Casual is the word!! We wore long pants (light weight and denim) in earth tones. Some wore shorts but I wanted sun and bug protection. We were told to avoid blacks and blues. We layered the tops: cotton tees, cotton sweaters and a fleece. We wore packable down jackets. Sneakers (2 pairs) and socks- I brought slip-in sneakers which worked well when you were hoping on and off the seats. The guides asked that we remove our shoes when standing on the seats. Hence slip ons worked well! I brought a packable hat with a chin strap, a buff, a scarf, sunglasses. I used scrungies to keep my hair away from my camera lens. Bring a day bag for your stuff as you peeled off layers during the day. The days started off cold but warmed up as the day progressed. Definitely bring a bathing suit for the 4 Seasons! Often I just wore a new set of clean clothes for dinner and then wore it the next day. I brought sandals for the evenings but ultimately wore my sneakers most of the time. This trip was very casual - it was the longest time that I refrained from black!!
What Nancy forgot to mention is that the reason to avoid blue and black is that those colors attract tsetse flies- a small horsefly-like critter that can bite through clothing and socks. They can be found throughout eastern Africa especially where animals congregate. 😲
Alan - 100% correct!! When I was there in July (2019), there were no tse tses at all — we drove past an area near the Four Seasons with signage: Beware of Tse Tse. We were instructed to zip up all the windows- and then we began sweating profusely from the lack of air… but quickly got to another sign indicating No Tse Tse!!
An additional note: almost every woman on our trip brought a black bathing suit. No one had a problem but maybe bring something other than black or blue. Just saying…
I’m most impressive that you swam in the pool at the Four Seasons Nancy. I’m a big swimmer, but it was freezing when we tried it. Alan S will attest the same
British - I didn’t say I SWAM in the pool:-). I just discussed color of bathing suits!! Rather than lolling around the Four Seasons pool, our TD arranged an extra drive during a free afternoon — and only 4 of us went. The 2 hour outing turned into 4 hours. We saw incredible animal behavior - lions were surrounded by wildebeasts but the lions waiting in the grasses for the right opportunity to attack. Score ONE for the lions!
British
8:18PM
I’m most impressive that you swam in the pool at the Four Seasons Nancy. I’m a big swimmer, but it was freezing when we tried it. Alan S will attest the same
You betcha! 😮 Yesterday I took a dip in the Atlantic in Boothbay, ME, and I believe the water in Maine (64.8 deg.) right now is colder than it was at the Four Seasons, but both literally took my breath away!
I love that photo. Our first K and T tour back in I think 2007, there was no lolling around, no Four Seasons and more total game drives, much better tour than now. We were not offered an extra game drive in December 2019.
British - Our first K and T tour back in I think 2007, there was no lolling around, no Four Seasons and more total
game drives, much better tour than now.
When you were young did you walk 4 miles uphill both to and from school?
2025 July Classic Safari
My mother and I are going anyone else?
I think its gfoing to be pretty cold at night and day that time of year.
Did y'all get to swim or was it too cold?
Did you have to wear multiple layers like Colorado?
Anyone take camera, batteries, SD cards, laptop, chargers and tripod or monopod etc?
The safari takes place close to the equator, but at altitude of near a mile high where the air is clear, so, even in July it will be cool in the mornings, not too hot during the day and a bit cool in the evening. I don't believe any of the pools are heated, so, as the expression on my face in photo above reveals, the water temps are quite nippy. I briefly entered the water at the 4 Seasons and Mount Kenya Safari Club at the end of June. Layers is the order of the day. If you want pics, take your camera, batteries, and charger, but don't get carried away with multiple lenses. or like many, just use a cell phone. Take a tablet if you want, but leave your laptop at home. There is almost no space or time to use a tripod and rarely a monopod. There are many forum discussions about this topic. Check the K&T archives.
I use photos to trigger memories, not to replace them. I know the photogs want the pictures, and I have a degree in photography, but that is not my ‘focus’. Observe first. You can probably see better pictures on National Geographic. . But you cannot see it, and smell it, and feel it with a photograph. Bring all of your senses, but the pictures are secondary.
