Updated 24 April 2024

If you have booked airport transfers with us, your Travel Affairs representative will greet you as you exit the Arrivals Hall. Look for the person holding a signboard with your name. Passengers cannot be met inside secured areas; this includes Immigration, Customs halls and Baggage Claim area. (Note: You can be met at the Baggage Claim area by special arrangement at an extra fee).

Note: The Government of Kenya has implemented a ban on plastic bags. The ban applies to “carrier and flat bags,” primarily targeting bags from shops and grocery stores, but also extending to duty-free bags and bubble wrap. Bags designed for multiple use, such as zippered cosmetic bags, are not included in the ban.

On departure our driver/guide will drop you at the parking bay where you will collect a trolley for your luggage before you cross over to your departure terminal.
On departure, please also be aware that large wooden carvings may not accepted by airlines as cabin baggage as they may not fit in the overhead cabin. Any wooden carvings purchased as souvenirs should be packed in your checked baggage, or packed separately as an additional luggage item.

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (note: not always working!).

Normal hotel/lodge/camp check-in time is 12 noon and check-out time is 10am. If you are arriving into Nairobi early morning and would like a room ready on arrival, we can book the room for you from the night before. If you have a night flight departure from Nairobi at the end of your safari, we can book you a day room to rest and freshen up before your flight.

It is often said that Kenya is a cold country with a hot sun, as the blend of high altitudes and tropical sun make for a unique and variable climate. This should be kept in mind when packing for your visit. Both temperatures and climate can vary drastically from region to region and even throughout a single day. Basically, you should come prepared for hot, cold, wet and dusty conditions.

You can exchange foreign money into Kenya Shillings at banks and forex bureau, which are located at the airports and in towns and cities. Credit cards are generally accepted in hotels/lodges/camps and in city shops. Banks are usually open from 0900hrs to 1500hrs but the ones at the airports are usually open 24hrs. The exchange rates fluctuate and may differ slightly from bank to bank and banks to forex bureau. You can also change money at hotels but expect a less favorable exchange rate. We recommend that you change some money initially on arrival at Nairobi airport. An approximate amount of USD 40-60 is required per day (depends of course on personal spending habits).

If you have a battery charger or other electrical items, bring your own converter/adapter if needed. The electricity supply is 240 Volt, 50 Hz with a square 3 pin 13 amps plug (UK style).

Important: note that some camps in the game parks may turn off their generators during the day and late at night (11pm – 6am), this means there will be no electricity at this time. Please recharge your phone/ camera at applicable times of the day.

Malaria – It is endemic in some parts of the country (Coast, Western Kenya, Samburu, etc) and therefore a course of Malaria medication should be taken as per the instructions from your home doctor. You should continue the medication after leaving the country.

Water – You are advised against drinking tap water. A safer alternative is bottled mineral water, which can easily be obtained at hotels/lodges or from supermarkets in town centers en route. Most hotels provide complimentary bottled water in the rooms.

Food – As do all countries Kenya has its own authentic cuisine. However, it also offers a wide choice of restaurants and foods from other countries of the world. Kenya has a large variety of tropical fruits all year round. Most hotels will cater for special dietary needs – do let us know so we can notify them in advance.

Hospitals – Nairobi and Mombasa, which are the major tour starting and finishing points, have several good specialized hospital facilities which can cater for international clients. Where emergency evacuation is required to Nairobi/Mombasa the Flying Doctors Service is at hand 24hours a day (Note: prior membership required, details available on request).

Sun – The amount of time spent in the sun should be limited as the tropical sun is strong. At coast the cool ocean breeze can often be deceptive. To avoid dehydration and sunburn you are encouraged to take in lots of fluids such as mineral water, juices, etc. and to apply high SPF sunscreen.

Most hotels and lodges have Wi-Fi connectivity that can be accessed in the rooms or public areas. Others have business centers where you can access the internet at a fee.
If you wish to use your own laptop, Ipad or smartphone, internet data bundles are available through local mobile service providers at affordable rates. We recommend Safaricom due to better coverage and faster speeds. For laptops, a Safaricom modem (cost approx. USD 25) can be purchased.

All internet bundles are available on pay-as-you-go (prepayment) basis. They can be purchased from the providers’ respective customer care outlets, including on arrival at JKIA airport.

Although there are over 40 different dialects spoken in Kenya, with Kiswahili being the national language, most people are able to communicate in English.

If you are traveling extensively throughout the country ensure that you bring suitable luggage that is able to withstand plenty of handling and dusty conditions. Note that on charter/scheduled flights to the game parks, baggage allowance is limited to 15kgs per person, ideally in soft bags.

Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance to cover any loss/damage to your luggage during your safari.

Cotton, linen dresses, light slacks, short-sleeved shirts are recommended. You will need a pullover/cardigan and a fleece /jacket as night and early morning game drives can be cold. Special safari clothes can be bought in local shops at reasonable prices (we can give you some suggestions if required). Animals see mostly in black and white so avoid those colours for day time clothing. Neutral tones of clothing from green, blue, khaki brown are recommended. Avoid bringing delicate clothing as most laundry on safari is done by hand

Comfortable footwear is important. We recommend trainers rather than actual hiking boots which are heavy. A pair of flip flops for cooling off in the heat of the day is an added advantage. Smart casual wear is generally accepted in most hotels and lodges for meals. Do not forget swimwear, sunglasses, hat or scarf for protection against sun and dust. Remember that the tropical sun is strong and burns skin quickly. Wide-brimmed hats are preferable to caps for sun protection. Both sunglasses and good quality sunscreen (rated SPF30 or higher) should be used.

