KENYA FACT FILE

Kenya is the heart of East Africa, a vast country that possesses golden beaches, massive wilderness areas and a wealth of fascinating tribal rituals. It is often seen as the first port of call for any African safari or a stepping-stone to subsequent safaris in Tanzania and Southern Africa. Because of Kenya's historic tourism development, the country's infrastructure is sophisticated, its national parks well-maintained, and a vast array of accommodation is available, to suit every style, taste and budget. Location East Africa - Borders include Ethiopia, Somalia, the Indian Ocean, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan

Access
By road or short scheduled flight from Arusha to Nairobi. Key Airlines include Kenya Airways, KLM, British Airways, Gulf Air, Emirates, Regional Air. There are also many European charter companies that feature the Mombasa route.

Visas
British passport holders require a visa that is currently US$50. A visa can be obtained on entry, however we recommend one be obtained before arrival if possible to avoid airport queues .

Health & Medical
You should take some anti-malaria pills. There is a new pill on the market, Malarone, which has a simple one pill a day regime which offers a high level of protection. This is much less complicated than the two a day, plus two a week type, and avoids the possible side effects of Larium. Malarone only needs to be started one day in advance of your trip and continued for one week afterwards (as opposed to the one week in advance and one month afterwards for the other types).

You should consult your doctor or a travel clinic as to other sensible precautions. Most people would have tetanus, typhoid, polio and maybe hepatitis shots.

Yellow fever certificates are not strictly necessary if arriving direct from a country in which it is not endemic, such as the USA or Europe. However a certificate can, in theory, be required crossing from Kenya to Tanzania or vice versa, and Zanzibar has always required these certificates in the past. The position on Zanzibar has now been changed to bring it into line with mainland Tanzania, but there still appears to be some confusion on this issue.

A small first aid kit and some basics from your bathroom cabinet is a good idea. Something to sooth insect stings and combat diarrhoea are worth including. Imodium is very effective but some travellers have reported adverse effects from taking this at the same time as the new anti malaria pill, Malarone so it may be wise to avoid this combination.

Currency
The Kenyan currency is the Shilling. However, foreign currencies, particularly US Dollars are widely accepted.

Shopping
Most hotels and lodges have gift shops with a selection of local crafts and souvenirs. There are also a few roadside stalls and shops that you will pass on route.You will find some interesting woodcarvings, paintings and batiks. Precious stones and jewellery are also a speciality.

Spending Money
As regards money, US $ cash is accepted just about everywhere and you can easily change $ into local currency as needed in the lodges and at the banks and at bureau de change.

The banks and bureaux do, in general, offer a better exchange rate than the lodges. It is also worth noting that they give a higher rate for larger denominations US bank notes than for the smaller ones.

Apart from US$, all other major foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and bureaux, but the US$ is the only foreign currency generally accepted in payment at lodges and shops etc. The US$ is effectively a parallel currency in Tanzania and Kenya and visitors get a comparatively better rate when exchanging $ than any other currency.

Traveller's cheques can be exchanged at any bank or bureau, but they are converted at a lower exchange rate than cash currency.

The lodges and some shops will take credit cards, but the shops often charge an extra percentage for taking them (up to 10%). Not all places take credit cards and you won't be able to get cash on a card, so travellers cheques are a good idea.

You can't obtain Tanzanian shillings out of the country and you are not permitted to take more than about $15 worth out when you leave, but you can of course change any surplus back into $.

Tips & Gratuities
The average range for tips to your driver/guide is $5-$10 per day per person. This can be paid at the end of your trip in one lump sum. You can tip in the local currency or in US$, both are equally welcome.

For other small services on safari such as to baggage porters, waiters, room service etc., a dollar or two or the local equivalent is usually sufficient. Do not feel obliged to tip on every possible occasion and there is a staff gratuity box in all lodges where you can leave a general gratuity rather than distributing individual ones

Food & Drink
It is generally recommended to drink only bottled mineral water, which is readily available everywhere.

