Travel Guide

General Information

• Capital: Nairobi
• Time Zone: GMT + 3 all year round.
• Population: Approximately 40 million by 2009
• Area: 582,000 sq km
• Language: English is the official language and Kiswahili the national.
• Religion: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and traditional beliefs.
• Local Currency: Kenyan Shilling

Getting There:

• Numerous international carriers serve Kenya, and Nairobi is the hub of the East African region. Kenya has three international airports; Jomo Kenyatta International Airport; Nairobi, Moi International Airport; Mombasa and Moi International Airport, Eldoret. See below list of international airlines flying into Kenya :
• Kenya Airways
• China Southern
• Precision Air
• Air Mauritius
• British Airways
• Brussels Airline
• South African airways
• Swiss International Airlines
• Turkish Airlines
• Condor Airline
• Emirates Airlines
• Air Arabia
• Rwanda Air
• Qatar Airways
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Air Mozambique
• Lufthansa
• Egypt Air
• Saudi Arabian Airline
• Etihad Airways

Internal flights:

• Frequent flights for both scheduled and charter flights operate from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and from Mombasa and Malindi to the main National Parks and towns. These include:
• Airkenya
• Mombasa Air Safari
• Safarilink
• Silverstone Air
• EastAfrican
• Fly540

Climate

Average daytime temperature in Nairobi is 21-26 ˚ centigrade and the coast has a higher daytime average temperature of 27-31˚ centigrade.

• January – February is dry
• March – May is wet
• June – September is dry
• October – December is wet

Temperatures elsewhere depend on altitude.

Visa Requirements

• Prior to departing for Kenya, it is essential that you check with the Kenyan embassy or check online https://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html what the visa requirements are for entry. It is advisable that should a visa be required it is purchased prior to departure for Kenya in order to avoid any delays on arrival in Kenya.
• Kenyan entry visas are only issued electronically. You'll have to get your e-visa before you arrive.Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You should contact the nearest high commission/embassy or consulate of Kenya for the latest details.
• On arrival in Kenya, you must have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate. Your certificate must be uploaded to the Global Haven partnership verification tool. If you have flu-like symptoms, you must also complete the online health surveillance form and take a COVID-19 test upon arrival at your own cost.
• Some exemptions may apply to unvaccinated travellers. Refer to the Kenya Airport Authority website for further detail on exemptions, required documentation and associated costs.
• If you're departing Kenya for a destination country that requires a negative COVID-19 test, or transiting through a country that requires travellers to have a negative test, you must undertake a COVID-19 test at an approved testing laboratory which is party to Global Haven. You won't be allowed to depart Kenya if your certificate hasn't been verified. You'll be required to abide by the health requirements of the destination country and any transit countries.

Health Information

• Yellow Fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required ONLY if you are arriving in Kenya from an infected area.
• Malaria: Malaria does occur in Kenya and it is essential that guests consult their doctor prior to travel and it is always a good idea to carry insect repellant at all times.
• Inoculations against hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended.
• COVID-19 remains a risk in Kenya. Monitor the media for latest developments on COVID-19 and follow the advice of local officials.
• Other insect-borne diseases include dengue, Rift Valley fever, filariasis and African sleeping sickness. Ensure your accommodation is insect-proof. Use insect repellent.
• Yellow Fever is widespread. Get Vaccinated before you travel.
• HIV/AIDS infection rates are high. Take precautions if you're taking part in high-risk activities.
• Foodborne, waterborne and other infectious diseases include hepatitis, meningococcal disease, measles and cholera. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Avoid raw or undercooked food.

Safety:

• As with any country anywhere in the world, petty theft takes place. Ensure your valuables are safe and don’t exchange cash or wave your cash around in the streets; you might be the victim of a pickpocket.

Water:

• It is not advisable to drink the tap water. Although sometimes not cheap, bottled water is readily available for purchase in the majority of hotels and at roadside and garage cafes. It is recommended that guests carry bottled water with them throughout their trip as it can get very hot and dusty while on safari. On the drive-through safari, a constant supply of bottled mineral water is kept in the vehicle cooler box for guest consumption

Electricity:

• Voltage in Kenya is 220-240 volts. The plugs are the same square 3-pin plugs as those used in Britain. Adaptors are available for purchase, but they are expensive and if in short supply at the tourist shops, hunting around for an electrical supply shop could take some time. It is therefore recommended that guests bring adaptors with them.

Money:

• Hard currency travelers cheques is the safest way to carry money. It is advisable when changing them for cash that you request small denominations. When paying for merchandise with large denomination hard currency cash you are more than likely going to get the change in Kenyan Shillings, which can be cumbersome as it tends to convert into a wad of notes and coins.
• Guests should always check what the rate and commission is when changing hard currency travelers cheques and cash as it varies greatly from place to place. Hotels tend to give the worst rates and it is often worth a trip to the forex bureau or bank to change money at a reasonable rate. It is advisable to carry a small amount of small denomination hard currency in cash at all times (US dollars are the most usable). Most restaurants and hotels take credit cards but there is usually a 2%-5% commission charged.

Photography:

• Photographing of people, in particular the popular people can be a sensitive issue and usually requires permission and / or payment.
• It is inadvisable to randomly try and take photographs of people along the roadside as many people now use it as an income and can get fairly upset and unpleasant if a deal isn't negotiated.
• Government buildings such as police stations, border posts, military bases, airports, prisons etc. are considered to be strategic installations and the taking of photographs is illegal.