Useful tips for residents and visitors to Kenya

On arrival Jomo Kenyatta  International Airport, the airport is about half an hour’s drive from Nairobi city center.  Taxis are readily available, but establish the fare before getting in to one. Other taxis work on a fixed rate using reliable and clean vehicles, as do the black London Style cabs.Moi International Airport, Mombasa.  The airport is about 10 minutes from the city center. Allow an extra half an hour for your journey to the south coast because of the ferry crossing.

Visas.  Most visitors to Kenya require a visa.  Multiple and single entry visas are available.  Applications can be made at any Kenya High Commissioner or Embassy prior to traveling.  The single entry visa (obtainable upon arrival) is US$50 (correct at time of printing) or the equivalent in local currency.\r\n\r\nLost luggage.  Visit the lost luggage desk in the baggage hall before going through customs.

GETTING AROUND

Self – drive.

Most international car hire companies operate in Kenya (with offices at the airport).  Vehicles travel on the left – hand side of the road and most cars are right – hand drive.  A current driving license with photograph is accepted for up to a three month’s stay.

Public transport.  City buses operate at reasonable low rates.  Fares are paid to the conductor.  Matatus – private minibuses – are abundant but usually overcrowded.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Post office.  Open 8am – 5 pm weekdays, 9am – 12 pm on Saturdays.

Telephone services. Public pay phones (card and coin) are automated.  Phone cards may be bought from post offices or international call offices.  International calls can be dialed direct (code 000) or operator assisted. (dial 0195/6)

Mobile phones.
Use either safaricom or celtel.  All major urban areas and many coastal regions have reception.  Pay As You Go SIM cards are readily available.

Internet. Internet cafes are increasingly common.  Emails can also be sent from most hotels, as can faxes for business people if you have a blackberry or a 3 G phone getting online is possible through the many mobile service providers including safaricom which charges per download.

MONEY MATTERS

Currency.  Kenya currency shilling (ksh.) currently around Kshs. 75.45 per US$.

Currency regulations. There are no restrictions on the movement of currency into or out of Kenya for currency transactions.

Banking.  Foreign currency can be changed at banks, foreign currency bureaux or hotels.  Banks are open from 9 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am – 11 am on the first and last Saturday of each month. Bank in coastal towns open and close half an hour earlier.  Some airport banks stay open 24/7.

ATM. 24 hours access to your account can be found at most ATMs countrywide.  Most accept international VISA cards.

Credit Cards. All major international cards are accepted in most hotels and shopping malls in Kenya.

Travellers cheques.  TCs are accepted at most banks bureaux and hotels.

Hotel Bill Payment.  This can usually be paid in shillings or convertible foreign currency.

YOUR WELL BEING

Emergency services.  911

Hospital. Nairobi and Mombasa have good hospitals offering a causally services.

Medical expenses. Even with insurance cover, consultations and treatment will have to be paid for and the cost claimed back later.

GENERAL

Voltage. All regions in Kenya are supplied with 240 volts AC.  The plug in use throughout Kenya is of the three square – pin, 13 amp type.

Security. It is a sensible precaution not to walk alone in isolated towns or beach areas.  Particularly after dark.  Use common sense to prevent opportunistic theft.

Tipping.
Tipping is appreciated.  Most hotels and restaurants include a 10% service charge.

Water. The water in most city hotels is usually safe for drinking.  However, if in doubt, bottled water is available.  Most safari lodges provide filtered water.  Water is precious; your help in using it sparingly is appreciated.

Bargaining

For most people especially from developed countries, bargaining is not something they are used to. I mean think about it?

How often do you walk into Wal-Mart and bargain for your shopping? The closest most people get to bargaining these days in eBay.
In Africa bargaining is a way of life and in fact for most small scale sellers selling their wares. It is something you will come to find in your Africa travel. This is a common practice of starting high expecting the buyer to bargain with you.

Bargaining therefore is an important skill to learn, since every time you pay that ‘special’ price you are not only getting a bad deal, but you are also making things more expensive for tourists after you who will find it harder to bring down inflated prices.

Bargaining when done properly can be a lot of fun!

Just remember that when you are bargaining you are not begging the seller to sell it to you at a lower price you are simply saying that the item is not worth the price quoted.

The golden rule to remember is NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL.

Also

Know your limit – If you have an idea how much an item costs before hand it will usually help because then you can offer to buy the item at the standard market price. A little research by asking locals would help. In most places you as a tourist will be expected to pay higher but even so there are prices that locals will often find a fair price for you as a tourist.

Dress and Act as a Local – The longer you spend in a place the more you wise up to what is a rip off and what is not. Also if you can master a few words in the local language you may be surprised how useful it can be when bargaining. Words like ‘Hello’ and ‘too expensive’ when said in the local language goes a long way not only to impress but also create the impression that you know your stuff. The less you behave and look like a tourist the easier it will be for you to get a decent price for the goods you are buying.(Avoid those safari clothing and hats that locals may find silly or even swimming costumes and bikinis )

Indifference - This perhaps combined with a little charm (and skill ) could get you just about anything. If the seller knows you are hooked onto something it becomes very difficult to bring the price of the item down. If you like it don’t show it.

Bluff - Some of the best bargainers are also the best at bluffing. If the price is high and the seller won’t go down and you know the standard price of an item you can bluff by telling the seller that you know a place where you can get it for, then quote the standard price or even cheaper. Another thing you can do is, thank the seller for his time, get up and start walking away. Most times than not if you have offered a reasonable price for the item, the seller will sell you the item at that price.
Should it not work or should the item be unique then you can always return the next day.

Buy Bulk – Striking a good deal is often easier when you are buying a lot.

Show me the money! - No one wants to leave cash. It’s easier for a seller to assume that you were not going to buy it anyway when you walk away than it is to see you walk away with money, especially if you were offering to buy at a considerable price.

Responsible tourism- Eco tourism

An African beach holiday/vacation can do more bad than good to the environment and the locals. As with anything when profits come before anything else including the environment then it is easy to see how some places that have been created as tourist areas can do more damage to the environment than good.

For starters some African governments have been selling prime beachside locations to foreigners, sometime displacing the communities nearby and other time affecting even their livelihoods by making some beaches exclusive. In some areas of Africa virtually all the infrastructure is foreign owned from the shopping centres to the restaurants, hotels and curio shops. Read more

Africa Heat Sun and Humidity

If you are like most people who visit Africa you are probably considering Africa because of the warm climate and sunshine. But just like anything else too much sunshine can have ill effects on you especially if you are from those sunshine challenged climes.

So remember to keep your self hydrated especially when you are running around on that heat, don’t over stretch your body by taking part in extreme physical activities that your body isn’t accustomed to and get enough rest your body needs it.

Sunburn

As tempting as it may be to just enjoy the sunshine once you actually arrive in Africa do not overdose on sunshine. The English love to do this. The problem is that this can have some effects on your system. If its a tan you are looking for then you might be glad to note that just 20-30 minutes of sunbathing a day in the mornings or evening for about a week on the African sun is enough for a tan you can show off when you get back home.

Use high factor sunblock and wear a hat and sunglasses. The Germans seem to know how to protect their feet because they tend to wear socks with their sandals.

Sun burns easily occur When swimming or snorkeling because most sunblocks do wash off depending on the time you spend on the water even the so called waterproof ones.

If you care enough about the coral to avoid wearing sun screen around the reefs because coral are living things, wear a T shirt and light trousers. Aloe vera, yoghurt, and calamine lotion can been used to alleviate sunburn.