Information on Kenya - Travel tips

BASIC FACTS:

Full Name: Republic of Kenya
Capital: Nairobi
Independence: 12 December 1963
Population: 28 000 000
Area: 581 386km²
Currency: Kenyan shilling
National language: Swahili and English
President: Emilio Mwai Kibaki (since 30 December 2002)
Time: GMT+3 hours

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. There should be sufficient blank pages for entry stamps upon arrival. Most tourists can now obtain their visas on arrival at both airports (Nairobi and Mombasa) with minimum formalities: simply a filled visa application form.
Visas cost US$50 and are valid for three months. All visitors may be requested to show proof of sufficient funds and onward travel/return ticket. It is advisable to get some more information about visas (whether you need one or not) from the Kenyan embassy in your country.

COMMUNICATION:

The international dialing code for Kenya is +254. The Kenya exit code is 000.
International direct dialing is available at most hotels. There are also public phones which work with coins or prepaid telephone cards.

INTERNET:

Major Kenyan centers like Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu all have internet cafes on every corner. The connections are very fast in some places. They charge 1 Ksh per minute, which is definitely the cheapest way of communication here. Internet connections become a problem in remote places like national parks and small towns. Connections are very slow and the price per minute can go as high as 200 Ksh per minute.

ELECTRICITY:

220/240 volts AC, 50HZ. Plugs are UK-type round two-pin or flat three-pin. Major hotels and some game lodges will supply adapters on request.

CULTURE:

There are more than 70 tribal groups in Kenya. The biggest tribe is the Kikuyu followed by Luo and Luyha; most of them live a modern life nowadays.
Mostly the smaller tribes like the Msasai, Samburu, Turkana and Pokot keep their traditions even today. Most Kenyans are Christians of one sort or another while the coastal area is mainly Muslim.
Therefore, you are requested to observe certain modesty in your dress when visiting the coast.

CLIMATE:

Kenya is intersectdd by the equator and enjoys a tropical climate that varies widely. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeastern parts of the country. Kenya has two rainy seasons. The long rains occur from April to June and short rains from October to December. Rainfall is sometimes heavy and tends to fall in the late afternoon and during the night. Days are normally sunny.
The hottest period is in February and March and the coldest in July and August. The average temperatures and average rainfalls are follows:

PHOTOGRAPHY

Professional and amateur negative and transparency film is widely available in Kenya's major centers, but it is advisable to carry enough film from home with you.
Please notice that it is forbidden to take photographs of the president or his residence, as well as any government, military, police or related installation.
Before photographing any people, please ask them first for permission.
For game and bird photography, a telephoto lens between 300 and 500mm is strongly recommended. Remember to bring spare batteries, memory cards and chargers for your digital cameras.
Binoculars are essential for bird and game viewing.

HEALTH AND IMMUNISATION

A yellow fever vaccine is now the only vaccine that is a legal requirement for entering the country. You must have in your possession a valid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever.
It is imperative that you obtain malaria prophylactics before entering Kenya. When purchasing these, please tell your doctor or pharmacist that you intend visiting Kenya. It is important to note that the Kenyan authorities have banned the use of chloroquine combinations as prophylactics, and instead recommend the use of either mefloquine (Lariam/Mefliam) or doxycycline. Start your course at least one week before entering Kenya and continue taking the pills for six weeks after leaving the country.
Precautionary measures that you can take to prevent contact with mosquitoes include sleeping under a bed net or in room/tent with mosquito proofing (remember to keep the flaps zipped at all times), spraying your accommodation with insecticide, making use of a mosquito repelling lotion or stick and wearing long sleeve clothing and socks when outside at night.

Hotels and Game Lodges supply clean water; if in doubt about water cleanliness, limit yourself to bottled mineral water which is available widely everywhere in the country.

The hygiene in lodges as well as in our camps in at a high level, so you don’t need to avoid fresh fruits and vegetables or dairy products. Precaution is only necessary when you are exploring the local markets. Don't taste any food from local stands before you properly wash it or before you are sure that it is properly cooked.

Sun protection is compulsory everywhere; the sun in high altitudes being even more treacherous than by the sea. Sunglasses and hats are a must.

Anyone who has any special medications should take enough supplies to last their visit.

We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance which includes curtailment and cancellation coverage as well as medical coverage upon confirmation of your booking.

WHAT TO TAKE:

• Important documents as passport, health insurance and International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever.
• Money: The unit of currency is the Kenyan shilling. The exchange rate is 1$ USD = Ksh 72 or 1EUR = Ksh 87 (at time of writing - May 2006). Currency exchange is free in Kenya, and there is no limit to the amount you can bring into the country. However, you must convert all your remaining shillings into another currency when leaving. In your own interest, change your money in banks or Forex Bureaus. Blackmarket changing will never turn out to be a profitable operation. Most major credit cards are accepted throughout the country in bigger shops and hotels. Always keep your money and all important documents in a safe place (the best are special travel pouches/wallets which you can keep under your clothes). Photocopies of all important documents should be kept away from originals.
• Medical kid:
  • malaria prophylactics – optional (please consult you doctor)
  • pain or fever reliever
  • Plasters and other wound dressings
  • insect repellent, moisturizer and lip salve
  • sun protection cream with the protection factor 20 and above
• Camera, spare batteries, memory cards and chargers
• Binoculars which will greatly enhance game viewing
• Warm sleeping bag for those who will do a camping safari
• Small battery-run torch
• Swiss army knife (always handy)
• Small locks for your bags. Always lock your bags before checking in or if you leave your bags in any deposit rooms for long time.
• toiletries (toothbrush, tooth paste, towel(s) if you are camping, toilet paper, moisturizing cream, lip salve and sun protective cream, wash kit…)
• note book and pen
• If you intend to visit a local school, the teachers will appreciate any educational materials like wall hangings, maps, books, pens and paper ..
• Suite case and a small day bag to carry your camera, binocular, sun cream ..
• Adequate Clothing: What to wear? (For trekking attire, see below) Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. The most practical items to pack for a safari are:
T-shirts
• Blouses and shirts with long sleeves (even in summer, they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes)
• Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
• Shorts
• A windbreaker and sweater are recommended for early morning and evening game drives
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sun block, sunglasses, hat
• Swimwear and beach apparel

• Clothing and equipment for Mount Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro climb:
  • warm clothes (at night the temperature often drops to below -10°C): sweaters / jumpers, pants and jacket (water and windproof), long sleeved shirt, anorak / raincoat, thermal underwear, several pairs of socks
  • waterproof rucksacks and daypack
  • sleeping bag
  • roll mats + insulation pads
  • headgear and gloves
  • good walking boots and light trainers
  • walking sticks
  • sunglasses
  • torch light and spare batteries
  • small towel and wash kit
  • water bottle
  • first aid kit and insect repellant
  • a few plastic bags
  • necessary toiletries
  • sun protection cream
  • Note: Porters will carry up to 15 kg, so please restrict your baggage.