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Kenya

Getting Started & Practical Information

When to Visit

Kenya's temperatures and weather vary by region, geography, and time of year. In the east, along the Indian Ocean, temperatures can he very high (up to 105˚ F (40˚ C)) and the air can be extraordinarily humid as storms arise and leave quickly. In the central part of the country and west, to the Great Rift Valley the land is elevated so temperatures remain more consistent throughout the year. Temperatures year round are about 50˚ F (10˚ C) at night and about 75˚ (24˚ C) during the days. The final region is western Kenya, where temperatures can reach over 100˚ F (37˚ C) and can sink to as low as 55˚ F (14˚ C) in the evening.

The one general constant across Kenya is the rainy and dry seasons. Rainy seasons go from March to early June then again from October to late November. These are the worst times to visit Kenya if you have an interest in the wildlife. The dry season forces the animals to find water at streams, rivers, and lakes as the grasslands dry up, making wildlife spotting easier for you and your guide. Unfortunately, since the dry seasons are the peak tourist seasons, hotel and safari prices tend to soar.

Travel plans can be disrupted on the coasts if you're there during Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which rotates every year compared to the Gregorian calendar). This Islamic holiday can close shops, restaurants, and coffee shops along the country's coast.

Weather

Although weather can be generalized based upon years past, for more up to date weather patterns and predicted future weather patterns, visit weather websites like weather.com; many local news sources also have information for international weather forecasts.

Tours & Cruises

If you're looking for a pre-arranged trip, that involves little effort on your part, then you should consider going on an organized tour or cruise. Organized tours and cruises vary from all expenses included to only daily tours and perhaps hotels included in the price, but all the options below will help you arrange all the details so you don't have to worry about finding the best deal or right hotel.

Affordable Tours: A balance to get the highest quality for the lowest prices; a great value travel agency.

Gap Adventures: Known best among young adults, Gap Adventures provides local transportation, housing, and food, which cuts costs and introduces the local culture, but can also be challenging for those seeking luxury.

Intrepid Travel: Boasts more "off the beaten track" destinations; do your research though since some tours are very adventurous and involves camping and local hotels.

Kensington Tours: Only offers personal tours for you and your family/friends, which allows greater flexibility, but also means slightly higher prices.

Kenya Association of Tour Operators: Association recognized by Kenya's Ministry of Tourism, which includes many tour operators that work in Kenya, both local and international companies.

Micato Safaris: Boasts an impressive list of "best tour operator" awards from a number of high end travel magazines; high end, luxurious, and expensive.

Road Scholar: For older adults, Road Scholar offers tours with an educational emphasis; formerly known as Elder Hostel.

Guidebooks

If you are just traveling on business and have little free time or are already familiar with Kenya, you may not need anything more than SafariTheGlobe.com's Free Mini Guide to Kenya! However, if you need more detailed and up to date information, there are a number of great country-wide, region-wide, and city-wide guidebooks available for travel in Kenya.

Eyewitness Guides: Incredible pictures and detailed maps of popular tourist sites including museums. Those living abroad can't put these books down.

Fodor's: Good maps and information for the major tourist locations, but has little information for anyone heading off the beaten track. Great for those on organized tours.

Frommer's: Incredible number of lists, which divide travel into various categories based upon your interests. Travelers looking to spend most of their time in a single location or on organized tours enjoy these books.

Lonely Planet: Great maps and updated often with comprehensive housing information, restaurants, & transportation options. Backpackers and adventurers love these guidebooks.

Visas

Many foreign nationals need a visa to enter Kenya, however the requirements for citizens of different nationalities varies. To learn more about who need visas, what type of visa is needed, what requirements are needed to obtain a visa, and visa costs, please visit Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Official Website.

Health & Insurance

Every part of the world has different health concerns and diseases, including Kenya. Before traveling, consult with a physician to learn more about your destination and what steps you can take to prevent illness. At the time of writing, many countries required proof of having received a Yellow Fever vaccination if you are arriving from Kenya. This proof is not required to enter Kenya, however to return to your home country or travel onwards, most countries require that you show proof of having been vaccinated. Additionally, a number of other immunizations are strongly recommended, so visiting your physician prior to travel to Kenya is essential.

Many health insurance providers don't cover health care that is provided outside your home country. Before going abroad check with your health insurance to see if they cover international care. If not, consider purchasing an international medical insurance option, preferably from a company that specializes in international medical insurance.

Transportation

Unless you're on an organized tour or working with a travel agent, you will have to arrange some transportation. The below links can greatly help you start your planning, first by finding a flight to Kenya, then with domestic airlines and car rental agencies. If you don't know where to begin, try the "Flight & Rental Car Search Sites" to learn competitor's prices during your trip.

