Travel Tips

Accommodation and Meals on Safari

Lodges

Viewing wildlife in masai maraRooms are singles, doubles, triples and suites. Lodge facilities include lounge bars with log fires, dinning rooms and viewing platforms. Most lodges have outdoor swimming pools.

Tented Camps

Range from simple to luxurious camps which provide spacious twin-beds with mosquito netting, private, bathrooms and verandas. Camps also include restaurants, bar and lounge facilities.

Meals

On safari, meals are provided on a fullboard basis. There is a full English breakfast. Lunch is often buffet style, set out with salads, cold and hot starters and hot main dishes. Dinner is 3-5 courses with a combination of dishes.

Banks

Banking hours are from 0900hrs to 1500hrs Monday to Friday. Most hotels and lodges change money outside these hours.

Age Restrictions

Children under 8yrs of age are not allowed at the tree hotels. Due to close contact with the animals at the water holes and salt licks , it is important not to scare them away.

Security

Kenya is generally a safe country, but as in any major cities, security precautions must be taken. Use safe deposit boxes in hotels, carry only small amounts of cash and do not wear much jewelery in town. Avoid walking at night and preferably use taxis. Kenya has gone a step further in establishing the Tourist Police Unit which specifically cater for the welfare of all tourists.

Passports

You need to ensure you have a full passport that is valid for at least the full duration of your trip but 3 months. If you are visiting many different countries, you should must ensure that you have plenty of clear pages.

It is a good idea to take a photocopy of your passport and either keep it with a friend/family member at home who you can easily contact or, if you will be accessing your email whilst away - email a copy to yourself.

Visas

Governments regularly change the requirements - so it is best to check with your local embassy/consulate what the requirements are, whether you can obtain them at your point of entry or whether you need to obtain them in advance. If in advance, allow yourself plenty of time or processing. You should also be aware of what kind of visas are available, whether you require multiple entry.

Vaccinations/Medical

For travellers aged one year & above and coming from high risk areas (i.e. along the tropics 20 deg N and 10 deg S), a certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever is the only requirement. Visitors from the rest of the globe are not affected by this requirement.

Before you embark on your trip, remember to consult your local physician for help on any other vaccinations.

In order to reduce the chances of infection with malaria, visitors are advised to:

• Take anti-malarial drugs before, during and after the trip
• Apply mosquito repellent creams
• Wear cover-up clothing during evenings or
• Sleep under treated mosquito nets

 

Clean drinking water is readily available in most accommodation facilities like hotels and lodges. However, if in doubt, one should only take bottled mineral water which is also available in a majority of hotels and retail stores

Travel Insurance

Mombasa BeachIt is advisable to always ensure you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your home country against personal accident, medical attendance, baggage and other valuables.

If you need medical care whilst in Africa, it is best to be aware that medical providers do not accept payment through your insurance company. In these circumstances you will have to pay in full after your treatment and file a claim with your insurance company for reimbursement. Therefore you should have access to cash, either from a credit card or by wire transfer. If you need assistance contact the country's local embassy or representative. To be compensated you must be treated by licensed medical personnel and provide your insurance company with proper documentation and receipts.

Travellers Cheques:

Travellers cheque are the safest way to carry money - if lost, you can always get them refunded provided you have a clear log on the ones that have been cashed, when and where. The best travellers cheques to take are Barclays Bank, Thomas Cook and American Express.

There are some downfalls with only taking travellers cheques:

You may not be in an area where these can easily be exchanged. In some more remote places it can take hours if at all.

You do not have the same bargaining power as US Dollar (or Pounds Sterling) cash will have.

You may have to pay high commission rates - these can vary from bank to bank depending on the type of travellers cheque.

Take probably about 60% + of your funds in Travellers Cheques.

Definitely ensure that you take some cash - the currency depends on the region you are visiting

Take a fair amount of small as well as big denomination US Dollars with notes dated after the year 2000

Credit/Debit Cards are also important especially Visa cards branded ones , Mastercard etc.