Travel Info Kenya – the Facts

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Travel Info Kenya is your ultimate travel guide. It covers all the essential information, neatly organized, and easy to navigate.

Table of contents:

• Why to visit / Why not to visit
• Facts / Religion / Language
• Brief history
• Climate
• National holidays
• Visa
• Topography (map)
• Get in
• Get around
• Popular tourist destinations
• Health / Safety
• Accommodation
• Food / Drink
• Other things to keep in mind
• Best places to visit

Why to visit

• It’s pretty safe, cheap, and people are friendly
• Famous for big game safaris, authentic tribes, and turquoise beaches
• Great music and dancing culture
• Unique in-town buses with graffiti from the outside, and fun decor from the inside (especially in Nairobi)
• Food is more natural, hence of much better quality than in the EU & US

Why not visit

• If you’ve already been to Tanzania & Zanzibar, Kenya may not feel as exciting
• Malaria is a threat to the locals, as well as to the tourists
• The old town and the beaches in Mombasa are full of very annoying and persistent street vendors. They approach tourists and follow them around in order to sell them something.
• The entrance fee to some smaller sites tends to be too high

Facts

Capital: Nairobi (also the largest city: 5 million people)
Currency: Kenyan Shilling (some places accept USD)
Area: 580,367 km2
Population: 49 million
Electricity: 240V/50Hz (UK plug)

Language

• English – official
• Swahili (Kiswahili) – the most used
  • Hi – Jambo
  • How are you? – Habari?
  • Good – Nzuri
  • Thank you – Asante (sana)
  • Hakuna matata / No worries (You’ll hear this one a lot!)
• Various Indigenous languages
  • More prevalent within older generations, and in remote villages
  • The largest ethnic groups are Kikuyu, Luhya, Masai, Kalenjin, Luo, and Kamba

Religion

• 80% Christian
• 12% Muslim (more prevalent along the coast)
• 8% Indigenous (more prevalent within older generations, and in remote villages)

Brief history

• Since NE Africa is the home of the first humans, Kenya has been inhabited pretty much since forever.
• Around the 1st century, Arabs arrived and started colonization.
• In the 8th century, Arab and Persian settlements spread along the coast. The region became significant for international trade between Arabs, Chinese, and Portuguese. As a result, the city-state of Mombasa gained significance.
• In the late 19th century, Kenya became part of the British Empire.
• In the 1950s, the war for independence took place. The revolt against the Empire was led by Kenyan nationalist Jomo Kenyatta.
• In 1963. The country gained independence. It’s named after their hero, Kenyatta, who became the first president and turned the country into a dictatorship.
• In 1978, when President Kenyatta died, Daniel Arap Moi took over for the next two decades. Although he was also a dictator, some Kenyans look back on this period as one of economic stability.
• In 2002, Moi stepped down, and democratic elections were held. Mwai Kibaki took over until 2013. It was a period of genuine economic progress, as well as violent protests by the oppressed.
• The current president (since 2017) is Uhuru Kenyatta, Jomo Kenyatta’s son.
• Over the last 10 years, Western corporations have been massively investing in Kenya. Those investments caused more opportunities for the local population, as well as greater inequality in wealth distribution. Today, Nairobi is one of the most important business centers in Africa
• Kenya maintains a great relationship with its neighbors, with the exception of the Somali fundamentalist group al-Shabab. They have caused several terrorist attacks in various locations around the country.

Climate

• Tropical along the coast
• Arid (hot & dry) inside
• Comfortably warm and refreshing at night in many higher-elevation regions (Nairobi, Naivasha, Mt. Kenya, Central Highlands, Masai Mara). Long sleeves are definitely recommended.

hottest/coldest	Nairobi(capital)	Mombasa(coast)	Meru (highlands)
March	27°C / 80°F	32°C / 90°F	25°C / 77°F
July	22°C / 71°F	28°C / 82°F	20°C / 67°F

National holidays

• New Year’s Day (January 1)
• Easter (also Good Friday and Easter Monday)
• Labour Day (May 1)
• Madaraka Day (June 1)
• Eid al-Fitr (the date varies), Islamic religious observances
• Mashujaa Day (October 20)
• Jamhuri Day (December 12)
• Christmas (December 25)
• Boxing Day (December 26)

Tourist visa info

You can easily get a single-entry, Multiple-entry, or transit (72h) Visa online.

The following nationalities do not need a visa:

• Caribbean: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago
• Africa: Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Asia: Brunei, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore
• Europe: Cyprus, San Marino
• Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Topography

Get in

1. By plane

International airports:

• Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi (NBO)
• Moi International Airport, Mombasa (MBA)
• Kisumu International Airport, Kisumu (KIS)

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the hub for East and Central Africa and the primary arrival point for visitors flying into Kenya. There are excellent daily flight connections to major tourist destinations such as Mombasa, Kisumu, and Malindi.

