About Kenya

A lioness Stretching in the Maasai Mara game park

Situated in East Africa and straddling the equator, Kenya offers a diversity of habitats, climates and cultures. The total land area is 224,900 square miles. (582,644 square kilometers) From the highland areas down to the 700Kms (435 miles) of beautiful beaches that fringe the Indian Ocean, Kenya has something of interest to offer to almost every discerning visitor. With over 50 National Parks and game reserves, wildlife viewing is spectacular with over 800 species of birds having been recorded within this beautiful country.

DOCUMENTATION

Passports & Visas

Current visa requirements may be subject to change at any time. You can purchase your visa at the airport if necessary but would be easier to have it in advance. Please check with us prior to travel.

HEALTH

Full details of the latest health requirements should be obtained from an authorised medical source, such as your doctor.

• Ensure your Tetanus booster is up-to-date
• Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are usually advised
• Malaria - Certain areas in Africa have malaria and it is absolutely imperative that you obtain advice on anti-malaria treatment.

The best way to prevent malaria is to avoid being bitten in the first place. After sunset, wear long sleeved shirts and trousers and use mosquito nets. Upon returning home, if you experience flu-like symptoms, including fever, painful eyes, backache and severe headache be sure to tell your doctor that you have been in a malarial zone, and demand a test. Although insect bites cannot always be prevented they can be discouraged by the use of insect repellent.

Flying Doctor Service

Membership of the AMREF Flying Doctors Services of East Africa is included in the cost of the safari. Incase of an emergency or if you are taken ill whilst on safari, AMREF will send an aircraft to fly you to the nearest medical centre . The cover is obtained for you for the duration of your trip. However, please make sure that your travel insurance provides full cover for air evacuation. We will need copies of your Travel Insurance deposited in Nairobi before departing on safari.

FINANCE

Banks

General banking hours are:
0900 - 1500 hours Monday to Friday
0900 -1100 hours on Saturdays (smaller branches may not open on Saturdays).
Most banks now have Automatic Teller Machines where many credit cards can be used. We will brief you fully before you travel, and help with changing money if you would like.
There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency or traveler's cheques that may be brought into Kenya. Local currency can be converted back in the banks at the International Departure points which are open 24 hours a day.

Currency

The unit of currency in Kenya is the shilling, divided into 100 cents.
Notes are to the value of 1000, 500, 200, 100 & 50. Coins are to the value of 20, 10, 5, 1 shilling. We shall explain and demonstrate upon arrival, so don’t worry.

Airport Departure Tax

Airport departure tax is normally collected on airline tickets. If this tax does not appear on your airline ticket, you will have to pay it locally at the time of departure.

TIPPING

Tipping is not compulsory, nor are there any fixed amounts. If you feel service has been above average, and you would like to leave a small gratuity, then 10% of the bill would be a good amount. In some of the hotels and lodges there is a tip box, and this is perhaps a fairer way of ensuring that the unseen members of the establishment also receive some of the tips. If you are unsure of what to do on safari, please ask your guide who will be able to advise you. And relax, nobody here will chase you down the road if you don’t get it right.

CLOTHING

Safaris are very informal (especially with Green Leopard) and comfort should be considered above all else. Light cottons in muted colours usually work best. Avoid darker blues, as these can sometime attract biting insects. A thick sweater or fleece jacket is advisable for early morning and evening activities. Footwear should not be heavy. A pair of comfortable walking shoes, tennis shoes or desert boots will be fine. A light waterproof jacket and long cotton trousers are also a good idea. At the coast, where the temperatures and humidity can be higher, take plenty of beach clothes, and casual cotton clothes for the evening.

Suggested Safari Equipment Items

• Good quality sunglasses with good UV protection. Tinted glasses do not always work in harsh light. A second pair of sunglasses is useful in the event you lose or damage the first
• Bush hat with full rim (baseball caps may leave the back of the neck exposed)
• T-shirts for the day and long sleeved cotton shirts for the evening
• Long trousers, or trousers which can become shorts by unzipping the legs
• Shorts/Slacks/Skirts
• Cotton underwear and socks
• Comfortable shoes
• Sweater/Jersey
• Fleece & light waterproof jacket
• A small flashlight with spare bulb and batteries
• Tissues/Wet Wipes
• Basic Medical Kit including mild pain killers, antiseptic cream, antihistamine, antiseptic wipes, and any prescribed medication. (We also carry a more detailed kit)
• Sunscreen and after-sun cream
• Binoculars
• Malaria Tablets, as advised by your doctor
• Insect repellant
• Personal Toiletries. We do carry various items as well, just in case you forget something
• Visas, tickets, passports, vaccination certificates
• Glasses (if required) in addition to contact lenses, as these might provide a break for your eyes if we encounter dusty conditions
• Small daypack for carrying personal items
• Swim wear
• Journal

