Essentials
To enter the country, a passport that is valid for 6 months after your return is mandatory. For the majority of visitors, a visa is required. This visa is issued by consular services at Kenyan embassies. It can also be obtained in country, on your arrival. Ask for information prior to leaving. Cost of visa per person: around €45 or US$50, in cash only. The visa is valid for three months. A return or onward ticket is needed.
Health
No vaccine is required to enter Kenya. However, vaccines against yellow fever and typhoid are highly recommended and vaccines against tetanus, polio, diphtheria and hepatitis A and B should be up-to-date.
It is also advised to take preventative medicine against malaria, particularly if you are visiting coastal areas or places below 1500m. You should start taking this medicine 10 to 15 days before your arrival in Kenya. Ask your doctor for advice.
There is a high incidence of the AIDS virus, it is necessary to be careful and use protection.
Tap water is save for drinking in Nairobi. Everywhere else you should drink
bottled water.
Bottled mineral water is available.
Climate
The climate is equatorial and very varied.
On the coast: southern, humid climate all year, showers from May to July.
Central highlands: gentler climatic conditions but very cool in the evenings and at night, rains from March to May and from October to December.
Northern region: markedly higher temperatures, reaches 40°C during the day, rainfall rare.
What should I bring ?
The equatorial sun is strong : hat, sunglasses, suncream are needed.
Long sleeves and trousers are advised for the nighttime as protection from mosquitoes.
At altitude, in Nairobi and on high plateaus the evenings are cool : a sweatshirt or thick jacket is indispensable.
Get a pair of binoculars for the safari.
Photography:
Remember to buy films before leaving, although you can find them in big hotels (the choice is limited). A telephoto lens (300mm) is useful for taking photographs of the animals. Don’t forget to bring chargers and adaptor plugs for digital cameras.
In Country
Language:
Kenya has two official languages: English, which is taught at school, and Swahili, an Afro-Arabic language.
Currency:
The Kenyan shilling (Ksh) is subdivided into 100 cents.
1 US$ = approx. 73 Ksh / 1 € = approx. 89 Ksh.
Keep bank receipts so that you will be able to exchange money after
leaving the country.
American dollars are accepted and exchanged in hotels, Euros are increasingly accepted. Debit cards are accepted practically everywhere.
Local time:
Kenyan time is GMT +3. The time difference with France is 2 hours in winter (midday in France = 2pm in Kenya) and 1 hour in summer.
Electricity:
Alternating current from 110 to 240 volts depending on the region.
Bring an adaptor.
Table of Distances
| Nairobi | Amboseli | 250 km | ~ 3 hours ½ mins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | Masaï Mara | 310 km | ~ 4 hours |
| Nairobi | Mombasa | 500 km | ~6 hours ½ mins |
| Nairobi | Mont Kenia | 215 km | ~ 3 hours |
| Nairobi | Nakuru | 155 km | ~ 2 hours |
| Nairobi | Samburu | 330 km | ~ 4 hours |
| Mombasa | Amboseli | 470 km | ~ 6 hours |
| Mombasa | Tsavo Ouest | 315 km | ~ 4 hours |
| Amboseli | Tsavo Ouest | 265 km | ~ 4 hours |
| Nakuru | Masaï Mara | 345 km | ~4 hours ½ mins |
| Mont Kenia | Samburu | 135 km | ~ 2 hours |
Before Leaving
Several interesting guides about Kenya are available.
You can also refer to the website: www.kws.org to find official information about Kenya and about the national parks of Kenya.
