Kenya – Facts and Travel Tips

General
Official Name: Republic of Kenya (Jamhuri ya Kenya)
Capital: Nairobi – population 2,14 m (1999 census)
Head of State: President Mwai Kibaki

National Currency
Kenyan Shilling. The shillling is freely exchangable.
Most major facilities accept major credit cards

Ethnic Groups
13 Ethnic groups, although there are a further 27 smaller groups. Most Kenyans belong to Bantu tribes such as the Kikuyu (22%), Luhya (14%) and Kamba (11%).
The Luo (13%) are of Nilotic origin, as are the smaller Kalenijn (12%), Maasai, Turkana and others.
Somalis and the nomadic Hamitic people (Turkana, Rendille and Samburu) live in the North; Kamba and Maasai people are concentrated in the South and Eastern lowlands; the Luo live around Lake Victoria; Asian,
European and Arab – 1%

.Languages
English and Swahili (official languages), KiSwahili is the lingua franca addition. Most tribes have their own language.
English is universally used in business, and spoken by most people in the tourist industry. Other languages are Gikuyu. Kiluhya, Dholuo, Kikamba, Maasai and Somali.

Religions
Christian – 66%;Indigenous belliefs – 26%;Muslims – 7%;
others – 1%.

Health
Anti-malarial prophylactics should be taken before, during and after your visit to Kenya, especially if you visit the Coast. Good medical facilities are available in the major cities.
Yellow Fever and Cholera are required only for visitors arriving from countries where these diseases are endemic. Check with your Embassy and/or local heath office for more details.
Membership with groups such as the Flying Doctors is also recommended. Best of Kenya includes Flying Doctor emergency evacuation coverage in all of our safaris, unless otherwise stated.
Hotels, camps and lodges should provide either bottled water, or filtered water for drinking.
Please do not drink the tap water!

Energy Provision
220 – 240 Volts AC. Plugs are the UK-type, round 2 pin, or flat 3 pin

Communications
Telephone, fax and some email services are available, though prone to difficulties. Most resorts, lodges and camps will have at least radio link with their primary offices. In the mayor cities on the coast, international direct dialling should be available, if a little costly

Clothing
Informal. lightweight clothing is recommended. Mornings and evenings can be cool at altitude, so bring a sweater or cardigan. A hat is highly recommended due to the sun. On the Kenya coast, ladies are expected to dress modestly in public. Nude or topless sunbathing is not only illegal, but also affects the sensibilities of the Muslim community.

Getting to Kenya
Kenya is well served by major international airlines, which fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi) or Moi International Airport (Mombasa). Mombasa is a popular charter destination from most major European cities.

Visa information
We strongly recommend you check with the nearest Kenya Embassy or Tourist Office to ensure you have the most up to date visa information.

Leaving Kenya
An airport departure tax of US$ 40 p.p., or its equivalent, is payable when leaving Kenya. This fee is often included in your international airfare, unless stated otherwise. Please check with your agent when purchasing your international tickets. A local departure tax of Kshs 200 (approx US$ 2,50) p.p., per flight is payable for internal flights.

More information

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