If you are intending to buy a pair of binoculars specifically for your trip, we would advise the more compact models, which will be easier to carry with you, whilst still providing a very sharp image (8 x 32 is ideal). It is recommended that you take soft luggage as this is subject to less damage, and also makes packing in vehicles and charter aircraft easier.
Try to travel light. In Green Leopard camps, laundry is done free of charge on a daily basis, and lodges and hotels also provide a laundry service at a small fee.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Take all the film you think you will require with you, as film may be more expensive in remote areas. When considering quantities, double the amount the wildlife, peoples and scenery in Kenya are very photogenic! A U/V filter and a ziplock polythene bag help to protect your camera and lens. Remember to take extra camera batteries. For bird and game photography, a zoom lens provides the best option. Look for something with a range of up to 300mm. Remember though, that at this focal length camera shake is magnified, and if you are hand holding your camera you should use a shutter speed of at least 250th of a second. In some cases this will call for faster film. We do provide bean bags which help to steady the camera, although the modern 400 speed films are very good these days, and you should include these in a range of different speeds. If any of this confuses you a little but you want to take home some great pictures along with your memories, don't worry, our guides are all keen photographers too, and will be delighted to explain and help once you get here. If you buy a new camera for your trip, please don't forget to bring the manual!

CLIMATE

Please note that as world climates are changing this is a very general run down of what to expect, and when. Traditionally, the most popular season in Kenya is December to March - the local summer. Normally, weather patterns at this time are stable; humidity (except at the coast) is low, and game-viewing good. Late March to May is the usual time of the Long Rains. These tend to be substantial downpours with intermittent sunshine, although in many areas the rain generally falls during the night and days are hot and sunny .The countryside is then at its greenest, and the game is more scattered. June to August is winter and a very comfortable time to safari. This is also the prime time to see the annual wildebeest migration. September to November and early December (spring) brings pleasant temperatures although November brings the short rains, often light, but enough to refresh the landscape.

ELECTRICITY

The voltage supply in Kenya is 220 volts A.C., 50 Htz. Electrical outlets are normally the 3 pin rectangular, British style plugs. Special travel adapters can be purchased to enable plugs to fit all mains sockets. If you are traveling from a country where your normal voltage is the lower 110 volts 60 Htz please check if any appliances you wish to bring are suitable for use on the higher voltage in Kenya. Hotels and lodges normally provide items like hair dryers for guest use.

LANGUAGE

English is the national language of Kenya and is widely spoken in most areas of interest. There are many tribes however which have their own different languages, and Kiswahili has become the African language which unites the speakers of different dialects. It is the language you are most likely to hear in general use, so if you would like to try Swahili, below are a few useful words. Swahili is phonetic, so just say exactly what you see

General

Hello	Jambo
How Are You?	Habari?
Good, Fine	Mzuri
Thank You (very much)	Asante (sana)
Goodbye	Kwaheri
Welcome	Karibu
Sorry	Samahari, or pole
May I have	Tafadhali Nipe
I want	Ninataka
Wait here	Ngoja Hapa
How much?	Bei Gani?
What is your name?	Jina lako nani?
Where do you come from?	Unatoka wapi?

Numbers

One	Moja
Two	Mbili
Three	Tatu
Four	Nne
Five	Tano
Six	Sita
Seven	Saba
Eight	Nane
Nine	Tisa
Ten	Kumi

Time

Time (hour)	Saa
What time is it?	Saa Ngapi?
Minute	Dakika
Morning	Asabuhi
Evening	Jioni
Today	Leo
Yesterday	Jana
Tomorrow	Kesho

Bar and Restaurant

More	Ingine
Enough	Basi/natosha
Beer	Pombe
Fish	Samaki
Food	Chakula
Ice/cold	Barafu/Baridi
Meat	Nyama
Milk	Maziwa
Salt	Chumvi
Small/big	Kidogo/Kubwa
Sugar	Sukari
Sweet	Tamu
Tea	Chai
Warm, hot	Moto
Water	Maji

GAME ANIMALS

Leopard	Chui
Rhinoceros	Kifaru
Buffalo	Nyati
Lion	Simba
Elephant	Tembo/Ndovu
Zebra	Punda Milia
Giraffe	Twiga
Hyena	Fisi
Hippo	Kiboko
Warthog	Ngiri

TIME DIFFERENCE

The local time in Kenya is GMT (London) + 3 hours.

 

WILD ANIMALS

Much of the accommodation used on our Kenyan safaris is located in wilderness areas, where wild animals can be in the immediate vicinity. You are asked not to feed monkeys or any other animals, as this may result in a dangerous situation for yourself, and ultimately for the wild animals, who may have to be destroyed if they learn to become a pest. Although in general animals are unperturbed by the presence of vehicles, it is important to move quietly and slowly when near any kind of wildlife. Some animals may be disturbed or stressed by loud voices or sudden movements. Please remember, we are honoured guests in their environment.

Please Note

All the information contained in these pages is intended for guidance only and is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. As circumstances may change at any time, you are advised to check with us, or the appropriate authority, for up-to-date information prior to travel, especially regarding visa, health and insurance requirements.