I’m with SeaLord about triggering memories. We were last in Tanzania in July. I didn’t take my big camera because for my purposes my cell phone is sufficient. We decided to take my husband’s big camera which was useful for taking slightly larger images of a far off couple of rhinos and a leopard. He uses a Tamron lens, so no need to change lenses which can be difficult in the dust. No one else had a camera and some didn’t take any photos. The more I’m traveling, the more I’m noticing that seasoned travelers don’t seem to take photos!
I make photo books of most of my trips. This one was a Bridges tour, so I asked everyone to send me their best shots and of course many of them are of the family as well as animals. I’ve combined them and made a book for each child and one between each set of parents. They turned out so well and will be presented at Christmas. Yes, nothing can compare with being there and seeing it all.
This tour did not go to the Four Seasons, which we were grateful for. The Gran Melia hotel had a fantastic pool, but like the Four Seasons one, was absolutely freezing…
Of course my grandchildren didn’t care, but one of them literally was blue when he got out and shivering uncontrollably. I was so worried, I thought he had hypothermia, so we wrapped him in numerous towels and I also have a wonderful photo of the three grandchildren huddled together in one big red towel looking frozen but hey are grinning away.
There were a few tsetse flies this July, one bit my son through his quite thickish beige pants and blood soaked right through so we could see it. Fortunately, no signs of sleeping sickness.
We love going to Africa.
I agree about using my mobile phone for the very few photographs I take. My first husband was a very talented amateur photographer who finally realized how much he was missing by constantly peering through a lens. I also was weary of constantly having to pose while he took his 'perfect' shot. I wanted to experience the sights, not be a part of them. I am grateful, however, for the few travel photos I have of him.
I think it is wonderful to make photo albums, especially if done so as a family keepsake. It's just not my cup of tea. Sewing is my passion and, of course, traveling.
Comments
Casual is the word!! We wore long pants (light weight and denim) in earth tones. Some wore shorts but I wanted sun and bug protection. We were told to avoid blacks and blues. We layered the tops: cotton tees, cotton sweaters and a fleece. We wore packable down jackets. Sneakers (2 pairs) and socks- I brought slip-in sneakers which worked well when you were hoping on and off the seats. The guides asked that we remove our shoes when standing on the seats. Hence slip ons worked well! I brought a packable hat with a chin strap, a buff, a scarf, sunglasses. I used scrungies to keep my hair away from my camera lens. Bring a day bag for your stuff as you peeled off layers during the day. The days started off cold but warmed up as the day progressed. Definitely bring a bathing suit for the 4 Seasons! Often I just wore a new set of clean clothes for dinner and then wore it the next day. I brought sandals for the evenings but ultimately wore my sneakers most of the time. This trip was very casual - it was the longest time that I refrained from black!!
What Nancy forgot to mention is that the reason to avoid blue and black is that those colors attract tsetse flies- a small horsefly-like critter that can bite through clothing and socks. They can be found throughout eastern Africa especially where animals congregate. 😲
Alan - 100% correct!! When I was there in July (2019), there were no tse tses at all — we drove past an area near the Four Seasons with signage: Beware of Tse Tse. We were instructed to zip up all the windows- and then we began sweating profusely from the lack of air… but quickly got to another sign indicating No Tse Tse!!
An additional note: almost every woman on our trip brought a black bathing suit. No one had a problem but maybe bring something other than black or blue. Just saying…
I’m most impressive that you swam in the pool at the Four Seasons Nancy. I’m a big swimmer, but it was freezing when we tried it. Alan S will attest the same
British - I didn’t say I SWAM in the pool:-). I just discussed color of bathing suits!! Rather than lolling around the Four Seasons pool, our TD arranged an extra drive during a free afternoon — and only 4 of us went. The 2 hour outing turned into 4 hours. We saw incredible animal behavior - lions were surrounded by wildebeasts but the lions waiting in the grasses for the right opportunity to attack. Score ONE for the lions!
Ah, that’s cheating Nancy!
You caught me — I’m the one who doesn’t loll around on Tauck trips!!