Check out this useful post on how to save money on flights.

2. By bus

Regular bus services (express) routes:

• Nairobi – Arusha (Tanzania) – Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania)
• Nairobi – Kisumu – Kampala (Uganda)
• Mombasa – Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania)

Some popular bus service companies include Crown Buses, Modern Coast, Kampala Coach, and Easy Coach. Online purchases don’t seem reliable.

3. By boat

Private cruises are operating from Mombasa to Zanzibar (Tanzania), although it’s more common to get to Dar Es Salaam by bus, and from there by ferry to Zanzibar.

4. By car

• All neighboring countries can be accessed by road.
• In the southern part of the country (where most tourist destinations are located), roads are mostly in good condition.
• In the Northern part, especially in the North-Eastern Region, the roads are in bad shape. Beware: the northern deserts are essentially lawless regions, so driving through them is considered very hostile.
• These are the most common highways in Kenya:
  • A104- links Nairobi to Uganda and Tanzania
  • A109- Mombasa – Nairobi
  • A2-Nairobi to The Northern Ethiopian Border
  • A1-From the Southern Sudanese border

Get around

1. By bus

• For long-distance journeys, you can try booking through Buskenya, although it’s more common to do so at the bus terminals. In Kenya, they are called Bus Parks, and they could be pretty chaotic.
• In-town buses are run by private companies. They are creatively painted and well decorated inside. With a powerful sound system, buses could have a mobile nightclub atmosphere.
• Traffic in large cities, especially in Nairobi, is terrible.
• Buses may start moving before you have completely boarded. The same applies when you take off, so make sure you are alert when getting on/off.
• Matatus are privately owned minibuses that operate over short and medium distances. Travel by matatu can be pretty chaotic, cause the drivers tend to be wild, according to “western standards”. Some of them may be poorly maintained. Just like city buses, they’re known for their fascinating decor and loud sound systems. The government requires seatbelts, so make sure you wear one, especially if your matatu is passing a police checkpoint.
• If you’re traveling between 2 small towns, you’ll probably end up using a regular-sized car for 5 passengers.

2. By train

Railway lines are having a major comeback in Kenya. Most of the lines are either completely new or renewed. You can easily book your journey on the Madakara Express website. These are the routes serviced:

• Nairobi – Mombasa (daily, 5-hour journey)
• Naivasha- Nairobi
• Nairobi – Nanyuki – Nyeri

3. By plane

Most international visitors will arrive through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO). From there, you can easily connect to other Kenyan cities with one of the local flight companies:

• Kenya Airways offers daily flights from Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, and Kisumu.
• Jambojet is a low-cost airline that operates flights from Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Ukunda (Diani).
• Airkenya flies from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara, Meru, Nanyuki, and Samburu. Keep in mind that Airkenya has a bad reputation for missing items from passengers’ luggage. So if you use them, make sure you secure your belongings properly and carry on any valuable items.

4. By car

• Most worldwide rental agencies have offices in Nairobi and Mombasa. The prices are relatively high; however, better deals are available from the local companies.
• Getting around in Kenya is difficult. Also, the roads are not in great shape and are poorly marked.
• If you intend to visit Safaris, a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is recommended, as many sections of the local roads are unpaved.
• Make sure you read the Rental agreement since the companies love overcharging Western travelers.

5. By thumb

Hitchhiking in Kenya is not really common. As mentioned above, the Southern half of the country is densely populated, so there’s an abundance of public transport. On the village roads, you may try to flag down a truck transporting locals at the rear. In the less-populated northern parts, Hitchhiking is not recommended, because travelling in that region is pretty hostile.

Popular tourist destinations

Cities

• Nairobi — The capital and economic center of Kenya, with its own safari at Nairobi National Park.
• Kabarnet — The western town with access to lakes Baringo and Bogoria
• Kisumu — The largest city on the west, on the shore of Lake Victoria
• Lamu — Main town of the Lamu Archipelago
• Lodwar — Northern (less touristy) town with access to Lake Turkana
• Malindi — A vibrant beach town; an hour away is Hell’s Kitchen, a site with spectacular rock formations
• Mombasa — Historic port and the largest coastal town with access to popular beach towns like Diani, Wasini Island, and Shimba Hills National Reserve.
• Nakuru — Lake Nakuru National Park (famous for flamingos) and an active volcano
• Meru – Gateway to Mt. Kenya

Other destinations – Safaris

• Aberdare National Park – Rift Valley park with lots of large game, and over 250 species of birds
• Amboseli National Park – A swampy lowland Masai park famous for large mammals
• Hell’s Gate National Park – You can enjoy this smaller-sized safari by walking or cycling
• Lake Elementaita – Located in the Rift Valley, this UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its scenery and birdlife.
• Maasai Mara National Reserve – The most popular reserve in Kenya
• Tsavo East National Park – One of the most popular game parks in Kenya
• Meru National Park – Safari in the Highlands
• Samburu National Reserve – Another great, less busy safari
• Sibiloi National Park – Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Lake Turkana National Parks.
• Mount Elgon National Park – Lesser-known for wildlife, but more for its spectacular waterfall

