Travel guide

• Subdued safari colours such as khaki, green, beige and neutral colours (dark blue and black clothing is not practical during game drives but can be worn at the lodges & camps)
• Shirts with long sleeves for a chilly evening and even in summer: as protection from the sun & mosquitoes  Golfshirt/T shirts
• Shorts or light skirts
• (Safari) trousers for evenings and cooler days
• A fleece or thick sweater is recommended for early morning and evening game drives
• Lightweight waterproof jacket
• Swim and beachwear (swimming is available at each of the lodges and camps).
• Comfortable walking shoes (running/tennis shoes are fine).
• Jackets or ties are not required nor any special dress code when dining in lodges & restaurants.
• We suggest that ladies do not wear shorts in cities, particularly in Muslim areas. The same applies for public areas on the coast of Kenya.
• Swimwear is fine on the beach or around the pool, but not appropriate in town. Topless sunbathing is prohibited.

• Sun block with high SPF. Hat, moisturizer and lip-salve are all essentials.
• Personal toiletries – all properties have their own range of complimentary shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion
• Malaria tablets if applicable – please seek advice from your physician or local travel clinic.
• Basic medical kit containing plasters, travel sickness tablets, anti-septic cream, anti-histamine cream, pain relieving tablets for headaches, indigestion tablets, eye drops, medication for upset stomachs, rehydrate sachets and after-sun moisturizer. If you have any allergies i.e. insect stings, or an asthma condition, please make sure you bring enough of your required medication with you.
• Strong insect repellent.

A good quality pair of sunglasses (tinted fashion glasses are not good in strong light)
If you wear contact lenses, bring enough solution & a pair of glasses in case your eyes get irritated.

• A good camera with zoom function. 300 mm lenses are adequate for wildlife photography.
• We recommend you bring plenty of memory cards/film and batteries.
• A dustproof bag ensures your camera is safe from the dust whilst on safari.
• A pair of binoculars will enhance your game viewing experience and although your guide will have pairs available to use, you may wish to bring your own. We recommend 8 x 40 as an appropriate specification.
• Please don’t forget to ask permission before taking a photograph of any East African resident. There could be a charge for this.
• A small flashlight – although flashlights are available at each of the lodges and camps.

Kenya has a generally comfortable tropical climate year-round, but there are significant regional variations. The coast is warm & humid and can feel sticky throughout the rains. These rains throughout Kenya are ‘the long rains’ from the end of March to end of May and ‘the short rains’ from October to the beginning of December. Amboseli is located at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro and has a dry but temperate climate, cool in the morning and evening and warm during the day. Meru National Park enjoys a more arid and warm climate. The coolest months in Kenya are from June to August and the warmest are from December to March.

The local currency is the Kenyan Shilling. You can either change money at a Bureau de Change or bank which you will find at the major airports & towns. ATMs are available there too but note that you can only draw Kenyan Shillings. Alternatively you can change money at Hemingways on arrival.

US Dollars are widely accepted in sites frequented by tourists. We advise our guests to take spending money in the form of US Dollars cash, bring some small denominations too for tipping purposes. Note that USD bills must be newer than 2009.

Most nationalities can obtain their Kenyan visa upon arrival at a fee. Make sure you bring US Dollars in cash in US $20 and US $50 bills to pay for your visa. However, some Kenyan Embassies recommend that you obtain your visa before arrival. When applying for your visa in your home country you might be asked for means of financial support, please fill in “Pre- arranged by UK/US (or any other country) Operator.” Occasionally there are long queues at Immigration upon arrival so obtaining a visa beforehand might speed up your entry into Kenya. Note that obtaining the correct visa is every traveler’s own responsibility so we advise you strongly to check with your local Kenya Embassy for the latest regulations before arriving in Kenya.

Please note that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your departure from Kenya. You need at least 4 unused consecutive blank pages.

We recommend making copies of all important travel documents. Should you lose a travel document, a copy will speed up the process of acquiring a replacement document. Leave one copy at home and put one copy in your main luggage.

