| CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE |
What is the best season to visit Africa? If there is a perfect climate in the world, it is in Kenya. Although it can be hot and sticky by the sea, the air is dry in the inland and even at midday, the temperatures are equitable.
Kenya is close to the equator and has no real seasons. Changes in temperatures during the year are less extreme than those in non-tropical countries. There is no real summer and winter and there are no seasons when it can be said that visitors should definitely not come.
Sunrise is between 6.30 am and 7.00 am and sunset is between 6.30 pm and 7.00 pm (12 hrs later – just like a shade being drawn over the sky).
During the rains the game is very dispersed, can be water logged for some period but the
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countryside is fresh and green, the flowers bloom, and many animals give birth to young.
As a general guide:
April and May –this is the “rainy season” (long rains) although in recent years rain has been received in January. The land is green, refreshing, with a low of 18 degrees centigrade and a high of 32 degrees centigrade.
June, July and August –these are the coolest months with a low of 10 degrees centigrade and high of 26 degrees centigrade. The country is still refreshingly green and rain does sometimes come in June. Although July and August are the two of our driest months, Please do bring warm sweaters-the evenings can be chilly.
December, January, February and March –these
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are the summer months, although the temperature is not really hot, rarely exceeding 32 degrees centigrade. Humidity is low and mornings and evenings are refreshingly cool. During this period, the animals tend to congregate around the water holes and as the grass is often short at this time, they are more easily sighted.
Even during the rains, the weather can be pleasant, with rain occurring early in the morning and late in the afternoon or evening.
September, October and November –A delightful time of the year. It is springtime and the trees are in full bloom. Days are warmer with lows of 18 degrees centigrade and highs of 32 degrees centigrade. ‘Short rains’ in November freshen the country and lay down the dust, although they may be heavy. |
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| CLOTHING |
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East Africa is in the tropics but the only tropical air you will experience will be at the coast. Safari attire should be casual and comfortable. Dress mainly for outdoor comfort with a change of informal clothes for the evening. Evenings and early morning can be chilly especially on the Aberdares - Socks and walking shoes or sneakers are recommended.
Footwear should be low –healed and comfortable. |
There is not much walking and you stay at the vehicle during game runs.
Bring a light weight rain coat and hat for sun protection as vehicle roof hatches are left open while game– viewing (the sun may not appear exceptionally hot but you can be burned badly even on cloudy day so take it easy to start with).
Sunscreens are recommended and swimsuit is essential for those lodges with pools. |
Although eveningwear is informal both countries, Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki and some Nairobi Restaurant do require gentlemen to be ‘casual smart’ – No jeans for dinner, while ladies should rather be more formally.
During the evening it is advisable to wear clothes that cover legs and arms especially if mosquitoes are in season. |
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| ACCESSORIES |
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Dark glasses – are recommended, as is a hat, providing protection from the sun – as it is much stronger in the tropics than in the temperate zone.
Binoculars – Should also be brought a long for added pleasure during game viewing.
Flash light – is also recommended as electric generators at Safari lodges and tented camps are sometimes turned off at 2200 hrs or 23 hrs to conserve fuel.
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Insects – with luck you will see very few unless it rains, most are harmless anyway.
