Kenya

Kenya - Africa's free-ranging paradise. Kenya is one of the only places in Africa where you can watch a lion kill in the Masai Mara in the morning, then drift over coral reefs in a glass-bottomed boat off tropical Mombasa in the afternoon; or wander back in time through the Islamic island of Lamu. Kenya is Africa in miniature; it is home to the greatest concentration of free-ranging wildlife on earth as well as an astounding diversity of people with almost every main African tongue spoken and over forty distinct ethnic groups.

Ngwe Safari specializes in customised itineraries, and have attached a few samples to give you a few ideas, however an itinerary can be designed to suite your every need and requirement. For the special interest clients i.e. birding, predators, leopards, culture and sharks etc see our Special Interest Safaris here.

Money Matters

Currency

The unit of currency in Kenya is the Kenyan shilling (Ksh) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of KSh1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20.

Exchange rate

The exchange rate is in your favour. Generally you will find that fine cuisine, wine and entertainment cost a fraction of the tariff charged by equivalent establishments elsewhere in the world.

Credit cards

All major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and American Express) are widely accepted. In addition to credit cards, it is wise to bring US dollars and traveller's cheques.

Tipping

This is not required, but unlike in some other African countries, is not forbidden either. Most hotels include a 10% service charge on the bill. If the service charge has not been included a KSh100 tip is usual, although the amount is entirely at the visitor's discretion. Bear in mind that salaries in East Africa tend to be very low, and that people working in service industries rely on tips to supplement their wages. On safari you should tip your driver, cook and guide. These people do not earn very much so you should tip as much as you feel you can, about KSh150 per employee per day is about right, but of course this depends on you and how happy you were with your service.

Banks

National and international banks have branches in: Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Thika, Eldoret, Kericho and Nyeri and in most other major towns.

Banks in Mombasa and the coastal areas: open and close half an hour earlier.

Banks and bureaux de change at international airports are open 24 hours a day.

Banking hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 - 14:00 First Saturday of each month 09:00 - 11.00

Accommodation

Most safari lodges vary in size and style, and are built to blend in with the local environment. All have rondavel or banda (huts built of traditional palm matting) accommodation, with a lounge, central dining and bar in single unit hotels. Most rooms are twins with private facilities.

Tented accommodations vary from super deluxe to standard tents. These are very popular and give the visitor the true experience of being close to nature without the inconvenience and discomfort that can be associated with camping in the open. The spacious insect-proof tents are usually permanently "pitched" on concrete bases, with private facilities including flush toilets.

It is strongly recommended that you reserve all your accommodation as far in advance as possible as availability, especially at the smaller game lodges and bush homes, is often at a premium especially in peak season.

Communication and Electricity

Communication

The international dialing code for calling Kenya is +254. International direct dialing is available at most hotels but remember that hotels levy a substantial surcharge on all calls. Public phones work with coins or with telephone cards (which can be purchased at post offices or from international call services in major towns.) Most game lodges will have a central phone at reception but not individual phones in the rooms. Major centres like Nairobi, Mombasa, Thika and Eldoret have Internet cafés, and Internet facilities are constantly being upgraded throughout the country. Several local companies offer computer Internet access, and charge by the hour. Many hotels have facsimile machines, but often limit their access to guests; fax services are also available at office supply shops.

Electricity

It is supplied at 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. Bayonet light sockets exist in Kenya.

Entry Requirements (as at August 2000)

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. Nationals of the following countries do not require visas for a tourist stay of 30 days or less: South Africa, UK, Switzerland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada. Nationals of some countries may obtain visas upon arrival. Those wishing to enter Kenya on business or for longer than 30 days, should obtain a visa from their nearest Kenyan Consulate.

Visitors travelling through Nairobi en route to Tanzania require a transit visa. Requirements for this are:

Visa application form
Business letter (for business visa)
One passport photograph
Proof of sufficient funds and onward travel/return ticket.

Visas cost about US$30 and are valid for three months. All visitors may be requested to show proof of sufficient funds and onward travel/return ticket. This is a guide only, for up-to-date information, please check with the Kenyan Consulate.

