Kenya Safari Fact Sheet

COUNTRY SAFARI GUIDE

Kenya is situated on the equator alongside the Indian Ocean. It has four geographical regions. The northern terrain is arid desert, with savannah grassland in the southern regions. Along the coast and around the shores of Lake Victoria are fertile lowlands, and in the west are the highlands with the spectacular Rift Valley. Several extinct volcanoes can be found along the Rift, including Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. Kenya borders on Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, in the southwest. Lake Turkana in the north is Kenya's largest lake. The two main rivers are the Galana and the Tana both in the south.

GENERAL INFORMATION

FULL NAME:   Republic of Kenya
CAPITAL:    Nairobi
INDEPENDENCE:    12 December 1963
POPULATION:    36 million approximately
AREA:    580,367 square km
MAIN CROPS:    Coffee; tea; sisal; pyrethrum; maize; wheat; sugar; cane; flowers; forestry
MAIN INDUSTRIES:    Food processing; brewing; cement; tourism
MINERAL RESOURCES:    Soda ash; gold; copper; salt

CLIMATE
Kenya is a year-round destination with excellent game viewing. The annual wildebeest migration between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya takes place from around June to September. Kenya is divided by the equator and enjoys a tropical climate that varies greatly. Because of geographical diversity, temperatures, rainfall and humidity vary widely. It is very hot and humid in the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast of the country. The hottest periods are in February and March and coldest in July and August.

The long rains occur from April to June and the short rains from October to November. Rainfall is sometimes heavy and tends to fall in the late afternoon and evenings over higher altitude areas.

Kenya: Inland average temperature (Fahrenheit)

VISA REQUIREMENTS
All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. Depending on nationality and country of origin, a visa may be obtained on arrival at Nairobi airport. However, it is advisable to obtain visa in advance. Visas cost US $ 50 and usually valid for three months.

CURRENCY
The unit of currency is the Kenya Shilling.

CREDIT CARDS
Major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa Diners Club and American Express) are widely accepted. In addition to credit card, it is wise to being US dollars and traveller's cheques.

BANKS
National and international banks have branches in Nairobi and all major cities in the country.
Banking hours: Monday to Friday 0900 – 1500 hrs.

TIPPING
Most major hotels and restaurants include a service charge. Tipping is not obligatory and is entirely at your discretion. A gratuity of 10% is customary at restaurants and bars where a service charge is not included. Tipping to your driver/guide is included and, once again, is at your discretion; you could tip US $2.00 to $5.00 per person per day. Porters at airports, hotels and lodges may be tipped a US $1.00 per piece of baggage; this too is at your discretion.

COMMUNICATION
The international dialling code for calling Kenya is +254. The code of the capital city Nairobi is 20. Mobile phone coverage in Kenya is excellent. Robert Lee-Steere Safaris carries a worldwide satellite phone for 24-hour communication in remote areas. Most hotels have internet and facsimile services.

ELECTRICITY
Supplied at 220/240 volts AC, 50HZ

VACCINATION
Contact your local doctor for inoculation requirements for Kenya.

INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance, which includes curtailment and cancellation cover as well as medical cover, upon confirmation of your booking.

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
The national language is Kiswahili although English is spoken throughout. Kenyans involved in the tourism trade speak very good English.