A SAFARI TRAVEL GUIDE TO KENYA.
Here below is a Travel Information Guide When Traveling to Kenya;
Visa & Passport
A valid passport is required for all foreigners entering East African countries.
However, Visa requirements vary according to the country of origin.
Most nationalities require a visa to enter Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
We advise that you check with the nearest Consulate of Kenya, Tanzania, or
Uganda before traveling to the respective country.
Visas can be processed at the airports upon arrival but this can be very slow (can even take weeks).
We, therefore, advise clients to obtain the document from their home countries of origin before departure.
Many nationalities, including the US and the UK, require a visa to enter Kenya.
The cost for the document (US$50) is obtainable through the eCitizen website – manual applications
are no longer accepted. For a list of nationalities requiring a visa, please refer here.
Please make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months after arrival in Kenya.
Requirements for a tourist visa
During the application process, you will be required to attach the following documents.
The file formats that may be attached are PDF, JPG, or Microsoft Word.
Once you have successfully applied, the visa shall be issued approximately five days after the
day that you requested it.
For more information please click here
Vaccinations
Travel Insurance
Currency
Kenya’s currency is the Kenyan shilling (KSH). Most major credit cards for example: (MasterCard, Visa, and American Express)
are widely accepted. Visitors are advised to check currency exchange rates regularly. Forex Bureaus give slightly better rates of exchange than hotels.
Visitors are strongly advised against doing currency exchanges with street dealers but to transact all currency dealings through official dealers.
Banking Services
Nairobi, Mombasa, and other major urban commercial centers in Kenya have banked with Bureau de Change.
Banking hours are from normally 0900hrs to 1600hrs, Monday to Friday. Some open between 0800Hrs and 1630Hrs/1700Hrs. Banks at JKIA, Nairobi, and Moi International Airports, Mombasa operate a 24-hour service.
ATM booths are usually easily accessible as most of them operate 24hrs, with most accepting local credit/debit cards, VISA, MasterCard, and Maestro
Tipping
Tips and gratuities are not included in the safari package price and are entirely to the guests’ judgment. This is just a piece of advice and/or may act as a guideline:
Guests can tip their safari guide and butler separately: (at a rate of US$ 20-30 per day)
Security Advice
In keeping with many tourist centers worldwide, visitors are advised not to leave any valuables in their hotel room when they go out, but to make use of the safe deposit boxes which are available at most camps, hotels, and lodges.
As in all major cities, it is advisable to avoid back streets at night (especially alone); in fact, is it much safer to avoid night walking altogether and use taxis or self-drive hire cars instead.
Kenya has an excellent police force and most hotels have experienced security personnel and caring doormen.
Hotel Check-Out Time
The standard checkout time in most accommodation facilities in Kenya is 1000 hours, regardless of the actual departure time from your hotel.
Dayroom facilities may be available for clients leaving in the evening or they may allow you to keep your room until departure depending on the occupancy of the Hotel. A charge will be payable locally for this service.
Accommodation
Whenever possible we book rooms with private bathrooms based on two persons sharing a double room.
Single rooms are available at a supplementary cost but neither single rooms nor rooms with private baths can be guaranteed especially within the national parks and game reserves.
Hotels, where mentioned, are named as an indication of category, and rooms may be reserved at similar hotels.
Photography
For game and bird photography a telephoto lens of 200-300mm (or higher) is strongly recommended. Twin-lens reflex cameras are generally impractical.
It is wise to equip yourself with plenty of batteries, an ultra-violet filter, and a lens hood as these are seldom available when on Safari.
Visitors are advised that it is an offense to photograph Kenya’s head of state, military installations, policemen in uniforms, etc.
As a general rule elsewhere, visitors are strongly advised to seek permission before taking any photographs.
Game trophies
In Kenya, it is illegal to sell any product made from wild animals, including hides and skins, rhinoceros horns, elephant-hair bracelets, crocodile handbags, etc.
Please note also that ivory is not legally sold in Kenya.
Souvenir shopping
There are various curios and gift shops that sell souvenir items. The items include attractive baskets, copper jewelry, batik cloth, beads, and carvings. Kenya coffee and tea are also sought after and available in shops and markets.
Recommended Safari & Optional Items to Carry
NOTE: Always refer to your package/itinerary document for inclusions & exclusions sections.