Health Requirements

Inoculation against yellow fever and cholera are not mandatory but recommended. Anyone entering Kenya from or via a yellow fever infected area must, however, be in possession of 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. If you suffer from side effects, try taking your malaria prophylactics at night, after dinner, as this usually minimises the effect of the symptoms. Precautionary measures that you can take to prevent contact with mosquitoes are: 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.

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

Adequate medical services are available in Nairobi and Mombasa. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services. We therefore recommend that travel insurance should also include medical cover. These policies are relatively inexpensive, compared to the cost of a medical evacuation. There are also frequent outbreaks of cholera, and malaria is endemic in Kenya outside Nairobi.

Do not use ice cubes, rare meat, eat raw seafood or dairy products. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors and only eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination.

Insurance

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

Climate

Winter: June - August

Summer: September - March

Kenya is divided by the equator and enjoys a tropical climate that varies greatly. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and north-east parts of the country. The hottest period is in February and March and the coldest in July and August. The average annual temperatures in the main areas are as follows:

Area	Minimum	Maximum
Mombasa (coastal)	22ºC (72ºF)	30ºC (86ºF)
Nairobi	13ºC (55ºF)	25ºC (77ºF)
North plainland	23ºC (73ºF)	34ºC (93ºF)

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 afternoon and evenings.

When to go and What to pack

When to go

Kenya is a year round destination with excellent game viewing. The annual wildebeest migration between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya takes place from around June to September.

Very important

Packing space is limited on all modes of safari transport so you will need to restrict your baggage to 12 - 15kg (preferably packed in a soft bag) plus a reasonable amount of camera equipment.

What to pack

Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. The most practical items to pack for safari are:

Khaki, green, beige and neutral colours
Blouses and shirts with long sleeves (even in summer, they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes)
T-shirts
Shorts or a light skirt
Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days.
Some hotels and country clubs require gentlemen to wear a jacket and tie and women to be suitably attired for dinner.
A windbreaker and sweater are recommended for early morning and evening game drives.
Swimwear and beach apparel
Comfortable walking shoes
Sunblock, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, moisturiser and lip salve are all essentials.

Good quality, locally made clothing and shoes for safaris are available in Nairobi and Mombasa shops at a reasonable price.

Transport

Border posts

The major crossing point between Kenya and Tanzania is at Namanga, which is open 24 hours a day.

Rail and bus

Rail is a safe, reliable form of public transport. Passenger services run from Mombasa to Malaba via Voi, Nairobi, Nakuru and Eldoret.

It is essential to book tickets two to three days in advance. Kenya has a good network of buses, as well as matatus (minibuses) and share taxis, but none are very safe as drivers tend to overload and speed. Where possible, rail travel should be the chosen means of transport. Private 18-seater buses offer shuttle services connecting Nairobi and Mombasa with Arusha and Moshi in Tanzania, which are more expensive, but more comfortable and safer.

Airports

For local flights the passenger service charge on departure is Ksh.100 and for international departure it is US$20 or its equivalent (freely convertible foreign currency).

Kenya has about 250 airports (of immensely varying quality) and plenty of airlines connecting Nairobi with Mombasa, Kisumu, Nanyuki, Malindi, Lamu and the national parks/reserves of Amboseli, Masai Mara and Samburu. Jomo Kenyatta is the international airport.

Roads

Traffic drives on the left. All major roads are tarred and many of the others have been improved through surfacing with murram (gravel).
However, high speed, unpredictable local driving habits, poor vehicle maintenance and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards on Kenyan roads.
During the rainy season, many roads are only navigable by four-wheel drive vehicles. After heavy rains, all roads should be treated with care, as flash floods can cause washaways.
Care should be taken when leaving trunk roads as the surfaces of the lesser roads vary greatly in quality. There are petrol stations on most highways, but as a rule of thumb, always fill your tank before leaving a major town, as fuel shortages do occur from time to time.

The border to Ethiopia was closed for a while but has now reopened. For those with four-wheel drive vehicles, a more adventurous route to the west near Lake Turkana is quite popular. Ask the locals for advice before trying this route. There is no border post on either side of the border crossing, so you'll have to get your visa stamped in Nairobi.