• Stunning game parks, lakes and mountains
• Cradle of Mankind: archaeological treasure
• Romantic, colonial-inspired safari camps
BASIC FACTS:
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
Full Name:
Republic of Kenya (formerly British East Africa) Capital: Nairobi Independence: 12 December 1963 Time: GMT+3 hours Population: 27 000 000 (approximately) Area: 580 367km² Currency: Kenyan shilling President: Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi (since 14 October
1978)
New Year's Day - 1
January
Good Friday (varies)
Easter Monday (varies)
Labour Day - 1 May
Madaraka Day - 1 June
Moi Day - 10 October
Kenyatta Day - 20 October
Independence Day - 12 December
Christmas Day - 25 December
Boxing Day - 26 December
COMMUNICATION:
ELECTRICITY:
The international dialling code
for calling Kenya is +254.
International direct diallingis available at most hotels
but remember that hotels levy a substantial surcharge on all
calls.
Public phoneswork with coins or with telephone cards
(which can be purchased 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 Kenyan 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 Kenyan hotels have facsimile machines, but often limit
their access to guests; fax services are also available at office
supply shops.
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.
LANGUAGE:
CULTURE:
The national language is KiSwahili
although English is spoken throughout.
Kenyans involved in the tourist trade speak English. However,
it is good to have a working knowledge of Swahili (KiSwahili).
In total, there are 42 ethnic languages in Kenya.
There are more than 70 tribal
groups among the Africans in Kenya. Differences between many
of them are blurred - Western cultural values are becoming more
deep-seated and traditional values are disintegrating. There
are many other tribes in Kenya; these include Kikuyu, Luhia,
Luo and Kikamba as well as a plethora of minor tribal tongues.
GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE:
Kenya is situated on the equator alongside
the Indian Ocean. The country has four geographical regions.
The northern terrain is arid desert, with savannah grassland
in the southern regions. Along the coast, and around the shores
of Lake Victoria are fertile lowlands, and in the west are the
highlands with the spectacular Rift Valley. Several extinct
volcanoes can be found along the Rift, including Mount Kenya,
the second highest mountain in Africa. Kenya borders on Lake
Victoria, Africa's largest lake, in the south-west. Lake Turkana
in the north is Kenya's largest lake. The two main rivers are
the Galana and the Tana, both in the south.
CLIMATE:
Summer: September - March Winter: June - August
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 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.
The average annual temperatures
in the main areas are as follows:
Minimum
Maximum
Mombasa (coastal)
22ºC (72ºF)
30ºC (86ºF)
Nairobi
13ºC (55ºF)
25ºC (77ºF)
North plainlands
23ºC (73ºF)
34ºC (93ºF)
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.
WHEN TO
GO:
WHAT TO PACK:
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.
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.
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.
ROADS, TRAINS
& AEROPLANES:
Border Posts: The major crossing point between Kenya and Tanzania is at
Namanga, which is open 24 hours a day.
Rail & 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.
HEALTH
REQUIREMENTS & SERVICES:
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.
If you are coming on safari with Afro Ventures, you will automatically
be covered by our Emergency Evacuation Insurance, underwritten
by Europ Assistance. This guarantees all reasonable, practical
assistance in obtaining primary and/or emergency medical services
for an insured person who suffers illness or injury. Please
note that this is evacuation insurance only and does not replace
the normal travel insurance which you need to purchase.
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 guide only, for up-to-date information, please check
with the Kenyan Consulate.
SOUVENIRS:
PHOTOGRAPHY:
As in most African countries,
there is a huge range of cheap souvenirs to be purchased along
the roadside. These are handmade, but mass produced, so always
check the quality before buying. Materials include ebony, soapstone
and ivory. Note that it is illegal to export products that contain
any elements of elephant, rhino or sea turtle. Tribal souvenirs
are available, including Maasai beaded jewellery, kiondas
(woven sisal baskets) and natural or decorated calabashes
(dried gourds). Bright sarongs (kangas or kikois) make
good wearable souvenirs. If you are after quality artwork, it
is probably wisest to look in galleries and shops that deal
in it, rather than buying on the black market.
Professional and amateur negative
and transparency film is widely available in Kenya's major centres,
but if your time is limited, it is advisable to carry enough
film with you to last the trip (at least double the number of
rolls you think will be necessary.) Kenya is rich in photographic
opportunities, whether it be the people, the landscapes or the
wildlife. But please be sensitive: it is prohibited to photograph
the president or his residence, as well as any government, military,
police or related installations.
Ask permission before you photograph the Kenyan people as some
may wish to negotiate a fee. While most guidebooks say that
the way to ask permission is "nataka piga picha", this
is a rude and offensive phrase, translating as "me want take
picture". The correct way to ask permission is "tafadhali,
ninaomba ruhusu kwa kupiga picha yako" ("please, I would
like to request permission to photograph you".)
For game and bird photography, a telephoto lens between 200
and 300mm is strongly recommended. Larger lenses that require
a tripod are generally impractical for game photography from
vehicles, unless you are carrying a bean bag, and are in a position
to ask your driver to switch off the engine when photographing
- and to ask the other occupants of the vehicle to keep still!
Remember to bring spare batteries for your camera. Binoculars
are essential for bird and game viewing.
MONEY MATTERS:
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African Safari Destinations
