: stay in the vehicle unless invited out, don't feed wildlife, keep voices low near animals, avoid litter of any kind, and keep your tent closed.

You don't need a huge kit — the best photos come from being in the right place at the right time. We handle that part.

As a guideline, we recommend $20–$30 USD per guest, per day in gratuities, which we will evenly distribute amongst guides, spotters, room stewards, and camp staff.

Nairobi will be the final opportunity to withdraw cash for the duration of the journey, so please plan to have enough for tips and any personal expenses (depending on your shopping appetite).

Before you go

Watch & read
your way there.

Pour something cold and let Kenya find you early. Consider this your pre-departure curriculum.

1985

Out of Africa

The one. Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, and Kenya at its most cinematic. Watch it twice.

1966

Born Free

Joy and George Adamson, Elsa the lioness, and the Kenyan bush. Still quietly devastating.

1996

The Ghost and the Darkness

Set in Tsavo — exactly where we're going. Based on a true story. Gripping and atmospheric.

2005

The Constant Gardener

A thriller shot entirely on location — Nairobi and the Rift Valley have never looked so alive.

Read

West with the Night — Beryl Markham

A memoir written in Kenya. Hemingway called it a great book. Bring it with you.

Read

I Dreamed of Africa — Kuki Gallmann

One woman's extraordinary life on a Kenyan ranch. Lyrical, honest, and unforgettable.

"The most important thing you can pack is the willingness to be surprised."

A little bush,
a little beach.

Women

Men

Watch & read
your way there.

If anything here raises a question, just ask. That's what we're here for.

We can't wait to take you there.

Sometime Never

Contact

Beforeyou go.

Theessentials

A little bush,a little beach.

Women

Men

Travel light.Really light.

You're arrivingat the right time.

A few thingsworth knowing.

Watch & readyour way there.

If anything here raises a question, just ask. That's what we're here for.

We can't wait to take you there.

Sometime Never

Contact

Before
you go.

The
essentials

A little bush,
a little beach.

Travel light.
Really light.

You're arriving
at the right time.

A few things
worth knowing.

Watch & read
your way there.