If you are flying from mainland Kenya to Zanzibar, you may need to acquire a Tanzanian visa. This can be done before hand through the Tanzanian Embassy in your respective country, or at the airport on arrival in Zanzibar.

Note that in the past every traveler had to pay USD 20 departure tax when flying out of Zanzibar International Airport. This is NO LONGER necessary, all departure taxes are now included in your ticket.

We advise against drinking water from the faucets whilst in Kenya/Zanzibar. Mineral water is available in all shops & restaurants and in all lodges and vehicles. We recommend that you use mineral water too for brushing teeth. Life on safari can be tiring from time to time. A different climate, different food & water could lead to dehydration. From the day you set foot in Africa we would suggest that you drink more water than you are used to.

The sun close to the equator is strong so please wear a hat & apply sunscreen frequently.

Note that it is not obligatory to show a Yellow Fever Certificate upon entering Kenya. However, should your onward travel from Kenya include countries that require a Yellow Fever Certificate to be shown, then it is essential that you get vaccinated. For example, if you are travelling onwards to Tanzania, or elsewhere (Australia, South Africa, etc) from Kenya it is obligatory to have a Yellow Fever vaccination. If you can not have the Yellow Fever Vaccination for medical reasons, ensure that you carry a signed letter from your medical practitioner with you upon entering the country. It is every traveller’s own responsibility to obtain the correct vaccinations which will allow you entry into Kenya – please check with your local travel clinic or physician for up-to-date advice.

Please consult your physician or local travel clinic for an up-to-date list of required vaccinations for travelling to remote places in Kenya.

Please check with your local travel clinic or physician what the latest requirements are for travelling in a malaria area. It’s best to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes which are at their most active during dusk and dawn. Cover up during those periods and apply mosquito repellent liberally. Do not forget your ankles.

If, despite taking recommended drugs, you feel unwell and feverish, seek medical advice.

Medical Evacuation insurance is included in all safaris. Note that this insurance is not a complete Travel Insurance, it only covers medical evacuation in case of a medical emergency. It is a booking condition that all our guests have valid Travel Insurance, please check that you are covered for medical emergencies, curtailment of your trip due to unforeseen circumstances & loss of belongings. Ensure proper insurance for your camera/video equipment.

Electricity in Kenya is 240 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are UK Standard plugs (rectangular 3-pin). All properties have adaptors for your use in each room. The Lodges run on either generator or solar power which allows for 24-hour electricity. However, please note that these systems are often not able to support the use of a hairdryer or hair straighteners etc.

All properties have free Wifi internet access in the communal areas of the lodge. There are some restrictions to the speed in some areas but the download capacity is more than capable of managing email and social media access. The mobile phone network in Kenya is extensive but in more remote areas, where you are on safari there is likely to be a weak signal.

We often get asked ‘what should we tip?’ The simple answer is that you should tip as you wish, with no obligation whatsoever. What we do say is that tipping is very much welcomed and is normal here in Africa, and our staff very much appreciate any extra contributions. Once again we say that you should only tip as a reward for excellent service.
It is customary in Kenya to tip 10% of your bill & 10% of the taxi fare to taxi drivers. It is also the custom to tip local guides for excellent service.

• US$1 – Porterage
• US$1 – Housekeeping
• US$5-10 per person per day for general staff  US$8-10 per person per day for guides

So if there are 3 of you travelling together, we would suggest tipping your guide between US$ 24-30 in total per day.

Each property has a ‘tipping box’ for a discrete contribution to your camp, lodge or hotel staff. Any staff member more deserving for excellent service may be tipped individually/separately and as for tipping your driver guide, we suggest that this is done separately.

Please note that all wild animals can be dangerous and you should not wander off on your own whilst on safari. After dark you will be escorted to your room, please do not walk alone. Always listen to your guide and follow instructions carefully. No animal is tame and must at all times be treated with respect and not approached unless with an authorized professional guide.

Kiswahili otherwise known as Swahili is the ‘lingua franca’ of East Africa, including Zanzibar. English is widely spoken in Kenya, particularly in tourist centers, lodges and main cities.