| Travel insurance | | | | The quality of tap water can vary by destination. |
| It is strongly recommended that all travelers are | | | | It is best to drink bottled water. |
| individually insured. The travel insurance should | | | | Safety issues |
| cover personal accident, medical expenses and | | | | Basic precautions should be taken in all countries. |
| repatriation, trip cancellation and loss of personal | | | | Tour guides are highly experienced in navigating |
| effects. Make sure your insurer is aware of the | | | | each destination, but visitors should always be |
| type of travel to be undertaken. | | | | aware of their surroundings, especially in any rural |
| Travel visa | | | | villages that may be wary of foreigners. In |
| A tourist visa is required for entry into both | | | | less-developed areas where many people live in |
| Kenya and Tanzania. There are two options for | | | | poverty, crimes of opportunity can occur, such as |
| purchase: 1) In advance by applying through your | | | | petty theft. Visitors are advised to stay alert and |
| local Kenya and/or Tanzania embassy (allow 4-6 | | | | use common sense. Safari guests should limit the |
| weeks). 2) Upon arrival in Kenya at the airport | | | | amount of cash they carry and lock valuables in a |
| (Nairobi) and Tanzania at the border. Each visa is | | | | hotel safe or other secure place. Lock hotel |
| $50 USD and is payable in cash only (bill | | | | rooms when you leave. Do not walk alone in |
| denominations must be $20 USD or less). Allow | | | | deserted areas at night. Take extra care of |
| 30-45 minutes in Nairobi, and about 10-20 minutes | | | | purses, bags and wallets in crowded places. |
| at the Tanzania border. | | | | Malaria |
| Best time to view game | | | | Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, which bite mainly |
| In general, the best times to see game are early | | | | at dusk and at night. You can only contract |
| morning and late afternoon. In the midday heat, | | | | malaria if you are bitten by an infected anopheles |
| animals frequently retreat to the cool of thick | | | | mosquito. It is best to use insect repellent |
| undergrowth, where they cannot be seen. | | | | containing DEET (sprayed on clothing and any |
| Another benefit to morning and afternoon game | | | | exposed skin), to keep arms and legs covered as |
| drives is witnessing unforgettable sunrises and | | | | much as possible, and to avoid the use of |
| sunsets. | | | | perfume, hairspray and other scented products |
| Rainy season | | | | that might attract mosquitoes. The U.S. Centers |
| There are two rainy seasons - the "Long Rains" | | | | for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly |
| from mid-March to June, and the "Short Rains" | | | | recommends that visitors to Kenya & |
| from mid-November to mid-December. The Short | | | | Tanzania take anti-malarial medication. Consult a |
| rainy season and is only called "short" because of | | | | physician or travel clinic before your trip so that |
| the duration not the amount of rain. Even though | | | | he or she can prescribe the appropriate drugs. |
| they are called the rainy season, there are still | | | | Anti-malarial medications are generally taken prior |
| wonderful sunny days during that time. It might | | | | to your departure, during your trip, and after you |
| open up a huge downpour for an hour or so, but | | | | return home for periods determined by your |
| other than that you will be fine. Morning and | | | | doctor. Symptoms of malaria include aches, chills, |
| afternoon game drives are usually not affected. | | | | headaches and fever, and may not appear until |
| You can usually save up to 20% on your tour by | | | | after your trip. Treatment is widely available, |
| booking during these times. | | | | recovery times are fast, and with basic |
| Why Kenya and/or Tanzania | | | | precautions, the risk of infection is minimal. |
| Hundreds of thousands of people travel to Kenya | | | | Entry into Kenya |
| and Tanzania every year just to see the animals. | | | | U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport, |
| There are lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalo, | | | | visa, and proof of onward passage. |
| rhino, giraffe, gazelle and wart hogs, just to name | | | | Are there any health precautions I should take? |
| a few, that are alive and well and walking around | | | | According to the World Health Organization, |
| in the game parks. Although you can no longer kill | | | | Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the |
| them, you can get mighty close to them to either | | | | whole country. There is normally little risk in the |
| photograph or just enjoy watching them go about | | | | city of Nairobi and in the highlands (above 2500 |
| doing whatever it is they do. There is also a huge | | | | m) of Central, Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley and |
| variety of bird life. To add to all that, the land | | | | Western provinces. Recommended prophylaxis: |
| itself is some of the most gorgeous on the planet | | | | mefloquine. Consult your doctor about taking |
| and extremely varied. There are mountains, | | | | additional vaccinations for polio, typhoid, and |
| deserts, savanna's, rivers, oceans and forests. | | | | hepatitis. |
| The air is clean, the scenery fantastic and the | | | | CDC Website link: |
| joys of getting that close to nature is hard to | | | | WHO website link: [ |
| describe. Just being there seems to do something | | | | Currency |
| to many a visitors soul. | | | | The currency in Kenya is the shilling. One |
| What about bugs? | | | | American dollar equals approximately 80 shillings. |
| There are insects of all varieties in Kenya | | | | Click here for updated currency information. |
| Tanzania and of course there are mosquitoes, | | | | ATMs: ATMs are everywhere in most cities. |
| mostly on the Coast however, but nothing worse | | | | Tipping: Add 10% to the bill in restaurants, except |
| then you have seen anywhere else. If the sight | | | | where a service charge has been included. Tip |
| of a gecko sends you flying though, maybe a trip | | | | bellhops 20 KSh per bag. |
| to Kenya/Tanzania is best avoided. You will not | | | | Best items to shop for in Kenya |
| however, walk into huge swarms of killer bees or | | | | Shop for wood carvings of animals and people, |
| step across acres of crunching bugs under your | | | | sisal baskets, Maasai and Kikuyu beadwork, |
| feet. Snakes do exist of course, but are rarely | | | | hand-woven sarong fabric, soapstone, gourds, |
| seen. By anyone. | | | | ebony carvings, batik wall hangings, tanzanite |
| Internet access while on safari | | | | gemstones, and malachite. Some of the best |
| While communications in remote camps will be | | | | handcrafts of Kenya and other countries in Africa |
| limited, most major hotels and lodges offer | | | | are sent to Nairobi. Visit artist cooperatives to |
| Internet services as well as international telephone | | | | buy directly from artists. Note: There have been |
| and fax services. Additionally, private | | | | problems with not receiving souvenirs shipped |
| communication centers and cyber cafes in larger | | | | home, so I advise you carry them home in your |
| towns enable tourists to stay connected. Some | | | | luggage. |
| centers may close on Sundays and public holidays. | | | | Voltage requirements in Kenya |
| The cellular networks in Kenya & Tanzania | | | | Voltage: 240 V; Plug G. You will need a voltage |
| cover most large towns and tourist areas. There | | | | converter, and plug adapter in order to use U.S. |
| are post offices in many towns, and stamps are | | | | appliances. We recommend getting a universal |
| also sold in many shops in tourist lodges and | | | | adapter and converter kit. Click here for more |
| hotels. | | | | information about electrical standards around the |
| Safe water to drink. | | | | world. |