Kenya Vacation and Travel Guide

Learn about Kenya facts, travel, Safaris, vacations and wildlife:

Kenya is a beautiful country located in the east coast of Africa along the equator. It is a country of diverse geographical characteristics ranging from low-lying coastal region to dry savannaland further inland. Further inland, you will find the mountainous central region followed by the great Rift Valley and finally the Lake Victoria plains.

Kenya Climate

Many visitors come to Kenya due to its pleasant warm climate. They enjoy spending time basking in the sun and getting a tan.

Kenya climate is diverse. The Coastal region is hot and humid with average temperatures of 28°C (82°F), while the hinterland savanna and northern plains are hot and dry with average temperatures of 24°C (75°F). The Central regions around Mount Kenya are cold and wet with the capital city of Nairobi having average temperatures of 20°C (68°F).

Kenya Giraffes*

There are two rainy seasons in Kenya, one between April and June and the other between October and December.

Visas and Immigration

All visitors coming to Kenya are required to obtain a visa. However, the citizens of Uganda and Tanzania are excempt from this rule.

People from most countries need to obtain the visa in their countries before coming to Kenya. However, those coming from the United States and Europe have the option of getting the visa at the Airport when they land in Kenya.

Kenya Currency and Conversion Rates Kenya’s currency is called the Shilling. You will need to convert your money to Kenya Shilling when you arrive here. The exchange rate varies from time to time, so you need to check for current exchange rates by searching on google.com for currency converters. It is advisable that you exchange your money in banks because there are some money changers here who may not be very reputable. Also be careful not to carry large sums of money with you around. All major Credit cards are widely accepted in Kenya and travelers cheques can be cashed in banks too. Getting to and Around Kenya Air: Most people get into Kenya by taking international flights that land on Kenya’s two international airports, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport. There are also Local flights within Kenya and Regional flights from Kenya to other parts of Africa that use the International Airports and Regional Airports like Wilson Airport in Nairobi.

Train:
Kenya has an efficient and comfortable railway service running from Mombasa to Nairobi and then to Kisumu and finally to Malaba at the Ugandan border.

Bus:
There are numerous bus companies serving almost every town in Kenya. Using buses is a cheaper and faster way to travel in Kenya than by train.

Matatu: Matatus are mini-buses customized with a unique Kenyan Flavor. They are the most common form of transport in Kenya and are very efficient.

Tourist enjoy a Matatu ride**

Car:
There are many international car hire firms in Kenya where you can rent a nice car to drive on your safari.

Kenya has a good network of paved roads making road transport quite efficient.A word of caution however. In Kenya they drive on the left hand side of the road as opposed to the right-hand side in some other countries.

You can drive in Kenya with your country’s Drivers license if it is endorsed by the Transport Department. However, it is best if you have an International Driving License.

Accommodation

Kenya has great accommodation facilities for tourists. There are many international hotels and resorts located in the major cities and tourist attraction areas.

Many of these hotels and lodges in Kenya are of international standards, and offer superior accommodation with eco-friendly practices.

Hotels in Kenya are classified by the star system ranging from One star (the lowest) to 5 Star Hotels (The best).

The criteria for these classifications include the sizes of the rooms, the quality of services, quality of food, quality of recreational facilities and the hotel's location.

There are other types of accommodation for Tourists in Kenya. These include Game lodges and safari lodges (small hotels within the Game parks) as well as tented lodges. Bathrooms are placed close to the sleeping tent and usually offer hot and cold running water and flush toilets.

Fun Things to do in Kenya

There are many things you can do while in Kenya Vacation.

Many tourists enjoy Hiking and Mountain Climbing in the Aberdare Mountains, the Chyulu Hills and Mount Kenya among others.

You can also go Horse Riding while on a game safari. Otherwise you can try a mountain biking or cycling adventure.

For Golf lovers, you will find good quality golf courses in almost all Kenya towns.

While traveling on the Kenya coast, make a point of enjoying Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in the white coral beaches. Other water sports you may enjoy include windsurfing, parasailing and water-skiing.

If you are an adrenaline junkie and love rough waters, try whitewater rafting on Kenya’s River Tana, River Athi and Ewaso Njiro. Otherwise, you can go fishing or deep sea fishing in the rivers or the sea.

If you come to Kenya in may or june, make a point of enjoying the Safari Rally, one of the worlds most grueling Motor Rally covering almost the entire breadth of Kenya.

Kenya National Parks and Game Reserves

Kenya is world famous for its great wildlife. Many people come here to see nature in its purest form and the Kenyan Government has created many places to preserve this God given resource for all peoples of the world.

When you visit Kenya, make an effort to visit at least one of the below National Parks and marvel at their aburdance of great wild animals.

• Aberdare National Park
• Amboseli National Park
• Lake Nakuru National Park
• Marsabit National Park
• Masai Mara Game Reserve
• Meru National Park
• Mt Kenya National Park
• Nairobi National Park
• Samburu Nature Reserve
• Shaba National Reserve
• Sibiloi National Park
• Tsavo National Park

Copyright: Mwongera Kioga:

Images under Creative Commons Attribution Licence. * by Wildcat Dunny ** by Genvessel