KENYA – GENERAL INFORMATION
K E N Y A
GENERAL INFORMATION
02/01/2025
GEOGRAPHY
Kenya shares borders with Ethiopia in the
north, Sudan in the north-west, Uganda in the west, Tanzania in the south, and
Somalia in the northeast. To the east lies the
Credit:
Central Intelligence Agency
HISTORY
The Kenyan coast had hosted communities
of subsistence-farmers, hunters and fishers who supported the economy with
agriculture, fishing, metal production and trade with foreign powers. These
communities formed the earliest cities.
The Romans knew the area as Azania.
Later during the 15th century, the Portuguese establish
new trade routes along the coast on their way to India becoming the first
Europeans to explore the region of current-day Kenya.
After Arab and Omani influence and rule the British
government took over in 1895 and claimed the interior as far west as Lake
Naivasha. They established the East Africa Protectorate which later became a
Crown Colony.
More recently, founding president and
liberation struggle icon Jomo Kenyatta led Kenya from independence (1964) until
his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi took power in a
constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969
until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the
sole legal party in Kenya. Moi acceded to internal and external pressure for
political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition
failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were
marred by violence and fraud, but are viewed as having generally reflected the
will of the Kenyan people. President Moi stepped down in December of 2002
following fair and peaceful elections.
THE
PEOPLE
Currently there are more than 40 different
ethnic groups in Kenya.
The main groups of tribes are the Bantu who migrated from western Africa, the
Nilotic people who originated from Sudan and the Hamitic group, who were mainly
pastoral tribes from Ethiopia and Somalia. The main tribes are Kikuyu, Luo,
Meru, Kalenjin, Luyha, Kisii, Kamba, Swahili, Masai, and Turkana.
SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
Western European
habits prevail throughout much of Kenya as a result of British influences in
the country. Kenyans are generally very friendly. The standard greeting of
‘hello' when addressing an individual is Jambo, to which the reply
is also Jambo. The greeting for
a group is Hamjambo to which the reply
is Hatujambo. People are
delighted if visitors can greet them in Kiswahili.
LANGUAGES
Kiswahili is the national language, and
English is the official language. The terms Swahili and Kiswahili are used
interchangeably, though the term Swahili normally refers to the people while
Kiswahili refers to the language. There are over 42 ethnic languages spoken,
including Kikuyu and Luo. It is extremely useful for the traveler to have a
working knowledge of Swahili, especially outside the urban areas and in remote
parts of the country.
GOVERNMENT
The Kenya Government has been formed after
a long period of colonization. The Republic of Kenya was a one-party state
between 1969 and 1982. In 1991 it became a multi-party state. The Constitution
was formed on 12th Dec 1963. Individual rights are protected under the
Constitution. The Kenya Government has different offices for different
responsibilities such as the Office of the President; the Office of the Vice
President; the Office of the Attorney General; the National Assembly; the Electoral
Commission; the Public Service; Ministries; Auditing; and Judiciary.
TIME ZONE
Kenya Standard Time is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3). Kenya does not operate Daylight-Saving Time. Kenya
is eight hours ahead of the eastern United States in winter and seven hours
during summer.
ELECTRICITY
The local electricity supply is 220/240
volts AC, 50HZ and plugs are 3-point square. Plug type G (British plug). Please
bring along voltage and plug adaptors if you intend to bring electrical
devices. Major hotels usually provide hairdryers, irons and other electrical
equipment on request.
CLIMATE
The variations in altitude and terrain
create contrasts in climate. The coast is hot and often humid, mornings in the
central highlands can be cool, whilst north and northeast the days are dry and
very hot. In the areas most frequented by visitors the weather is almost
perfect, neither too hot nor too cool with long sun-filled days. Day and night
in Kenya are almost equal all year round with sunrise between 6 and 6.30 am and
sunset between 6.30 and 7.00 PM. For most of the country two rainy seasons
exist. The short rains normally occurs from late October through December and
the long rains from late March through May. Rain usually falls in the late
afternoon preceded by bright, sunny and fresh days.
Clothes to Wear:
Kenya has a tropical climate, with sunshine
in all seasons, and summer clothes can be worn throughout the year. Generally,
the hottest periods are January to March and the coolest are July to August,
though the difference is small. Furthermore, on the coast it’s hotter and
wetter than inlands, which is more moderate and dryer. Also consider the two
rainy seasons (see above).
Kenyans themselves tend to dress rather
conservatively. However, especially among the younger people Western and Asian
fashion influences can be observed these days. In places frequented by
tourists, locals are used to ‘tourist dress’, and in tourist resorts shorts and
T-shirts are very acceptable. It is always correct to dress conservatively when
visiting religious sites.
LOGISTICAL
Entry and Exit Requirements:
Passports must be valid for at least 6
months after the completion of your journey at departure from Kenya.
Important: Kenya requires the completion
and payment of an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) in lieu of a traditional
VISA. The eTA is required for US & Canadian passport holders for entry into
Kenya.
You must obtain your eTA before departing for Kenya. Please use
the following link for further information and to request your eTA.
https://www.etakenya.go.ke/
Single Use Plastic Ban
Single Use Plastic items are not permitted to
enter Kenya. This includes plastic bags, water bottles, straws, plates and
cutlery. Attempting to enter with such plastic items may result in fines. Single use plastic water bottles are banned
in Kenya’s National Parks and Reserves, beaches, forests and conservation
areas. Please bring re-usable water
bottle – filtered water is available for refills at all safari lodges and
coastal resorts.
Embassy & High Commission Locations:
Embassy of the United States of America
United Nations Ave
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (011 254-20) 363-6000
http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/
Canadian High Commission
Limuru Road, Gigiri
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (011 254-20) 366-3000
http://www.international.gc.ca/world/embassies/nairobi/menu-en.asp
HEALTH
Information on vaccinations and
other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect
bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) hotline for international
travelers at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or via the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about
outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases
section of the World Health Organization (WHO)
website
at http://www.who.int/topics/infectious_
diseases/en/.
The WHO website also contains additional health information for travellers,
including detailed country-specific health information.
You are also encouraged to consult with
your own doctor and health network, some of which operate travel clinics as
part of their services.
BANKING
& CURRENCY EXCHANGE
The unit of currency
is the Kenya shilling (Ksh).
Foreign currency must
be declared on a declaration form when entering the country. You are not
allowed to take out more foreign currency than you bring in. Money can be
exchanged at the airport, major banks and the numerous Foreign Exchange
Bureaus.
Most ATM's serve many
of the international credit cards such as Visa, Master Card and others. Please
consult with your Credit Card Company and bank before departure. There are no
restrictions on the foreign exchange you may bring to the country. Taking
larger amounts of Kenyan Shillings out of the country requires authorization.
Please consult beforehand with the Kenyan embassy.
Banks are open
09:00am-03:00pm Monday to Friday; and 09:00am-11:00am on the first and last
Saturday of each month. Some banks and bureau de change at the international
airports are open after hours.
COMMUNICATION
Cell
Phone Usage:
Please contact your cell phone
provider to determine whether your contract includes coverage in the country
you are visiting. Depending on your contract you may have to add international
services and/or country specific services.
Most of the lodges,
resorts and hotels will have internet access. However, the speed and
reliability may not always resemble the standards you are used to. Remoter
areas may not offer cell phone or Internet access.
Kenya’s country code is 254.
ENTERTAINMENT
Food and Drink:
Kenya's national dishes appear on
most hotel menus. The country's beef, chicken, lamb and pork are very good, as
are the wide variety of tropical fruits. Local trout, Nile perch and lobster,
shrimps and Mombasa oysters are included on menus in season. Indian and Middle
Eastern food is available in most areas. Some game-park lodges serve game,
including buffalo steaks marinated in local liqueurs and berries, often
garnished with wild honey and cream.
Most Kenyans eat maize, beans meals.
At the small 'hotelis', chai (tea boiled with milk and sugar) and mandazi
(doughnuts) are popular. There is a wide range of restaurants in Nairobi and
Mombasa; otherwise, hotels in smaller towns offer restaurant service. Locally
brewed beer (Tusker and White Cap) and bottled sodas may be found throughout
the country. Kenya Cane (spirit distilled from sugar cane) and Kenya Gold (a
coffee liqueur) are produced in Kenya. Traditional beer made with honey (uki)
and locally made spirit distilled from maize (changaa) may sometimes be found.
Nightlife:
Most
of the major hotels in Nairobi and the tourist resorts have dancing with live
bands or discotheques each evening. There are also a few nightclubs. There is a
large selection of cinemas in Nairobi which show mainly American, British and
European films.
Shopping:
Shopping
in Kenya is dominated by souvenir sellers. Handmade items may be purchased at
market stalls, roadside stands, and from street peddlers. Tourists are easily
identified, and a walk down the street can bring the attention of groups of
salesmen. Be prepared for a strong sales pitch, offering bargain prices on
handcrafts. Prices are initially determined based on what these sellers believe
you will pay but can generally be bargained down to a low price. Chances are
you will get a fair price, and the vendor will still walk away with a good
profit. Don’t be intimidated by the number of peddlers offering similar goods,
or you may end up with more souvenirs than you can easily carry home. If
quality is an issue you may want to make your purchases at some of the more
established shops in the larger cities but be prepared to pay higher prices.
Nairobi has an endless
variety of places to shop. The City Market, on Muindi Mbingu Street is a good
source of inexpensive souvenirs. Bargains may be found at street stalls on many
of the major thoroughfares, with local traders offering an assortment of goods.
Major streets in Mombasa have numerous souvenir shops and galleries, and trader
stalls are abundant on Moi Avenue and Nyerere Street. A good selection of
native products is available for purchase there. Baskets made from sisal are
durable and generally well made. Batiks
and wax paintings may be found in the larger shops and stalls. With some
searching it is possible to find some of very good quality.
Tribal beads and
bracelets are predominant and will be presented to you for purchase almost
anywhere you go. Check the quality closely and be prepared to bargain before
you make a sale. Soapstone from Western Kenya has been carved into an infinite
variety of souvenirs and can be acquired at very affordable prices. Wood
carvings are economical and are widely found in every animal shape as well as
salad servers and napkin rings.
Makonde statues are
wood carvings traditionally made from ebony. Watch for fakes made from lighter
woods and shoe polish, which can be identified by the lighter weight and
scratches showing the true color of the wood.
BAGGAGE
Baggage rules for international and
domestic air travel have changed much in recent years, differ from carrier to
carrier and these days even may cover your on-board bags. In general, domestic flights to the game
reserves allow for 33lb of luggage and must be in soft-sided bag. Checking luggage may cost a separate fee or
may be free depending on your personal status with the carrier. We therefore
encourage you to read your ticket’s small print and/or contact your carrier for
exact rules.
TIPPING
Many Kenyans in the travel industry
are paid low wages and rely on tips. Tipping is up to the individual as you tip
according to the service you get but a rough guide is as follows:
Driver/Guides/Trackers
- Private Safari - $10 to $12 per person
per day
- On Scheduled Safaris - $7 to $10 per person
per day
- On Fly-in Safaris - $4 to $6 per person
per game drive
- Bush Walk Guide - $6 to $8 per person per
bush walk
- Boat Excursion (boat driver/guide) - $5
per person per excursion
- Balloon Safari Pilot - $7 to $10 per
person per day
- Transfer Drivers - $3 to $4 per person
per transfer
- Excursion Driver Guide, Nairobi &
Mombasa - $4 to $6 per person per excursion
Hotel/Lodge Staff
- Baggage Porters - $1 to $2 per bag per lift
- Food Servers (when meals are part of the package)
- $1 to $2 per person per meal
- Food Servers (when meals are being paid) – 10%
- Beverage Servers – 10%
- Room Stewards/Maids - $1 to $2 per day if staying
more than one night
- Butler Service - $5 per day
Please note that hotel staff generally receives
a portion of service charge included in the prices
In General
During the safari,
other services might be provided such as a visit to a Maasai village. Tipping
at these places is not required but you may choose to provide a small tip at
your discretion. Should you wish to photograph local people outside of
organised visits, you should remember to ask permission which may include a
small tip of $1 to $2.
All tips are based on
per person and at the traveller’s discretion. Parents should consider tipping
50% of the suggested rates on behalf of their children.
LAUNDRY
Laundry service is available at most hotels in
the main centers, and at the luxury lodges and camps. Generally, you should allow about 24-hours
before the item is returned to you, however, some have an emergency service
available at an extra charge.
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
The great
diversity of landscapes, people, wildlife and history make for unparalleled
photo opportunities in Kenya. Come prepared and equipped to take full advantage
of the ideal photographic environment. In some countries you must refrain from
photographing sites such as military bases and industrial installations. Also
be aware of cultural sensitivities when taking pictures of or near churches and
other religious sites. It is always courteous to ask for permission before
taking photographs of people.
USE
OF DRONES
The
use of drones is being legislated by many countries. In some cases, drones are
already forbidden and their unauthorized use may carry severe penalties. If you
plan to travel with a drone, please contact the embassy or consulate of the
country you wish to visit.