Kenya

Your adventure into Kenya will begin with a distinctly Colonial touch evident in Nairobi, the capital city. Its a fitting taste of the stark contrasts encountered in this land of wide open plains, a country where Mount Kenya’s exquisite snow-capped peaks tower about the tinder dry grasslands below.

Kenya is a wildlife paradise. The rugged and remote Samburu National Reserve lies in the semi-desert area of Kenya’s Northern Frontier District. For sheer physical drama, the lava plain within the great Ololokwe Table Mountain in the background is pure magic. Big cat lovers will want to visit Kenya’s most pristine reserve, Shaba National Reserve with its unique riverine swamp so superb of leopard viewing. Flocks of greater and lesser flamingos settle on Lake Nakura, a shallow soda lake and create these glorious pink ribbons along the lakes edge.

Masaai Mara National Reserve is the 1,510 square kilometer northern extension of the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania and is the hallowed site of the annual wildebeest migration as they trek south against some life-threatening odds – largely crocodiles – in search of fresh grasslands.

For those who want to slip into something a little more comfortable after one of the wilder safari experiences on offer, little compares with a few days in the heart of lion country in the Tsavo Wilderness area in the south, followed by time-out on the softest, whitest beaches of Mombasa, Kenya’s second largest town.

Location

Kenya is located on the east coast of Africa and blessed with magnificent white beaches as well as some of the best safari opportunities on the planet. To the south lies Tanzania, another popular tourist destination. To the east is Lake Victoria and Uganda and to the north is Sudan and Ethiopia. To the east, the land border is with Somalia and the further south is the Indian Ocean.

Highlights

Kenya attracts visitors for the outstanding game view opporunities and magnificent beaches. Some of the highlights of this country are:

- View the famous symbol of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro
- Experience a hot air balloon safari over the endless plains of the Masaai Mara
- Witness the spectacular wildebeest migration across the Masaai Mara
- Explore the picturesque town of Mombasa with its maze of narrow streets and quaint open-front shops
- See huge flocks of flamingos at the edge of Lake Nakura
- Enjoy a romantic candle-lit dinner on board the Tamarind Dhow

Currency

The unit of currency in Kenya is the shilling (KSh) which is made up of 100 cents. The shilling is relatively stable and can be exchanged for US Dollars, Euros and Sterling throughout the country. 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.

Visas

All British passport holders require a visa to visit Kenya. Please ensure you leave plenty of time in your travel preparations to apply for your visa.

Remember, the traveler is solely responsible for ensuring they have the valid travel documents to gain entry to any country they travel to.

Power

Kenyan electrical power is 240v running at 50Hz. The plug socket used is the 3 rectangle pins such as those found in the UK.