Can you help me with my school project?
Here are some points of interest…
| National Anthem and Flag Food and Recipes Kenyan Money My Slideshow |
You may use my pictures for a school project – I don’t mind. Please credit this website (AllThingsKenyan.com) in your bibliography.
When is the best time to visit Kenya?
The tourist season in Kenya is generally from May to September during the longer dry season.
What is the weather like?
Kenya has two wet seasons and two dry seasons. The rainy seasons are from March to May and from November to January.
Although Kenya straddles the equator, the climate varies greatly. Location is everything. It can be quite hot and humid near the coast of Kenya with average daily temperatures of 27 to 31°C. The climate in the western region generally remains less humid. It is dry, arid semi-desert in the north, namely the Lake Turkana area, while there can be frost and snow in the high mountains.
What should I bring to wear?
As a general rule men should wear trousers and short sleeve shirts. Kenyan men do not wear short pants as that is what little boys wear. If you are going on a safari or mountain climbing short pants would be acceptable.
Women should wear loose fitting skirts or dresses that are at least knee length along with short sleeve blouses. However, if you are on a safari or doing some mountain climbing short pants or trousers can be worn.
You may also want to bring along with you a rain jacket, a sweater, and two good pairs of walking shoes or boots. If you are going to be in the mountains, you will want to bring heavier clothing.
Do I need a visa to travel to Kenya?
Yes, you do. Citizens of certain countries do not require a visa if they are staying for less than one month. Check the Kenyan Embassy at Washington D.C.’s website, http://kenyaembassy.com/visa.html, for more information.
What are the visa regulations?
You are able to remain in Kenya for three months and can be renewed in Kenya for a longer stay. It is best that you get your visa before your trip. You can get a visa at the airport, but you can expect delays if you do this. For latest visa regulations you should consult with the nearest Kenyan embassy in your country or the Kenyan Embassy in Washington D.C. website at http://kenyaembassy.com/visa.html.
Do I need any vaccinations?
You should consider having vaccinations for yellow fever and cholera. You may also want to consider vaccinations for malaria and typhoid. Consult your doctor about these well in advance of your trip.
Will I be able to get around if I don’t speak any Swahili?
Absolutely. Most Kenyans know at least three languages: their tribal language, Swahili, and English.
Is Kenya inexpensive?
Once you are in Kenya you can find inexpensive lodging, food, and shopping. The trick is to bargain the prices down when you shop.
Are cash, travelers checks or credit cards best in Kenya?
Of course, cash is best. Travelers checks are safer. Expect to wait any where from a few minutes to up to two hours to exchange your money or travelers checks.
I recommend that you buy a couple or thousand Kenyan shillings (if possible) before you leave your home country. This will make things easier if you can’t get to a bank right away.
Credit cards are accepted in the more urban areas of Kenya (Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa) and you get a good exchange rate.
What about tipping?
Tipping is not necessary. If you’d like to leave a tip, a five percent tip is sufficient anything more is considered extravagant.
What is the time zone in Kenya?
It is GMT +3. That is, if it is 12am in London, England then it is 3am in Nairobi, Kenya.
When are the holidays?
A lot of businesses are closed on holidays. Here is a list of Kenya’s holidays…
New Year’s Day – January 1
Eid-al-Fitr – Varies Yearly
Easter – Varies Yearly
The Feast of the Sacrifice – April 18
Labour Day – May 5
Madaraka Day – June 1
Kenyatta Day – October 20
Ramadan – Varies yearly
Jamhuri Day – December 12
Christmas – December 25
Public Holiday – December 26
Dates of Muslim festivals may vary slightly since they occur according to local sightings of various phases of the moon.
See http://www.holidayfestival.com/Kenya.html for a more complete list.