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.

Click here to view a list of recommended accommodation ...

       

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:

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

    

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.

• One tenth of all land in Kenya is designated as national parkland. Over 50 parks and reserves cover all habitats from desert to mountain forest.
  
  
• Tourist facilities are extremely good.
  

• ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
  Covering 766km², the Aberdares are a densely wooded mountain range rising to over 4000m with magnificent views over nearby Mount Kenya to the north, and the Rift Valley to the south.
  
  The mountain slopes are covered in dense stands of rare afro-montane forest, while the high grasslands feature afro-alpine and subalpine heath and groundsels. The vistas are often more like those of Scotland than of Africa. A number of crystal clear streams and rivers all stocked with rainbow trout, criss-cross the plateau, with some spectacular waterfalls as the rivers tumble off the escarpment. The plateau is rich in game - elephant, leopard, lion, giant forest hog, bushbuck, blue monkey, colobus monkey, black rhino, buffalo and suni are some of the characteristic species.
  
  Lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of the rare melanistic (pitch-black) strain of leopard. This is one of the last strongholds of the critically endangered bongo (rare spiral-horned antelope). Walking is allowed, but only with an armed guard, as the lions here are aggressive and there have been several attacks in the past.

• AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
  A small park by Kenyan standards, covering just under 400km² at the centre of the border with Tanzania, 220km from Nairobi.
  
  The view of the Amboseli plains, with elephant moving below the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, is one of the most photographed vistas in Africa. A network of swamps and wetlands ensure excellent game viewing year round. There are 425 recorded bird and 56 mammal species in the park, including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo, black rhino, Maasai giraffe, gerenuk and zebra.

• MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
  In the south-western corner of the country, 390km from Nairobi, lies a vast rolling plain beneath the Mara escarpment striped black once a year by millions of wildebeest and zebra migrating north from the Serengeti plains.
  
  During the migration season (around July to August) the reserve's resident lions lounge prominently in the sun, fat and seemingly placid. There are 13 tented camps and two lodges in the reserve. Maasai tribespeople live on the reserve's fringes and are co-owners of the reserve, sharing in revenues from tourism. This 1 672km² reserve is one of Africa's premier wildlife destinations and boasts all the big game species. Besides the normal safari activities, it is also possible to go hot-air ballooning across the plains, one of the finest ways to see Africa's wildlife.
  
  
• MERU NATIONAL PARK
  Situated 400km from Nairobi, this 870km² park is one of Kenya's most remote and unspoilt, being way off the beaten, package tourism track.
  
  The park was made famous by George and Joy Adamson as the place to which they brought Boy, son of the lioness, Elsa ("Born Free"), to set him free. Here too, Joy trained the cheetah Pippa, in how to re-adapt to the wild (as told in "The Spotted Sphinx").
  
  The Tana river, the largest in Kenya, abuts a small section of the park in the east, and Adamson's Falls, at the tip of the park, are a spectacular sight after rain. Besides all the usual big game species (rhino excluded) this is an excellent place to see two relatively unusual animals, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk, also known as giraffe-necked gazelle. White rhino were reintroduced here, but fell prey to the guns of poachers in 1988. Since then, security has been considerably tightened up, and poaching has all but ceased.
  
  
• TSAVO NATIONAL PARK
  At 21 000km², this is Kenya's largest park by far, but much of the eastern section is closed to the public. Most of the land is open savannah and bush woodlands inhabited by buffalo, lion, antelope, gazelles, giraffe and zebra. Despite a drastic fall in the elephant population in the 1970s there are still many large herds.
  
  Tsavo is a combination of dramatic escarpment landscapes combined with the raw, untamed flavour of one of Africa's great wilderness areas. Mzima Springs, in Tsavo East, is one of the best places to watch crocodile and hippo. Here, crystal clear water bubbles out of the ground at a rate of 500million litres (110million gallons) a day. The spring is fed by snow melting off Mount Kilimanjaro, and a pipeline from the springs provides Mombasa with a large portion of its drinking water. A distinctive feature of Mzima is an underwater glass cage built by a wildlife film crew. Here you can descend a set of stairs, and encased in a glass hide, watch shoals of tilapia, and the occasional crocodile or hippo glide by.
  
  
• MOMBASA
  The island city of Mombasa is the headquarters for Kenya's coastal tourist trade, but has none of the fine beaches to be found to the north and south. Instead, this is a place to savour the history of the East Coast of Africa, a history of slavery, pirates, war and adventure.
  
  The Old Town, Fort Jesus and the Old Harbour are fascinating places to while away a few hours, especially the Old Harbour, where you can watch majestic dhows (Arab sailing vessel), still sporting ancient rigs, plying their trade as far afield as Yemen and the Persian Gulf. Shopping is a delight in Mombasa, whether it be from vendors for locals crafts, or from the merchants in Biashara Street for Kenya's almost obligatory beach wear, kikoi and kanga cloths.
  
  
• MALINDI
  Malindi lies 125km north of Mombasa and is the Miami Beach of East Africa, with its stretch of beautiful hotels and vibrant nightlife. Offshore are the Malindi and Watamu Marine National Parks, home to some of the finest scuba diving and snorkelling in Africa.
  
  The coral reefs here are strictly protected, and for non-divers, glass-bottomed boats provide a window on an incredible marine heritage. This is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to snorkel in water less than three metres deep, and experience the kind of fish life usually reserved for scuba divers. Malindi is where Ernest Hemingway came to pursue marlin, sailfish and wahoo. Anglers can hire state of the art boats and equipment for what is rated as the best game fishing in Africa.
  
  
• THE SOUTH COAST
  Protected by an offshore barrier coral reef, the south coast is famous for beautiful and safe beaches and spectacular diving, fishing and surfing.
  
  Resorts include Likoni, Tiwi, Diani Beach and Shimoni. Shimoni is Kenya's southern angling headquarters, with boats heading out into the Pemba Channel in search of the denizens of the deep.
  
  Offshore are another two magnificent marine reserves, Kisite Marine National Park and Mpunguti Marine National Reserve, both with superb diving. And just a bit south, are Wasini Island and the Wasini Marine National Park, with arguably the best snorkelling in Africa. Inland is the little known Shimba Hills National Reserve, a 192km², heavily forested plateau which home to, among others, elephant, sable antelope, leopard, buffalo and hyena.
  
  
• THE NORTH COAST
  Stretching from Mombasa to Malindi, the north coast features a number of resort areas hidden away down deceptive tracks. Bamburi Beach, Kenya Beach, Watamu Beach and Casuarina Beach are some of the better known resorts, but there are also hidden gems like Kilifi Creek, Kikambala, Kanamai and Takaunga.

      

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.

    

(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:

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
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.

PHOTOGRAPHY
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.