Strong perfumes or Aftershaves tend to attract flies repellent is not over effective. Don’t leave lights on at nights in rooms, as this will also attract insects. You may find a few geckos (small lizards) on the ceiling or walls of your rooms – they are your friends and will eat most of insects and flies. |
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| LUGGAGE & INSURANCE |
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| We strongly recommend that luggage be kept at a minimum. Try not to change the number of bags you take during Safari. All city Hotels provide secure storage for luggage not required on Safari. On all itineraries where journeys by light aircraft are involved, the baggage allowance is restricted to 15 kilos per person. At Treetops and the Ark only, one small overnight bag per person is permitted. Secure storage is provided at the Out Span and Aberdares Country Club respectively. |
Get In Safaris accepts no liability for lost, damaged or stolen, but we would ask you to appreciate that luggage is a personal responsibility of the traveler. We strongly recommend that clients arrange their own insurance covers for damage or loss of baggage, general travel insurance and/or medical insurance to cover cancellation charges and medical expenses while on Safari. |
Finally, please allow some space for all those Souvenirs you may purchase en route and remember that baggage in excess of the normal international air flight allowance is subject to excess luggage rates being levied at the flight desk on departure. |
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| ACCOMMODATION |
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Game Lodges
Game Lodges in or close to the National Parks and reserves of Kenya are built of local wood and stone to blend harmoniously with the surrounding. They vary from simple 'bandas' (local style chalet rooms), with a central dining room and bar, right through to luxury hotels in the wild. Rooms are comfortable with twin beds and private bath and shower ensuite. Most lodges have swimming pools and some overlook floodlit waterholes for nocturnal game viewing. In warm, dry places, the dinning room and bar are situated on wide, open Verandahs whilst at higher altitudes, lodges are glassed in and many have big fires in the evenings. |
Tented Safari Camps
A few nights staying under canvas in the African bush gives one feeling of being close to Africa in true Safari Style and is highly recommended. Safari Camps offer surprisingly high, even luxurious, standards of comfort and personal service. Spacious mosquito – proofed tents are provided with twin beds, private shower and flush toilet. Full dining and bar facilities are in central mess tents or attractive open buildings. A feature of most Safari camps is the huge welcoming campfire, out in the open under the African starlit sky. |
Game look- out Lodges
Known locally as “Tree hotels”, these are architectural masterpieces, standing high above ground in secluded forest glades, overlooking wildlife waterholes. Quite different in style, they are all designed to offer a unique game viewing experience as wildlife visits the floodlit waterhole - oblivious to the close proximity of the fascinated guests within the lodge. Space is devoted to cleverly contrive viewing platforms and companionable dining room and bar areas. The rooms are usually small cabins with share facilities. |
The following are children age limits for the 4 tree hotels in Kenya:
Treetops Lodge
The Ark Lodge
Serena Mountain Lodge
Shimba Hills Lodge
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5 years and above
7 years and above
7 years and above
5 years and above
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| Country Hotels/Home stays. |
CHILDREN: |
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| In Beautiful surroundings near lakes or mountains throughout Kenya, there are a number of country hotels and Private Home stays. These range from the magnificent Mount Kenya Safari Club at the foot of Mount Kenya, private houses on vast estates/ranches, to cozy fishing lodges. Private home stays offer a unique opportunity to stay with the owners of the ranches or game sanctuaries in their own homes or in custom-built accommodation where the emphasis is often architecturally spectacular. Gardens are a special feature and most offer recreational activities such golf, horse riding or fly-fishing. |
Most hotels and lodges offer a reduction for children below 12 years of age provided they share a room with parents (Adults) in the third bed in a twin room. Due to the size of the rooms, most hotels and Lodges do not allow 2 children and 2 adults in the same room - a special rate for children in their own room will be advised at the time of booking.
SINGLE ROOMS
Clients wishing to take single rooms pay a fee known as single room supplement. There is always a strong demand for single room accommodation on safari and occasionally the lodges cannot provide the single rooms for operational reasons.
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A refund will be made to the client where a single room has not been available.
Christmas, New Year, Easter and other Festive seasons:
Most hotels, lodges and Camps in East Africa will charge a supplement during the festive seasons. In return they provide special festive activities and meals and sometimes gifts. However evening entertainment in the game lodges and camps may not be permitted due to eco friendly reasons.
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| MEALS |
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Meals throughout Kenya are of universally high standard. On safari, meals are provided on full board basis .
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A large breakfast, excellent buffet lunch, afternoon tea and three or four-course dinner is the standard practice. |
Food is fresh and includes local fish and exotic tropical fruit. Curries are a standard feature on Sundays. |
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| LAUNDRY |
HOTEL CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT |
Most hotels, game lodges and safari camps offer a 24-hours inexpensive laundry service. |
Normal check-out time is 1000hrs and check-in time is 1100hrs or earlier if the rooms are ready. However, if the hotel is full, rooms may not be |
available for early check-in unless booked the previous night and charged as an extra night. Day room occupation may be reserved up to 1800hrs at an extra cost |
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| MONEY |
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Travelers Cheques in US Dollars, Euros or British Pounds are accepted and can be exchanged into local currency as required.
