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Kenya Travel Information:
The popular image of safari, especially in the west,
is inseparable from Kenya. Earlier in the last century, gifted writers
such as Ernest Hemingway and Karen Blixen brought to life the vivid
images and uplifting life experience that constitutes a Kenyan safari.
It is at this time that leading celebrities of the day such as Teddy
Roosevelt and Prince Edward traveled to Kenya on safari. And so
the safari gained a certain snob appeal. The famous went because
it was expected of them. And those on the make because the safari
was part of the certification they needed on the way up. If you
want to take a peek into the mood and character of the players at
that time, read Hemingway's intriguing short story "The Short
Happy Life of Francis Macomber".
The landscape kaleidoscope rolls out the magnificent
rift valley, the central highlands, the savannah grasslands, snow
capped Mount Kenya and the desolate moonscape of the north. This
is perhaps why the experts advise all those faithful lovers of wildlife
and nature that at least once in their lifetime they must partake
of a Kenyan safari.
Below is some basic info concerning Kenya:-
Health
Visitors over 1 year of age entering Kenya from yellow fever infected
areas require yellow fever international certificate of vaccination.
Exemptions are made for visitors arriving from non-endemic areas
such as Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Cholera
is a health risk in the country and precautions are essential. Malaria
is a serious risk in most of the country. The risk level is however
lower in the highlands above 2500m, of the Central, Rift Valley,
Eastern and Western Provinces. Visitors are strongly advised to
take anti-malaria medication commencing two weeks before travel.
It is recommended, especially for longer staying
visitors, to take vaccinations against hepatitis A, polio and typhoid.
HIV-AIDS is prevalent in the country and prudent measures are called
for. Some fresh water lakes and rivers carry the risk of Bilharzia
and you are advised not to swim or paddle in such areas. There are
good hospitals in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. Chemists can be found
in all the major towns.
Visas
Passports valid for 3 months from date of entry are required of
all visitors. All visitors require a visa except for citizens of
some commonwealth countries. There are also exceptions with varying
conditions for citizens of Ethiopia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Uruguay
and a few other countries. Airport visas are available although
this may result in delays upon arrival. It is advisable to obtain
visa's in advance from Kenyan Embassies and High Commissions as
some airlines may require it before allowing you to board. Visa
requirements vary from time to time and you are advised to check
on prevailing status well ahead of travel.
Peoples & Culture
Kenya is made up of more than 70 or so tribal groups. There are
also small but influential minorities of Asian, Arab and European
origin. More than 90% of the African population falls within the
broad categories of Bantu and Nilotic speakers. The main Bantu speakers
are Kikuyu, Luhya, Kamba, Gusii, Mijikenda, Embu and Meru. Nilitoc
speakers are Maasai, Samburu, Pokot, Turkana, Luo and Kalenjin.
At the coast, the interaction of Arabs, Persians and Bantu Africans
has resulted in the Swahili people. The Swahili language is now
widely spoken in Kenya and throughout Eastern and Central Africa.
It is quite useful to have a working knowledge of Swahili if you
intend to travel outside the main urban and tourist routes. English
is widely understood in urban centers.
The de facto national dish is Nyama Choma, barbecued
goat meat. But the guy in the street survives on that stodgy filler
called Ugali, prepared using maize meal accompanied with some greens.
At the coast however the traditional food of the Swahili is a good
experience. This is usually based on seafood and rice dishes. Beer
lovers will have a good time in Kenya. There are several international
standard lagers produced locally. The most popular is named after
the elephant, thus Tusker. While on safari, remember to celebrate
the African elephant by taking a little Tusker.
In the last few years there has been some kind of
revival in local music. This revival is led by younger urban artists
who sing in Swahili and Sheng, a kind of Creole mix of Swahili and
English. The music is a local blend of hip-hop and rap.
Communications
Telephone, fax, telegram, post and Internet services are available
in urban centers and locations popular with tourists. International
direct dialing to many countries is available in most urban centres.
In rural areas international calling is through the operator. The
country code for Kenya is 254.
Mobile phones are based on GSM 900 network. Coverage
extends to the principal urban centres, major highways and parts
of popular game reserves such as the Mara. You are however advised
to check beforehand whether your GSM phone is usable if you are
traveling outside the main urban centres. You can obtain a GSM card
that will allow you to make international calls to any country.
Currently the country is served by two network operators: KenCell
(www.kencell.co.ke) and Safaricom (www.safaricom.co.ke). There are
Internet cafes in urban centres and hotels around the country.
