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Kenya

Overview

Kenya is regarded by many as the ‘jewel of East Africa’, and has some of the continent’s finest beaches, most magnificent wildlife and scenery, and an incredibly sophisticated tourism infrastructure. It is a startlingly beautiful land, from the coral reefs and white sand beaches of the coast to the summit of Mount Kenya, crowned with clouds and bejewelled by strange giant alpine plants.

Between these two extremes is the acacia-studded rolling savannah, which is home to game parks such as Amboseli, the Masai Mara, Samburu and Tsavo; the lush, agricultural highlands with their sleek green coat of coffee and tea plantations; and the most spectacular stretch of the Great Rift Valley, the giant scar across the face of Africa.

Above all, Kenya is a place for safaris, and one-tenth of all land in Kenya is designated as national parks and reserves. Just about every African plains animal is present. Over 50 parks and reserves cover all habitats from desert to mountain forest, and there are even six marine parks in the Indian Ocean.

Kenya also has a fascinatingly diverse population with around 40 different tribes, all with their own languages and cultures. Major tribes include the Kikuyu, the Luyia and the Luo, but the most famous are the tall, proud, beautiful red-clad Masai, who still lead a traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle of cattle-herding along the southern border.

A mixture of African and Asian, the unique Swahili culture can be found along the balmy coast, where for centuries it became prosperous on the profits of commerce from the tradewinds that carried ocean-going dhows (sailing boats) across the Indian Ocean to Arabia and Persia.

Kenya does have some downsides as a tourist destination. There is enormous pressure to buy anything and everything, often at ridiculously inflated prices, and even taking a photograph in the local market is likely to incur a cost. But despite this, the people are friendly and the tourist trade is supremely well organised and professional. For those in search of a little adventure, this can be an ideal holiday destination.

Author

Melissa Shales

General Information

East Africa.

Area

582,646 sq km (224,961 sq miles).

Population

34.7 million (CIA estimate 2006).

Population Density

59.5 per sq km.

Capital

Nairobi. Population: 2.5 million (UN estimate 2003).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1963.

Kenya shares borders with Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the northwest, Uganda in the west, Tanzania in the south and Somalia in the northeast. To the east lies the Indian Ocean. The country is divided into four regions: the arid deserts of the north; the savannah lands of the south; the fertile lowlands along the coast; and highlands in the west, where the capital Nairobi is situated. Northwest of Nairobi runs the Rift Valley, dotted with lakes and containing the town of Nakuru, while further west the Aberdare National Park is overlooked by Mount Kenya (5,200m/17,000ft), which also is a national park. In the far northwest is Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph), and in the southwest is Kenya’s share of Lake Victoria.

Kenya is a multicultural society; in the north live Somalis and the nomadic Hamitic peoples (Rendille, Samburu and Turkana), in the south and eastern lowlands are Kamba and Masai and the Luo live around Lake Victoria. The largest group is the Kikuyu who live in the central highlands and have traditionally been dominant in commerce and politics, although this is now changing. There are many other smaller groups and, although Kenya emphasises nationalism, tribal and cultural identity is a factor. A small European settler population remains in the highlands, involved in farming and commerce.

Language

Kiswahili is the national language and English is the official language. The terms Swahili and Kiswahili are used interchangeably, though the term Swahili normally refers to the people while Kiswahili refers to the language. There are over 42 ethnic languages spoken, including Kikuyu and Luo.

Religion

Mostly traditional but there is a sizeable Christian population (both Catholic and Protestant) and the majority of people living along the coast are Muslim.

Time

GMT + 3.

Social Conventions

Western European habits prevail throughout much of Kenya as a result of British influences in the country. Kenyans are generally very friendly. The standard greeting of ‘hello’ when addressing an individual is Jambo, to which the reply is also Jambo. The greeting for a group is Hamjambo to which the reply is Hatujambo. People are delighted if visitors can greet them in Kiswahili. Dress is informal and casual lightweight clothes are accepted for all but the smartest social occasions. Because of its Muslim influence, the coast is a little more conservative than the rest of the country. Away from the beach, women and men should dress respectably and cover up bare arms and legs. Alcohol is only available in the tourist areas on the coast.

Electricity

220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-type square three-pin.

Head of State

President Emilio Mwai Kibaki since 2002.