You betcha! 😮 Yesterday I took a dip in the Atlantic in Boothbay, ME, and I believe the water in Maine (64.8 deg.) right now is colder than it was at the Four Seasons, but both literally took my breath away!
I love that photo. Our first K and T tour back in I think 2007, there was no lolling around, no Four Seasons and more total game drives, much better tour than now. We were not offered an extra game drive in December 2019.
When you were young did you walk 4 miles uphill both to and from school?
The Phantom Flagger must be jealous of Alan’s Frosty Fortitude
Sam, no two miles each way and no hill 😀
PHANTOM FLAGGER: does the use of the word ‘flagger’ force the flag???
I personally think the best thing to do is simply ignore the flagger. Why give this person any recognition at all ?
Yep, don't feed the trolls.
AlanS - Love the picture
This picture has become a legend, funniest picture!
2025 July Classic Safari
My mother and I are going anyone else?
I think its gfoing to be pretty cold at night and day that time of year.
Did y'all get to swim or was it too cold?
Did you have to wear multiple layers like Colorado?
Anyone take camera, batteries, SD cards, laptop, chargers and tripod or monopod etc?
The safari takes place close to the equator, but at altitude of near a mile high where the air is clear, so, even in July it will be cool in the mornings, not too hot during the day and a bit cool in the evening. I don't believe any of the pools are heated, so, as the expression on my face in photo above reveals, the water temps are quite nippy. I briefly entered the water at the 4 Seasons and Mount Kenya Safari Club at the end of June. Layers is the order of the day. If you want pics, take your camera, batteries, and charger, but don't get carried away with multiple lenses. or like many, just use a cell phone. Take a tablet if you want, but leave your laptop at home. There is almost no space or time to use a tripod and rarely a monopod. There are many forum discussions about this topic. Check the K&T archives.
I use photos to trigger memories, not to replace them. I know the photogs want the pictures, and I have a degree in photography, but that is not my ‘focus’. Observe first. You can probably see better pictures on National Geographic. . But you cannot see it, and smell it, and feel it with a photograph. Bring all of your senses, but the pictures are secondary.
I’m with SeaLord about triggering memories. We were last in Tanzania in July. I didn’t take my big camera because for my purposes my cell phone is sufficient. We decided to take my husband’s big camera which was useful for taking slightly larger images of a far off couple of rhinos and a leopard. He uses a Tamron lens, so no need to change lenses which can be difficult in the dust. No one else had a camera and some didn’t take any photos. The more I’m traveling, the more I’m noticing that seasoned travelers don’t seem to take photos!
I make photo books of most of my trips. This one was a Bridges tour, so I asked everyone to send me their best shots and of course many of them are of the family as well as animals. I’ve combined them and made a book for each child and one between each set of parents. They turned out so well and will be presented at Christmas. Yes, nothing can compare with being there and seeing it all.
This tour did not go to the Four Seasons, which we were grateful for. The Gran Melia hotel had a fantastic pool, but like the Four Seasons one, was absolutely freezing…
Of course my grandchildren didn’t care, but one of them literally was blue when he got out and shivering uncontrollably. I was so worried, I thought he had hypothermia, so we wrapped him in numerous towels and I also have a wonderful photo of the three grandchildren huddled together in one big red towel looking frozen but hey are grinning away.
There were a few tsetse flies this July, one bit my son through his quite thickish beige pants and blood soaked right through so we could see it. Fortunately, no signs of sleeping sickness.
We love going to Africa.
I agree about using my mobile phone for the very few photographs I take. My first husband was a very talented amateur photographer who finally realized how much he was missing by constantly peering through a lens. I also was weary of constantly having to pose while he took his 'perfect' shot. I wanted to experience the sights, not be a part of them. I am grateful, however, for the few travel photos I have of him.
I think it is wonderful to make photo albums, especially if done so as a family keepsake. It's just not my cup of tea. Sewing is my passion and, of course, traveling.
I love taking pictures with my mind.
Absolutely, SandyFeet. It's the best way to memorialize my travels.