Accommodation
You will find good quality accommodation within the main routes
popular with tourists and business travelers. This includes Nairobi,
Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi, Lake Naivasha, Kisumu and the popular game
reserves and national parks such as Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Lake
Nakuru, Tsavo, Aberdares, Samburu and the Mount Kenya area. In the
parks, accommodation varies from 5 star lodges and tented camps
at the upper end, to basic camping at the lower end. Outside the
main urban centres and tourist routes, it is difficult to get rated
accommodation. See
our Kenya hotels, lodges & resorts page to view info
and book accommodation for your say in Kenya.
Money
The local currency is the Kenya Shilling (Ksh). There are no restrictions
on the import and export of local or foreign currency. But for amounts
exceeding US dollars 5,000 or equivalent you will need to declare
the source and purpose of the funds. Major currencies such as US
dollars and now the Euro and travelers cheques can be converted
at major hotels, banks and forex bureaus in the main towns and tourist
areas. You will get best exchange rates for cash or travelers cheques
if you are dealing in US dollars or Pound Sterling. For this your
best deal will be at forex bureaus. Avoid changing money in the
streets however favourable the exchange rate may appear.
Visa and Mastercard have wide acceptance. But American
Express, Diners and other cards have more limited acceptance. Your
Visa card can access your bank or credit card account through any
Standard Chartered Bank dispenser, 24 hours a day.
Climate
Kenya has such diverse geography, that, temperatures, rainfall and
humidity vary widely. The country can be divided into four main
regions: the arid north, the savanna lands in the south, the central
highlands and the lowlands along the coast and the Lake Victoria
region. The coastal areas are hot and humid though tempered by some
much welcome sea breezes. Average temperatures vary little year
round and range from 22°C minimum to 33°C maximum.
The central highlands and rift valley enjoy a pleasant
temperate climate. Average temperatures vary from a minimum of 10
to 14°C to a maximum of 22 to 26°C. The Lake Victoria lowlands
are hot and dry and temperatures can reach 34°C. Rainfall is
also heavy. The semi arid north experiences the most extreme variations
in temperatures. This ranges from a maximum of 40°C in the day
to 20°C at night. There are two rainy seasons: March to May
("long rains") and October to December ("short rains").
International Travel
Kenya is a regional travel hub and has connections
by a large number of airlines from all over the world particularly
those from Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa. The country has
three international airports at Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret. The
national airline is Kenya Airways, a
major player in African air travel. British Airways and Kenya Airways
fly to Nairobi direct from London. A few European airlines also
have direct flights from their hubs in Europe. Gulf Air and Emirates
fly to Nairobi using mid eastern connections.
In addition to flying, you can travel by bus between
Kenya and Tanzania. The main connections are from Nairobi and Mombasa
to Dar es Salaam and from Nairobi to Moshi and Arusha. Occasional
ferries leave Mombasa for Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. Uganda can
be reached from Kenya by air, rail and bus. There is a border crossing
at Moyale on the Kenya-Ethiopia border and which is mainly used
by trucks. Overland travel to Sudan and Somalia is exceedingly difficult
at present.
Local Travel
There are scheduled flights to a number of local destinations from
Nairobi to Mombasa, Nanyuki, Kisumu, Malindi, Lamu, Lokichogio and
the national parks and game reserves of Maasai Mara, Amboseli and
Samburu. See our web page for info and booking of local
flights in Kenya. You can also travel to a few urban
centers in the country by train though this has not been reliable
in recent years. Regular bus service links the main urban centers.
Around urban areas and shorter links between towns,
the popular way to get around is by means of matatu (shared taxi).
Rental cars are reliably available from Mombasa, Kisumu and Nairobi.
Review our rental
cars in Kenya web page and do your booking here. Remember
that driving is on the left. Generally, between urban centers the
road links are good. The quality deteriorates when you get off the
main routes and into more remote locations.
Travel Insurance
Health and the usual travel insurance are recommended. Ensure your
travel insurance includes emergency evacuation.
What to Wear
Light clothing is generally recommended in Kenya. The highlands
are however temperate and you need a sweater and jacket year round.
This is necessary for the evenings and early mornings. If you plan
to climb Mount Kenya be ready with special clothing not only for
the climb but to protect yourself from sub zero temperatures. .
On safari, bright coloured clothing may get you
in trouble with the wild animals. Colours of the earth are generally
favoured, thus brown, beige and khaki clothing. Short sleeve shirts,
shorts and trousers for men are sufficient. For ladies, short sleeve
blouses and skirts are ideal in the
national parks and touristy places. This is except at the predominantly
Muslim coastal areas, where more conservative dressing is called
for. But even at the coast, swimwear is perfectly acceptable at
beaches and hotel premises.
It is advisable to travel light and some safari
and air charters have a baggage limit of 10-15 kilograms.To read
more info related to Kenya travel click on the links below:-
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