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Baggage space on safari is restricted to one medium suitcase or
holdall per person, plus hand baggage (private safaris where there
are less than 7 persons in the vehicle are not subject to this
restriction). Visitors to Treetops and the Ark are asked to take
overnight bags only; suitcases can be left at the base hotel.
Hotels will normally store baggage at no extra cost. Baggage can
also be stored at Sun Trek offices. A baggage weight restriction
of 15 kg per person applies on air safaris. Where very small aircraft
are used this maybe reduced to 10kg.
Hard currencies can be exchanged in cash
or travellers cheques at banks all over the country, at forex
bureaus in Nairobi and at most large hotels. US Dollars and Sterling
Pounds are most acceptable and will cause the least delay. As
a norm, always ask what commission and charges will be deducted
first and prior to transaction. Banks are usually open from 9.00
am to 3.00 pm, Mondays through Fridays and from 9.00 am and 11.00
am on Saturdays.
VISA, MASTERCARD and AMERICAN EXPRESS are widely accepted for
tourist services. There's usually a 5% mark-up on top of the price
as establishments are charged a fixed percentage of their transactions.
Since rules concerning disease prevention
change from time to time, a check should be made with the nearest
Kenyan High Commission, Kenya Tourist Office or any airline flying
scheduled services into Kenya. Malaria is endemic to most parts
of Kenya and intending visitors should start taking anti-malarial
tablets before departure and continue taking them for the prescribed
time after their return. Insect repellents should be made use
of after dusk and suitable cover up clothes should be worn in
the evenings.
Membership of the Flying Doctors Society is strongly recommended.
In event of accident or sickness while on safari, the society
will fly patients by air ambulance to Nairobi for admittance to
hospital. The current cost for 1-month membership is US$ 25 per
person.
Drinking water from the tap must be considered risky. Hotels and
lodges usually furnish safe water in a thermos flask in guest
rooms. Bottled mineral water is available in every hotel and supermarket.
Normal precautions as in any other destination
world-wide should be taken. Visitors are advised not to leave
cash and valuables in their hotel rooms but to make use of safe
deposit boxes and safes. One should never carry large sums in
cash and women should keep a tight grip on handbags in crowds
or busy streets. Jewellery snatching is quite common in city streets.
As in all major cities walking alone or in small groups at night
should be considered a hazard and avoided. Reliable taxis are
available at all the principal hotels. Taking photographs at airports,
near military installations, of policeman, the president, the
national flag, the State House, state lodges, soldiers, prisons
and prisoners etc., is prohibited. Before photographing local
people, permission should be obtained and a fixed price agreed.
Seek the assistance of your driver/guide in this matter.
Both mains electricity and generated supply
in lodges provide 240 volts AC 50 cycles. Most large hotels and
some game lodges provide shaving points with 110v 50 cycles. Sockets
are normally three pin and of the 'square' variety.
Although hotels and lodges include a service charge, it is customary
to tip porters, waiters, taxi drivers and safari drivers/guides.
Kiswahili is the lingua franca while English
is the official language. In addition, most tribes have their
own language.
Keeping in touch by mail and telephone is generally easy. Direct
overseas dialling is possible from major centers and increasingly
from remote places such as game lodges. Call home bureaus are
in plenty in Nairobi as are the Cyber café for e-mail and Internet
access.
Kenya has two main ports of entry by air: Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport, Nairobi. Located 16 km from the city center. Moi International
Airport, Mombasa. Located 12 km from the town center. Mombasa
is the main port of entry by sea.
International Airport departure tax equivalent to US$ 40 per person
is payable on departure from the International airports. A local
airport service charge is also payable on departure for domestic
flights. As this varies from country to country, please check
with us on the prevailing amounts payable prior to your flight
departure.
Major stores, tourist services, offices and museums open from
8.00 am to 5.00 PM in large towns though offices often break for
lunch. In rural areas and out in the bush small shops can be open
at almost any hour. Souvenirs to take back home can include wood
and soap stone sculptures and carvings, ciondos (sisal baskets),
beadwork and tribal regalia, masks, textiles and gemstones set
in unique jewellery pieces.
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