| Time difference / local time |
GMT +3 hours
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| Language |
• English is understood by many people all over Kenya.
• On the predominantly Muslim coast, people speak Swahili, although some locals speak German, French and Italian.
• English is taught in schools all over the country, so there’s always someone who’ll understand, even in the remote bush.
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| Currency |
• Shilling
• Major credit cards are widely accepted and traveller’s cheques can be changed at banks and hotels.
• Make sure you carry change on safari.
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| Safety |
• Kenya is usually considered among the safest countries in Africa, but tourists should take care, especially in Nairobi and when arriving in the country.
• Common-sense rules apply - avoid dark backstreets at night and Nairobi’s sleazier bars and dance dives.
• Don’t flaunt jewellery or valuables or walk around with large sums of money.
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| Highlights |
Marine National Park
Barter with the boat-boys and go snorkelling from a trip on the glass-bottom boat. There’s also a crocodile farm and snake park nearby.
Hell's Kitchen
Journey 36km to this dramatic canyon.
Sabaki river-mouth
You can ride to this wildlife hotspot on horseback. Its sandy banks, dunes, marshes and freshwater pools are teeming with birds, hippos, crocodiles and mangroves.
Arabuko Sokoke Forest
Climb into the tree-house here and look out for over 260 breeds of bird, including the endangered Sokoke scops owl, Sokoke pipit, east coast akalat, spotted ground thrush, amani sunbird and Clarke's weaver.
Historical sites
- Sheikh Hassan’s Pillar
- Vasco Da Gama’s Pillar
- House of Columns
- Portuguese Chapel
- Gede ruins
- Mambrui
- Watamu
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| Passports and Visas |
• You must have a full and valid 10-year passport with an expiry date at least 6 months after your arrival back in the UK.
• Brits need a visa, which you can get on arrival in Kenya or from the Kenyan Embassy before you travel (recommended).
• For more information, contact the Kenyan High Commission on 020 7636 2371.
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| Events and festivals |
August
Che Shale Kite-Surf Masters
This four-day competition is held 20 minutes north of Malindi in Che Shale, Kitesurfers fight it out in freestyle, racing and wave-riding categories.
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| Shopping |
Browse Malindi’s four shopping plazas, each with its own open-air bar and restaurants; and haggle for bargains at the Swahili quarter’s market in the Old Town.
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| Flying time to destination |
10 hours to Mombasa via Nairobi
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| Sports |
Hit the white-sand beaches for windsurfing, scuba diving, sailing and snorkelling.
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| Eating/Drinking |
Food
• Feast on cheap spiny lobster, shrimps and prawns from the Indian Ocean, as well as excellent kingfish and swordfish.
• Tropical fruits include papaya, pineapple, mango and banana.
• African dishes are an acquired taste, but worth trying. Kukuma wiki na nyama is a sauté of spinach with meat; kuku wakupaka is spiced chicken; and irio is a Kikuyu mixture of mashed chickpeas, sweetcorn, pumpkin and potatoes served with meat or fish.
Drink
• Although purified drinking water in hotels and lodges is safe, tap water isn’t. Bottled water is readily available.
• Heat exhaustion is a major hazard, so cover up in the sun and drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquid.
• There’s a good choice of South African wine available, and fresh coconut milk is a good cool pick-me-up in the heat of the day.
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| Good to know |
Religion
Christianity and Islam
Dialling code
+254 42
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Several vaccinations are advisable; particularly yellow fever and cholera, and you should take precautions against malaria. Contact your GP or a specialist vaccination centre.
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| Excursions |
Fishing
Malindi is great for fishing – you might catch barracuda, tuna and marlin.
Dhow cruise
Enjoy a sunset cruise as you sip on the local drink, dower, before enjoying a fantastic lobster dinner.
Shimba Rainforest
Explore the bush on an overnight adventure, spotting a variety of wildlife and game.
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| Tipping |
If no service charge is included in your restaurant bill, tip 10%.
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