Well known Credit cards such as America Express, Visa and Master Cards are widely accepted in major hotels and Shops in Kenya but on a limited basis in Tanzania and Uganda.
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The unit of currency here is the Kenya Shillings. The shilling is divided into100 cents. Notes are available in the denominations of Kshs 50/-, 100/-, 200/-, 500/- 1000/ while the coins in denominations of 1/-, 5/-, 10/-, 20/-, 40/-
Please check with the local newspapers and banks for the |
latest rate of exchange. Forex Bureaus and Banks generally give a better rate of exchange than hotels.
While purchasing curios in market places, bargaining is expected, but for cash only. |
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| BANKING HOURS |
PHOTOGRAPHY |
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Most banks are open
Monday to Friday
0900 hours – 1500 hours
Saturday 0900 hours – 11.30 hours
Most Banks and Forex Bureaus at the International airports remain open 24 hours a day. |
A wide choice of films is available locally but is rather expensive. In establishments outside the major cities, films may not be available or out of date. As a general guide, visitors are advised to bring plentiful supplies with you.
For wildlife photography, Telephoto lens (minimum 200mm) is recommended. |
Large lenses, which require a tropid, or double reflex cameras, are generally impractical. An ultra violet filter, dust cover and spare batteries are essential.
A pair of good quality binoculars for each person will be a great asset. For early morning and afternoon photography, fast film should be used. |
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| SAFARI DRIVER/GUIDES |
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| First class safari drivers/guides are vital to the success of any tour. Get In Safaris takes great care in selecting responsible people who are capable of providing a cheerful, caring and attentive service to the client. Our English speaking |
drive/guides are true professionals, with in-depth knowledge of routes; conditions and they are great spotters - well versed in the identification of animals and birds. On request, we can also provide driver/guides with knowledge of other foreign languages. |
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| ROAD TRANSPORT |
AIR TRANSPORT |
SECURITY |
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| Get In Safaris uses customized 8-Seater microbuses especially adapted for Safari work. They have sliding windows, roof hatches and high ground clearance to improve all round visibility and photography. On long journeys and sometimes-rough roads, the safari microbus provides a superior degree of comfort and maneuverability. To guarantee a window seat, we strictly put 6 passengers in one bus. Alternatively, we can provide the 6- seater specially designed 4 Wheel-drive land cruisers but at an extra cost. |
A Comprehensive network of internal scheduled flights is available between Nairobi/Mombasa and major National parks and reserves in Kenya. This invaluable services is sold on ‘per seat’ basis and is operated in single or twin engine aircraft, ranging from the stately Dash 7 or 8, Twin otter, Cessna 404/402 or Beech craft Baron. Private charters can also be arranged at an extra cost. |
Valuables, including traveler’s cheques, credit cards, passports, and air tickets should be locked up in safe deposits at your hotel or lodge. Do not carry around too much cash. The streets in the cities and towns are not dangerous, but it is unwise to walk alone after dark or away from well-lit streets, especially when carrying bags and cameras. If accosted, always ask for identification – even from those in uniform. In short, please take the same care as you would normally take in any part of Europe, America or elsewhere in the world. |
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| TIPPING |
ELECTRICITY
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If you are travelling with a group, your Tour leader/Escort will probably take care of all tipping. However, the following may be of assistance to the individual traveler:
A fixed charge is normally included in the tariff of most hotels. Restaurants waiters and bar waiters are accustomed to clients leaving 10% of the meal bill. Porters expect US$2 per person. The largest tip usually goes to your Safari driver/guide (and tour escort if applicable) – approx. US$20 per person per day would be reasonable. However please do remember that tips are generally given only for good and attentive services. Also remember it is polite to enclose it in an envelope. |
Most hotels and lodges located outside the major cities generate their own electricity, which is solar, or engine generated. The voltage is 220 – 240. Sockets are usually 3-pin square (British type). For those on engine-generated electricity, generators usually run for short periods in the morning (05:00 – 10:00hrs) and again in the evening (17.30 to 22.00 hours). It is advisable to bring battery-operated razors; pas operated curlers and good quality torch, with extra batteries and gas refills. |
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| COMMUNICATIONS |
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Communication facilities are of a modern and reliable standard. International direct dialing, facsimile and Internet services are available in most modern City and towns Hotels. On safari, this may not be the case. In some lodges and camps, these services may be booked through the reception. In other lodges and tented camps, communications is only through very high frequency radios.
