Kenya key facts
Airports
Most international flights land at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta Airport(NBO), 13 km (8 miles) southeast of the centre. There you will find a Tourist Office, several car-hire desks, a currency exchange desk and a bar. Buses to the city centre leave every 20 minutes (travel time is 40 min). Internal flights leave from the small Wilson Airport nearer to the city centre. Mombasa (MBA) Moi International Airport is 13 km (8 miles) west of the centre. Kenya Airways run a regular bus service to their city centre office (travel time is 20 min).
If you take a taxi, settle on the price first. State-controlled Kenacto taxis work on a fixed rate; black cabs are legally required to charge per kilometre. Most tourist hotels have minibuses to pick up guests at the airport.
Climate
As a general rule, the coast is hot and sunny for most of the year, whereas the high plateaux (Nairobi) have a more temperate climate-you'll need a sweater for the summer evenings.The months of January to March are the driest and hottest. They are followed by the rainy season which, some years, can last until May or even the beginning of June. The summer is cloudy and cool in Nairobi and less hot on the coast. September is generally sunny and pleasant. November is typically showery.
Customs Allowance
On arrival, you fill in an immigration form before passing through customs. Controls are kept to a minimum. Passengers aged 16 years or older are allowed to import 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500 g tobacco and one bottle of wine or spirits.
Essentials
Practically everything is available in Nairobi, but do not forget any medication you may need. Take an insect repellent and sunblock cream. A torch may be useful on safari.As for clothing, depending on the time of year and whether you are going to the coast, to Nairobi or to the reserves, you will need a fairly comprehensive wardrobe (including warm clothing for nighttime, especially in July and August). Cotton garments are the most appropriate and the most comfortable everywhere. On safari, it is advisable to wear trousers and stout, lace-up shoes.
Holidays
On public holidays everything is closed.
January 1: New Year's Day
May 1: Labour Day
June 1: Madaraka Day
October 10: Moi Day
October 20: Kenyatta Day
December 12: Independence Day
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Boxing Day
Moveable: Good Friday, Easter Monday. The feast celebrating the end of Ramadan, Id-ul-Fitr, is also a public holiday. In addition, there are a certain number of Muslim festivals which are chiefly observed at the coast. The dates vary from year to year as they are based on the lunar calendar. The most famous is Maulidi, celebrated at Lamu and attracting pilgrims from all over the Islamic world.
Media
The Nation is the most liberal of the daily newspapers, mostly published in English. In Nairobi and Mombasa, all the leading European papers can be found.Two television channels, KBC and KTN, broadcast in English. There are also cable channels.
Photography
You will find almost all types of film (prints and slides) except for high sensitivity (400 ASA and above). On safari, whenever you take pictures with a zoom or telephoto lens, it is preferable to use 200 or 400 ASA. Certain tribes will accept being photographed, usually in exchange for a small sum of money. The Masai are more reticent than the others. Remember to protect your equipment from the heat and dust and from the sun, and to observe restrictions.
Shops
Most shops are shut at the weekend, apart from a few souvenir or food stores which stay open on Saturdays-especially in the morning.
Time
GMT+3.
Toilets
There are no public toilets except at the airports and railway stations, but do not expect too high a standard. In case of need, the only possibilities are in a hotel or restaurant.
Transport
The road network is, frankly, appalling, and all long distances are best covered by air. However, the national parks and reserves (except for the largest which have landing strips) are only accessible by road. The usual transport is a four-wheel-drive or a minibus; the tour drivers are well used to handling the pot-holed, sandy and muddy roads.
In the towns you can hire a car to explore further afield on your own, if you don't mind the expense. Charges for four-wheel- drive vehicles are particularly extravagant. The minimum age for car rental varies from 23 to 25 years.Kenya Railways have a night service between Nairobi and Mombasa. It is advisable to book seats on the express. Other lines go west, but the trains crawl so slowly and the nighttime timetable is so inconvenient that they are not worth thinking about.
Locally, it is advisable to take a taxi (agree on the price before setting out: there are no meters). The buses and matatus (minibuses) are overcrowded and the drivers are not renowned for their prudence.