Passport / Visa

YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes

Passports

Passport valid for three months from date of entry required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following:
(a) all holders of a re-entry pass to Kenya.

Visa Note

(a) All nationals referred to in the chart above may obtain a visa on entry in Kenya. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses). (c) Multiple-entry visas may only be issued to nationals of the United Kingdom.

Types of Visa and Cost

Entry: £30 (single-entry); £60 (multiple-entry). Transit: £10.
Note: If the application is referred to Immigration in Nairobi, an additional £7 will be payable.

Validity

Single-entry:up to three months from date of issue; Multiple-entry: up to 12 months from date of issue. Renewals (up to six months) or extensions can be made at Immigration in Nyayo House, Uhuru Highway, Nairobi or at Kisumu and Mombasa. The period of stay in Kenya can be given at the port of entry (maximum three months).

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Three (applying in person) or one week from date of receipt (postal applications). If the visa has to be referred to Nairobi it will take at least eight weeks.

Money

Currency

Kenyan Shilling (KES; symbol KSh) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of KSh1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of KSh20, 10 and 5.

Currency Exchange

Currency can be exchanged at the major banks, bureaux de change or authorised hotels. The banks at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport have 24-hour exchange services. The easiest currencies to exchange are US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted. Major hotels now also accept payment by credit card, as do major safari companies, travel agencies and restaurants. Almost every bank now has an ATM and in the cities they are increasingly being installed at petrol stations.

Traveller's Cheques

These can be changed at banks, and are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1500, Sat 0900-1100. Banks in Mombasa and the coastal areas open and close half an hour earlier. The banks at the international airports open 24 hours every day. Bureaux de change have longer hours and in the cities open on Sundays.

Exchange Rate Indicators

Date	Jul 07
£1.00=	KSh134.39
$1.00=	KSh66.72
€1.00=	KSh91.03

Transport

Getting Around By Air

Kenya Airways (website: www.kenya-airways.com) operates scheduled services to Kisumu (on the shore of Lake Victoria), Lamu, Malindi and Mombasa. Air Kenya (website: www.airkenya.com) offers scheduled flights from Nairobi to Amboseli, Lamu, Malindi, Masai Mara, Mombasa, Lewa, Nanyuki, Meru, Samburu and Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania). Safarilink (website: www.safarilink-kenya.com) operates scheduled services between Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and the popular safari destinations; Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Chyulus, Naivasha, Nanyuki, Lewa, Samburu, Lamu, Kiwayu and Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania). Based on the coast, Mombasa Air Safaris (website: www.mombasaairsafari.com) has scheduled services linking Mombasa, Diani Beach and Malindi with Lamu, Amboseli and Masai Mara. In addition there are several private charter companies that serve over 150 airstrips around the country.

Getting Around by Water

Local dhowsrun between Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu, but it is not permitted for foreigners to take these. However, you can go on short sightseeing dhow rides from Mombasa. Ferries meet buses from Malindi and Mombasa on the mainland and take people the 7km (4.5 miles) to Lamu town. In Mombasa the Likoni Ferry links the short distance from Mombasa Island with the mainland to the south, which gives access to the beach resorts on the south coast.

Getting Around by Rail

Kenya Railways Corporation (tel: (020) 221 211; website: www.kenyarailways.co.ke) runs passenger trains between Nairobi and Mombasa; trains generally leave in the evening and arrive the following morning after a journey of around 13 to 14 hours. There are three classes: first class is excellent, with two-berth compartments, wardrobe, etc; second class in four-berth compartments is more basic but comfortable; third is basic seating. In first and second class, doors can be locked from the inside, but when leaving the compartment valuables should not be left unattended. The dining-car service on the Nairobi-Mombasa route is very highly regarded. Sleeping compartments should be booked in advance. Children under three years of age travel free. Children between three and 15 years of age pay half fare. Tickets can be booked at Nairobi and Mombasa railway stations or through local travel agencies.

There is also a railway connecting Nairobi with Kampala in Uganda with branch lines in Kenya to Nanyuki, Kitale and Kisumu. In recent years, because of poor funding for the railways and a spate of accidents and derailments, passenger services on these lines have been largely suspended. In 2006, Kenya Railways Corporation signed an agreement with a South African company, Rift Valley Railways Consortium to run a concession to improve both Kenyan and Ugandan railways over a 25-year period.

