About Kenya: Fact File

General Information

Capital:   Nairobi
Time:       GMT +3
Population:  Approximately 27 million
Area:       582,000 km2
Language:   Swahili
Local Currency:   Kenyan Shilling

Climate

The weather in Kenya is fairly unpredictable and is largely determined by altitude, which varies considerably  from area to area.  In broad terms the pattern is as follows:

January, February - hot and dry
April, May, June - hot and wet (referred to as the 'long rains')
July, August, September - warm and dry
October, November, early December - warm and wet (referred to as the 'short rains')
Mid to end December - hot and dry

Visa Requirements

Prior to departing for Kenya, it is essential that you check with the Kenyan embassy or consulate what the visa requirements are for entry.  The Kenyan authorities are known for changing the visa status of particular countries without much notice.

It is advisable that should a visa be required it is purchased prior to departure for Kenya in order to avoid any delays on arrival in Kenya.  It is possible to purchase a visa on arrival in Kenya, but it could mean standing in a queue for a long time after an international flight.  Only US dollar or UK pound sterling cash are accepted when purchasing a visa on arrival in the country.

Transit visas:  If a there is a visa requirement for a particular nationality to enter Kenya and the guest is only entering Kenya for a short stay (including an overnight) while in transit to another country, a transit visa is required.  This can be purchased with dollar or UK pound sterling cash on arrival in Kenya.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As at November 2000 British and American passport holders who are visiting Kenya on holiday for less than 30 days are no longer required to obtain visitors or transit visas.  Once again it is essential to check this status prior to travel.

Health Information

Guests should check with their local travel clinic or doctor on what medical precautions to take prior to their holiday. Malaria: Malaria does occur in Kenya and it is essential that guests consult their doctor prior to travel and it is always a good idea to carry insect repellant at all times.

Yellow Fever: Even though not an official requirement for Kenya, it is recommended that guests arriving into Kenya either overland or by air via another African country have a yellow fever inoculation at least 10 days prior to departing for East Africa and ensure that they carry the certificate with them as it may be requested upon entry into the country.

Water

It is not advisable to drink the tap water.  Although sometimes not cheap, bottled water is readily available for purchase in the majority of hotels and at roadside and garage cafes.   It is recommended that guests carry bottled water with them throughout their trip as it can get very hot and dusty while on safari.  On the drive-through safari, a constant supply of bottled mineral water is kept in the vehicle cooler box for guest consumption. During the dry seasons, water is often in short supply and rations are sometimes enforced.  Most hotels have a note about what measures to take in order to conserve the supply.

Electricity

Voltage in Kenya is 220-240 volts.  The plugs are the same square 3-pin plugs as those used in Britain.  Adaptors are available for purchase, but they are expensive and if in short supply at the tourist shops, hunting around for an electrical supply shop could take some time.  It is therefore recommended that guests bring adaptors with them.

During the dry seasons and periods of drought, the mainline electricity supply is rationed and hotels have to rely on generator power (particularly affects those hotels in the main towns and cities).  Generally speaking, the larger hotels maintain a 24-hour power supply no matter what the mainline supply status is but guests should check with reception on check-in as to what the status is with regard to the hours that power is available. Many safari lodges rely solely on generator power and the power supply hours vary from property to property.

Money

Hard currency travelers cheques is the safest way to carry money.  It is advisable when changing them for cash that you request small denominations.  When paying for merchandise with large denomination hard currency cash you are more than likely going to get the change in Kenyan Shillings, which can be cumbersome as it tends to convert into a wad of notes and coins.