Kenya

Kenya At A Glance

Kenya is wildlife, culture and the cradle of mankind - a natural paradise and land of contrasts, with world famous national parks like the Masai Mara, Samburu, Amboseli, Tsavo and Mt Kenya. Kenya has enchanted travellers for centuries with the allure of wildlife, spectacular scenery and exotic tribes, and today is one of the finest safari destinations in Africa.

Kenya's wildlife regions are the magnet, which lure safari enthusiasts to East Africa, but the white sandy beaches and tropical palms of the Swahili coast is another good reason to choose this hospitable, friendly country as a vacation destination.

There are many different ways to experience Kenya. Whether you want to view a pride of lions from a 4X4 safari vehicle, walk through herds of plains game, watch a herd of elephants from the comfortable veranda of your safari lodge, track game on horseback or search for birds in a thick rainforest, the possibilities are endless.

Full Country Name	Republic of Kenya
Area	582,650 sq km
Population	36 million approximately
Capital and largest city	Nairobi
Religion	Christian, Animist, Muslim
Time Zone	Standard time is three hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time
Languages	English and Swahili are the official languages and are taught in schools throughout the country. However, there are many other tribal languages including Kikuyu, Luhia, Luo and Kikamba as well as many minor tribal languages
Country Dialling Code	+254

Climate

Due to the proximity of the Equator, Kenya experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. The hotter months are from October through to March with temperatures ranging in the mid to high 20's. At the coast daytime temperatures will be approximately 5 degrees higher year round with an increase in humidity. There are two rainy seasons - the long rains in April to May and the short rains in October to December.

In general, there are four distinct seasons:

Warm-dry season - from January to late March

This season is not devoid of rainfall with Nairobi averaging some 80 mm per month with extremes of up to 250 mm. However the average number of rain days in January and February is only 5 days per month. Nairobi is significantly cool and dry with minimum and maximum temperatures of 12°C and 25°C respectively with a mid-day relative humidity of only 46%.

Long rainy season - late March to early June

During this season, rainfall amounts are high but it is frequently warm and sunny for part of the day and often, it may not rain at all for two or three days at a time. Nairobi average rainfall peaks at 211 mm in April although more than double this has been recorded with maximum 24 hr falls around 76 mm.

Cool dry season - mid June to early October

As the southeast monsoon sets in the rains give way to the driest season. Low-level moisture however ensures there is a lot of cloud and often, in Nairobi, the sun may not be seen for days. In contrast the nights are clear. Nairobi's mean maximum temperature is reduced to 21°C and minimum to 10°C.

Short rainy season - mid-October to mid-December

In Nairobi, November's rainfall of 167 mm is only exceeded by that of April and May although sunshine averages 7 hours a day compared with the 4 hours that accompany the dry months of June, July and August. Prior to the short rains, in September and early October, there is an abrupt change to warmer sunnier weather.

Customs

Generally, personal effects such as cameras, laptop computers and film may be imported temporarily free of duty into Kenya and Tanzania. However, a customs bond may be required for professional video equipment, sound recording instruments, radio communication equipment, musical instruments and souvenirs from other countries. This is to ensure that goods can be re-exported. Excess baggage is strictly monitored by all airlines and charges for excess weight can be very high. Expect customs officials to inspect baggage on arrival and departure.

Free import by persons over 16 years:
1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
2. 1 bottle of alcoholic beverage or 1 bottle of wine
3. 500 of perfume
Prohibited: Toys, firearms, fruit, plants, seeds.

Currency

Local currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling. There is no restriction to the amount of foreign currency a visitor may import or export although amounts equivalent to USD5000 must be declared. Visitors to Kenya should change foreign currency at banks, bureau de change or authorised hotels. The easiest currencies to exchange are US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euro. It is recommended to carry some cash in US$ in small denominations.

Travellers Cheques:

US dollars traveller's cheques are the most readily accepted, with American Express and Thomas Cook being the most recognised.

Credit Cards:

Visa is the most commonly accepted credit card in Africa. The larger establishments also accept American Express & Master Card. Please note Diners Club is not accepted in most establishments. Most banks in Kenya are equipped to advance cash on credit cards. However, credit cards should not be relied upon as a main source of funds as there are many places where cards cannot be used, especially in the more remote Lodges.

Sample Price Guide:

Mineral water USD$2 Supermarket bottle of beer: USD$1 Top end hotel bottle of beer USD$2.50-3.00 Budget Meal: USD$1-7 Restaurant Meal: USD$15-35

Health

Malaria is endemic in certain areas of East Africa and all visitors should take precautions against Malaria. Anti-malaria medication should be taken according to physician recommendations. The Yellow Fever Vaccination is recommended for travellers to Kenya, as Australian customs might request the Certificate for re-enter into the country. Please check with your doctor or Traveller's Medical & Vaccination Centre as they will determine what is needed.

Passport

Your passport must have a validity of at least 6 months beyond your stay.

Visa information

Visas are required by Australian passport holders. They can be obtained on arrival at a cost of:

Single Entry Visa:

US$25 per person (Children under 12 years have free entry)

Multiple Entry Visa:

Please note that if you are travelling within East Africa (Tanzania, Zanzibar or Uganda) you can request free re-entry into Kenya. You will however be required to pay the normal visa charges for the other countries but may re-enter Kenya freely.

Transit Visa:

Required by all persons intending to transit trough Kenya for periods not exceeding seven days. The transit visa fee is USD $20 per person