Getting Around by Road

Traffic drives on the left. All major roads are paved and many of the others have been improved, particularly in the southwest, although vast areas of the north still suffer from very poor communications. Care should be taken when leaving trunk roads as the surfaces of the lesser roads vary greatly in quality, particularly during the rainy season. There are petrol stations on most highways.

Bus: Buses run regularly between most cities and towns, and also run across the borders to Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Regular buses cover the longer routes and tickets are bought from kiosks at the bus stations, while shared minibuses (matatus) hop from town to town and fares are paid to the conductor. Both the buses and matatusshare the same terminus, which are often called ‘bus stands’ or ‘bus stages’ in Kenya. Since 2002, all vehicles have been fitted with seatbelts and it is compulsory to wear them, standing in buses has been banned, and vehicles are limited to 80kph (50mph) by law. This has greatly decreased problematic overcrowding and high accident rates.

Car hire: Self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars may be hired from a number of travel agents in Malindi, Mombasa and Nairobi. This can be expensive, and rates (particularly the mileage charges) can vary a good deal. Most companies insist that only 4-wheel-drive vehicles should be hired.International car hire companiesare represented in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Regulations: In non-residential areas, speed limits are 120kph (75mph) and 60kph (35mph) in built up areas. It is compulsory to wear a seat belt and obligatory that all vehicles carry two red triangles to be placed 20m (66ft) in front and behind the vehicle in the event of a breakdown.

Emergency breakdown assistance: Automobile Association of Kenya (tel: (020) 825 060-6; website: www.aakenya.co.ke).

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended although it is not legally required, and a valid national driving licence is accepted as long as it is in English.

Tours and safaris: Many tour companies in Nairobi offer package arrangements for visits to the game parks and other attractions. Before booking it is very important to know exactly what the all-in price provides. For further information contact Kenya Association of Tour Operators(KATO) (tel: (020) 713 348/86; website: www.katokenya.org).

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Nairobi and Mombasa have efficient bus systems, with regular buses running along set routes and single tickets are sold on the bus by conductors. There are also frequent matatus, 15-seat light pickups and minibuses, that run up and down main roads and charge similar fares. The three-wheel bajaj auto rickshaw or tuk tuk of South-East Asia is becoming increasingly popular.

In Kisumu, cycle rickshaws and bicycle taxis are popular. They are locally known as boda-bodas (from the time when they used to take people across no-mans land on the border with Uganda).

The newer fleets of taxis, which are usually white with a yellow band, are very reliable and have meters. The older all-yellow taxis do not have meters, so fares should be agreed in advance. In Nairobi, there is also a fleet of London-style black metered cabs. A 10% tip is expected. Taxis cannot be hailed in the street but they are found parked up at intersections and outside hotels and restaurants.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Nairobi to other major cities/towns in Kenya.

	Air	Road	Rail
Kisumu	1.05	7.00
Mombasa	1.00	6.00	14.00
Nakuru		3.00	5.00
Eldoret		7.00

Entertainment

Food and Drink

Meat in the country is outstandingly good, as is the wide variety of tropical vegetables and fruits. Inland, a local freshwater fish, tilapia is popular and tasty. On the coast the Swahili style of cuisine is delicately flavoured with spices and coconut milk and features fragrant rice, grilled fish and seafood curries. Indian and Middle Eastern food is available in most areas, and there is a wide range of international restaurants in Nairobi and Mombasa. The tourist hotels along the coast and the large lodges in the game reserves and national parks offer buffet meals. Hotels in smaller towns offer restaurant service, but this is usually a dish of the day, such as chicken and chips or stew and rice.

National specialities:
• Some game park lodges serve game, including buffalo steaks marinated in local liqueurs and berries, often garnished with wild honey and cream.
• Nyama Choma literally means roasted meat, and is one of Kenya’s best-known specialities. It is usually served with a spicy tomato relish.
• Most Kenyans eat a stiff porridge made from maize meal called ugali.
• At the small ‘hotelis’, chai (tea boiled with milk and sugar) and mandazi (doughnuts) are popular.

National drinks:
• Tusker and White Cap (locally brewed beer).
•Kenya Cane (spirit distilled from sugar cane).
•Kenya Gold (a coffee liqueur).
•Uki (traditional beer made with honey).
•Changaa (locally made spirit distilled from maize).

