A night camping under the Kenyan stars is not to be missed, and we have three campsites just for you! However, if you’re new to the camping scene it can be a little daunting, so we thought we would help you out by writing a quick guide to camping in Kimana Sanctuary and the basics that you’ll need to bring with you.
Equipment:
Tent
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Camping mattress, airbed, or bedroll – just something comfy and soft to lie on!
Camp chairs
A fold-up camping table
Solar lanterns
Torch
Metal grid to cook on over the fire
Non-breakable plates, bowls, mugs/cups and utensils
Kettle or pot to boil water and a fire-proof pan for cooking
Matches and some sort of fire lighter e.g. cardboard or a small jar of kerosene
A washing up bowl, soap and dishcloth
At least 20 litres of “camp water” for washing up, showering etc.
A box or large bag for your rubbish
Toilet roll
Hand sanitiser
Clothing:
Some sensible closed toe shoes
Flip flops to shower in
A towel
Sunscreen
Insect/tick repellant
A good hat and sunglasses
A warm jacket, it can cool off in the evenings
Food :
Make sure you bring your fresh food in a good cooler box with ice so it stays good for your whole trip.
There are so many good ideas for what to eat on a camping adventure that you can find by doing a quick internet search, but we recommend the more that you prepare in advance the better and to keep it simple!
Don’t forget lots of drinking water, camping in Amboseli can be hot and dusty.
The don’ts of camping…
DON’T try to burn your rubbish on the fire. Paper and cardboard is ok, but plastic, tins, glass etc. are a big no. Take it home with you and dispose of it properly, recycling where possible.
DON’T bring single use plastics with you; they are now banned in all conservation areas.
DON’T leave food or rubbish lying about or your cooler boxes open. It will attract animals into your campsite, especially monkeys.
DON’T burn masses of firewood just for the hell of it. It’s a limited resource, so only use as much as you need in the designated fire pit areas. Also don’t leave a fire burning unattended when you go for a game drive or leave the campsite.
DON’T leave your tent open; you’ll end up with lots of bugs inside it.
Now that you know what not to do, we should also say what you should…
DO put away your phone and have an amazing experience reconnecting with nature
DO bring your binoculars and a bird book
DO breathe in the fresh clean air, appreciate the big open spaces and allow yourself to decompress from the daily grind
DO have great life chats around the campfire with friends and family
DO be blown away by the stars and the incredible night sky
DO leave feeling refreshed and inspired
