GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT KENYA
INTERNATIONAL AND INBOUND AIRPORTS:
There are two international airports used the worldwide carriers. These are the Jomo Kenyatta international airport in Nairobi and the Moi international Airport in Mombasa. Some airlines offer direct flights from Europe, America, Africa and Asia. Available direct flights from USA are Delta, from the UK – Virgin Atlantic. All these land in Nairobi.
Flights from Nairobi to the national parks and reserves of Kenya are available from the Wilson airport in Nairobi
Local inbound flights are available from the major towns and also are available from most of the National parks and reserves.
CUSTOMS AND VISAS:
Citizens from most countries are required to obtain a visa that costs 50 USD. Visas can be obtained directly on entry or from a Kenyan Diplomatic mission in your country of residence, it is advisable to obtain the visa in advance. The visa is valid for 90 days. Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months starting from the date of entry. You must also be able to show an onward or return ticket or you may be asked to purchase one or to make a refundable deposit with the immigration department.
Visa extensions can be applied for at the Principal Immigration Officer in Nairobi or the immigration office in Mombasa. You will need a valid visa for this extension, but you will not need re-entry passes if you travel to Uganda or Tanzania.
Custom restrictions in Kenya are similar to those in other countries. Guns are totally forbidden since hunting was banned in 1977. There is no problem with photo or video cameras.
CURRENCY:
Kenya’s currency is based on the decimal system, the unit of currency being the shilling which is divided into 100 cents.
The dollar is now widely accepted in most of the leading tourist enterprises.
BANKS:
Normal operating time for most banks in Kenya is 0900hrs to 0300hrs. Most of the major banks in Kenya operate automated teller machines that accept visa cards. The ATMs remain operational for 24hrs and are available in most of the towns around the country.
SECURITY:
Just like in many parts of the world, Kenya is no exemption; you are advised to leave all your valuables in safe custody of the hotel. While walking in towns you should also keep to the main streets and avoid dark alleys. While in the countryside, assistance of a local guide is advised.
ELECTRICTY:
The unit of voltage range available is 220-240 volts. For those with gadgets out of this range will need to carry adapters.
LANGUAGE:
English and Kiswahili are the official languages and are taught in schools throughout Kenya. Most urban Kenyans and even tribal people involved in the tourist industry speak English so you shouldn’t experience any problems.
CLIMATE:
Kenya has a great climatic diversity by virtue of being transversed by the equator. There is little variation in temperatures throughout the year. However, among regions there are great differences in average temperatures and rainfall. These climatic variations are mainly due to the winds and the altitude differences. The rainfall pattern is important because of its influence on wildlife migration patterns. The rainy season is divided into the long rains which fall between March and June, and the short rains that take place between October and November. In general, temperatures are higher during the months corresponding to the boreal winter, i.e., January, February and March.
GEOGRAPHY:
Kenya covers 224,960 square miles and sits upon the equator, on the eastern coast of the African continent. Its coastal region is on the southeast, and to the east lays Somalia. Ethiopia is to the north, the Sudan to the northwest, and Uganda directly to the west. The southwestern border of the country is marked by Lake Victoria, and southward lays Tanzania. Kenya's geography is marvelously varied. While much of northeastern Kenya is a flat, bush-covered plain, the remainder of the country encompasses pristine beaches, savanna grasslands, scenic highlands and lake regions, the Great Rift Valley, and the magnificent Mount Kenya.
Since the 15th century, Kenya has drawn great people, from Ernest Hemingway to Teddy Roosevelt to Vasco Da Gamma. The Great Rift Valley, an expanding fault line, stretches from the Red Sea to Mozambique, and is visible from the moon. When the rift began about 30 million years ago, it created a basin that filled with rain, creating a series of lakes from Magadi in the south to Baringo in the north. Volcanic activity accompanied this shift, creating Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, Longonot, the Ngong and Chyulu Hills.
