Visas
All visitors to Kenya are
required to have valid passports. Visas are also required for
visitors who are not citizens of the commonwealth countries in
order to enter Kenya. At present visitors from Germany, Denmark,
Norway, San Marino, Sweden, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Finland, Spain,
Turkey and Uruguay do not require visas. However, since visa requirements
may change, it is advisable for the visitors to check the current
visa requirements through airlines, tour operators or Kenya Tourist
Offices, Kenya Embassies or High Commissions in their countries
before coming, to avoid embarrassment. Visas normally take up
to six weeks to process and are valid for up to a three month
period. Those visitors with proper documents and who also possess
onward or return tickets may be given visitor's passes free of
charge on arrival at any Kenyan point of entry.
During the three months
period, the visitors' pass holders are not allowed to engage themselves
in any form of work or business in the country without authority
from the Principal Immigration officer. Visitors without proper
documents will be required to pay a refundable deposit of Kshs.
5,000/= before they are issued with visitor passes.
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Weather
Kenya enjoys a tropical
climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and
very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country.
The average annual temperature
for the coastal town of Mombasa (altitude 17 metres) is 30.30
Celsius maximum and 22.40 Celsius minimum, the capital city, Nairobi
(altitude 1,661 metres) 25.20 Celsius maximum and 13.60 Celsius
minimum, Eldoret (altitude 3,085) 23.60 Celsius maximum and 9.50
Celsius minimum, Lodwar (altitude) 506 metres) and the drier north
plainlands 34.80 Celsius maximum and 23.70 Celsius minimum.
There is plenty of sunshine
all the year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the
year. However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning.
The long rains occur from
April to June and short rains from October to December. The rainfall
is sometimes heavy and when it does come it often falls in the
afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to
March and coldest in July to August.
The annual migration of
wildlife between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai
Mara National Park in Kenya takes place between June and September.
The migration of almost two million wildebeest, zebras and other
species is nature's greatest spectacle on earth. The animal trek
has been captured by filmmakers worldwide.
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Useful
Tips
Baggage
Baggage space on safari is restricted to one medium suitcase or
holdall per person, plus hand baggage (private safaris where there
are less than 7 persons in the vehicle are not subject to this
restriction). Visitors to Treetops and the Ark are asked to take
overnight bags only; suitcases can be left at the base hotel.
Hotels will normally store baggage at no extra cost. Baggage can
also be stored at Alefran Tours & Safaris offices. A baggage
weight restriction of 15 kg per person applies on air safaris.
Where very small aircraft are used this maybe reduced to 10kg.
Currency
Hard currencies can be exchanged in cash or travellers cheques
at banks all over the country, at forex bureaus in Nairobi and
at most large hotels. US Dollars and Sterling Pounds are most
acceptable and will cause the least delay. As a norm, always ask
what commission and charges will be deducted first and prior to
transaction. Banks are usually open from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm, Mondays
through Fridays and from 9.00 am and 11.00 am on Saturdays.
Credit
Cards
VISA, MASTERCARD and AMERICAN EXPRESS are widely accepted for
tourist services. There's usually a 5% mark-up on top of the price
as establishments are charged a fixed percentage of their transactions.
Health
Since rules concerning disease prevention change from time to
time, a check should be made with the nearest Kenyan High Commission,
Kenya Tourist Office or any airline flying scheduled services
into Kenya. Malaria is endemic to most parts of Kenya and intending
visitors should start taking anti-malarial tablets before departure
and continue taking them for the prescribed time after their return.
Insect repellents should be made use of after dusk and suitable
cover up clothes should be worn in the evenings.
Flying
Doctors Society
Membership of the Flying Doctors Society is strongly recommended.
In event of accident or sickness while on safari, the society
will fly patients by air ambulance to Nairobi for admittance to
hospital. The current cost for 1-month membership is US$ 25 per
person.
Drinking
Water
Drinking water from the tap must be considered risky. Hotels and
lodges usually furnish safe water in a thermos flask in guest
rooms. Bottled mineral water is available in every hotel and supermarket.
Security
Normal precautions as in any other destination world-wide should
be taken. Visitors are advised not to leave cash and valuables
in their hotel rooms but to make use of safe deposit boxes and
safes. One should never carry large sums in cash and women should
keep a tight grip on handbags in crowds or busy streets. Jewellery
snatching is quite common in city streets. As in all major cities
walking alone or in small groups at night should be considered
a hazard and avoided. Reliable taxis are available at all the
principal hotels. Taking photographs at airports, near military
installations, of policeman, the president, the national flag,
the State House, state lodges, soldiers, prisons and prisoners
etc., is prohibited. Before photographing local people, permission
should be obtained and a fixed price agreed. Seek the assistance
of your driver/guide in this matter.
Voltage
Both mains electricity and generated supply in lodges provide
240 volts AC 50 cycles. Most large hotels and some game lodges
provide shaving points with 110v 50 cycles. Sockets are normally
three pin and of the 'square' variety.
Tipping
and Pooterage
Although hotels and lodges include a service charge, it is customary
to tip porters, waiters, taxi drivers and safari drivers/guides.
Language
Kiswahili is the lingua franca while English is the official language.
In addition, most tribes have their own language.
Post
and Telephones
Keeping in touch by mail and telephone is generally easy. Direct
overseas dialling is possible from major centers and increasingly
from remote places such as game lodges. Call home bureaus are
in plenty in Nairobi as are the Cyber café for e-mail and
Internet access.
Arrivals
and Departures
Kenya has two main ports of entry by air: Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport, Nairobi. Located 16 km from the city center. Moi International
Airport, Mombasa. Located 12 km from the town center. Mombasa
is the main port of entry by sea.
Airport
Departure Tax
International Airport departure tax equivalent to US$ 40 per person
is payable on departure from the International airports. A local
airport service charge is also payable on departure for domestic
flights. As this varies from country to country, please check
with us on the prevailing amounts payable prior to your flight
departure.
Opening
and Shoppng Hours
Major stores, tourist services, offices and museums open from
8.00 am to 5.00 PM in large towns though offices often break for
lunch. In rural areas and out in the bush small shops can be open
at almost any hour. Souvenirs to take back home can include wood
and soap stone sculptures and carvings, ciondos (sisal baskets),
beadwork and tribal regalia, masks, textiles and gemstones set
in unique jewellery pieces.