Check tariffs before placing calls from hotels, as costs may be very high. Mobile or cell Phones |
may be made in most parts of the country, but not everywhere.
Letters and cards from Nairobi take about one week to overseas and at least ten days from the lodges. Stamps may be purchased in major towns or the hotels/lodges gifts shops.
Local newspapers in Kiswahili and English are available in the Main centers only.
The national language in Kenya and Tanzania is Kiswahili while English is the official one. |
Accent can be a problem on both sides. You will find everyone willing and helpful but you must watch out for misinterpretation of what is said – Please speak slowly and use similar phrases. In hotels and lodges, waiters have allocated jobs - Drinks waiters or food waiters, etc – Get the wrong one and you may not get what you ordered for. |
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| ENTRY VISAS AND HEALTH REGULATIONS |
CUSTOM AND EXIT REGULATIONS |
AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAXES |
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Different visa regulations are applied according to the nationality and country of origin (Please enquire from your Travel agents or the Kenyan embassies/consulates abroad). Visitors must be in possession of valid and health documentation on arrival in Kenya or Tanzania. Yellow fever and Cholera vaccinations are a requirement. Visitors are advised to check with the Inoculation centers in their country of origin that will provide up to date advice/information on these health regulations and recommendations.
NB. Our Safari prices do not include the cost of visa or any health inoculations.
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Personal effects, film and Cameras may be imported temporarily free of duty. However a customs bond may be required in connection with professional video equipments, tape recorders, radios, musical instruments and Souvenirs from other countries to ensure goods can be re- exported. Firearms need a special permit, which must be obtained in advance. Excess baggage is strictly monitored and charges are expensive. Customs officials normally inspect baggage on arrival and departure.
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International Airport departure taxes (except in Zanzibar) are included in the price of your international flight ticket. Local airport taxes are also included in domestic fares, which are part of the entire inclusive price quoted. If not included, you will be informed accordingly.
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| MEDICAL ADVICE |
THE FLYING DOCTORS’ SOCIETY OF KENYA |
A FEW HELPFUL HINTS |
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| Kenya enjoys a health, invigorating climate and visitors need not to worry for their general health during their stay. However Malaria is endemic in certain areas and anti- Malaria medication should be taken according to prescription recommendations. Visitors requiring special medication should pack sufficient supplies in their Hand luggage. Chemist shops are well stocked, but for the general medication. Special medication may not be readily available. Tap water is not considered safe in Nairobi and municipal areas but Mineral water is available throughout Kenya. On safaris, rooms are provided with flasks of filtered purified water. |
Membership of the Flying Doctor’s Society of Kenya is strongly recommended. The flying doctors society of Africa has been evacuating patients by flying ambulance since the 1950s. In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, you can be flown back from the nearest operational airfield to Nairobi where an ambulance will be waiting to move you immediately to a leading Nairobi hospital. Evacuations will not be carried out if the medical complaint is of minor nature. Please note that enrolment does not include that cost of medical expenses incurred. Please enquire about the nominal cost of membership at the time of booking your safari.
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Please show respect for local laws and customs, and the sensitivities of your host country. Remember many people, for religious reasons, consider scanty dress a discourtesy. Please do not offend local customs by wearing skimpy dresses (restrict wearing swimsuits and beachwear to the swimming pools and beaches).
Try not to make a flagrant display of wealth – your normal holiday spending money amounts to a small fortune to most Kenyans.
When on Safari, never get out of your vehicle, unless you are told it is safe to do so. Do not attempt to go for walks when staying in game lodges and safari camps unaccompanied by a guide. |
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| BUSES |
SOME USEFUL SWAHILI WORDS FOR YOU TO LEARN |
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1) Watch your head when getting in and out of buses
2) Please remain in one bus throughout.
3) Change your seats every day.
4) Leave main luggage to porters and driver/guides but you must look after your small bags, cameras etc. |
Jambo - Hello
Habari - How are you?
Tafadhali - Please
Asante Sana - Thank you very much
Kwaheri - Good bye
Karibu - Welcome |
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