HAVE A HAPPY STAY IN EAST AFRICA

KENYA
Size: Kenya covers an area about 500,000sq km and is on the east coast of Africa.

Immigration
All visitors must be in possession of a valid passport. Visa requirements vary from time to time and are dependent on the nationality of the visitor. Valid passports and visas are a must for everyone, with the exception of citizens of most common wealth and certain other countries with which Kenya has reciprocal waiver arrangements.
It is essential that no visitor arrives without the correct documentation, visitors are advised to check the latest requirements either from airline offices or through the nearest Kenya Tourist Office, Embassy or High Commission.
Visitors with the proper documentation and holding onward or return tickets may obtain “Visitors’Passes” [normally valid for three months] on arrival at any Kenyan port of entry [International Airports or Kenyan borders]
Visitors who arrive without an onward ticket may be asked to purchase one before obtaining a Visitor’s Pass. Visitors are not allowed to take up work or residence in Kenya without the authority of the Principal Immigration Officer.

Customs.
A reasonable amount of personal effects can be freely imported together with cameras and any amount of film. Unused personal effects, unexposed film, cameras and accessories [except cine and slide projectors] may be temporarily imported free of duty. A visitor wishing to bring in home video equipment in the form of cameras and cassettes should consult the nearest Kenya Tourist Office, Consulate or High Commission, as a Customs Bond is normally required for the period such equipment is in the country.
Refundable deposits may be required for the temporary import of specific radios, tape recorders, and similar equipment including musical instruments.

Firearms may only be imported with an import permit issued by the Central Firearms Bureau, Nairobi Area Police offices, Ngong Road, P.O. Box 30263, Nairobi, Kenya.
The import of agricultural or horticultural produce, or domestic pets, is not allowed, except by special permit.

Health
Certificates of inoculation against yellow fever and cholera re advisable though not mandatory, except in some instances as for example, for arrivals from the far East [cholera] and Central America, South, Central and West Africa [yellow fever]. As rules regarding health change from time to time, a check with any airline which flies scheduled services into Kenya is advised.
Malaria is endemic to certain areas of Kenya and all visitors should begin taking anti-malaria prophylactics two weeks before arriving in Kenya.
Main towns have good hospital care while Nairobi has excellent specialist medical facilities. For a small fee visitors can enjoy membership of the frying doctors’ society. This entitles an injured or seriously ill person to free emergency evacuation by air from any part of Kenya to Nairobi.
Pharmaceutical facilities are adequate. There are chemists (drug stores) in all major urban centres but any visitors requiring special and continuing medication should bring sufficient quantities.
The equatorial sun is deceptive and can inflict severe burns even on overcast days. A good sun cream and lip balm, with a high degree of sun protection factor, are strongly recommended to combat the sun.
Piped water supplies are generally safe in municipal areas but local advice should be taken particularly on safari. Most hotels and lodges provide flasks of filtered drinking water in guest rooms. Bottled mineral water, both local and imported, can be purchased in hotel shops and other kiosks.

Currency
Kenya currency is based on the decimal system. The unit of currency is the Kenya shilling divided into 100 cents. Visitors are advised to check currency exchange rate regularly, Banks give slightly better rates of exchange than hotels, forex bureaus offer best rates and does not charge commission at all..
Travelers and businessmen are permitted to take out of the country up to KShs100, 000. Any currency in excess of this must be declared upon exit or entry. It is a serious offence to deface or knowingly damage Kenya currency.
Visitors are strongly advised to avoid street dealers and to transact all currency dealings through official dealers.

Banks
Nairobi, Mombasa and most other principal centres in Kenya have banks/ forex with a bureau de change. Banking hours are from 9am. To 3p.m.
Monday to Friday, though some open between 9a.m. and 11a.m. on the first and last Saturday of each month. Banks at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport operate 24-hour service.

Credit cards
American Express, Visa, Master Card and other well-known cards are widely accepted throughout Kenya but it is important to ask who you are paying if they take such cards in advance.

Telephone
Kenya has an excellent internal and external communications system. International STD functional and direct dialing on telex to most international centres is available on a 24-hour basis except where stated. Country Code is 254 to call from [mobile] cell phones which are widely used simply add + before country code..
Microwave relays provide direct dialing between most centres. There are also excellent internal and external telex facilities, providing direct dialing between most major capitals and many nations on a 24-hour basis. Radio call equipment is available at most lodges and tented camps in remote areas where telephone facilities are not yet available.

Liquor
Licensing hours are liberal. Good local spirits and wines as well as imported brands are available in local bars and most supermarkerts. Kenya beer is a frequent winner of international brewing awards for light lagers.

Newspapers
Kenya has three lively English and one swahili language daily newspapers: The Nation, Standard and Kenya Times. Foreign newspapers are also available, usually a day or two after publication.

Broadcasting
English language, Kiswahili and vernacular services are operated by the Government-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation which also transmits a television service along with the Kenya Television Network.

Climate
The temperature rarely falls below 24 centgrade during the day and 10 centgrade at night. Warm clothes are advised for late evenings. Kenya has two rainy seasons-the short rains usually fall between October and December and the long rains from March to early June.

Language
Kiswahili is a phonetic language formed from the Bantu [African] and Arabic languages. English is the official language.

Duty free
Visitors are restricted to duty free items of 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars and one litre bottle of spirit.

Departure tax
On departure from Kenya, an Airport Tax of US$20.00 per person is payable in foreign currency. There is a UD$ 3 tax charged for internal flights.

Photography

Film is available at most game lodges, even in remote areas, but stocks are usually small and of the common sizes and brands only. Nairobi and Mombasa suppliers have most types of films. For game and bird photography telephoto lens of 200-300mm is strongly recommended. Larger lenses which require a tripod are generally impractical for game photography from vehicles are as double lens reflex cameras.
N.B. Visitors are advised that it is an offence to photograph Kenya’s head of state, military installations, policemen in uniform, etc. As a general rule elsewhere, visitors are strongly advised to seek permission before taking anyone’s photograph, especially the Samburu, Turkana and Maasai peoples.

Voltage
All regions in Kenya supplied with 240 volts AC. The plug in use in Kenya is the 3 pin 13 Amp type.
Time
Kenya is three (+3) hours ahead of Universal Coordinated Time.

Bargaining
Learn to enjoy bargaining, particularly useful in markets and curio shops.