GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
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 Safaris in Style
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 repellants 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.
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 worldwide 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. Jewelry 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 Porterage
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
dialing 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 & 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 hours and Shopping
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 jewellary pieces.
Public Holidays
- January 1 (New Year)
- Good Friday and Easter Monday
- May 1 (Labor Day)
- June 1 (Madaraka Day)
- October 10 (Moi Day)
- October 20 (Kenyatta Day)
- December 12 (Independence Day)
- December 25 and December 26.
- Idd ul Fitr (The Muslim festival)
When the designated day falls on a Sunday then the next day is normally a holiday.
