10 things you need to know before visiting Kenya

10 things you need to know before visiting Kenya

10 things you need to know before visiting Kenya: Kenya is an incredibly gifted country with diverse landscapes, wildlife and hospitable people which making it a special destination to visit for an African safari. Planning for a safari to Kenya is one of the most hectic things to do and it gets messier due to various confusing information out there on various websites.

Here are the 10 things you need to know before visiting Kenya.

1. Visa and insurance

A visa is a must have to all international individuals entering Kenya, for tourists you need to have a tourist Visa. As tourist you can apply for a visa through a visa consultant or purchase it yourself at https://www.ievisa.com/kenya-tourism

When applying for as Kenya Visa you need the following

• Original valid passport for about 6 months from the date of your arrival with Kenya with at least 1 blank page
• 1 recent photo preferably 35 X 45mm, white background and matte finish, 80% face size
• Hotel booking
• Air ticket

Note: You are recommended to apply for your visa 30 days before your departure date.

While traveling to Kenya it is highly recommended that you get yourself a travel insurance covering evacuation and medical emergencies, the insurance offers emergency treatment and air ambulance to the hospital in Nairobi in case of a serious accident or illness while in the safari.

2. Vaccinations and health requirements

To all international travelers, vaccinations are compulsory required for entry to Kenya, for travelers older than one year you are required to have a certificate of inoculation against Yellow Fever. Because of the Covid Pandemic you need to have a negative Covid test results valid for 72 hours for entry to Kenya.

Other vaccinations recommended while traveling to Kenya include vaccinations against Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis and Yellow Fever. Also Anti-Malarial prophylactics are strongly recommended, these must be taken about 2 weeks prior to your arrival in Kenya.

You are advised to consult your own doctor regarding any personal health requirements before traveling to Kenya.

To protect yourself from insect bites from mosquitoes, tsetse flies among others you are  advised to carry an insect repellent.

3. Money matters

Most of the safaris in Kenya are all-inclusive type of safaris meaning most of the crucial aspects of the safari are paid for at once, however you still need to carry some extra money for certain activities, purchasing of souvenirs and tipping.

In Kenya the major currency used is Kenya shilling (Ksh), cash and credit cards are accepted in Kenya that is why you need to carry some major credit cards with you. US Dollar is widely accepted in Kenya’s hotels and restaurants, due to a problem of counterfeit dollars US bill older than 2002 are not accepted in some places.

In major towns and cities of Kenya such as Nairobi and Mombasa, there are ATMs machines were you can withdraw money, however they dispense only Kenya shillings and not all cards are accepted. The most accepted credit cards are Visas.

Note: If you want to changed your currency into Kenya shillings, its recommended you do it at banks in major cities or at the Jomo Kenyatta international airport upon arrival than at the hotel.

4. Transportation and safety

While on a safari in Kenya, you can choose to rent a vehicle (van, jeep or land cruiser) or use a private vehicle. Though hiring a vehicle is cheaper, it is not recommended in a sense that using a private vehicle offered by a tour operator offers you more freedom and it is more safe most especially while driving around national parks.

The best way is to hire a vehicle and a driver for the whole safari in Kenya, tour operators in Kenya offer two options of transportation that are Safari mini-Van or a 4X4 Land Cruiser. All of these vehicles are good but the best option is a Land cruiser as it comes with an elevated sunroof perfect for photography and game viewing.

Hiring a driver is a good option for first time travelers, these drivers are well experienced, naturalists and they play a role of a guide. With a driver you are assured of getting mechanic assistance during your driver as the guide is a trained mechanic himself, you also have a new friend for the rest of the safari.

5. Meals and water

Dining is an important aspect about a safari experience in Kenya, high standards of cuisines and a large choice of mouthwatering dishes served at various restaurants at lodges, hotels and camps.

Eating food purchased from road side cafes is not recommended unless recommended and approved by your guide, drinking tap water is also not recommended. The only water you can trust are sterilized water provided at all lodge or bottled mineral water.

6. Power and connectivity

Voltage of power in Kenya is the same as in UK, in Kenya square 2 or 3 pin-plugs are commonly used however the outlets often vary. While visiting Kenya we recommend you carry a set of international adaptor plugs in case you are traveling with electrical appliances such as laptops, camera and phones. Some if not most of the lodges in Kenya’s national parks and reserves are usually powered by solar power or diesel generators, during they are switched off during day and because of this you need to charge your appliances at night.

Most of the destinations in Kenya are situated in remote areas and far from urban centers where connectivity is less accessible, usually mobile services are available in the Southern part of Kenya around Nairobi and Mombasa. However the network access is  limited in  northern region of Kenya, if you are visiting Kenya on an all-inclusive trip free Wi-Fi is offered.

7. People and language

Kenyans are generally poor  people most especially those in the country side where most national parks and reserves are found, while on your Kenya safari keep in mind that you will be wealthy in comparison to most of these people. So be cautious about your personal safety, abide by the rules and regulations laid down by your guide, while visiting the local villages and town centers you will encounter many beggars on the streets and tribe men and women trying to sell some souvenirs. Be considerate and polite to these people as they are trying to make a living and when buying some of the beautiful artifacts remember bargaining is key.

While driving in the city center, remember to keep your windows down to avoid losing your belonging to street thieves.

 

Kenya is a multilingual country with Swahili and English as the widely spoken languages (two official languages), before you visit Kenya here are a couple essential Swahili words to learn

Jambo! – Hello!
How are you? – Habari?
Good, fine – Mzuri
Thank you (very much) – Asante (sana)
Welcome – Karibu
No problem – Hakuna Matata
Sorry – Pole
Yes – Ndio
No – Hapana

8. Tipping

Tipping guides, driver and other support stuff is a custom in Kenya as a way of showing your appreciation for the great service, tips can be given in form of USD or Kenyan shillings.

Guidelines for Tipping in Kenya

• Ranger or Guide – UD 10 to USD 20 per couple per day
• Butler – USD 5 to USD 15 per couple per day
• Transfer drivers – USD 5 per transfer
• Porters – USD 1 per bag
• Restaurants – 10% of the bill

9. What to pack

Packing the right items for a Kenya safari is very important, other than clothing here are the practical checklist of items you will need on your safari

• Camera and lenses
• Binoculars
• Adaptor, 3-hole for electrical items
• Extra batteries and SD cards for your camera
• Toiletries or personal care cosmetics
• Malaria pills and other medicines
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Passport, insurance and driver’s license
• Penknife
• Credit cards, small amount of cash preferably in low denominations
• Flashlight
• Extra pair of socks and shoes/sandals

10. Photography

Kenya offers excellent photography opportunities which is why you should carry a good camera to take pictures, there are various types of cameras on the market. However, the best camera for safari most especially for photographers is a crop sensor or full frame DSLR with manual/ automatic exposure and interchangeable lens. For wildlife photography, it is advisable to cover the whole range from 28 to 300mm in a few lens as possible(remember the wild animals move to fast) and you won’t have enough time to change the lenses. For more detailed shots, consider using a 100 to 300 mm zoom lens and thus the 10 things you need to know before visiting Kenya.

Note: Carry one or two additional memory cards plus spare batteries.