Safari flights from Nairobi: why your bag must be soft and stay within 15 kg

Many Kenyan safaris start with a short flight on a light aircraft to an airstrip in the bush, and the luggage rules are much tighter than on the international flight that brought you to Nairobi. On Safarilink's safari routes, the baggage allowance is "strictly limited to 15 kgs per person", and that limit includes hand baggage and cameras.

A higher limit of 20 kg, also including hand baggage and in soft bags, applies on Safarilink flights to Zanzibar, Kisumu, Diani, Lamu, Malindi, Entebbe and Mombasa. The airline explains that its aircraft have limited, irregularly shaped holds, so large rigid suitcases are difficult to stow and may be sent on a later flight.

Check-in staff may allow up to 2 kg more in most circumstances. Anything beyond that travels only at the captain's discretion if payload and space allow, charged as freight, or can be guaranteed by booking extra baggage in advance or a "freight" seat for confirmed extra carriage. Infants without a paid seat have no allowance. Safarilink offers a complimentary secure luggage store at its Wilson Airport office, which is useful for leaving a large suitcase in Nairobi during the safari.

Rules differ between operators and can change, so check your own airline's baggage page when you book, pack in a soft bag, and plan what stays in Nairobi before you reach the airstrip.