Kenya Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
The complete Kenya travel guide - Kenya
holidays & Kenya flights.
Top destination guides for Kenya
holidays;
Nairobi Holidays
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Kenya Holidays
and Travel Overview
Kenya is the 'Land of the Lion King'
and sits at the centre of the African safari experience, with an
outstanding variety of wild animals and Big Five viewing
opportunities. Although safaris are its greatest attraction, it is
a country of great diversity with much more to offer than splendid
wildlife. Essentially it is a place for outdoor living - the coast
offers beaches and water-based activities, the mountains present a
challenge to hikers and climbers, and the rolling savannahs are a
game-viewers paradise. 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 civilisations and old
port towns that are rich in a history of exotic spice trading and
fighting. Kenya has a sophisticated tourism
infrastructure, with two major cities controlling the majority of
the tourism trade. Nairobi, the capital, is the safari and hiking
hub, situated in the cool Central Highlands, while on the east
coast the hot and humid trading port of Mombasa functions as the
gateway to the resorts and pristine beaches of the area. Sadly the
heavy influence of tourism has meant excessive prices for safaris,
souvenirs and most activities of interest to foreigners, as well as
the constant hassle by touts, guides and sellers to part with as
much money as they can dupe the guilty traveller into
spending. Despite this, the people are friendly
and visitors can choose to do as little or as much as they like,
and the combination of wildlife, together with its beaches and
mountains, make Kenya a fantastic holiday
destination.
Tourist Offices - Kenyan Tourist Board: +254 (0)20 271 1262
or www.magicalkenya.com
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Entry Requirements
for Kenya Holidays & Kenya Travel
Visas can be obtained on arrival for a fee
of US$50, which must be paid in convertible currency, although this
may result in passenger delays and it is preferable to arrange the
visa in the country of origin. The visa is valid for a period of 3
months. An onward or return ticket and documents for next
destination are required by all visitors, as well as sufficient
funds for length of intended stay (at least US$500). Passports must
be valid for at least the period of stay.
- For Australians -
Australians require a valid passport and a
visa.
- New Zealand citizens require a valid passport and a
visa.
- United States citizens require a valid passport and a
visa.
- United States citizens require a valid passport and a
visa.
- British citizens require a valid passport and a
visa.
Currency of Kenya
The unit of currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES),
divided into 100 cents. It is not advisable to take Kenyan
Shillings out of the country as they are difficult to exchange
elsewhere. Travellers cheques in Sterling or US Dollars are
recommended for your trip to Kenya. US Dollars in particular have
become commonly used in many of the country's main hotels and
safari lodges. Foreign currency can be changed at banks, bureaux de
change and hotels; easiest to exchange are US dollars, pounds
sterling or Euros. Street exchange merchants should be avoided as
they are operating illegally. Banks open Monday to Friday from 9am
to 3pm and on the first and last Saturday of the month. Banks and
bureaux de change at the international airport stay open 24 hours.
Credit Cards (American Express, Visa and MasterCard) are accepted
in the larger hotels and stores, and some camps and lodges. ATMs
are widely available in Nairobi and the major
towns.
Kenya
Telephone Access Codes and 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 dialling 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. Hotels
usually add a hefty surcharge to their telephone bills; it is less
expensive to either call from one of the international phone
services, which are available in larger towns or buy a pre-paid
calling card for use in the public telephone booths. For
international operator-assisted calls call 0196. All major urban
areas are covered by the mobile network; the local mobile phone
operators use GSM networks that have roaming agreements with most
international mobile phone operators. Internet cafes are widely
available in most towns and tourist
areas.
Kenya
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to Kenya over 16 years do not have
to pay duty on 227g tobacco or 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars; 1
bottle of alcohol; and 473ml perfume. Prohibited items include
fruit, imitation firearms, and children's toys pistols. No plants
may be brought into the country without a Plant Import Permit
(PIP).
Kenya
Holidays - Tipping Information
Tipping is not customary in Kenya, however a 10%
service charge may be added to bill in more upmarket restaurants.
Otherwise small change in local currency may be offered to taxi
drivers, porters and waiters. On safari, however, drivers, guides
and cooks often rely heavily on tips to get by, but these are
discretionary.
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