Kenya Vacation Guide

Great tips for Planning your Kenya Vacation

Now that you are finally ready to go on an African safari, you may ask yourself. Where do I start? Where do I go? I have never been on a safari before and I don’t know anybody who has. Don’t worry !!!! I will show you a step-by-step way to plan your safari and help

you decide the best destinations for the adventures you want to experience.

Planning your Safari

• Choose your Safari Theme
• Entry Requirements
• Learn a little of their customs and acceptable behaviors
• Health and Immunization Requirements
• Banking Services and Currency Conversions
• Maps
• Accommodation
• Health and Emergency services
• Safari Etiquette
• Transportation
• Safety Precautions
• Know Best times to travel

Choose your safari theme

Choosing the theme of your Safari or vacation is the first thing you need to do. Safari theme is the purpose of your Safari. This is where you decide what you want to do on your vacation. This will help you in your search for suitable destinations and tour companies.

More on Choosing your Safari Theme >>>

Kenya Entry Requirements and Visas

If you hold a US passport, you will need a visa to enter Kenya. You can get a visa from Kenya Embassy in Washington or you can get at the airport or border crossing when you arrive in Kenya.

Nationals from Commonwealth countries (including Canada and the UK) do not need a visa to enter Kenya. Tourist visas are valid for 30 days.

You can get a single-entry visa (costing $50) or a multiple entry visa ($100). Multiple entry visa is needed if you will cross Kenya border while on Safari and need to come back e.g. crossing to Tanzania to see Mount Kilimanjaro or visit the Serengeti.

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Kenya Customs and acceptable behavior

Kenya is a relatively liberal country and one does not need to worry about coming into conflict with the local customs and norms. Most people in Kenya are Christians but with a considerable Muslim population especially in the coastal towns of Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu.

More on Kenya Customs and Acceptable Behavior>>>

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Health and Immunizations Requirements

You are not required to be immunized to enter Kenya when coming directly from Europe or the US. However if you are traveling from a country where Yellow Fever is present you will need to prove you have been inoculated.

Several vaccinations are recommended when going to Kenya. They include: Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Diptheria, polio and tetanus vaccinations.

There's a high risk of catching malaria in Kenya due to the prevalence of Malaria carrying Mosquito. See a doctor to prescribe the right anti-malarial medication since Kenya has a certain type of chloroquine resistant malaria. You can also avoid catching malaria by wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts, using mosquito repellent and mosquito net at night.

Mosquito Net on Bed*

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Banking Services and Currency Conversion

Currency values, both international currency and the Kenyan Shilling change with time. Therefore it is best to check with a Currency Converter to determine the value of your money in Kenya.

The best way to carry money to Kenya is by Traveler's checks. When changing money, it is advisable to use banks and not the money changers.

Major credit cards are commonly accepted at the mainstream shops and hotels.

Kenya has a well developed Banking system and you will find it easy to access your money while in Kenya

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Maps Get the essential Maps of your destination to show you directions when you are lost. In Kenya, you can get maps of all the national parks and of major tourist towns like Nairobi, Mombasa and Malindi. Accommodation It is also essential to research the accommodation you will be getting. Kenya has a well developed tourist infrastructure and has great places to stay including safari lodges, cottages, bush homes & tented camps. Health and Emergency Services In case of a health emergency or Accident while on safari, I recommend that you sign up for the Flying Doctor Service of Africa which provides excellent emergency evacuation services from the nearest airstrip to the closest hospital. You can also Dial 999 to call the police or Ambulance. Safari Etiquette It is also essential to learn some of the accepted behavior when going on a safari in Kenya. Nothing special, only common sense approach to interacting with local people. Be courteous and friendly and you will find that Kenya people are very welcoming.

Avoid disturbing the Animals and also respect your guide. Smoking is not allowed in Kenya Game parks.

Transportation

Getting to Kenya by air is easy as there is excellent air travel to Kenya. You will get around by car, tour busses and vans and can also use Hot Air balloons to move around the parks.

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Safety Precautions

Kenya people are very friendly and hospitable. But due to a prevalent poverty, it may be dangerous walking in some areas especially at night and alone.

More on Safety Precautions >>>

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Best Times to Travel to Kenya

Try to avoid the rainy seasons (March to May) and (November to December) due to the impassable wet roads in Kenya

You will have better chance of seeing wild animals on dry season since they congregate around the waterholes for a drink.

If you want to see the annual wildebeest migration, you should go between mid-July to September.

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Content Copyright: Mwongera Kioga:

Images under Creative Commons Attribution Licence. * by Prince Roy