General Information and Travel Tips

Culture
There are more than 70 tribal groups among the Africans in Kenya. Differences between many of them are blurred - western cultural values are becoming more deep-seated and traditional values are disintegrating. There are many other tribes in Kenya; these include Kikuyu, Luhia, Luo and Kikamba as well as a plethora of minor tribal tongues.

Public Holidays

• New Year's Day - January 01
• Good Friday - varies
• Easter Monday - varies
• Labour Day - May 01
• Madaraka Day - June 01
• Moi Day - October 10
• Kenyatta Day - October 20
• Independence Day - December 12
• Christmas Day - December 25
• Boxing Day - December 26

Weather

• Summer: December to March
• Winter: July to August

Kenya is divided by the equator and enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and north-eastern parts of the country. The hottest time is in February and March and the coldest in July and August.

Average annual temperatures in the main areas:

• Mombasa (coastal): Max 30ºC, Min 22ºC
• Nairobi: Max 25ºC, Min 13ºC
• North Plains: Max 34ºC, Min 23ºC

The long rains occur from April to June and short rains from October to December. Rainfall is sometimes heavy and tends to fall in the afternoon and evenings.

What to Pack
Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. The most practical items to pack for safari are:

• Khaki, green, beige and neutral colours
• Blouses and shirts with long sleeves (even in summer, they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes)
• T shirts
• Shorts or a light skirt
• Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
• Some hotels and country clubs require gentlemen to wear a jacket and tie and women to be suitably attired for dinner
• A jacket and sweater are recommended for early morning and evening game drives
• Swimwear and beach apparel
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sun block, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, moisturiser and lip salve are all essentials
• Good quality, locally made clothing and shoes for safaris are available in Nairobi and Mombasa shops at reasonable prices.

If you are travelling with an organised safari, it is important to check what your weight limit is. Generally you will need to restrict your luggage to 10-12 kg (packed in a soft bag) plus a reasonable amount of camera equipment.

When to Visit
Kenya is a year round destination with excellent game viewing. One of Kenya's greatest attractions is the annual wildebeest migration between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This takes place between June and September. Traditional peak season is January to March as this is when the weather is hot and dry and most comfortable for travelling. This is a good time for bird viewing on the Rift Valley lakes. Game viewing at perennial water holes is also good at this time. April to June and October to December are less popular times for visiting Kenya as these are the rainy seasons and flooding often occurs. However, it is usually possible to get around easily during these times and the rains do not hinder visibility.

Entry requirements
Passport and visa
Vaccinations necessary

Times when Mount Kenya can be climbed
December to March; July and August
Some locations are off limits to children under the age of 8 or 10

Safety
Travel in Kenya is generally entirely safe, however, there are the occasional regional ethnic skirmishes. You are advised to remain informed as to the situation in areas to which you plan to travel, particularly remote parts and borders. Ugandan, Somalian and Sudanese shifta (bandits) rove their borders with Kenya. Violent cross-border attacks and cattle raids occur, so it is best to avoid the border regions. Border crossings into Somalia and Sudan are strongly discouraged. Petty crime and theft occurs in some of the urban areas, so be vigilant and keep valuables concealed. Security within the parks is quite good, but never leave possessions unattended. It is always better to travel in a large group.

Water
While water in major towns is chlorinated and relatively safe to drink, there are frequent breakdowns and this can lead to mild to serious abdominal upsets for first time African travellers. Rather stick to sealed bottled water, which is available from most hotels and lodges, and which is highly advised for the first few weeks of your stay. Do not use ice cubes or eat rare meat, raw seafood or dairy products. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors and only eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination.

Souvenirs
As in most African countries, there is a huge range of cheap souvenirs to be purchased along the roadside. These are handmade, but mass produced so always check the quality before buying. Materials include ebony, soapstone and ivory. Note that it is illegal to export products that contain any elements of elephant, rhino or sea turtle. Tribal souvenirs are available, including Maasai beaded jewellery, kiondos (woven sisal baskets) and natural or decorated calabashes (dried gourds). Bright sarongs (kangas or kikois) make good wearable souvenirs. If you are after quality artwork, it is probably wisest to look in galleries and shops that deal in it, rather than buying on the black market.

Few Swahili words:

• Jambo – Hello
• Hakuna Matata – no problem
• Karibu - welcome
• Kwaheri – goodbye
• Asante Sana – thanks
• Safari Njema – have a nice trip