There are no restrictions on the sale or consumption of alcoholic drinks in Kenya. A good selection of local beers and soft drinks are available everywhere, and you will find a range of imported wines, beers and spirits in many places, although these can be expensive.

Food in all Kenya's hotels and lodges is generally of a high standard, and service is excellent. Eat sensibly, be wary of cold buffets and salads- particularly in the first few days of your visit.

Clothing & Equipment
Clothes for safari should be light, comfortable and not too brightly coloured. There is little or no requirement for anything formal. A light jacket or sweater may be needed in the evenings at higher altitudes, comfortable walking shoes are an essential, as is a hat to keep off the sun, and sunglasses. Don't forget a swimming costume for use at the lodge pools.
Most people bring binoculars and/ or cameras and video equipment with plenty of tape or film. Zoom or telephoto lenses are likely to be useful.

Most of the better hotels and lodges will spray rooms and provide mosquito nets, but do bring your own insect repellent sprays.

A flashlight is always useful.

There will be no television or radio in most places, so you might want to bring a little shortwave radio or Walkman if you want to keep up with world events or listen to some music.

Remember that safari vehicles and light aircraft have tight limits on the size and weight of luggage carried. Depending on your itinerary it may be possible to leave some luggage in Arusha for the duration of your safari.

Packing
Your packing and baggage will be affected by the itinerary of your trip. Clearly, if you are climbing Kilimanjaro, you will require supplies of warm clothing etc., which would not be required on safari. Remember that if you are staying in, or passing through Arusha more than once, you will be able to leave some baggage in store to be collected on your return. We do request all clients to take the minimum amount on safari and to avoid large rigid suitcases. Safari vehicles have limited luggage space and small soft bags are much easier to pack. If you are on a custom safari, you will have your own vehicle and if there are two of you, have ample luggage space, but it is still a good idea to keep your baggage to a minimum.

Remember that light aircraft have tight limits on the size and weight of luggage carried- this is 20 kilos including hand baggage on the flight from Arusha to Zanzibar and is 15 kilos on light aircraft transfers to and between the parks.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Please remember that the airlines' record with baggage is not exactly 100% and whilst bags are rarely lost forever, they can take days to catch up with you on a safari. Please carry all medical supplies, particularly prescribed drugs and anti malaria tablets in your hand baggage, together with other essentials.

Insurance
Ranger Safaris require that all clients arrange personal travel insurance to cover their medical, property and other personal risks for the duration of their safari. Advice on policies or actual cover can be arranged if required. Temporary membership of the Flying Doctor Service, based in Nairobi and providing emergency evacuation cover in Northern Tanzania and Kenya can also be arranged at a cost of £20 ($30 US) per person.

Language
Kiswahili and English are the official languages.

Children
Most accommodation on safari accepts children, however some of the smaller and more remote camps and lodges may not.

Climate
Kenya is a tropical climate with several regional variations. The coastal belt is hot and humid all year round, whereas the interior is generally seasonal. The two main rainy seasons are from March to April and October to November. Safaris are therefore most popular from December to February and June to September.

Time
Kenya is three hours ahead of GMT and there is no seasonal hour change.

Electricity
The power supply is at the UK/ European standard voltage of 220/240 , and power sockets are the U.K. square pin type. Remember if you want to use U.S. appliances you will need a voltage convertor as well as a plug convertor. Mains power supply is subject to cuts and voltage fluctuation. On safari most lodges power supplies are from generators, and these are often turned off during parts of the day and night to reduce noise and fuel consumption.

Communications
Ranger Safaris equips all its safari vehicles with two-way radios so that drivers can communicate with their base, each other and the lodges. Most lodges and hotels also have a telephone, but the service, particularly for overseas calls, is both erratic and expensive (a $50 minimum is not uncommon). More remote lodges and camps are likely to rely on radio for communications. Game parks are not within cell phone range, but satellite telephones work just about anywhere.