Health

• If arriving from or travelling to other African countries, having a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory. The vaccine can be administered in many hospitals in Kenya. Since the country has been dealing with this issue for a long time, you can get better and cheaper medications in Kenyan pharmacies than in your home country.
• Protect yourself from mosquitoes, as they carry numerous diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever. At dusk and in the evenings, wear long sleeves and long trousers, dark-colored clothes, and apply an effective insect repellent.
• If you get flu-like symptoms, including fever, joint aches, and vomiting, consult a doctor immediately, or go straight to a hospital. A typical trip to the hospital for malaria testing, a doctor’s consultation, and medication will cost US$12-30. You should definitely avoid delayed treatment.
• Do not have unprotected sex as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are a risk. Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT) clinics offer free testing for HIV/AIDS.
• Cholera is another danger. When in affected areas, see a doctor immediately and drink plenty of water.
• All water should be treated, either by boiling or by using purification tablets or filters. Drink bottled water, or packaged in small plastic bags.

Safety

• Kenya is generally safe. Along the coast and in the Reserve areas, tourists are highly respected and treated exceptionally well. In those areas, locals are actually afraid of harming tourists. The country hasn’t had any major incidents like terrorist attacks or riots recently.
• Pick-pocketing in the crowded parts of the large cities is as common as in the rest of Africa or Latin America.
• When using a matatu, if you are sitting by the window, be careful using your phone while the vehicle is not moving. A pedestrian might easily grab it from the street and run away.
• Avoid hanging out on the streets of major cities after 9 PM.
• The north of the country has a reputation for lawlessness. Armed robberies and abductions on the roads in these areas are frequent. Avoid traveling to this part of the country. Avoid visiting the following towns: Lodwar, Lokichokio, and Moyale.

Accommodation

• Tourists usually visit the famous Kenyan safaris for 2-3 days and spend the nights in the luxurious lodges inside the Reserve. It gives them a great opportunity to experience the wildlife at night. That way, they can spot the animals from the terrace or hear their sounds. Since the longes are well protected by armed security guards, no need to worry a rhino will walk into your bedroom, and wake you up.
• If you are on a budget, you can definitely find ways to visit the Reserve for the day and spend the night in the nearby town for a significantly lower price.
• Since Kenya is tourist-oriented, there’s an abundance of accommodation options available online, from affordable hostels and guesthouses ($8/night) to hotels, resorts, and eco-lodges.
• On top of that, you can look for private accommodation through Airbnb.

Food

• Nyama Choma – Kenyan barbecue prepared with goat meat, or beef.
• Kachumbari – Kenyan salad prepared with tomatoes, onions, chili peppers, cilantro, coriander, and lemon
• Chapati – pita bread, originated in India, made with flour & turmeric. Locals usually eat it with meat, fish stew or with Sukuma (sauteed cabbage)
• Ugali – boiled cornmeal (African polenta – staple food across the continent). Kenyans usually eat their meals with Ugali, Chapati, or Rice on the side.
• Motuch & Mara – Grilled meat sold on the street stalls (picture below)

Drink

• Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage. Kenyan beer is pretty decent, and the most popular brand is Tusker.
• Alternatively, locals love drinking locally brewed corn spirit, called Changaa. It can’t be bought in the grocery stores, only through locals. It is not really recommended for visitors because the booze is exceptionally strong and the taste is pretty harsh.
• In Kenya, “juice” means whole fruit blended with water and a bit of sugar. Pineapple, mango, watermelon, passionfruit, sugarcane, and ginger juice are the most common.
• From the local soda brands, Stoney Ginger Beer and Krest Bitter Lemon stand out.

Other things to keep in mind

• If you end up in a local neighborhood or in a small town, you might notice a tiny shop with the sign “Hotel”. It’s probably not an establishment that provides accommodation. Instead, it’s a local eatery, where you can get lunch for $2.
• Plastic bags have been forbidden in Kenya since 2017. If you go shopping, bring your own bag!
• Although the majority of Kenyans are fluent in English, they have a slight spice to their exotic African accent: Kenyans are unable to pronounce the letter “T” the way most foreigners pronounce it. Instead, they use “CH”. So, as an example, if you hear a local saying: “Ich is good”, they meant to say “It is good”. Obviously, the accents vary from region to region and from person to person; however, this case is definitely the pattern.

For further reading, check out the Best Places to visit in Kenya on a budget!

Enjoy your trip!

Travel Info Kenya – references: Some Nomad Stories travel research, CIA World Fact Book, Wikipedia, and Wikitravel licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, (The list of the contributors is available in the original article). Source of cover photo – Flickr