Travel Destinations / Kenya

Kenya is a country rich in wildlife, culture, history, beauty and friendly, welcoming people; a popular tourist destination attracting millions of visitors each year.

Of all Kenya's national parks the Masai Mara is undoubtedly the most famous. It lies in South West Kenya - the heartland of the Masai - and is home to the "big five"; rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant.  This well-known reserve is a truly stunning expanse of scenery, where the horizon stretches for hundreds of kilometres and you are surrounded by nature at its most glorious. The wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara is quite rightly proclaimed one of the animal kingdom's most impressive phenomena.

Wetlands are home to crocodiles and hippos while the mineral rich lakes of the great Rift Valley like Lake Nakuru provides the visitor with one of Kenya’s best known images - vast flocks of pink flamingos, which come for the small fish that thrive here.

Not to be outdone, Kenya's coastline - especially south of Mombasa - is a tropical paradise of endless white sandy beaches fringed by the warm water of the Indian Ocean and beautiful coral reefs, offering the visitor a range of world class resorts and quiet relaxing hideaways.

Culture

Nuances of culture naturally vary from city to savannah, and the great number of distinct tribes makes it difficult to say that there is a homogenous culture that is essentially Kenyan. What can be said is that Kenyans are uniformly inquisitive with and polite to foreigners, especially outside the main cities.

Offending a Kenyan is difficult if one is courteous, friendly and respectful, and most people will overlook any small cultural differences. In some communities (especially in the North, or some coastal areas that are traditionally Muslim), there is some sensitivity about exchanges between males and females, and one should take care to respect the dress codes. On beaches where there are a lot of foreigners swimwear will be fine, but elsewhere make sure you dress conservatively.

Shopping

The combination of Kenya's carpenter craftsmen and fine tropical hardwoods (African mahogany, teak, olive, ebony and rosewood, among others) creates a multitude of beautiful wood products ranging from tiny trinket boxes to large pieces of furniture. Lamu Island is famous for the craftsmanship of its furniture, and pieces are available all over the country. It is cheaper to buy at source however and most large shops can arrange shipping.

Jewel lovers will appreciate the locally-mined tanzanite (shades of blue and purple) and tsavorite (variations of green) gems. Available in the larger jewellery stores in Nairobi, a highly-recommended shop is the Village Jeweller located in the city centre next to the New Stanley Hotel. Maasai beaded items are immensely popular among tourists and expatriates alike.

A "kikoy" or "kanga" makes for a great souvenir.  It is a brightly coloured length of cloth intended to work as a skirt, but can easily become a swimming costume cover, sundress, tablecloth or bedspread.

Money

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KSH).
Notes: KSH20, 10, 5, 1, 50 cents (half a shilling).
Coins: KSH50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000.
Credit cards: Credit cards from major international operators are accepted in tourist hotels and generally in Nairobi and Mombasa. The best cards to take are Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Do not assume you will be able to use credit cards outside of these areas, and do not rely on them.

Transport

Most people will have their transfers privately arranged before arrival, but if not you should be able to access most places reasonably easily, mainly by bus. Take great care however, public transport is not always the safest place for strangers, and can also be extremely laborious. Air travel in Kenya is by far the most comfortable and convenient method of transportation available.

Health Requirements

Malaria is a serious problem, obtain appropriate anti-Malarials before travelling (ask your GP for advice). Note that most courses require you commence taking the medicine at least a week before arriving so allow sufficient time accordingly. Typhoid and Hepatitis A inoculations are recommended before arrival. Overland travellers crossing the border from elsewhere in Africa should also have had the Yellow Fever vaccination.

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country. There is plenty of sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. However, it is usually cool at night and early in the morning.

The long rains occur from April to June and short rains from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and when it does come it often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to August.