Recommended Packing List

Clothing

  • Soft holdall type bag (not hard cases) and padlock
  • Shorts (for daytime)
  • Long sleeved shirt
  • Lightweight trousers – 3/4 length trousers
  • T-shirts
  • Long sleeved shirt for evening
  • Skirt/Trousers for evening
  • Warm jersey / Fleece
  • Lightweight jacket
  • Waterproof anorak
  • Comfortable Walking Shoes
  • Rafting shoes/ flip-flops
  • Sun hat / cap
  • Swimsuit
  • Shawl (for layering)

Miscellaneous

  • Malaria pills if travelling to a malaria prone area
  • Personal medication and mini first aid kit
  • Sun screen
  • Reading book/journal
  • Insect Repellent
  • Binoculars
  • Camera, Batteries and Memory Card
  • Head torch/torch
  • Sun glasses
  • Toiletries
  • Lip Balm
  • Hand sanitiser/Wet wipes
  • Day pack for camera, sunblock etc.
  • Zip lock bags for sunblock etc. to prevent spillage
  • Carry your passport in person as it will be required at check-in at the hotels and at all the parks you will be visiting
  • Protect your camera and lenses from dust
  • A good quality pair of binoculars is essential for game viewing. Please bring your own as most hotels do not provide them due to Covid protocols.
  • Carry a current map of the areas you are going to visit
  • Please be punctual for all departures and game drives so as to make maximum use of your safari time.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to keep from getting dehydrated
  • If you wish to spend more time viewing a particular animal during a game drive, please let your driver/guide know. They will do their best to accommodate your request within the park rules.
  • For client’s safety and in adherence of Traffic Laws, our driver/ guides are not allowed to exceed a speed of 80 KPH on the tarmac (main roads).
  • For any extra excursion or activities not included in the itinerary that you would want to purchase please contact your Tours Consultant (shown at the bottom of your itinerary) for arrangements.
  • It is illegal to own or carry government trophies (wildlife parts and products, seashells, etc).

Cell phone coverage is widespread and SIM cards and pay-as-you-go (pre-paid) top-up cards from the two main operators, Safaricom and Airtel, are inexpensive and widely available.

Please note that it is forbidden to photograph the presidential motorcade, state house, military installations, beggars in streets and the local people, especially the Maasai, without their consent. Your driver/guide can assist in this regard.

A camera with a good telephoto lens is ideal for wildlife photography. If you do not own one, there are some websites in the U.S. where you can rent one (borrowlenses.com, lensrental.com). You are advised to also take out appropriate rental insurance.

For security purposes, valuable possessions should be kept out of sight or better yet stored in the hotels/lodge’s safes. While walking in town avoid carrying around large amounts of cash or wearing jewellery. In case of going out of the hotel at night it is recommended that you use a taxi even for short distances. While on a beach holiday, beware of vendors selling souvenirs or offering low safari prices, as many tend to operate illegally or inefficiently. Many hotels have an area set aside for the beach vendors to operate from, to avoid them hassling tourists enjoying the beach.

All travel documentation should be kept together securely. This should include Tickets, Passports (with appropriate visa entries), Vaccination Certificates, and Travel Insurance.

Bargaining while shopping is a way of life in Kenya. Visitors may be hesitant to try it, but in the market place it is not only acceptable but also expected. However, malls and hotel shops generally have fixed prices so bargaining is not appreciated.

There is little variance in sunset and sunrise times, which are approximately 1840hrs and 0620hrs respectively. The time in Kenya is 3 hours ahead of GMT.

Our driver/guides are well experienced and knowledgeable. They have the special responsibility to look after the client. They take pride in their work and will do all they can to make your safari enjoyable and memorable. It is customary at the end of the safari to show appreciation by tipping your driver/guide. The guidelines for tipping are USD 8 – 10 per person per day (depending on the size of your party). For hotel staff a token of appreciation may also be extended depending on the service received. Some lodges/camps have a general tipping box (to be shared by all staff) at the reception. However, tipping is left to your discretion.

Remember to check your passport validity – should be valid for at least 6 months after your departure date from Kenya.

Kenya has replaced its eVisa system with an Electronic Travel Authorization system (eTA), which is now operational). All visitors including infants and children must have an approved eTA before the start of their journey.

Visitors should apply for the eTA via www.etakenya.go.ke and pay a processing fee of USD $34. Payment for the eTA is by credit card only.

All eTA applications should be submitted at least 3 days prior to travel, to ensure adequate time for authorisation. We suggest that families apply as a group (max 6 people). Citizens of the East African Partner States are currently exempt from eTA requirement.

If the application asks you to provide email and phone contacts in Kenya you can use [email protected] and +254 722 845500. Please be aware that eTAs are valid for 90 days after the date of approval, therefore do not apply for an eTA too far in advance.

Upon approval, save the eTA on your device and also print a hard copy to present to immigration on arrival in Kenya.

Note: The eTA allows re-entry into Kenya for up to three months after visiting other East Africa countries (i.e. Tanzania, Rwanda or Uganda) without having to apply again.

Also check that your vaccination booklet is up to date with the required vaccinations.

Footnote

Please remember that you are on safari in Africa, where matters can be unpredictable and sometimes things do go wrong. A spirit of adventure and a sense of humour are pre-requisites to an enjoyable trip here. But should anything go wrong, please rest assured that we will do our very best to rectify the situation.

For bookings and enquiries, contact:

Travel Affairs Ltd,
5th Floor, Wing B, Office Suites, 83 Parklands Road, PO Box 66278, Nairobi, 00800, Kenya
Office Cell: +254 722 854500 & +254 733 713998
Email: [email protected]