Published
by: Rono K Lenny
Going on a safari calls for prior and adequate
planning. Here are some important travel tips to Kenya that will help you
prepare adequately prior to visiting Kenya. It will also make your stay in Kenya
a wonderful experience.
Travel Tip 1: Visa and Passport Information
When travelling to Kenya, you might be required to
apply for a Kenya visa. Whether you will need to have one depends entirely on your
nationality. Some citizens will need to have a Kenya visa while others will be
exempted.
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| Kenya Travel & Tours |
You can review a list of nationals who need to have a Kenya visa and those who are exempted. You can also look at your nearest Kenyan embassy or consulate where you
can apply for a Kenya visa if it’s a necessity for you.
Another important travel tip is to ensure your
passport is current, valid and not about to expire. When applying for your
passport it may take up to one and a half months before it arrives. This means
you have to plan well in advance so as to avoid any inconveniences.
In case you already have a visa, then make sure its
expiry period is not less than six months before the end of your safari. Ensure
that if you safari is going to take one month, your visa still has got a
minimum of seven months before it expires.
After you get your passport, it is advisable that
you make several copies of the actual passport for your own safety. This ensures
that in case you lose your original passport, you have its copy as a backup.
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| Travel Guide Tours |
Imagine a situation whereby you are in a foreign
country and your passport gets lost. If you had not photocopy of your passport,
you will not have any document to proof your nationality or identity. That’s
why it is very important to have a copy.
You can even leave one of the copies at home just in
case. Once you set out for the journey, ensure to keep your passport in a safe
place. In a nutshell, you should ensure that you have the following before
leaving for Kenya:
A valid
passport
An
arrival ticket
A return
ticket
Adequate
funds
A visa
(if it is required)
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| Hotels Cheap |
Note:
There are only 7 Northern White Rhinos remaining in the entire world, and it is in this spectacular site where you can find 4 of them.
Travel Tip 2: Health Tips for Kenya
Another set of important travel tips to Kenya concerns
your health. Prior to visiting Kenya, ensure that you are up to date on all
immunizations. Although inoculations prior to visiting Kenya are not a must, it
will be safe to be inoculated if you intend to visit its neighboring countries.
Depending on the place you intend to visit in Kenya,
make sure you have the following immunizations:
·
Yellow Fever
·
Hepatitis
·
Tetanus
·
Typhoid
·
Malaria prescriptions
Malaria is one of the most prevalent diseases in sub-Saharan
Africa. This should however not bother you since there are ways to ensure that
you stay safe.Protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing long
sleeved shirts or blouses and pants, using mosquito repellant and using a
mosquito net. In case you will be travelling to coastal area of Kenya, it is
advisable to use anti-malaria pills.
Another important tip regarding your health is to purchase
short-term travel and medical insurance in your home country. These services
could however be part of your credit cards. You can confirm this with your
credit card company.
In case of health or emergency situation, you can
call 999 for help. This can help you when you need an ambulance or police aid.
020-604767 is a 24hr Tourist Safety Hotline that will come in handy anytime you
need help. For more information on this, have a look at this tourism site.
Travel Tip 3: Packing Tips for Kenya
Kenya is a sub-Saharan country with tropical climate
characterized by hot and/or cool climate, periods of high rainfall, dry spells
etc. Depending on the time you visit Kenya and the tourist attraction sites you going to visit,
you should prepare adequately and pack accordingly.
In case you will visit different parts and engage in
different activities such as mountain trekking or camping, then ensure the
clothes you pack can withstand harsh conditions. In case you may not be in a
good position to visit Kenya every summer, you should pack keeping in mind that
on your way back home you might take a few gifts with you.
Among the things you can pack on your journey to Kenya
include:
·
Basic essentials
·
Camera
·
Video camera
·
Binoculars
·
Lightweight casual clothes
·
A few formal wear
·
Comfortable strong shoes or boots
·
Sandals or flip-flops
·
Brimmed hat
·
Insect repellant
·
Sunscreen
·
Sunglasses
·
Flashlight
·
Medical kit
·
Travel documents (passport, visa, etc.)
·
Insurance documents
·
Vaccination certificates
·
Credit/debit cards
·
Travelers’ cheque
·
Portable electronic gadgets
(phones/tablets etc.)
Travel Tip 4: Clothing & Dress Code Tips
Kenya is a country that is characterized by unpredictable
weather patterns. For this reason, you need to be extra cautious and dress
appropriately. Weather patterns throughout the year ia usually like this:
January – Mid March:
Most parts of the country
experience hot and dry weather. You can opt to use light dressing during the
day and moderate clothing for the cold nights
Mid-March – June: Most
parts experience long rains. You should carry warm clothing.
June –
Mid October: Most parts of the country experience fairly hot weather. You
should carry warm & light clothing. During this time of the year, temperatures
can get very low especially at night.
Mid Oct’ –
December: Most parts of the country are fairly cold and wet. This period
is characterized by short rains. Carry both warm & light clothing.
Travel Tip 5:
Safety & Security Tips
Being away from home calls for extra caution since
you do not know much of your destination in terms of how secure it is. When you
travel to Kenya, be vigilant when in public places. Going out at night is not
very safe unless you know the place you are going very well.
In case of robbery, you should report the incident immediately
to the nearest police station. You can call Tourist Safety Hotline number 020-604767 if you need assistance. The Tourist Safety and Communication Center will
help you with travel advisories, updates, health issues, road conditions and security.
Kenya Travel Tips Dos and Don’ts
·
Do not take pictures of people or houses
before asking for permission. Some tribes are very sensitive when it comes to
this matter.
·
Only switch currencies in foreign
exchange bureau or banks
·
Only carry the amount of money you need
for the day instead of carrying all your money everywhere you go.
·
Do not display your valuables such as
jewelries to everyone or in public.
·
Avoid wearing brightly colored clothes
when you go on a safari. Bright clothes attract wild animals. Some parks
restrict wearing of brightly colored clothes.
·
Only drink bottled or mineral water on
your safari. Avoid drinking water you get anywhere because it is not a
guarantee that the water is clean for drinking.
·
Never approach wild animals even if they
appear friendly and harmless. Only do so if your travel guide tells you that it
is allowed.
For financial guide when planning to visit Kenya, this article might be exactly what you need. These travel tips to Kenya will be
very important if pocket is quite limited.
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