Tipping: This is not required. Most hotels include a 10% service charge in the bill. If the service charge has not been included, a small tip is usual, although the amount is entirely at the visitor’s discretion.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Nightlife

Most of the major hotels in Nairobi and the holiday resorts along the coast have dancing with live bands or discos each evening. There are also a few individual local nightclubs in Nairobi and Mombasa that stay open until dawn but these can get very crowded and prostitution abounds - go in a crowd and take a taxi. Increasingly, modern multi-screen cinema complexes are appearing in Nairobi and Mombasa, which show mainly Hollywood movies, while in the smaller towns are old colonial-style cinemas showing old Kung Fu or Indian films. Theatre is popular in Nairobi. There is a National Theatre and several small groups of dramatic companies; probably the best-known is the Phoenix Players. Quite often, traditional tribal dancing and drumming is performed in the game lodges and beach resorts.

Shopping

The city and town centres usually have markets that sell curios such as African drums, old brass and copper, batiks, soapstone knick-knacks, carved chess sets, and large wooden carvings of animals or salad bowls carved from a single piece of teak, mninga or ebony. Masai items such as beaded jewellery, decorated gourds and the distinctive red-checked blankets worn by all Masai men make good souvenirs. Khanga, kitenge and kikoi cloths are ideal to use as sarongs (common in East Africa for both men and women), and Kenyan baskets made from sisal and leather are also popular. Most of the tourist areas have abundant stalls and markets selling these items; you will be expected to haggle good-naturedly over prices.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0830-1230 and 1400-1730. Some Muslim supermarkets and other businesses close on Friday afternoons.

Note: The exportation of souvenirs made from wildlife skins (this includes reptiles) and shells is forbidden.

Top things to see

• In Lake Nakuru National Park, witness thousands of flamingos fringing the edge of the lake in pink. It is also one of Kenya’s best rhino sanctuaries and you may spot leopard in the arms of the giant yellowwood acacia trees (website: www.kws.org/nakuru.html).

• In the Masai Mara National Reserve, in the southwest corner of the country, be fascinated by the spectacular setting for the great migration - the constant clockwise motion of an estimated 2 million wildebeests and zebra who arrive in the Mara from late June onwards, heading south again in September. The Masai Mara has the largest population of lions in Kenya (website: www.masai-mara.net).

• In Mombasa, enjoy the city’s Arab flavour in the Old Town with its narrow, crowded streets, watch the sailing dhows in the Old Harbour and catch the sound and light show at Fort Jesus, now a museum (website: www.mombasainfo.com).

• In Nairobi, browse the ethnographic and archaeological exhibits of the Kenya National Museum (website: www.museums.or.ke) and, in the suburb of Karen, go to the Karen Blixen Museum (website: www.karen-blixen.dk),whichoccupies the farmhouse made famous by the author’s book, Out of Africa.

• In the Bomas of Kenya, a short distance outside Nairobi’s city centre, see displays of traditional dancing and explore mock-ups of traditional village homes (website: www.bomasofkenya.co.ke).

• In Lamu Town, an historical Swahili town on Lamu Island, see many mosques and fine old Arab houses with impressive carved wooden doors. Go to the Lamu Museum and the Swahili House Museum. The Fortress is also open to the public. Day trips to the 14th- and 15th-century ruins on the nearby islands of Manda and Pate can be arranged with local boat owners (website: www.lamuheritage.com).

• Close to Watamu, in the town of Gedi,explore the well-preserved ruins of a Swahili city, founded in the 13th century and destroyed by Somali raiders in the 17th century. The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, south of Watamu, and the little village of Mambrui, north of Malindi, are also worth a visit.

• In the AmboseliPark, which lies on the Tanzanian border 220km (140 miles) from Nairobi, marvel at fine views of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain (5,895m/19,340ft) (website: www.kws.org/amboseli.html).

• Drive around the vast bulk of Mount Kenya, where there are several attractive small towns such as Nyeri; Nyahururu, home of the Thomson’s Falls; and Muranga’a, whose cathedral tells the story of the Mau Mau rebellions in a series of colourful murals.

• In Aberdare National Park, be enchanted by the sight of many waterfalls, the greatest being Guru Falls, which drops over 300m (1,000ft). The western face of the mountain range is the sheer Mau Escarpment, which falls dramatically to the floor of the Great Rift Valley (website: www.kws.org/aberdare.html).

• Discover Kenya’s most recent conservation success on the Laikipia Plateau, where former farmland has been opened up as game sanctuaries and stocked with big game including the Big Five - elephant, buffalo, lion, rhino and leopard. The old farmsteads have been reverted into delightful and luxurious accommodation (website: www.laikipia.org).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top things to do

• Sail on a romanticdhow(traditional Arab sailing boat)in Mombasa, while feasting on a delicious seafood dinner and watching the moon rise over the old harbour (website: www.tamarinddhow.com).

• Go shopping in Mombasa. Biashara Streetis probably the best place to buy kikoi and khanga cloths. The main city market is the Makupa Market, off Mwembe Tayari. Serious souvenir shoppers should also head for Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Village, where disabled men and women produce high-quality leatherwork, jewellery and other crafts.

• Visit the many attractions on the beach road north of Mombasa, including: the Bamburi Quarry Nature Trail (website: www.bamburicement.com), which also features a butterfly farm; the giant crocs at Mamba Crocodile Village; and Ngomongo Villages (website: www.ngomongo.com), acultural park demonstrating the lifestyle of 11 different Kenyan tribes.

• Skate on East Africa’s first ice-skating facility. The Solar Ice Rink, which opened in December 2005 at the Panari Hotel in Nairobi, can accommodate 200 skaters and measures 1,400 sq m (15,000 sq ft) (website: www.panarihotel.com).

• Go scuba-diving, snorkelling, sailing, waterskiing, swimming and surfing on Kenya’s Coral Coast. The most popular resorts to the north of Mombasa include Bamburi, Kikambala, Kilifi, Malindi and Nyali. Along the south coast, the best and most famous beach is the 10km- (6-mile) long, dazzlingly white Diani Beach, some 40km (24 miles) south of Mombasa.

• Try your hand at deep-sea fishing, which is at its best along the coast between July and April. Sailfish, marlin, swordfish, kingfish, barracuda and tuna are all abundant.

• Climb Mount Kenya, an extinct volcano. At 4,986m (16,358ft) above sea level, it is the second-highest mountain in Africa. The Mountain Club of Kenya Guide to Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro can be bought from the Mountain Club of Kenya (website: www.mck.or.ke).

• Take in sweeping views of the Great Rift Valley from the road between Nairobi and Naivasha. Here the 2,000m- (6,560ft-) high escarpment walls plunge to the flat-bottomed valley floor below, which is dotted by a small string of volcanoes and brackish soda lakes.

• Watch baby elephants play at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage on the edge of Nairobi National Park. This is an important sanctuary for orphaned and abandoned elephants, which are hand reared before being re-released back into the wild (website: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org).

• Also near here, at the Langata Giraffe Centre, experience the unique opportunity of feeding the resident Rothschild giraffes from a giraffe-height tower (website: www.giraffecenter.org).

• For those staying on the coast, do take an excursion to the Shimba Hills National Reserve,the most accessible place from the beach resorts to see big game, leopard and Kenya’s only population of sable antelope. There is also the Mwalu-Ganje Elephant Sanctuary here (website: www.kws.org/shimba.html).

• In just half a day, spot a full range of animals in the Nairobi National Park, only 8km (5 miles) from Nairobi city centre. Kenya’s first national park, today it still looks much as it did in the early photographs - wild, undulating pasture dotted with every kind of East African plain-dwelling animal except elephants (website: www.kws.org/nairobi.html).

• Float over herds of game in the Masai Mara National Reserve in a hot-air balloon. The hour-long trip sets off at dawn and ends with a champagne breakfast. Almost all the lodges in the reserve offer this excursion (website: www.masai-mara.net).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Business

Statistics

• GDP: US$17.4 billion (2006).
• Main exports: Tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products and fish.
•Main imports: Machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel.
• Main trade partners: Africa (Uganda and Tanzania mainly), EU (UK and Netherlands mainly), and the Far East.

Economy

The Kenyan economy is largely agricultural and the main cash crops are tea and coffee, although pyrethrum, sisal, sugar and cotton are also important. Kenya is one of the few African countries with a significant dairy industry. It also has a sizeable manufacturing sector, which produces cement, paper, drinks, tobacco, textiles, rubber and metal products amongst other goods. The mining industry is very small.

In the service sector, tourism is the largest industry and principal source of foreign exchange. Kenya attracts around 1.8 million visitors annually.

Like many African countries, Kenya signed up to an IMF-imposed Structural Adjustment Programme in the mid 1990s, but because of concerns about political reform and widespread corruption, the IMF and World Bank withdrew support in 2000. However, following introduction of anti-corruption measures and privatisation of several major state-owned enterprises, the IMF approved the new Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility in 2003.

Overall economic performance has been disappointing due to persistent government failures and slow reform; inflation was at 10.5% in 2006. However, since election of the NARC government, growth has picked up, reaching 5.7% in 2006. Unemployment is difficult to measure in Kenya, but was given as 40% in 2001.

After a failed attempt in 1977, an East African Customs Union was established with Tanzania and Uganda in 2005. In 2006, Kenya signed a 20-year bilateral agreement with China for oil exploration.

Business Etiquette

Normal courtesies should be shown when visiting local businesspeople. Almost all executives speak English. Suits are usually expected to be worn for meetings. Appointments are generally necessary.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1400-1700.

Commercial Information

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
PO Box 47024, 36 Ufanisi House, Hailé Sélassie Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (020) 220 867.
Website: www.kenyachamber.co.ke

Investment Promotion Centre
PO Box 55704, 8th Floor, National Bank Building, Harambee Avenue, Kenya City Square 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (020) 221 401.
Website: www.investmentkenya.com

The Kenyatta International Conference Centre
PO Box 30746, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (020) 247 277.
Website: www.kicc.co.ke

Conferences & Conventions

Main urban centres, such as Mombasa and Nairobi, and most international hotels have conference facilities. Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Conference Centre is the country’s largest facility.

Communications

Telephone

Country code: 254 (followed by 20 for Nairobi, 41 for Mombasa and 51 for Nakuru). International calls can usually be made directly, but in some rural areas, international calls are diverted through the operator. Public telephones work with coins or with phone cards (which may be purchased from post offices or from international call services in major towns); coin-operated phone booths are painted red, card-operated booths are painted blue. Major hotels also offer an international phone service, but they usually charge up to 100% more. In larger towns, private telecommunication centres offer international services. For local calls, it is useful to have plenty of small change available.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. The main network providers are Celtel (website: www.celtel.com), which has extensive coverage in the southwest, around the coast and Mombasa, and Safaricom (website: www.safaricom.co.ke), with coverage in from Mombasa to Nairobi and in the southeast. Local SIM cards and top-up cards are available to buy everywhere.

Internet

There are Internet cafes in major cities and hotels.

Media

Kenya enjoys a more diverse media scene than many other African countries, although some media have been harrassed for upsetting the government. Most Kenyans rely on the broadcast media, particularly radio, for news. The print media is dominated by two publishing houses, the Nation Media Group and theStandard Group, which also have broadcasting interests.

Post

Post offices are identified by Telkom Kenya (Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation). Post boxes are red. Stamps can usually be bought at post offices, stationers, souvenir shops and hotels. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to four days, and the service is generally reliable. If you are sending parcels out of the country the contents must be inspected and the parcel wrapped (in brown paper and string) at the post office.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0900-1200 (main post offices).

Press

• The main dailies (all published in English) include Daily Nation, The East African Standard and Kenya Times.
• Nairobi is the main publishing centre.
• Newspapers from Tanzania and Uganda are also widely circulated in Kenya.

Radio

• Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) is state owned, with language-based networks in English, Swahili and 15 other indigenous languages.
• Metro FM is a national music-based station operated by KBC.
• Capital FM and Kiss FM are music stations.
• Radio Citizen is a private station with wide coverage, which also operates Kikuyu-language Inooro FM and Luo-language.
• Full-time FM relays of the BBC World Service are on the air in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, and some BBC programmes are also rebroadcast by private Kameme FM.
• The Voice of America and Radio France Internationale are relayed on FM in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Climate

The coastal areas are tropical, but tempered by monsoon winds. The lowlands are hot but mainly dry, while the highlands are more temperate with four seasons. Nairobi has a very pleasant climate throughout the year due to its altitude. Near Lake Victoria, the temperatures are much higher and rainfall can be heavy.

Required Clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens with rainwear are advised for the coast and lakeside. Warmer clothing is needed in June and July and for the cooler mornings on the coast. Lightweights are needed for much of the year in the highlands. Rainwear is advisable between March and June and October and December.

Map

While you're there

Climate
Map

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