Largest International Airlines: Air France, American Airlines; British Airways; Cathay Pacific; China Southern Airlines; Delta; Emirates; KLM; LAN; Lufthansa; Qantas; Singapore Airlines; United Airlines.

Largest Kenyan Airline: Kenya Airways

Largest Rental Car Agencies in Kenya: Avis & Europcar.

Flight & Rental Car Search Sites: Expedia.com; Farecast.com; Kayak.com; Orbitz.com; & Travelocity.com.

Housing

Housing options are numerous in most tourist destinations, but every individual seeks out something different when it comes to housing. The below links should help you get started, with low- to high-end hotels, hostels, and camping options.

Popular International Hotel Conglomerates: Accor Group (various price ranges); Choice Hotels (low- to mid-price range); Hilton (various price ranges); Hyatt (high-end to resorts); InterContinental Group (mid- to high-price range); Marriott Family (various price ranges); Starwood Hotels (high-end); Wyndham Hotels (low- to mid-price range).

Hotel Search Sites: Expedia.com; Kayak.com; Orbitz.com; & Travelocity.com.

Hostels: Although there are many hostel websites, some of the most popular and reputable include hostels.com, hostelworld.com, & hostelbookers.com.

Camping: Camping is not recommended in Kenya unless you're on an organized trek, since only the local guides will know which locations are safe to camp at.

Opening Hours, Expenses, & Tipping

Kenya's business world is theoretically on the same time schedule as much of Europe, but local shop and restaurant hours vary dramatically. Shops tend to open at about 9:00-10:00 am and close at about 5:00 pm, but inconsistencies are everywhere. Many factory workers put in much more than 40 hours a week, banana farmers never have a regular schedule, and shops may open late, close early, or shut down mid-afternoon based upon whose working that day and what their personal schedules look like. Having said that, most major tourist attractions are natural, and safari and tour companies are excellent at catering to the client and know the best times for wildlife viewings in various locations. Weekends in Kenya are Saturdays and Sundays.

One thing to be aware of if you plan to spend time on the coast is that during the Islamic holiday of Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which rotates every year compared to the Gregorian calendar), fasting is required from sunrise to sunset. Due to this Islamic requirement, most shops in predominantly Muslim areas close down and it can be difficult to find an open restaurant anywhere outside major hotels catering to tourists.

The cost of tourism in Kenya varies greatly by what amenities you are willing to forgo and what kind of wildlife guides you hire. Living in small cramped quarters with shared toilets, taking public transportation, eating at local markets, and hiring the wildlife guide you find on the street corner whose friend has a car (which is probably a scam) will cost pennies, while staying in nice safari lodges, hiring reputable guide companies, eating at ethnic restaurants, and taking a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti can cost hundreds of dollars a day.

The first expense you'll encounter on the way to Kenya is transportation to the country, which can be quite high from most locations (70,000 shillings ($800) from Europe, typically double that from North America). However, once on the ground, local and city transportation is very inexpensive, although safari tours (which come with transportation) are often times about 8,000 shillings ($100) a day, but include transportation, guides, and sometimes food. Food costs also vary from about $1 for a meal to well over 4,000 shillings ($50). Likewise, housing costs can vary from about 500 shillings ($6) to well over 16,000 shillings ($200) for a nice safari lodge.

Tipping is not common among Kenyans and if you're eating in local restaurants and visiting local sights you don't have to worry about tipping. In most restaurants catered to the tourist however a gratuity is often included; if it's not about 10% is standard. The real expense in tipping adds up in safari tours. You are expected to tip your guide, driver, cooks, and porters. Depending on the length of your tour and the service offered, anywhere from $1 a day for porters to $5-10 a day to a guide is appropriate.

Crime & Safety

Kenya can be intimidating to a minority traveler and wearing western clothes can immediately attract followers (although many locals wear western clothes from donation centers). There is little active violence or aggression towards foreigners in Kenya, however violence from Islamic extremists in the north can seep into the country, best seen with the bombing of the American embassy in Nairobi (1998).

Most local violence is concentrated in the north near Somalia and there are few reasons to visit this part of the country considering most tourist attractions are in the south. However, Kenya can be a volatile country and travel warnings should be considered prior to travel to any part of the country.

Crime in Kenya is commonplace; keeping an eye on your belongings and using common sense will be two of the most successful tactics at countering this. Most of these crimes are pick pocketing and bag snatching and running (especially in large crowds), however at night in the cities the chances of armed robbery increase as well, so cities are best avoided at night. To avoid the hassle of losing something valuable, simply leave everything of value at home, from your nice watch to your laptop computer.

Beggars are also a common encounter in the cities and in some rural areas. These people (often times children) are typically harmless, however be careful of group ploys and never give anyone money, since you don't know where it'll end up. If you want to help these people wait until after your trip and make a donation to a reputable organization like Red Cross or the United Nations.

This page was last updated: July, 2011