KENYA TRAVEL TIPS 

 Visa requirements

Visas are now required for all visitors to Kenya.

Visas can be obtained on arrival at the airport in Nairobi or Mombasa, but Citizens of the following countries need to have a visa prior to arrival in Kenya: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan Senegal, Somalia, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Nigeria, Yemen, Cameroon, Pakistan, Tazikstan and North Korea.

Visas can be obtained at the airport upon arrival in Kenya, or from the Kenyan Embassies / High Commissions abroad prior to departure. The visa fee is US$50 (they do not accept credit cards or travellers’ cheques, so you will need to have cash) for three months, allowing return into Kenya from Tanzania or Uganda at no extra fee.

Visa Application Fees
Single entry visa                                          USD 50
Transit visa                                                 US 20
Referral visa application fee (non-refundable)   USD 10
Multiple entry visa                                       USD100

NB:
- Visa fees payable in cash on application.

HEALTH

Since rules concerning disease prevention change from time to time, a check should be made with the nearest Kenyan High Commission, Kenya Tourist Office or any airline flying scheduled services into Kenya. Malaria is endemic to most parts of Kenya and intending visitors should start taking anti-malarial tablets before departure and continue taking them for the prescribed time after their return. Insect repellents should be made use of after dusk and suitable cover up clothes should be worn in the evenings.

 COUNTRY PROFILE

Full Country Name:  The Republic of Kenya

Area:                     580,370 sq. km (224,081sq. ml)
Population:             34.5 million (2005)

Capital city:             Nairobi

People (approx): Kikuyu 24%, Luhya 15%, Luo 12% Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Maasai/Samburu 2%

Language(s): English, Kiswahili, various indigenous languages.

Religion(s): Protestant (mainstream) 27%, Protestant (evangelical) 23%, Roman Catholic 31%, Muslim 8%, other 2%, None 2% (Afro Barometer, March 2004)

Head of State: Emilio Mwai Kibaki (elected 27 December 2002)

Membership of international groupings/organisations: UN, Commonwealth, African Union, WTO, East African Community (EAC), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

MONEY

Kenyan shilling (KSH) £1/138KSh (September 2006) For conversion to other currencies please go to www.oanda.com/converter

All the major Credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques which can be changed in any bank. A commission charge is normally added to any transactions using a credit card.

Banking hours are Monday to Friday: 9.00a.m-2.00p.m (4.30p.m in the major cities). The airport banks are usually open until midnight every day.

Currency
Hard currencies can be exchanged in cash or travellers cheques at banks all over the country, at forex bureaus in Nairobi and at most large hotels. US Dollars and Sterling Pounds are most acceptable and will cause the least delay. As a norm, always ask what commission and charges will be deducted first and prior to transaction. Banks are usually open from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm, Mondays through Fridays and from 9.00 am and 11.00 am on Saturdays.

Credit Cards
VISA, MASTERCARD and AMERICAN EXPRESS are widely accepted for tourist services. There's usually a 5% mark-up on top of the price as establishments are charged a fixed percentage of their transactions.

Flying Doctors Society
Membership of the Flying Doctors Society is strongly recommended. In event of accident or sickness while on safari, the society will fly patients by air ambulance to Nairobi for admittance to hospital. The current cost for 1-month membership is US$ 30 per person .

Drinking Water
Drinking water from the tap must be considered risky. Hotels and lodges usually furnish safe water in a thermos flask in guest rooms. Bottled water is available in every hotel and supermarket.

Security
Normal precautions as in any other destination world-wide should be taken. Visitors are advised not to leave cash and valuables in their hotel rooms but to make use of safe deposit boxes and safes. One should never carry large sums in cash and women should keep a tight grip on handbags in crowds or busy streets. Jewellery snatching is not uncommon in city streets. As in all major cities walking alone or in small groups at night should be considered a hazard and avoided. Reliable cabs/taxis are available at all the principal hotels. Taking photographs at airports, near military installations, of policemen, the president, the national flag, the State House, state lodges, soldiers, prisons and prisoners etc., is prohibited. Before photographing local people, permission should be obtained and a fixed price agreed. Seek the assistance of your driver/guide in such matters.

Voltage
Both mains electricity and generated supply in lodges provide 240 volts AC 50 cycles. Most large hotels and some game lodges provide shaving points with 110v 50 cycles. Sockets are normally three pin and of the 'square' variety.

Tipping and Porterage
Although hotels and lodges include a service charge, it is customary to tip porters, waiters, taxi drivers and safari drivers/guides.

Language
Kiswahili is the lingua franca while English is the official language. In addition, most tribes have their own language.

Post and Telephones
Keeping in touch by mail and telephone is generally easy. Direct overseas dialing is possible from major centers and increasingly from remote places such as game lodges. Call home bureaus are in plenty in Nairobi as are the Cyber café for e-mail and Internet access. There are two major mobile phone network providers, Safaricom and Celtel.

Arrivals and Departures
Kenya has two main ports of entry by air: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. Located 16 km from the city center, and Moi International Airport, Mombasa, Located 12 km from the town center. Mombasa is the main port of entry by sea.

Airport Departure Tax
International Airport departure tax equivalent to US$ 40 per person is payable on departure from the International airports. Check if it is included in your ticket. A local airport service charge is also payable on departure for domestic flights. As this varies from country to country, please check with us on the prevailing amounts payable prior to your flight departure.

Opening and Shopping Hours
Major stores, tourist services, offices and museums open from 8.00 am to 5.00 PM in large towns though offices often break for lunch. In rural areas and out in the bush small shops can be open at almost any hour. Souvenirs to take back home can include wood and soap stone sculptures and carvings, ciondos (sisal weave baskets), beadwork and tribal regalia, masks, textiles and gemstones set in unique jewellery pieces. We have negotiated for discounted prices with particular curio shops.

Insurance

We offer insurance cover to clients on request. This will cost you 10 US$ Per Day Per Person through AA insurance Company.

GEOGRAPHY

Kenya lies in East Africa, and is bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has a climate ranging from tropical to temperate largely depending on the altitude.

CLIMATE/WEATHER

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country.

The average annual temperature for the coastal town of Mombasa (altitude 17 metres) is 30.30 Celsius maximum and 22.40 Celsius minimum, the capital city, Nairobi (altitude 1,661 metres) 28 Celsius maximum and 10 Celsius minimum, Eldoret (altitude 3,085) 23.60 Celsius maximum and 9.50 Celsius minimum, Lodwar (altitude) 506 metres) and the drier north plain lands 34.80 Celsius maximum and 23.70 Celsius minimum.

There is plenty of sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning.

The long rains occur from April to June and short rains from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and when it does come it often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to August.

The annual migration of wildlife between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Park in Kenya takes place between June and September. The migration of almost two million wildebeest, zebras and other species is nature's greatest spectacle on earth. The animal trek has been captured by filmmakers worldwide.

Kenya's climate varies across the country, from the tropical humidity of the coast, the dry heat of the savannah or semi-arid areas and the cool air of the highlands. On the average the temperatures may vary slightly from one month to the next throught the year as shown below;

Average Monthly Temperatures

 
For more information please visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel