The country sits astride the equator and offers fabulous scenery and a variety of tribal cultures. From its central location, the sacred peaks of Mt Kenya reign over a landscape primarily covered by grasslands and thorn trees, much of it enclosed within its many parks and reserves. To the west the spectacular Great Rift Valley is sprinkled with lakes teeming with a variety of birdlife, whose shores and surrounds are traversed by agricultural farmlands. To the east lies the promise of an idyllic beach holiday with the requisite white palm-fringed beaches and pristine coral reefs. Inhabiting the highlands and Rift Valley are two of the most well known of the numerous tribal cultures, the Kikuyu farmers and the tall, red-clad Masai cattle herders. The coast is home to ancient Swahili civilizations and old port towns that are rich in a history of exotic spice trading and fighting.
The Basics
Time:
Local time is GMT +3.
Electricity:
240 volts, 50Hz. UK-style square three-pin plugs are used.
Language:
English is the official language but Swahili is the national language, with 42 ethnic languages spoken.
Health:
Travelers should get the latest medical advice on inoculations and malaria prevention at least three weeks prior to departure. A malaria risk exists all year round, but more around Mombasa and the lower coastal areas than in Nairobi and on the high central plateau. Immunization against yellow fever, polio and typhoid are usually recommended. A yellow fever certificate is required by anyone arriving from an infected area. Other risks include diarrhea diseases. Protection against bites from sandflies, mosquitoes and tsetse flies is the best prevention against malaria and dengue fever, as well as other insect-borne diseases, including Rift Valley fever, sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis and Chikungunya fever.
Customs:
The taking of photographs of official buildings and embassies is not advised and could lead to detention. It is illegal to destroy Kenyan currency. The coastal towns are predominantly Muslim and religious customs and sensitivities should be respected, particularly during Ramadan; dress should be conservative away from the beaches and resorts, particularly for women. Homosexuality is against the law. Smoking in public places is illegal, other than in designated smoking areas, and violators will be fined or imprisoned.
Communications:
The international access code for Kenya is +254. The outgoing code is 000 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00027 for South Africa), unless dialing Tanzania or Uganda when the outgoing codes are 007 or 006 respectively. City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)41 for Mombasa and (0)20 for Nairobi. International Direct Dial is available throughout most of the country, but the service is expensive and inefficient.
Contacts
Visa Agencies
Travel Visa Pro, San Francisco, USA. 1-888-470-8472 or www.TravelVisaPro.com
Tourism
Kenyan Tourist Board: +254 (0)20 271 1262 or www.magicalkenya.com
Kenya Embassies
Kenyan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 387 6101.
Kenyan High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7636 2371.
Kenyan High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 563 1773.
Kenyan High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6247 4788.
Kenyan High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 362 2249/50/51.
Foreign Embassies in Kenya
United States Embassy, Nairobi: +254 (0)20 363 6000.
British High Commission, Nairobi: +254 (0)20 284 4000.
Canadian High Commission, Nairobi: +254 (0)20 366 3000.
Australian High Commission, Nairobi: +254 (0)20 444 5034/9.
South African High Commission, Nairobi: +254 (0)20 282 7100.
Honorary Consul of Ireland, Nairobi: +254 (0)20 556 647.
New Zealand Consulate, Nairobi: +254 (0)20 271 2466.
Kenya Emergency Numbers
Emergencies:
Airports
Moi International Airport (MBA)
Location: The airport is situated six miles (10km) north west of Mombasa.
Time: GMT +3.
Contacts: Tel: +254 (0)41 433 211.
Facilities: Facilities at the airport are fairly limited by international standards but include left luggage, disabled facilities, first aid, banks, a bureau de change, bars, a restaurant, duty-free, a post office, curio shops, tourist information and hotel reservations.
Departure Tax: US$20, but this is usually included in the ticket price.
Website: www.kenyaairports.co.ke
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
Location: The airport is situated 10 miles (16km) south east of Nairobi.
Time: GMT +3
Contacts: Tel: +254 (0)20 822 111
Transfer to the city: The KBS bus service 34 leaves fairly regularly for the city center; most travelers however take a taxi or arrange to be picked up by their hotel or tour operator. The Mercedes taxis take passengers to the central city hotels for a fixed fare.
Facilities: The facilities at the airport are fairly limited, but include a bank and bureau de change, left luggage, telephones and fax, medical aid, a bar and restaurant, duty-free shops selling curios, a post office, tourist information and hotel reservations. There are disabled facilities, but passengers should advise their airline in advance of any special needs.
Departure Tax: US$20, but this is usually included in the ticket price.
Website: www.kenyaairports.co.ke
Climate
Situated at a high altitude, Nairobi has a moderate climate. The summer months are sunny and warm without blistering temperatures, while winters are mild to cool, with very chilly evenings. Rainfall is also moderate, the wettest part of the year being late summer to autumn, when cloudy, drizzly days are common.
Passport & Visa
Visa Agencies:
Avoid the stress and queues, get a visa agency to arrange your visa.
Travel Visa Pro, San Francisco, USA. 1-888-470-8472 or www.TravelVisaPro.com
Global Visas, London, UK. 0207 190 3903 or www.globalvisas.com
Entry requirements for Americans: United States citizens require a valid passport and a visa.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens require a valid passport and a visa.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians require a valid passport and a visa.
Entry requirements for Australians:
Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans must have a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand citizens require a valid passport and a visa.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport and a visa.
Passport/Visa Note: Visas can be obtained by most nationalities on arrival for a fee of US$50, which is valid for a period of three months and must be paid in a convertible currency. This may result in passenger delays and it is preferable to arrange a visa in the country of origin. Required by all passengers are onward or return tickets, documents needed for next destination and sufficient funds for length of intended stay (at least US$500). Passports must be valid for at least the period of stay.
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travelers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.
1001 Dell Lane Suite B, Wyncote, PA 19095, USA Volunteer Abroad Project
Tel: 1-215-780-1845 / Toll Free: 1-866-423-3258 / Fax: 1-215-887-0915
volunteers@abroaderview.org - www.abroaderview.org - info@abroaderview.org
.
